The most exciting routes launching in 2019

editor’s note

Way ahead of time and with a dash of surprise

BOERUM HILL

New York local Mikki Brammer introduces us to Boerum Hill: a friendly and historic Brooklyn neighbourhood filled with top-notch restaurants, modern art and bars you won’t want to leave @mikkibrammer

Weekend bags

Handy on a bike as well as a quick jaunt,

Robert Mapplethorpe

He thrilled and scandalised 1980s New York, and now –

Dinner at the bottom of the deep blue sea

From this spring, fish going about their business of Norway’s

Count the stars

The night skies have helped sailors chart their course for

Learn to ski

It might not feel like it when you’re standing at

Iron man

The planet’s tallest statue has been unveiled, of Sardar Vallabhbhai

Plovdiv

Travellers wishing to add a bit of surprise and intrigue

Unusual new hotels

Bold design and compelling settings have us dreaming of these super-luxury stays

Edge of the Gobi

Conor MacNeill on visiting a unique Mongolian landscape, where giant dunes roll up against fertile marshes

Strangers-turned-saviours

There’s nothing quite like being helped out of a tight spot when that spot is halfway round the globe. Our stafers recount episodes in their travels that prove home isn’t necessarily where the heart is…

Perfect Weekend

We reveal the winning images for our Instagram competiton, this month on the theme of ‘perfect weekend’

Indian adventures

Travelling with children can bring well-known landmarks back to life, says travel writer Lorna Parkes, afer visiting India’s Golden Triangle

Best of the Cotswolds

Undulating gracefully across six English counties, the Cotswolds region is a delightful tangle of golden-hued villages, thatched cottages, evocative medieval churches and honey-coloured mansions

Culture in Ghent

One of Belgium’s oldest cities, Ghent has a wealth of medieval and classical architecture, as well as areas of urban renewal populated with quirky art galleries and contemporary museums

Weekend in Sofia

Sofia is an eclectic city, with a scattering of onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and stubborn Red Army monuments. Use this list to plan your itinerary for a weekend in the Bulgarian capital

Food and drink in Denver

Colorado’s cosmopolitan state capital has come a long way as a centre of food and drink. This gateway to the Rocky Mountains now delights with an array of excellent restaurants, brewpubs and bars

First time in Kathmandu

Nepal’s capital is a riot of sights, sounds and smells. This list will help you barrel through the traffic-jammed alleyways of the Old Town in a rickshaw, marvel at medieval temples and more

Outdoors in Vancouver

Canada’s urban jewel of green space, the mighty and highly beloved Stanley Park, is the only highlight when it comes to outdoor fun in Vancouver. Use this list to find things to do outside in the city

What on Earth?

1 Which Alpine country celebrating 300 years of nationhood on

Food on the go

Pick a changing backdrop to your meal and your drinks with these gastronomic experiences that take place on the move

Eat, and cry for more

At mealtimes or cocktail hour, Portugal's second city proves it's no second fiddle. Explore Porto's culinary culture and discover a place with a huge appetite for life

MAKE IT HAPPEN: Porto

BA, easyJet, Ryanair and TAP Air Portugal fly direct to

Back to the land

Take the rough with the very smooth on these relaxed rustic getaways. Learn to forage, farm, or just snooze in a tree…

One-off weekends

Clear calendar space for these extra-special weekend ideas that take place at limited times only

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

Each winter, the people of the Lötschental valley high in the Swiss Alps gather for a carnival that terrifies and mystifies in equal measure; we grit our teeth, gird our loins, and dare to join them

MAKE IT HAPPEN: LOTSCHENTAL

The most convenient airport is Geneva, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away

SIX STEPS TO CARNIVAL

1 Start your journey in the Blaue Stube exhibition, owned

Weekends on wheels

From horsedrawn trundling to jolty ofroading, get closer to the landscape with one of these daring drives or rural rides

Adventures in art

Make a pilgrimage to a see a famous painting, then break out of the museum for a themed exploration of the host city

Weekend quests

Seek and ye may not find… but you’ll tread new paths in the process. Test your skills or plain luck on one of these multifarious challenges

Island weekends

From bustling cities to otherwise unpopulated escapes, circumscribed pieces of land can ofer boundless rewards

Pic’n’ mix Ile de Ré

This month, in our ongoing short-break series, we turn to the very best experiences on this salty, cycle-friendly French island. Choose your favourites and build your perfect trip

Cultural weekends with kids

Take your young culture-vultures away for a weekend inspired by their favourite movies and children’s stories

Go further weekends

Six short breaks to surprising destinations that will live long in your memory

Wild blue yonder

Those who dare to spend their weekend hiking the Selvaggio Blu, Italy’s toughest trek, on Sardinia’s wild east coast, are rewarded with an experience few will ever have

Locals’ LONDON

How do we Lonely Planet staf spend our weekends in our hometown? We reveal our favourite experiences and places to hang out in London