As someone who errs towards a degree of shabby chic when choosing city break destinations, I wasn’t sure how good a match me and Helsinki would be. I needn’t have worried. Helsinki managed that brilliant trick of balancing “everything just works”, without being glossed and polished to within an inch of its life. Here’s why […]
“OMG we’ve GOT to do this!” I enthused, simultaneously holding a glass of wine and shoving the screen of my phone in my husband’s direction. I’d just shown Andrew this … the Red Bull 400. It may “only” be 400-metres, but the Red Bull 400 involves running UP a ski jump. Yes, you read that […]
Timişoara, Romania, will be European Capital of Culture 2021, but it’s got plenty to offer visitors now. Here’s why you should visit Timişoara before the crowds do. Reason 1: Architecture in Timişoara is fabulous Its buildings may be less well recognised than those of its Romanian counterparts Sibiu, Sighişoara and Brasov; but Timişoara’s architecture is […]
Sicily’s second city of Catania makes an ideal base for day trips by public transport to Taormina, Syracuse and Mount Etna. Here’s what to see and how to get there. Catania day trip 1: Taormina – for ancient ruins and vertiginous viewpoints Taormina is famed for its ruined Greek theatre, which dates back to the […]
Which towering landmark offers the best Berlin viewpoint experience? I road-tested the Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm) and the Victory Tower (Siegessäule) and rated them on: best workout, best bar, best for being on a budget and best photo opportunities. Here’s what I found out … I love climbing towers. The bring out the big kid […]
Wow, Berlin’s got a tonne of fantastic buildings! Here’s my self-guided Berlin architecture walk that shows off the city’s eclectic side. There’s a load of glass, brick and render out there … 1. Modern Berlin architecture at the Hauptbahnhof A homage to glass, the multi-storey central train station (Hauptbahnhof) combines style and function and has itself become […]
You don’t need to spend a fortune to visit Sicily’s Mount Etna. Europe’s liveliest and tallest volcano is easily accessible on public transport by bus from Catania. Read on for how to catch the bus there, and what to expect when you arrive. The bus to Mount Etna from Catania The bus to Etna from […]
