europe holidays
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Well cool: yoga on ice in Swedish LaplandNorthern Sweden and the frozen Baltic provide a stunning setting for a yoga retreat that delivers as many thrills as it does chills
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‘Dubrovnik is just as magical as when I visited aged 10’The old Croatian city, which inspired Annabelle Thorpe’s first novel, weathered the war of the 1990s and has emerged as glamorous as before -
10 of the best restaurants in Lyon – chosen by the expertsFrance’s gastronomic capital is famous for traditional cooking, but a new wave of chefs is now reinventing the classics. Chefs and insiders select their favourite Lyon restaurants old and new -
Home comforts: the Italian hotel giving refugees a showcase for their culinary skillsPart of a government project, Villaggio La Brocchi is a hotel focused on helping refugees – and by allowing them to shape the menu gives guests a taste of east Africa amid the Tuscan hills
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10 of the best things to do in HamburgThe recent opening of the stunning Elbphilharmonie concert hall put the port city in the spotlight, but there is a host of other attractions, plus great cocktails, design hotels and totally delicious fish sandwiches
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Aarhus, Denmark: what to see, plus the best restaurants, bars and hotelsThe 2017 European Capital of Culture has cool museums and galleries, and a wide range of modern Nordic food and drink, all within a compact walkable city centre
top 10s
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10 of Europe’s best alternative carnivalsIt’s carnival season in Europe in the lead up to Mardi Gras. We round-up some of the best, beyond the most famous, from festivals dating back centuries to epic parties in Cádiz, Basel and Sicily
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Top 10 Paris jazz clubs – chosen by musicians and expertsParis has always had a strong affinity with jazz, and there’s a wealth of venues to hear trad, modern and avant garde music. Here, performers, producers and critics pick their favourite clubs
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10 of the best foodie experiences in EuropeFrom a chef’s tour of Paris to the new Cornish pasty heritage centre, these mouth-watering trips across Europe are worth savouring
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Top 10 festive food traditions in EuropeWhether it’s cinnamon biscuits in Brussels, potato-anchovy casserole in Stockholm or Christmas pudding with a twist in Copenhagen, there’s a wealth of culinary delights on offer at yuletide
winter sports holidays
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Great little ski resorts: Megève, FranceFor those who want to avoid the crowds on and off the slopes, this small town offers peaceful pistes, great dining options and a top-notch jazz festival to boot
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Pop on the piste: Chamonix’s fun new ski hotelNeither cute chalet nor bland concrete block, Chamonix’s Rocky Pop hotel claims to be a chilled new take on winter holidays – and makes a fine base for our beginner snowboarder
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To ski or not to ski? Are the Alps fun without hurtling downhill?Is it possible to have a great time in a winter sports resort without actually strapping on the kit and going skiing or snowboarding? Our writer goes to Austria – to take it easy
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City breaks with kids: RomeThe Eternal City may be stuffed with classical treasures, but it also has plenty to intrigue kids – who will love the ready availability of pizza and ice-cream
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City breaks with kids: BarcelonaIt’s a favourite destination for adults, but Barcelona has loads to offer kids, whether they’re into football, science, the seaside or amusement parks
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beach holidays
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No stone unturned: my search for the pebble hunter's holy grailInspired by a book I found on holiday, I developed a love of Britain’s rare pebbles. But would I ever find the elusive and beautiful rhomb porphyry?
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activity holidays
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'I'm walking, skiing and canoeing from the Russian Arctic all the way to Istanbul'Explorer Charlie Walker is traversing the length of the Ural mountains as part of a triathlon adventure – and a bid to understand the nature of the east-west divide
restaurants
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Staying in style in BarcelonaWith an art gallery, coffee bar, yoga and south-east Asian food, you might find it hard to leave Barcelona’s Casa Bonay hotel – unless you get a craving for tapas
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Top 10 winter city breaks in EuropeWinter is the time for exploring snowy European cities full of cosy cafes – especially when they’re served by budget airlines with low-season fares
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A delicious dinner in Berlin – from food that would have been thrown awayRestlos Glücklich’s meals taste all the better for knowing that they’re made from veg rejected by supermarkets because of damaged packaging or their odd shape
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Alt city guide to LiverpoolLeft-field Liverpool is thriving with a strong DIY culture and an art world bubbling with grassroots projects. Here’s our pick of the most exciting music and culture venues, and the best places to eat and drink
10 of the best things to do in St Petersburg