Advice

The Easter holidays are underway across the country and with it the perennial problem of what to do with the children when the weather turns bad.  If the forecast does forfeit adventures in the great outdoors, it’s worth checking out some of the best indoor attractions around the country. From discovering the tricks of the

Through the ages Sicily has been a crossroads and crucible of Mediterranean culture. The island today is a fascinating palimpsest, its history and abundant natural wonders ensuring that there’s something for everyone: the historic cities of Palermo, Catania and Siracusa; the Etna region with its volcanic landscapes, fertile wine country and picture-perfect Taormina; Ragusa, Modica

You can have an extremely pleasant time in Bath wandering the streets, admiring the peerless Georgian architecture and reliving history through the words of Jane Austen. For culture, pick from the dozen or so museums – if you do just one of the best things in Bath, make it the Roman Baths. For exercise, venture

If there’s one thing the Tenerifians know how to do well, it’s party. Enjoying life is a genetic disposition, evident if you venture into one of the many bars and nightclubs frequented by locals – and there are many. Check out the vibrant student scene in La Laguna, test your stamina in the bop-till-breakfast clubs

Long gone are the times when Tenerife tourism was only associated with familiar fodder listed on laminated menus. That food is still available for those looking for home comforts, but tastes in Tenerife have changed, and so has the quality on offer. These days creative Canarian is the dish of the day, with no less

Yes, there are a million and one beaches (well, 72 listed on the tourist board website at least) on which to stretch out, switch off and toast into a nice shade of bronze. But to do just that is nothing short of a crime on such a multi-faceted island. Up, down, inside, outside: everywhere you

Although renowned for its high-end shopping and cutting-edge design, Milan offers many more things to do: its museums harbour some of the country’s finest works of art, and there’s no shortage of churches adorned with wonderful frescoes, a number from the school of Leonardo Da Vinci. Steps away from the Gothic-style Duomo is La Scala,

Lying at the foot of the Alps, Milan is Italy’s financial hub and economic driver, home to the country’s Stock Exchange. It is also Italy’s most cosmopolitan city, with a modern central district dominated by skyscrapers and a pretty historical quarter lined with palazzi (palaces) – each harbouring wonderful hidden courtyards. Leader of Italy’s fashion and design industry,

Italy has welcomed visitors since time immemorial. But not all of Italy: some regions have remained impervious to the Grand Tourists of the past and the Instagrammers of today. Who, for example, visits Abruzzo, a region east of Rome and south of the Marche? Very few is the answer – but why so secret? Poverty, for

Variety is the spice of life on the largest Greek island. Crete, home of the Minotaur legend and birthplace of Europe’s first evolved society, is a vivid and sensual mosaic of contrasts: from lofty mountains and pink-sand beaches, to buzzing nightlife and traditional kafeneions (coffeehouses). Standing at the crossroads of three continents, the atoll described by Homer

Welcome to Bangkok – a sprawling, humid metropolis of more than 10 million souls that rose along the eastern banks of the Chao Phraya river a little more than 200 years ago. Today, the Thai capital brims with interesting historic sites, stylish hotels, incredible culinary adventures, and fantastic shopping, and none of this need break

Every day of the week, 24-hours a day, there’s always something going on in the city that never sleeps. From big-name museums to meander through, architectural wonders to gawk at, galleries to see, and neighbourhoods to explore, you’d have to live seven lives to experience all the best things to do in New York. Below

Our rich and noble forebears flocked south to the Riviera capital, for the sun, unbounded friskiness and the sensuous curve of the Bay of Angels. Queen Victoria befriended Sarah Bernhardt there. And, when dying in Britain, she – the queen – allegedly gasped: “If only I were in Nice, I’d get better.” I’ve no doubt

The challenge when visiting Rome is deciding what not to do: there are so many churches, archaeological sites, piazzas and paintings to see that a lifetime is hardly enough. Don’t try to cram too much in; Rome moves at a slower pace than many northern Italian cities, and to enjoy it you should take time out

Zante is renowned for raucous nightlife, but there’s a far more authentic side to the Venetians ‘Fiore di Levante’ (flower of the Levante). For such a small island, scenery is extremely varied: the southern coastline – home to Laganas’ notorious nightlife strip – also encompasses the pristine beaches of Zakynthos Marine Park, where loggerhead sea turtle come to

Jasná’s hotels are strung out along the road from the town of Liptovský Mikuláš to the head of the valley 17km away. There isn’t a resort centre as such, but the hub of Jasna is at the foot of the lifts at Biela Pút near the end of the valley, where there’s a couple of

The gorgeous little, traffic-free village of Saas-Fee looks a bit like a small Zermatt with its dark wooden chalets, and it is surrounded by magnificent glaciers and mountain peaks, including the Dom – the highest mountain located entirely within Switzerland.  Saas-Fee’s ski area is one of the highest in the Alps, popular for summer skiing

Most of the accommodation in Saas-Fee is in hotels, including some smart options to suit guests with deep pockets. However, families and visitors on modest budgets can find apartments and catered chalets in the resort’s traffic-free centre and within easy reach of the lifts. For further Saas-Fee inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best

Sitting on a sunny shelf, Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, and most of the slopes are above its neighbour, under the towering north face of the Eiger. Until the early 20th century, Wengen was an Alpine farming community, and had been for centuries. Then intrepid British visitors started skiing here and persuaded the locals to keep

As well as being a ski resort, Morzine is a proper little Alpine town that has a year-round life stretching far beyond having fun on the mountains that surround it. That said, winter sports enthusiasts from France and other countries – Britain in particular – have been coming here since Edwardian times. They spent their