Renzo Piano travel tips

Valletta, the Maltese capital, has been missing from the tourist radar for years. This sixteenth-century city has remained remarkably preserved, a grid of elegant houses with a view of the sea at the end of every cobbled street. Valletta started to get noticed when it was crowned European Capital of Culture for 2018, but remains relatively under the radar — good news for travellers looking for a quieter capital city experience. Find out what to do in Valletta and how to make the most of your trip — this information in this article is taken from the Pocket Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo, your essential guide for visiting Malta.

To each their own Genoa. One of the main Mediterranean seaports, with good connections to Milan and just a short distance from the Alps, the city has surprises in store for every type of traveller. A trip to Genoa is an opportunity to amaze friends, partners and family – and to enter a different world. A romantic Genoa for couples

When you have a partner obsessed with architecture, you can’t expect to go on holiday without a detour to see some building or another. So if it’s a city break, that usually means a walking tour of the architectural highlights interspersed with visits to art galleries.

Istanbul, the only city in the world that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, is much more than a vacation destination. From the famous Blue Mosque and former cathedral Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar and a brand new modern art museum, Turkey’s largest city is a fascinating adventure through time and culture. It was the capital of three empires and the influence of the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans can still be seen today, especially in its art scene.

Coming from New England, which is famous for its fall colours, I was disillusioned by the sheer multitude of brown, crumpled horse-chestnut leaves on display in Paris in autumn. So I began my quest for hints of gold, amber, russet and scarlet and have been richly rewarded.

The hotly anticipated visitor centre at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva will soon be open to the public.

Monaco’s high season is bookended by two of the French Riviera’s ritziest events: the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht Show. Super yachts and fast cars are two of the principality’s defining features, but there’s much more to Monaco than you’d expect from the world’s second-smallest state, which is about the same size as Central Park.

All the clichés about Paris are true – stylish, romantic, glamorous and utterly compelling. Yet it retains surprises that continue to delight even the most seasoned visitors. The landscape of the city changes as you cross from quartier to quartier. From historic St-Germain to the vibrant Marais, Paris is abuzz with bars and cafés. But where should you base yourself when you visit? Whatever kind of trip you’re planning, this guide will help you pick where to stay in Paris.