Art tips

Sophisticated, globally minded and perfect for late-night parties – Madrid can be an expensive place to enjoy. So if you want to see the sights on a budget, timing is crucial. Many of the city’s best museums, galleries and historic buildings are free to visit but only for a few hours at a time, so it always pays to check before turning up. Here are ten things to do in Madrid for free.

For most people the very mention of Pittsburgh conjures up images of heavy industry and skies black with smoke. And while such vistas were true a century ago and are still coded in the name of the successful local NFL team, the Steelers, the contemporary reality is of an attractive and vibrant modern city, which is frequently voted one of America’s most liveable. There is also no shortage of cultural attractions for the visitor. So here are ten reasons to make a visit to Pittsburgh.

A dazzling oasis where forty million people a year let their hair down, Las Vegas has made a fine art of indulging its visitors’ every appetite. From its ever-changing architecture to cascading chocolate fountains, adrenaline-pumping zip lines and jaw-dropping stage shows, everything is built to thrill.

Taking in stunning chateaux, epic hiking and biking trails, enchanting cruise routes, and wild water-sports spots, the Czech Republic’s Vltava River delivers an abundance of historic and natural beauty. Connecting South Bohemia and Central Bohemia through impossibly picturesque Prague, and taking its name from the old Germanic term for wild water (Wilt-ahwa), at 430km the Vltava is the Czech Republic’s longest river. It’s also a national symbol that was immortalised by the esteemed Czech composer Smetana in his stirring Má Vlast (My Country) composition. For independent travellers who like to get off the beaten track, touring the Vltava presents a uniquely enriching experience that rewards culture vultures and outdoor adventurers alike. In addition, trips exploring the Vltava are also ideal for visitors who like to travel responsibly, with plenty of environmentally-sound ways to get around (think bikes, boats and trains). Read on for some top experiences to enjoy along the vibrant Vltava.

When it comes to the UK’s eco attractions you’re spoilt for choice. Go wild swimming in Snowdonia, drive the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland and visit rewilding conservation projects in Scotland. You’ll find teeming wildlife habitats and ancient volcanic landscapes, innovative eco-centres and entire archipelagos powered by sustainable energy. Here are just some of the UK’s top eco attractions and activities. What’s more, they’re all located close enough to an electric ChargePoint, so why not gain green credentials by driving there with an Electric Vehicle (EV)?

South Africa’s giant Northern Cape is a wild and sun-seared landscape of rugged lava mountains, rolling red desert, sandy plains – and acres of solitude, where huge skies explode with stars after sundown. See lions prowl in the Kalahari Desert and wildebeest gather on the plains. Tap into history at a 19th-century diamond mine, paddle the Orange river and hike to South Africa’s largest falls. There are so many things to see and do in South Africa’s largest and least populated region. Here are just 10 reasons to choose the Northern Cape for your South Africa holiday.

Street art in Lisbon is flourishing. For over a decade the city's supported urban artists. And now even local government embraces the medium.

Cycle, hike, fish and feast your way across Sakushima, Himakajima, and Shinojima—three fascinating, protected islands in Japan’s historic Aichi Prefecture

With its illustrious past and timeless beauty, Florence continues to captivate visitors with its awe-inspiring masterpieces, charming cobblestone streets, and the lingering spirit of some of history's greatest artistic minds. Join us as we embark on a journey through this extraordinary city, tracing the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and other luminaries who shaped the course of Western civilization, and discover why Florence remains an unparalleled destination for art enthusiasts, history buffs, and seekers of inspiration alike.

It’s easy to see why Styria is eulogised as the ‘Green Heart’ of landlocked Austria. The state is almost 60% tree-cloaked and home to one national park – Gesäuse – and seven nature parks. Hiking is the traditional way of exploring, and there are options to suit all, from testing routes among high peaks that top out at 2,995m to long-distance forays, lovely lake loops and low-level walks for more amateur amblers. Myriad other summer pursuits are possible, including superb mountain-biking, plus you can ski year-round.

Compact and walkable, the capital’s Old Town is sandwiched between University Square, Boulevard Bratianu and the Dambovita River. While parts of the old town, or Lipscani, were built in the 15th century, much of it dates back to the 18th and 19th century after surviving the bombs of the Second World War and Communist-era city planning in the 1980s.

