Simon Calder spends 48 hours... plus in the Norwegian coastal city of Bergen, exploring historic Bryggen, riding the funicular railway, and tasting freshly-caught salmon by the harbour. Then he heads inland to enjoy Norway in a Nutshell, a spectacular day-trip by train, bus and boat through mountains and fjords.

Simon Calder is seduced by the lovely old Spanish city of Salamanca, where he mingles with the students at one of Europe's oldest universities, and discovers an astronaut among the Gothic carvings outside the cathedral.

Simon Calder travels to Rio de Janeiro, one of Latin America's most exciting cities, where he finds sand, sea and samba, discovers the identity of the Girl from Ipanema, and goes in search of one of the new 7 Wonders of the World....…

Simon Calder travels to San Diego in the deep south of California, exploring the local cuisine, culture and creatures, taking in the old Gaslight quarter, Point Loma where San Diego began in 1542, and the infamous San Diego zoo along the way…

The Independent Traveller spends two eventful days in dazzling Singapore, an extremely diverse and welcoming city with a fascinating history.

Fez is a stunning medieval city, a mere three hours from London by plane. Simon Calder haggles for some beautiful pottery, gets a crash course in Moroccan cuisine and sheds all for a trip to a hammam.

How bad is life for the world's airlines? What will the future shape of the aviation industry look like? And is British Airways vulnerable to a takeover? Martin Broughton, Chairman of BA, gives an exclusive interview to Simon Calder, the Independent's Senior Travel Editor.

Simon Calder looks at the aviation industry's grand designs for dramatically improving the flying experience for passengers.

Simon Calder spends 48 hours... plus in the Norwegian coastal city of Bergen, exploring historic Bryggen, riding the funicular railway, and tasting freshly-caught salmon by the harbour. Then he heads inland to enjoy Norway in a Nutshell, a spectacular day-trip by train, bus and boat through mountains and fjords.

The latest twin Track adventure of our intrepid travelling team, Simon Calder and Ben Ross, takes them across the Channel to the Belgian coast and deep into the heart of Flanders. After exploring the fascinating Flemish shore and its hub, Ostend, they split up to delve deeper into the cities: Ben takes a turn around Bruges by bike, and makes a meal of Mechelen; Simon gets to grips with Ghent and meets some of the young and trendy people of Leuven. Then they meet up at Antwerp, the glorious conclusion of their journey.

The Sound of Flanders: The Independent Traveller presents another ground-breaking podcast, in which three travel writers discuss three topics for three minutes. Download or listen now to the first-ever 3x3x3, nine minutes of sparkling conversation about Flanders. Ben Ross, Simon Calder and the award-winning journalist Cathy Packe discuss the best way to get around this part of Belgium; where to find the most stylish shops and whether you should feast on seafood or chocolate?

This gem in Spain's north-west is off the map for many UK visitors - but it's at the heart of one of Spain's most fascinating provinces. Simon Calder works his way through the layers of the city's ancient heritage, then heads to Astorga - a town with 2,000 years of history of its own (as well as a tasty chocolate museum)

Join Simon Calder in the Bay of Biscay, as he travels from the Spanish city of Bilbao to the UK port of Portsmouth on board P&O Ferries' 38,000 ton ship, 'The Pride of Bilbao'. En route, Simon catches up with his fellow passengers to discover just where they've been and what they've seen on their travels round Spain.

Simon Calder is seduced by the lovely old Spanish city of Salamanca, where he mingles with the students at one of Europe's oldest universities, and discovers an astronaut among the Gothic carvings outside the cathedral.

Northern Spain boasts some of Europe's most beautiful railway lines - and one of the greatest luxury trains. The toss of a coin decides whether Ben Ross or Simon Calder will indulge aboard El Cantabrico, while the other takes the budget option. But whatever the outcome, both will get to enjoy the rich heritage, countryside and shorelines of "Green Spain".

Expo 2008 may be over, but life in this superb city continues with even more energy and style. Zaragoza is a friendly, handsome city steeped in history, full of great places to eat and drink and now with added 21st-century parkland as a legacy from the Expo event that drew the world to north-central Spain. Join Simon Calder in his fearless quest to eat, drink and see as much as possible within two days.

A trip around one of Simon Calder's favourite cities. From the Guggenheim to traditonal cod shops, Bilbao is a place with strong sense of the past and the future.

On a scenic journey through the stunning Lake District, Simon Calder enjoys the area's sights, history and culture, from Roman times to the 21st century.

From Edwardian seaside destination and health resort to cool bohemia, Brighton has always been more than a city by the sea. As Simon Calder discovered when he went to look for some of its hidden gems sent in by users of the Enjoy England website.

How do you stay safe and legal on the roads of France? Why are French trains so good? And should you pack a one-piece swimsuit or a bikini to be chic on the beach in St Tropez? This is the programme that gives you the answers. Something to Declare, a 25-minute broadcast-standard programme produced by The Independent in association with P&O Ferries, brings you the Best of France, and is co-presented by Simon Calder beside the beach in Calais and Ben Ross at Languedoc-Roussillon House, which has just opened in London.

Join Simon Calder in the Bay of Biscay, as he travels from the Spanish city of Bilbao to the UK port of Portsmouth on board P&O Ferries' 38,000 ton ship, 'The Pride of Bilbao'. En route, Simon catches up with his fellow passengers to discover just where they've been and what they've seen on their travels round Spain.

