From Joyce’s death mask to Bono’s sunglasses: a look around the Little Museum of Dublin’s grand curiosities This people’s museum is crammed with curios donated by Dublin residents. A major facelift has added a library, archive and exhibition on ‘fearless women’ There are certain museums around the world that go beyond their role of housing […]

Summer in Europe’s lakes and mountains: 15 of the best holidays With cooler air, fewer crowds and lower prices, the mountains make a great alternative to the coast All Italians race to la spiaggia in summer, leaving the hinterland marvellously empty. Tuscany gets a lot of love, but travel one region over to Umbria and […]

‘On a peak under a blue sky’: the joy of summer in Europe’s mountains Our writer recalls his favourite mountain experiences, from hard-won views to splendid isolation and the comforts of simple refuges After a tough scramble to the summit of Rhinog Fach, we look down into the deep valley holding the chilly waters of […]

‘Framed by jagged peaks, it felt like stepping into a dream’: readers’ favourite mountain trips in Europe From the Alpujarras to the Dolomites, our tipsters hike, camp and devour hearty mountain food in some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery• Send us a tip on European wilderness – the best wins a £200 holiday voucher After […]

The reinvention of Catania – Sicily’s once crime-ridden second city A decades-long crackdown on organised crime is opening up Catania, with previous no-go areas now welcoming tourists and new businesses. Discover its restaurants and bars before the prices catch up In 1787, Goethe wrote: “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to […]

Riding high in Germany on the world’s oldest suspended railway Still gliding above the town of Wuppertal on an overhead track 125 years after it was built, the charming Schwebebahn has lost none of its magic It’s easy to be seduced by the romance of train travel. Think of sleeper trains, boat trains, vintage steam […]

Should you take your dog on holiday? We went on a European road trip with our border terrier to find out Dogs have a sense of adventure, don’t they? We thought Missy would enjoy exploring France and Spain. She had other ideasPlus tips on travelling with dogs When, two years ago now, our dog sitters […]

A brush with Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence, France: a blockbuster retrospective comes to town The city once neglected its most famous son. But this summer visitors can immerse themselves in a major new exhibition and see the artist’s restored studio, home and the landscapes that inspired him Paul Cezanne is everywhere in Aix-en-Provence: there are streets […]

‘The walk is shot through with melancholy and romance’: a new trail to the north face of the Eiger The hike offers dramatic views of the Swiss Alps’ ‘murder wall’ – and poignant insights into the climbers who first braved it. For the son of one of those pioneers, it had a special resonance A […]

It’s showtime in Andalucía! How I found my voice on a musical theatre retreat With tuition from West End pros, this week-long singing break in southern Spain hits all the right notes ‘Do you prefer alto or soprano?” asks Steve Moss, poised at his electric piano. My mind goes blank. I’m usually more of a pinot […]