europe holidays
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Homage to Bowie: in a Berlin ice-cream parlourBlack Star (chestnut and chocolate) and White Duke (almond and peach) are among the flavours created by a gelato artisan and David Bowie superfan in Berlin
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Spain road trip: San Sebastián to ValenciaThis route kicks off with the dazzling food and art of the Basque country before traversing Navarre and Aragon and heading south to Spain’s paella capital -
Spain road trip: Madrid to Santiago de CompostelaPlains, mountains, a dramatic coastline and pit stops for great food and wine punctuate this two-week route between the national and Galician capitals -
Flea to France: shopping at Europe’s largest vintage marketThe Provencal village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has the largest concentration of vintage stores outside Paris and also hosts a giant open-air flea market. The next is in August – so get ready for a bric-a-brac bargain
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10 of the best public gardens in ItalyWith the Grandi Giardini Italiani – the country’s largest network of gardens – celebrating its 20th anniversary, founder Judith Wade selects her favourites
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Lisbon city guide: what to see plus the best bars, restaurants and hotelsPortugal’s capital is bursting with culture and great places to eat, stay and party – and it’s the cheapest city break destination in western Europe
top 10s
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10 of Europe’s best summer festivalsFrom giant elephants by the Loire to Stax of soul in Helsinki, there are cultural celebrations to suit all tastes across the continent
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10 of the best small islands in CroatiaThese Adriatic islets, many sparsely populated and little visited, are perfect for boat rides, great walking trails, lovely beaches and the odd bit of culture
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10 of the best new summer activity holidays in the AlpsFrom ziplines in Switzerland to walking holidays in Italy and France, plus mountain bike breaks and an outdoor festival, the Alps are worth a ‘peak’ this summer
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Top 10 restaurants and bistros in ZagrebCroatia’s capital is bursting with good-value places to eat and drink. And new flights from the UK have made getting there cheaper too
winter sports holidays
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Les Arcs ski resort lures Brits with Brexit-busting offerThe popular French winter sports destination is hosting a ‘British festival’ to keep UK customers and staff coming
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Great little ski resorts: Vaujany, FranceThis unspoilt village on the doorstep of the vast Alpe d’Huez ski area offers stunning scenery, but is free of the crowds and commercialism of the bigger resort
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‘Here in Jämtland, people will ski during their lunch break’Champion freerider Reine Barkered on the food, ski trails – and gruff characters – of his mountainside home in northern Sweden
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Tilos, Greece: the first island in the Med to run entirely on wind and solar powerTiny Tilos, in the Dodecanese, is a pioneering nature reserve. Now, Greece’s ‘green island’ is set to be powered by renewable energy
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French theme park Puy du Fou lines up new venues in Spain and ChinaThe park known for its mix of history and extravagant live shows celebrating French culture is to develop new ventures in China and Toledo, Spain – with promises to reflect each country’s distinct heritage
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beach holidays
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Croatia’s remotest islandAfter canoeing round deserted coves and spearfishing with the lighthouse keeper, Kevin Rushby is tempted to stay on beautiful Lastovo island forever
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activity holidays
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Cottage with class: a short break on Ireland’s Donegal coastA renovated traditional stone homestead with its own beach is the first in a new collection of holiday lets that make idyllic bases for exploring elemental Ireland
restaurants
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Great restaurants in Lisbon: readers’ tipsLisbon is teeming with fresh (and cheap) seafood, tapas and exotic dishes from Portugal’s colonial past. But it’s not just the food – our readers are wowed by the ambience and views, too
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Tallinn’s ‘new Nordic’ food scene – and the restaurants leading the wayA new generation of Estonian chefs is feeding a culinary revolution by mixing Scandi-style cooking with traditional flavours to create innovative dishes at affordable prices
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10 of the best restaurants near Rome’s major attractionsEating near the Eternal City’s famous landmarks needn’t mean tourist menus and pricey pizza. These handy trattorias and wine bars will still leave some change for the Trevi fountain
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Higher Buck, Waddington, Lancashire: hotel reviewThis pub, in one of Lancashire’s prettiest villages, is up there with the finest dining in the lauded Ribble valley. The modish makeover is no match for the food, but the classy guest rooms are
10 of the best beach bars in France