Travel in Hungary

Six countries now have the world's most powerful passport, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index — but the US isn't one of them.

There's a new six-way tie for first place in an annual global travel ranking.France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, have all tied as having the top passport in the world, measured by providing visa-free access to 194 countries with their respective passports, according to the newest Henley Passport Index. The annual report measures the flexibility of visa-free travel and has become a popular list among global travelers. For comparison, in 2023, only Japan was crowned with the top spot when it provided access to 193 countries. 

Four European countries now have the world’s most powerful passports.

Over the last five years, the world has changed a lot. A global pandemic ground much of the global population to a halt with travel the most restricted it's ever been in my lifetime – and most likely yours too. Russia’s war on Ukraine and now Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza are causing shockwaves around the world, reshaping the statuses of countries and the rights of their citizens.

An ‘Alpine start’ is a wonderful thing. Not that it feels that way when the alarm commands my companion and me to tear ourselves from our hotel beds at 2.30am, shoulder our packs and exit into the silent streets of Santa Caterina di Valfurva, a village in northern Italy’s Ortler Alps. It’s only many hours later, after a ride in a ramshackle 4WD and a long uphill trudge behind our guide — moonlit snow shining beneath our feet — that we’re greeted by a mountain sunrise so spectacular that it makes it all worthwhile.

After more than a decade of negotiations, Romania and Bulgaria are on track to become part of the border-free Schengen Area — beginning with air and sea borders — by March.

Zagreb is Croatia’s historic northwestern capital, boasting many impressive 18th- and 19th-century Austro-Hungarian architectural buildings and landmarks. Travelers should check out attractions like the main square, the Zagreb Cathedral, and the city’s pedestrian district, Tkalčićeva Street — which is a great place for shopping and dining. It’s a historic city featuring many educational and cultural exploration opportunities, including museums, art galleries, and diverse entertainment.

In the autumn of 1948, Marcel Bich, owner of a company located north of Paris that produced ink cartridges for fountain pens, pushed a wheelbarrow in his garden in the village of Rhuis. He considered the new ‘ball point’ pen launched by the Reynolds company in the United States, and was mystified by the allure of this expensive instrument that produced what he considered as shoddy writing. He turned around, peered at the wheel imprint left by his barrow on dirt, and was flooded with a realization. The ball point pen did the same as the wheel—it left an imprint by rolling, not by scratching. He knew this could lead to more fluid, easier writing.

Of all the types of food that are paired with wine, cheese has perhaps the strongest association. But is it really the soulmate it’s made out to be? Well, it is and it isn’t — it all depends on the type of cheese. And, of course, the style of wine.

Safety is top of mind for many travelers as they plan out their trips for 2024 and beyond. But for those in the LGBTQ community, and their allies, knowing which countries are welcoming towards gay travelers is an important consideration. Part of measuring that sentiment is knowing where residents stand on rights, including same-sex marriage. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about issues and attitudes shaping the world, released a new study showing which country’s residents support same-sex marriage the most, and which countries have the lowest level of support.

A European country has taken over the top spot as the world’s most powerful passport, according to a new index by VisaGuide.World. As of December, the Spanish passport has claimed first place from Singapore, a new study by the visa advice website has found.

Flaine is a French purpose-built resort whose creator didn’t feel the need to reflect the grandeur of the mountains in jagged shapes or classic chalets. It was born in the Swinging Sixties, designed by Hungarian architect Marcel Breuer who called the US home. He was a master of the geometric Bauhaus style and had created UNESCO’s grand Paris HQ. An entire ski town was a new challenge, which he met by producing a resort like no other.

Spain now has the world’s most powerful passport, according to a new index.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

In some parts of Europe, high prices and Christmas markets go hand in hand. But in others, this year’s soaring costs have come as a shock.

Outside the tiny town of Simon in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, an NGO called Foundation Conservation Carpathia is creating a 66,000-acre national park. It’s against that backdrop that the hotelier Bogdan Calulanu opened Matca, a 16-room hotel with 10 private villas. is the Romanian word for “queen bee,” the name a reference to the beekeeping practiced in this honey-producing corner of Transylvania and also to the pastoral serenity of a region that’s barely changed since the Middle Ages.

For travellers planning a culture-focused adventure, as hubs of human creativity, cities are the best place to start. From Milan to Riyadh, Budapest to Shanghai, the world abounds with buzzing metropolises, each offering something unique in the cultural sphere. Some cities function as living galleries in themselves through city-wide street art or award-winning architecture. Others offer artistic ways to explore history and culture, from immersive exhibitions to forward-thinking initiatives. But whichever you choose, you'll find inspiration on every corner. Here are five of the best.

If you’re a dog lover, you’ve probably, at some point while standing in line at airport security, wished that you could pet the dogs roving the lines or pat them on the head and tell them they’re very good boys and girls who are working hard.

Based on a record 600,000 votes by travelers from 168 countries worldwide, the European Best Destinations (EBD) organization has unveiled its list of “the most beautiful Christmas markets to visit 2023-24.”

This is not a story of “Airbnbust,” but instead we’re talking about a correction of the “Airbnboom” that has taken place since the highs of the pandemic.

Hungary’s short-term rental hosts who offer their properties on Amsterdam-based Booking.com haven’t been paid for several months, leaving some having to decide whether they’ll need to shutter their businesses, according to published reports.