Valencia: City of arts, science, and pioneering climate practices

After a pandemic slump, quality of life is again on the rise in many of the world's cities. In fact, overall liveability has reached a 15-year high, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Global Liveability Index, which rates 173 cities on factors including stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education and infrastructure.

The idea of being stuck on a giant ship in the middle of the ocean with thousands of people riddled Holden Brown with anxiety. It wasn’t just the horror stories about passengers stuck on cruise ships during the pandemic (though that was part of it).

When ancient Romans founded Valencia, Spain, the city was built around the Turia River. The Turia River no longer runs through Valencia. In its place, a beautiful urban park snakes more than five-and-a-half miles through Spain’s third-largest city.

It's the year 2017. K-Pop megastar BTS has just dropped the album of the year "You Never Walk Alone," and its title track "Spring Day" is playing on virtually every speaker and radio station. A sense of longing permeates the space whenever the song is on, and it feels like the soundtrack of my life as someone struggling with her imminent transition into adulthood.

Last summer I took a cruise of the Baltic. I wanted to know if a millennial could cruise independently and still have a laugh. (They can. Just.) I was writing a book about fun at the time, and fancied that two weeks of shuffleboard and Nordic stop-offs might prove a decent source of the f-stuff. And so it proved. Though I could have done with more than an hour in Stockholm.

For anyone planning a trip to the Philippines, Stephen Keeling has picked out ten top films that showcase the country’s landscapes, history and culture.

One of South America’s most cosmopolitan and culturally rich cities, Buenos Aires sits on the western bank of the River Plate, a 78-square-mile block divided into 48 barrios or neighbourhoods.

On those precious sunny London days, there’s no better feeling than sitting outside with a drink. Pub gardens have their time and place, but in a city growing taller by the day, there are more and more places where you can get up high. Here’s our pick of the best rooftop bars in London.

Subtropical heat, golden beaches, craft distilleries and spicy curries: Durban is an intriguing mix of urban South Africa and the Indian subcontinent, with a generous sprinkling of hipster culture thrown in. From surf to spirits, we reveal six reasons you should make time for this sunny city.

How well do you know this green and pleasant land we call home? In part two of our Exploring England series we're revealing three more cities perfect for exploring along with their countryside charms – so you can experience the best of both town and country on a microgap escape. What is microgapping? It's taking a break from the norm, changing your perspective and maximising your enjoyment of this country we call home, without needing weeks to do it. Part one covered the south, east and west — and now it’s time to head north.

“Little Big City” proclaims the sign on the side of Bratislava’s trams. It’s certainly right about the first, Slovakia’s capital is dinky compared with its neighbours on the Danube – Vienna, the grand old dame of European capitals, ninety minutes to the west by boat, and exuberant Budapest, three hours to the southeast by train.

Many people mistake Sydney for Australia’s capital – and it’s easy to see why. Sydney has a truly cosmopolitan air, a moving-and-shaking business district, world-class galleries, a thriving LGBTQ community, and plenty of accommodation options to boot. Here’s our pick of where to stay in Sydney.