Europe and Middle East

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in Europe and Middle East. independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

A culinary and cultural weekend in Vienna

A terrific culinary and cultural weekend in Vienna

Vienna’s legendary attractions are its architecture, elegance, and music.
But a new trend is being experienced by Viennese and visitors alike: Enjoy a culinary and cultural weekend in Vienna, combining the springtime art and culture scene with great gastronomy.

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Les Angles ski resort Enfants Bruno Longo OT Les 2 Alpes

Les Angles ski resort. The French Pyrenees best value skiing.

I’m sitting outside a restaurant in Les Angles ski resort, surrounded by snow, 7,000 feet up a mountain and the sun is boiling hot. Not so strange really when you consider that this particular region of the Catalan Pyrenees, gets over 300 days of sunshine every year, but it’s a region that’s remained undercover for years, enjoyed in the main by French and Spanish locals.

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Weekend in Vilnius

I’m in Vilnius’ Vingio Park with over 100,000 other people watching a wonderful sight; over 10,000 participants of all ages in national costume on a massive stage in front of me singing their hearts out for Lithuania. I’ve got tears in my eyes, not quite what I imagined for a weekend in Vilnius, but the sound is extraordinary and I don’t understand a word they are singing, but I’m having an emotional moment just the same.

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Il Giardino di Ballaro

The weather in Palermo may well have been unseasonably freezing, almost arctic some might have said, but inside Il Giardino di Ballaro the warmth was contagious, from the roaring log fire in the lounge to the hospitality of owner Annalise and her team. Il Giardino di Ballaro is a luxury B&B converted from an ancient bakery and stables right in the heart of Palermo’s old town and just a few steps from Ballaro, the biggest of the city’s four iconic outdoor markets.

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Lisbon’s tastiest restaurants

Lisbon is awash with fantastic places to eat, you just have to know where to look for the best ones. Forget looking, here is a list of Lisbon’s tastiest restaurants just for you!

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Cheneston's Restaurant MS RestDayWindow printL

Cheneston’s Restaurant. Leafy Kensington has never tasted so good.

London is awash with good restaurants, celebrity chefs and temporarily trendy eateries. Those in the know though, keep little secrets to themselves to unwrap when the occasion allows. For me, Cheneston’s Restaurant is my little secret, so let’s keep it just between us then.

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