The Best Time to Travel? The Off Season

An ancient city that looms large in history and legend, Athens has its main sights clustered in one area with tiny central neighborhoods.

I didn’t mind that it was raining when I arrived in Cannes on a Tuesday afternoon in November. Strolling the small city on the French Riviera, best known for its annual celeb-studded film festival, I appreciated the sleepy beaches; the warm, salty breeze; the dearth of crowds or waits to be seated at restaurants. That evening at Le Fouquet's brasserie, as rain pitter-pattered on the ceiling of the heated terrace, the sommelier poured me a chilly Chablis to go with my crispy seared scallops. “Romantic, isn’t it?” he asked. I couldn’t help but agree.

Located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast to the south of Valencia, Villajoyosa has been named the “Best Hidden Gem in Europe 2024,” according to European Best Destinations, which has just published one of the most anticipated lists of the year. The best secret destinations in Europe is a ranking that recognizes hidden corners, spots far from the crowds, beautiful villages lost in time, and places where some of Europe’s natural beauty can be experienced by simply taking a short walk.

Anyone who’s been to Indonesia's Gili Islands would likely agree on one thing – you can’t help but feel relaxed as soon as you set foot on the fine white sands.

There are plenty of great spots to eat all across Istanbul—it’s arguably one of the best food cities in the world. You could spend your entire trip eating your way across Turkish cuisine, both modern and traditional, but we all know that sometimes a good slice of pizza calls… especially after a couple of glasses of rakı or Turkish wine.

Turkey is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world—so it only makes sense that its largest city would be home to some pretty decent wine bars and wine-focused restaurants with great local wine.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

“From the lush landscapes to the faultless food, you'll never be short of things to do - or eat - on an Italian escape,” says tour guide Lorne Blyth.

A beach is to a vacation is as ice cream is to apple pie: essential. We dream of beaches in Europe and we imagine that feeling of flaxen sand between our toes, the sounds of sea waves crashing on the shoreline, and the updrafts of salty ocean breeze. The small snag is, everyone else gets the same idea, and during peak seasons, carving out a spot on the shore to set out our picnic or recline with our beach read can feel like an impossible feat of engineering.

In a groundbreaking move, the prestigious MICHELIN Guide unveils its inaugural ranking of MICHELIN Keys for France today, marking its first foray into hotels. With 189 distinguished establishments across France among the 600 hotels in the new guide, Michelin celebrates the talent and dedication of these hospitality professionals, setting a new standard for excellence in the hotel industry. As MICHELIN's inspectors continue to scour the planet for the best in class, hotel rankings for other destinations are to follow later this month.

An inimitable blend of cool and kitsch, Brighton is one of the UK's most quirky, vibrant and welcoming cities.

This is part of Off Season Italy, a collection of guides highlighting the year-round appeal of Italy's most popular destinations, courtesy of our favorite local tastemakers. Read more here.