A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
It was once Japan that gained fame for its high-speed train network, introducing the world to its Shinkansen, or bullet trains, back in 1964. While the Land of the Rising Sun still leads in rail technology, it is now China that proudly holds the title of the high-speed train capital of the world.
Prices in Morocco have risen along with its popularity, but there are still bargains to be had. In the relaxed seaside city of Essaouira, many of the attractions are free: exuberant music festivals, gallery-hopping around the 18th-century medina, gazing over the ocean from its honey-coloured ramparts, watching fishermen at work in the postcard-pretty harbour, and strolling along its endless golden beaches.
Clustered in the blue-green Mediterranean an hour’s boat ride north of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands are one of Europe’s most visually stunning and historically intriguing archipelagos. Each of the seven volcanic islands has its own distinct character, allowing for an enticing variety of activities as you island-hop across the chain.
Magnificent Guadeloupe, the southernmost of the Leeward Islands and the European Union’s largest territory in North America, has more than its fair share of natural beauty even by Caribbean standards. With stunning beaches, soaring mountains, superb food, and spectacular diving, the five main islands each have their own special character and different reasons to visit. The joy of Guadeloupe is that you really don’t need to choose; even if you only have a week, it’s perfectly possible to enjoy them all, as ferries go back and forth between them several times a day.
Contemporary architecture in Oslo may not be the first thing that comes to mind when envisioning the city. However, the Norwegian capital has unveiled a slew of adventurous buildings in the last decade, ranging from innovative museums to striking opera houses.
Antwerp has always been a singular place, something of an eccentric. Its reputation as a fashion and clubbing centre may have arisen in recent decades; however, dig deeper, and you will uncover a port city that has consistently pushed boundaries. From master painter Peter Paul Rubens to the eclectic beats of Rampage, Belgium’s largest port has been at the forefront of cultural trends for over 500 years. Could this be one of the coolest cities worldwide?
Traveling in the UK can be an affordable adventure when approached wisely. Numerous museums and galleries offer free admission, scenic historic cities and parks provide rich exploration opportunities, and you can enjoy a variety of delicious meals without overspending, whether you’re in the mood for a Moroccan tagine or classic British cafe offerings.
Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, is often referred to as the city of contrasts, and for good reason. With a mix of modern skyscrapers and shanty towns, sophisticated dining and roadside food stalls, as well as historic buildings woven into the city’s notorious gridlock, the city presents a stunning juxtaposition. Moreover, its diverse array of ethnicities, traditions, and cuisines make it a destination worth exploring.
If there’s one thing you can rely on when traveling around Colombia, it’s that you’ll never go hungry. Colombia’s medley of environments, immense variety of fresh produce, and cultural diversity have created micro-gastronomic pockets. Each region is like an individual country, with distinct traditional cooking styles and unique usage of ingredients making this destination a rising culinary star. Here are some food experiences you shouldn’t miss.
Home to some of the world’s biggest caves and most diverse ecosystems, superlatives abound when it comes to describing Sarawak’s national parks. This Malaysian state is blessed with a wealth of natural wonders, making it challenging to decide which parks to visit. To help you make your decision, we’ve curated some helpful pointers about what’s available, using the cities of Kuching (in Sarawak’s west) and Miri (in its center, close to Brunei) as jumping-off points for spectacular exploration.
Adventure awaits around every corner in Marrakesh. A walk through the centuries-old medina fills your eyes with vivid colours from every spot on the spectrum. However, you’re bound to get lost navigating the busy streets teeming with people and animals. After a day of shopping and exploring this beautifully chaotic city, you’ll want to relax, and fortunately, Marrakesh has just the treat.
December travel opens the door for a plethora of perfectly timed adventures. Put your boots (and thighs) to the test on some of the planet’s wildest terrain; venture into a colorful underwater world; or embrace your inner speed freak on white water and even whiter mountains.
Get a vacation-worthy night’s sleep every night.
Divide and conquer, they say. A metropolis of Belgrade’s size is best conquered by exploring its distinct, vivid neighborhoods. Spread out on both banks of the Sava and Danube rivers, each of them offers sites rich in history and culture and is hip and photogenic in its own way. Here’s a quick tour through the main districts of the Serbian capital.
Found yourself in Adelaide with limited funds? Not to worry – there’s plenty to see and do here that won’t cost you a cent. In fact, the city’s gratis offerings provide a terrific introduction to local life and the surrounding scenery. Not to mention the fantastic climate – which the locals love to call ‘Mediterranean’ – well, that comes for free too.
Whether you believe in the ‘new year, new you’ ethos or not, start the coming year as you mean to go on with some well-deserved R & R.
Gazing into the deep brown eyes of an endangered mountain gorilla is a precious experience: perhaps only 700 or so individuals survive, of which around half roam the dense forests of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s an experience you’ll need to earn, tackling steep, muddy trails in altitudes up to 3000m, possibly for several hours. However, if you snag one of only eight permits available for each of the park’s nine habituated families, the rewards are luminous: an hour in the company of these gentle giants (a silverback male can reach 180 kg) is unforgettable. Moreover, the rest of the country holds its own, too. Nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for tree-climbing lions, while you can track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park; beyond the far tip of Lake Albert, the Nile thunders over Murchison Falls, and there’s fine trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains.
With a new year looming, the question on many travellers’ lips is: where shall I go… and when? Moreover, what better way to kick off the year than with a healthy dose of adventure? From bargain ski breaks in some of the world’s best powder to surfing under the new year’s sun and road-tripping through some of Mother Nature’s finest – here are our recommendations for travel in January.
In some parts of the world, January means hunkering down and hibernating to avoid the chill. However, in hotter climes, cultural offerings are just warming up. Therefore, there has never been a better time for temple hopping, festivals, and celebrating Christmas – again!
Rome’s cuisine is as legendary as its monuments, and sampling the city’s classic dishes is just as quintessential to a Roman experience as visiting the Colosseum. This guide to the Italian capital’s most beloved eats will help you differentiate between yourcarbonaraand youramatriciana, guiding you to mouth-wateringly delicious culinary experiences.
