GREAT ESCAPE Central Thailand

editor’s note

We’re celebrating cities in this issue, with four major features

BEHIND THE SCENES

What Team Lonely Planet has been up to this month

Postcards

WHERE YOU’VE BEEN AND WHAT YOU’VE SEEN

Globetrotter

A WORLD OF TRAVEL NEWS AND DISCOVERIES

Easy Trips

THIS MONTH... find a vegan bonanza in Manchester, go forest bathing in Hampshire, put on your admiral’s hat in the Norfolk Broads and cycle past long beaches in Cyprus

House bands

An element of mystery runs through every one of Sofar

Veg out

Manchester, not London, was the 19th-century birthplace of vegetarianism in

IRVING IN BERLIN

Quote ‘Lonely Planet’ when booking via marriott.com at Hotel am

Into the woods

Sushi and karaoke have reached all continents; Japan’s latest trend

Baltic bolthole

Quote ‘LPSPRING18’ when booking a room online for a stay

All a-Broad!

Horatio Nelson’s homeland springs back into life as the nights

The Rookery

The Rookery is spread across three Georgian townhouses in the

A wheel excursion

The highest point of Cyprus is the island’s very own

NEW YORK CITY ON THE LEVEL

North, south, east and west, begone. To take a true reading of New York City, look not left and right, but up and down – from an underground music club sunk below the concrete foundations to a wraparound rooftop observation deck, 70 storeys above the teeming sidewalks

ALTERNATIVE City BREAKS

Take the unexpected path with our countdown of 10 offbeat European cities

Secrets of Santiago

A nation that spans frozen fjords and dusty deserts, Chile claims the top spot in our Best in Travel list this year, making it the number-one country to visit in 2018. In the midst of these epic landscapes is the capital, Santiago – its skyscrapers rising tall against a backdrop of snowy sierras. Long bypassed by visitors to Chile, this city is currently undergoing a renaissance, with a lively arts scene, revived urban spaces and an evolving food culture. Here are eight stops to make on your own pilgrimage

Cities in Bloom

Every spring in Japan, sakura (cherry blossom) forecasts are played on the radio and TV, just like the weather. The arrival of the blossoms heralds a nationwide festival to celebrate the passage of the seasons, the start of spring, and the fleeting beauty of the flowers. Hanami is the main format for celebrations, involving picnics and parties beneath the cherry trees. In popular spots, people book time off work and camp out to stake claim to the sought-after sakura. It’s a land grab! Other areas are quieter, though. The festival attracts people of different ages, professions and sensibilities: there’s a collective interest in the blossoms, and it’s a national spectacle. I love nature, so I found it interesting and profound to see a mass of people paying such respect to the seasonal cycle in the urban environments of Tokyo and Kyoto, which I visited for this project. Joining in this centuries-old tradition made me feel a part of something precious. I especially liked the notion of wabi-sabi that underpins the festival: it is the philosophy of appreciating something in all its forms, and seeing beauty in imperfection

Best of Yorkshire

With its moors and dales, fishing ports and cathedrals of industry, 'God's Own County' is rich in sights and experiences. Here you'll find our pick of the highlights, with a special section on the historic hub city of York

Washington, DC in spring

Explore the American capital in the season that suits it best: spring. Take your pick from grand monuments and sculpture gardens, outdoors markets and trips by paddleboat in parks full of cherry blossom

Night-time in Madrid

The city of siestas naturally thrives at night. Use this guide to explore the Spanish capital in its element - after sundown. You'll find food, bars, clubs and late-night sights, plus a special section on the city's top tapas joints

Culture in Delhi

The Indian capital is a heady mix of Hindu, Islamic, colonial and post-colonial influences. These quick tips will help you prioritise in a city where it's all too easy to bite off more culture than you can chew

What on Earth?

1 Which three countries begin (in English) with the letter