Destinations

Venice is cut from a different cloth to most cities around the world. Its art and architecture, for example, are like nowhere else on Earth. Some of its hotels are pretty inimitable, too. You can stay amongst tapestries and oil paintings in several places across the city. If you want your hotel room to feel less like a museum, there are also some more modern places that are every bit as opulent, but with a 21st century twist. These are our top picks of the best boutique hotels in Venice.

With so much to see and do, a city break in Berlin is often far from relaxing. However, opt for a hotel with an outstanding pool, and you can enjoy a few tranquil laps in stunning surroundings – ideal after a long day out. Here’s our pick of Berlin’s impressive and often historic hotel pools, for those who want to return from the German capital culturally enriched but also extremely relaxed.

Unlike in many capital cities, there’s a good variety of budget-friendly accommodation in Lisbon. Options range from award winning hostels with free breakfasts to hotels with rooftop bars that offer free cocktails at certain times of year. Here’s a roundup of the top options for places to lay your head that won’t cost the Earth.

For a trip away with your special someone, there are few cities more romantic than Barcelona. Here’s our guide to the most romantic hotels in Barcelona, featuring atmospheric restaurants, stunning rooftop bars and rooms that are just the right kind of cosy, luxurious or chic.

One of the most visited cities in the world, Paris seems overrun with incredible hotels. From opulent five-star palaces to quirky artist's boltholes with rooftop views over Montmartre. Check out our top 10 favourite hotels that exude Gallic character.

The Venice Carnival is one of the real highlights of Italy’s social calendar. For two weeks each winter, Venice becomes a riot of colour, costumes and camaraderie. This year’s event falls between 27 January and 13 February 2018, and is themed around beauty, the sea, and vanity.

It’s perhaps because the winter in Berlin is so long and hard that the locals turn every summer evening into some kind of party. From open-air clubs to traditional beer gardens, impromptu gatherings on the canal bank to barbecues in the park, you are sure to find the perfect spot for a hot summer night of revelry.

While historically B&Bs; have not always have the most glamorous of reputations, in more recent years they have increasingly been seen in favourable terms. Today, B&Bs; can offer a similar standard of accommodation as a five-star hotel, but with an arguably more comfortable and homely feel. This is especially true in Edinburgh. Take your pick from quirky places where the breakfast menu feature curios like asparagus Armageddon, and seriously Scottish places that keep the Tunnocks teacakes flowing freely in the rooms.

Amsterdam may be famous for its open-minded approach to love. But beyond the Red Light District and attractions like The Sex Museum, Holland’s capital city has a seriously sensitive side. Canal side strolls, twilight water cruises, tandem bike rides and drinks on fairy light-lit terraces all feature in a couples’ getaway here. As does bolthole accommodation. Partners can book rooms that include everything from freestanding in-room bathtubs to rooftop hot tubs.

No trip to Paris is complete without a little retail therapy. One of the great fashion capitals of Europe, Paris crams a staggering number of chic boutiques and designer stores into its wide boulevards and narrow streets. Whether you're after vintage bargains, exclusive glam factor or the most in-season styles, here are 10 of the best...

f you’re an experienced independent traveller, you might be inclined to turn up your nose at the prospect of taking a bus tour in Rome. After all, it can be hard to absorb the true essence of a city from behind a glass window, and some say the soul of this ancient metropolis can only be revealed by wandering its narrow pedestrianised streets, or sitting back in a vibrant piazza surrounded by street performers and artists.ce.

Paris is renowned as a haven for style and cutting-edge design – and you can enjoy it in every part of your trip here, right down to the room you stay in. For a hotel in Paris with extra aesthetic appeal, try one of these stylish design hotels.

Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in Europe. It has endless accommodation choices from quirky barges to all-singing, all-dancing luxury hotels. We’ve chosen top 10 of the best hotels in Amsterdam, (so you don't have to...)

Amsterdam's main zoo is an ideal day out for families, with flora, fauna and its own planetarium. It is home to more than 750 species of animal and 200 varieties of tree.

World-class art galleries, historic canal-side bars and Michelin-starred restaurants, Amsterdam certainly knows how to do romantic city breaks. Why not really push the canal boat out and spend the weekend in one of the city's luxury hotels.

There are few things better than enjoying a delicious meal or drink with a view, whether it’s of a white-sand beach or a stunning cityscape. For visitors to one of Europe’s oldest and most historic cities, Rome has plenty of great options when it comes to rooftop wining and dining spaces. From cocktails overlooking the Colosseum to a sunset dinner with views of the Villa Borghese park, here we round up the best rooftop bars and restaurants in this ancient city.

It’s easy to overspend in Amsterdam. The city’s top hotels don’t think twice about charging their guests €300 a night, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant for every month of the year, and even a simple beer in one of the main squares will burn a hole in your pocket the size of roughly eight euros. You don’t have to take out a second mortgage to visit here, though. Believe it or not, there are plenty of things you can do in Amsterdam if you’re on a budget.

City breaks in Amsterdam can get pretty busy. Thanks to the city’s 70 plus museums, 30 or so parks, and countless numbers of shops, markets, cafés and restaurants, trip timetables can fill up quickly. Visits to Holland’s capital don’t have to be all go, though. Amsterdam is dotted with spas and saunas where you can take five, 10 or even a full day to unwind.

Barcelona's year-round temperatures far outdo anything Blighty has to offer, so it makes sense to make the most of the sun when visiting Barcelona.

Paris has more hotels than almost anywhere on the planet. Some of its finest are not huge behemoth hotels, instead they are elegant boutique pads with Michelin-starred restaurants and cocktail bars, while others have luxe spas or splendid views over the Eiffel Tower.

With its myriad waterways, hedonistic party atmosphere and laws that set it apart from the rest of Europe, Amsterdam has always been a little different. But the Dutch capital also has some pretty eccentric dining choices, too. From a revolving dining room to a lighthouse island, here’s the lowdown on the most unusual places to eat in the Dutch capital.

They say if you want to know a man, walk a mile in his shoes. If you want to know an Amsterdam man, you’re probably better off riding a mile on his bike. Bikes are a major part of the city’s transportation system. You’ll find them chained to bridges, propped up outside shops, and stacked up in multi-story racks outside Central Station. Each one has its own personality, too. You’ll see everything from candy-coloured ones with bunting on the handlebars to cycles that look like antiques with battered baskets on the front. Riding a bike in the city will give you a taste of local life. It’s easy to hire one or join a bike tour, but before you get on the saddle there are a few things you should know.

A mash up of medieval spires, redbrick towers and modern glass-fronted blocks, Amsterdam is renowned for its beautiful and eclectic skyline. While there are dozens of pubs with canal-side terraces, why not see the city from a different perspective in one of Amsterdam’s many rooftop bars. Here’s our top 10 favourite places for a special sundowner.

Cobbled streets lined with pretty gabled houses, cosy, candlelit cafés and atmospheric canals; Amsterdam is one of the most romantic cities in Europe. From meeting the Old Masters in the Rijksmuseum to cruising on the Amstel river and dining out in a Michelin-starred restaurant, check out our top picks for an unforgettable weekend in Amsterdam.

Sometimes travel should be about spoiling yourself, and in Berlin there’s plenty of choice when it comes to four- and five-star hotels. Treat yourself on your trip to the German capital with this guide to some of our favourites.

Amsterdam is one of the great party cities of Europe with pubs, bars and coffee shops brimming from every corner, plus a host of world-class dance clubs hidden in the shadows. But all this fun can have a serious affect on your bank balance. Why not check out our top 10 favourite places for a cheap night out.