Grand designs

This month...

…we’re plotting our 100th issue, coming up in three months

Behind the Scenes

How our team of writers and photographers made the January issue

WHERE YOU’VE BEEN AND WHAT YOU’VE SEEN

I took this photo of a great hornbill on the

A WORLD OF TRAVEL NEWS AND DISCOVERIES

BRITISH AIRWAYS has just announced the start of the first

Easy Trips

THIS MONTH... take to the skies in Austria, discover little-visited Christmas markets, and trek across the Sahara

Up, up and away

A certain magic fills the air when a hot-air balloon

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Five European cities to binge on seasonal good cheer

Weekend in Whitby

If proof were needed that seaside towns aren’t just for

Middle of snowhere

For total switch-off this winter, head to Torassieppi Reindeer Farm

Shifting sands

The Sahara Desert is one of the most extreme environments

Ackselhaus

Berlin is well suited to winter: Christmas markets open all

TAIWAN

Often overshadowed by its larger Asian neighbours, this Switzerland-sized island is ripe for discovery: Taipei is a city comfortably in the throes of reinvention, while trips beyond lead to the neck-craning wonder of Taroko Gorge, the traditional pursuits of Tainan, and southern Kenting with its beach-and-jungle vibe

Once upon a time in the west

Iceland’s wild western coast has bred a long line of storytellers, who share tales of super-human Vikings and meddlesome spirits across the millennia. We meet the people keeping the tradition alive and the landscapes that inspire them

The Perfect Weekend RIGA

Though possessing all the old-world charm of much busier Eastern European cities like Prague, Latvia’s capital has a fresher, younger feel than its cobbled streets initially suggest. Its restaurants and design shops snap at the heels of Copenhagen, but offer much better value for money for a winter break

Pass lives

Take a snowshoeing trip in the Swiss Alps to traverse one of the most storied mountain passes in Europe, and to meet the brave souls who watch over travellers on the road

Extraordinary places to stay for Winter

Whether your seasonal survival strategy is to pull up the blanket or jet off to sunnier climes, we’ve got your holiday addresses covered

A wild drive

I decided to leave my life in Belgium behind and

Spain’s best-kept secret

With rolling meadows leading down to beautiful beaches, elegant and animated seaside towns, and a thriving regional culture coupled with a distinctive history, Asturias is the beating heart of northern Spain

Creative Glasgow

Disarmingly blending sophistication and earthiness, Scotland’s biggest city has evolved into one of Britain’s most intriguing metropolises and a haven for the visual arts

Weekend in Dresden

Winter is a fine time to visit the capital of German Saxony, where locals have shrugged off Dresden’s war-damaged past to nurture the city’s cultural and historical drawcards

Winter in North Norway

Wild, sparsely populated, densely forested Arctic Norway is home to fishing communities, indigenous Sami people and the aurora borealis. In winter, it’s full of life

New York architecture

New York’s architectural history is a layer cake of ideas and styles – one that is written on the city’s streets. For architecture buffs, it’s a bricks-and-mortar bonanza

Budget Bali

Beyond classic beach vibes and serene temples, Bali’s health kicks, simple living and hopping cultural scene make the Indonesian island a bucket-list bargain-bliss destination

Barbados island life

Beaches on this former British colony are legendary, but dig deeper for the international surf, Bajan culture, Unescolisted capital and garden-filled interior

What on Earth?

In which region of Europe is it traditional to have