What on Earth?

editor’s note

I have brave taste buds. While travelling I have chomped

YOUR WORLD OF DISCOVERIES

Take a weekend road trip along the Amalfi Coast, meet

São Bento, Lisbon

Lisbon veteran Sandra Henriques Gajjar introduces us to her favourite neighbourhood, a hidden corner of the Portuguese capital with heaps of old-town character

Climb From Sea To Cloud

With longer summer days on their way, head to Norway for outdoor adventures amid the unique landscapes of the fjords

Survive a Rip Current

A rip current can occur anywhere there are waves, pulling you away from shore. The bigger the waves, the more powerful the rip

Signal Yes or No in Bulgaria

Nod your head up and down to say ‘no’, and

Use Chopsticks

Chopsticks originated in China’s Shang Dynasty (1600–1046BC) and were first used for cooking, not as eating utensils. Across East Asian countries there are variations in styles, materials and etiquette, but here’s a basic guide to holding them, with some advice about manners

Photograph Life in Motion

Frequent Lonely Planet contributor Mark Read took this photo of a dancer in Oaxaca, Mexico. Here are his tips for getting a shot like this

The Amalfi Coast

Grab yourself a slice of la dolce vita with a weekend driving trip in southern Italy – classic car optional

All Eyes on Zimbabwe

With the resignation of Robert Mugabe after almost four decades

The Swan, Southwold

A recently revamped hotel for lovers of the seaside... and a good stiffdrink

BARCELONA

YOUR FIRST TIME BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Sailing Holidays

The idea of hopping between tiny islands or sleepy coastal villages on a sailing boat can seem both magical and intimidating: how to cope with all those knots and inscrutable nautical terms? Find a skippered sailing boat, however, or a beginners’ course that lets you explore widely, and you might discover a new favourite means of travel. If billowing sails are a priority for you, check first how much they are likely to be used on the trip – engines are an unavoidably practical default when the wind isn’t cooperating

The Craft Brewer

The Czech Republic is one of the world’s most historic beer destinations. Raise a glass with one woman who is helping to propel its brewing scene into the 21st century

The VW Campervan

A half-century on from its flower-power heyday, the Volkswagen Type 2 conjures up images of carefree life on the road like no other vehicle

Komodo National Park

A voyage to a land of dragons is no mythical

Dublin

The very best way to spend €250 euros in a single day At the time of publication, €250 = £220

Summer's calling

If you can!t quite wait for the long, hot days

Łódz

Eight reasons to make this Polish city your next weekend break

TALES FROM THE ROAD

Join our writers scout out what goes into the perfect

Chaos

Each month we set our Instagram followers a new devilish challenge–to submit photos on a theme. Here we reveal the winning images for ‘chaos’

Voyage to South Georgia

A spur-of-the-moment plan made at a wedding reception leads to a journey by sail through iceberg-filled seas, to an Antarctic island rich in wildlife

Scotch Egg

In a surprise move, our quest plays out through London rather than Scotland, ranging from the capital’s fanciest food emporium to a prizewinning backstreet pub

Goa, India

MORE PEOPLE DIE ANNUALLY from being hit by a falling

Some Like it Hot

Landscape photographer Michael Shainblum travelled to the Big Island of Hawaii to experience a rare lava ‘waterfall’

The weirdest thing happened…

With the world’s greatest literary gathering, Hay Festival, taking place this month in Wales, we asked some of its speakers to share their strangest ever travel experiences

Beer and brushstrokes

I came across this shophouse while walking up Pagoda Street

Best of the Basque Country

With Spanish and French parts, the Basque Country is a diverse territory whose people speak the oldest-surviving language in Europe. This list highlights the region’s top spots, and pinxtos get special mention

GREAT ESCAPE Slovenia

Begin your Slovenian adventure in laid-back Ljubljana, before heading north to the exquisite Lake Bled and west to the snowcapped Julian Alps. Next, visit the country’s western winelands for intimate cellar-door tastings, before heading to Piran on the Adriatic coast for Riviera glamour beside glittering seas

Route for victory

Drive a road that follows Napoleon's last epic journey from the coast to the Alps, through some corners of southeast France that remain off the beaten track today

Go Wild BRITAIN'S LOVELIEST GLAMPING SITES

Opening the double doors of Tamar Hut in the morning

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Take a meditative journey on the Inlandsbanan – the summertime railway that trundles through Sweden’s wildest landscapes, striking deep into the Arctic Circle

ON THE COFFEE TRAIL

Four fantastic countries for a caffeine boost

Food and drink in Rome

The Eternal City’s streets and piazzas teem with trattorias, ristorantes, pizzerias and wine bars. Discover Rome through the lens of its cuisine, and if you feel overwhelmed, make use of the menu decoder in this guide

Good times in Austin

A big city with a small-town heart, Texas’ state capital is packed with great music, culinary prowess and a sociable streak that’s impossible to resist. We’ve picked the places where Austinites go to unwind

Culture in Hanoi

Vietnam’s multi-ethnic make-up has FRPELQHG ZLWK KLVWRULF LQÁXHQFHV IURP China – and later France – to make its capital a place of great cultural depth, now making up for lost time in the last century