In the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck is a skiers' paradise in winter and a great location for hiking and biking in summer. Simon Calder discovers the ‘Golden Roof', used by the Roman emperor Maximilian I to watch events in the town square and takes a tram into the mountains to survey the stunning surroundings.

Considered by locals as 'the real Mexico', Huatulco is an ecological paradise on the Pacific coast. Simon Calder samples the fresh papaya and refried beans of local cuisine, attends a ‘boarding’-school for aspiring surfers, and explores the area's magnificent bays and traditional chapels.

Jamaica has something for everyone; Independent traveller Simon Calder takes a terrifying wire-harness tour of the forest, tastes local cuisine at Faith's Pen, and visits 56 Hope Road, better known as Bob Marley's former abode.

From the rock formations of Bouley bay to the capital, St Helier, Simon Calder's walking tour takes in some of Jersey's most pleasant spots as well as the many remnants of the island's occupied past.

Simon Calder checks out Santa's ice sculptures, secret grotto and post office. He also finds time to see the city's Arktikum Museum (‘Museum of the Arctic'), and wilderness of Kittilä, perfect for snowmobiles, huskies and reindeer-led sleigh-rides.

Madeira's striking capital, Funchal, is a whitewashed town built on dark volcanic rock, while the municipal market is an Art Deco masterpiece. Simon Calder enjoys all the beauty as well as the energetic nightlife and the fishing village Câmara de Lobos, meeting the self-proclaimed ‘Cocktail King' of the island along the way.

Go back in time with Simon Calder as he hops on Malta's 1960s buses in the island's capital Valletta, the first planned city in Europe.

Simon lets himself get lost in the winding streets of Morroco's Marrakech, exploring the traditional market places, and marvelling at the architectural wonder of the Koutoubia Mosque tower, before winding down in Yves Saint Laurent's Jardin Marjorelles.

Beginning in the Promenade des Anglais, Simon Calder explores the Matisse Museum and admires the beautiful views of the hills of Provence. He also samples the region's cuisine, trying traditional corn pancakes and dining at the luxurious Aphrodite restaurant, before tasting some locally produced wine.

Simon Calder finds the occupants of this dynamic city welcoming and friendly and the architecture staggering. Travelling to Delft, he visits the 'old church' where Johannes Vermeer, is buried, before journeying to the Hague to see some of the painter's most famous works in the Dutch Royal art collection.

Sharm El-Sheikh's reputation for luxury is borne out by Simon Calder's experience of the Four Seasons resort. After a dazzling snorkelling trip, Simon heads into the desert on a quad-bike, and takes tea at a Bedouin campsite. Crossing the Gulf of Suez, he visits Hurghada, a bustling tourist city with a more authentically Egyptian identity.

Beginning in the Buddhist 'Temple of the Tooth', Simon Calder experiences Singapore's diverse population. He visits the multi-ethnic Chinatown, before exploring the village of Kampong Glam, getting a fresh view of the city by riverboat, and filling up on worldwide cuisine at Glutton's Bay.

There are many sides of this tourist hotspot for Simon Calder to discover, from the seventeenth-century building containing Tenerife's history museum, to the Augustan monastery in the quiet town of La Laguna. After walking on the summit of central mountain Teide, Simon visits the manmade beach of Las Teresitas, and the cultural capital, Santa Cruz.

Simon Calder speaks to the founders of the Lonely Planet, Tony and Maureen Wheeler. In a wide-ranging interview they discuss the history of their now ubiquitous travel guides, the controversial Lonely Planet guidebook to Burma, and their thoughts on the future of the travel industry in the face of concerns about its impact on the environment.

In this interesting one-off podcast, Simon Calder finds out how the Youth Hostel Association is adapting to a changing travel industry, whilst continuing to offer cheap and cheerful accommodation to its 250,000 members and other budget travellers around the world.

From the ‘Hotel Periscope’ and the Acropolis, to sandal-buying and wine-shopping, Simon Calder explores the ancient and the modern sides of the spectacular Greek capital. Join our intrepid explorer as he learns to snoop out the hidden delights of the Athens retail experience, marvels at the late-night eating, samples traditional cuisine, and tries to keep up with the nocturnal partying habits of young Athenians.

"Prepare to recalibrate your sense of wonder" that's Simon Calder's advice for when first you experience the New World Wonder that is Machu Picchu. But on a journey of discovery through Peru, from the steamy, soupy Amazon to the austere beauty of the High Andes, Simon shows there is far more to Peru. Meet the locals along the world’s mightiest river; marvel at the mysteries of the Nazca Lines; and take the pulse of Lima, one of the most exciting capitals in the Americas. download here

Something to Declare is the UK's only travel magazine radio programme, presented by Ben Ross and Frances Tuke. The aim is to translate to radio The Independent's long-held values of inspiring, informing and entertaining travellers - with production standards to match the best of the BBC. The programme mixes expert advice from studio guests with reports from travellers and the travel trade across the world.

Ben Ross of The Independent's travel desk presents our new travel magazine programme.

Simon Calder experiences the stunning modern design and Roman roots of the Catalan capital, Barcelona, taking in the art, architecture, food and fashion of a truly 21st century city.