Europe has all sorts of spots to wander around, from busy streets to quiet riversides and coastal paths. You can explore towns, try the food, or just veer off the main route to see how things really work. 

Travelling from the far north down to warmer landscapes gives a trip an atmosphere that’s hard to plan and even harder to forget. The Arctic feels like the world stripped back to its basics, whereas Morocco’s trails or the Dolomites’ ridges bring colour, noise, and stories that have been told for centuries. 

Florence knows how to do Christmas. By late November the city feels alive again. Lights stretch across the piazzas, music drifts from street corners and the smell of warm panettone follows you through the narrow lanes. Walk over the Arno and the bridges sparkle with illuminations.

Finding the moments that matter often comes down to noticing the experiences that stick, rather than ticking off a long list of destinations. Some moments happen over a meal, some in a rush of adrenaline, and some in quiet streets or stretches of coastline. This guide highlights different types of experiences: food, thrill-seeking, culture, outdoor spaces, and coastal downtime, so travellers can discover what resonates most with them. Each section gives a clear picture of what to expect.

Once a builder’s merchants, now a stunning restaurant with eight rooms. The Merchant’s Yard in Tideswell in the heart of the Peak District is a little hidden gem. The eight rooms all on the ground floor are large and luxurious with the attention to detail usually reserved for boutique hotels.

Planning a luxury escape to a remote corner of the world works best when the focus stays on what you want from the place rather than the idea of a “bucket-list” trip. Some travellers seek quiet days in wide-open landscapes; others lean towards wildlife encounters or a slower rhythm on the water. 

Hot new hotel openings including the stunning Tarabel Lisbon. With just nine rooms this little gem will set your heart on fire…

Wellbeing and holistic travel are reshaping the luxury hotel experience, creating retreats that rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. These hotels understand that true luxury means slowing down, restoring balance and connecting with nature—all without sacrificing comfort.

The latest boutique hotel to open in Lisbon has been three years in the making. Read on to find out if it’s worth the wait.