It would be impossible to mention Manchester and not talk about football. The city’s two teams have a long history of rivalry and boast fans all over the world. The home of Manchester United, Old Trafford, and the home of Manchester City, Etihad Stadium, offer tours and should be on any fan’s to-do list. For neophytes and anyone with an interest in the game, the National Football Museum is a must visit attraction in the centre of the city, next to Manchester Cathedral. The museum is not just about the Mancunian teams – it exhibits artefacts, photographs and stories about the culture surrounding the game.

Covering one fifth of Estonia, the country’s most ancient bog dates back 10,000 years. The uninhabited bogs are seen as places of peace and mystery, making them a poignant part of Estonian folklore. Visit at sunrise or sunset, when the dwindling light makes the already mystifying area even more enticing, and you may see animals that have adapted to live in the bogs. Visit in autumn when the landscape becomes a palette of reds, browns and yellows, and the water has not frozen over yet, as it does in winter. The Kõrvemaa bog tour explores Northern and Southern Kõrvemaa, which are known for their untouched hills, forests and lakes. Follow the boardwalk paths or don specially adapted bog shoes for a walk in the wetland. Discover how the bogs were formed and their cultural significance, or go for a swim in a bog lake.

The changeable autumn light showed off the luminous beauty of St Ives. Even when it was cloudy there was a soft focus glow across the whitewashed cottages of the town, and the sands and waves would shimmer, regardless at which of the several beaches you were looking over. Then, when the sun broke through, it was like being in the Mediterranean, the sea would turn cerulean blue, and you knew why so many artists have based themselves here over the years.

History Strung across a hook-shaped peninsula on a dramatic archipelago, Ålesund has long been an important centre of fishing and shipbuilding, as well as a gateway to the fjords and Sunnmøre Alps inland. A 1904 fire led to Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm rebuilding the whole town in Jugendstil Art Nouveau style, and it still boasts a remarkable collection of buildings with fairytale turrets and ornamentation. Like Bergen, the Hurtigruten ferry up the Norwegian coast stops here regularly.

Construction on the city’s grand cathedral began in 1072, on the orders of William the Conqueror. Highlights include an eye-catching organ, 19th century murals and the Lincoln imp – a stone engraving of a mischievous sprite tucked into the top of a pillar. Now an emblem of the city, legend has it that young imps were once let loose on the cathedral, causing havoc. To put a stop to this, an angel turned them into stone.

It was when the Atlantic surf starting drawing me down towards the village of Skara Brae that Orkney really started to sink in. From the visitor centre, I passed signs that marked more recent constructions – from the Pyramids to Stonehenge – transporting me back over 5,000 years.

Even if you’re not in the city for International Beatle Week, there are plenty of Beatles-related things to do in and around Liverpool. Cavern Club, where the band played over 300 times, has become an institution and has live music seven days a week. The club’s Magical Mystery Tour meanwhile offers a whirlwind way of seeing as many Beatles-related places as possible, including Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane and the Casbah Coffee Club.

Often squeezed into an overnight stop on a self-drive tour of Iceland’s Ring Road, the East makes a superb short break destination in its own right. With five days to lavish on the little-visited Austurland region, you can not only dawdle through the breathtaking East Fjords, but also spend time hiking in the mountains of Borgarfjörður Eystri and exploring the waterfalls, canyons and dormant volcanoes of the island’s rugged interior.

The Hanseatic League was a wealthy trading federation that from the 12th to the 17th century dominated commerce in the Baltic Sea. For more about the League and some of the cities most associated with it, see our article here. But, with over 200 cities associate with the Hansa League, there are many more European cities with intriguing remnants of those days. Here are six more you should visit with a new perspective. 

Conrad Benner’s phone camera was fixed on Nile Livingston, an artist who stood in front of a blank wall. Mx. Livingston would soon paint a massive mural, and the “canvas” would be the side of an apartment building overlooking a parking lot in the Gayborhood area of Philadelphia. But Mx. Livingston was having a hard time finding the right words for a promotional TikTok.