Grace Beard

Boasting the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, it’s no surprise that Italy is one of the most visited places in Europe (and the world). And the magic of Italy is that you can travel there every year and never, ever have a similar holiday twice. From the Dolomites’ sweeping mountains to the gritty city life of Sicily’s Palermo, this country has every kind of holiday destination imaginable.  How should you decide where to go in Italy? Deciding where to go in Italy is a tough call, but it also really depends on what kind of holiday you want (and what time of year it is). For a packed few days seeing sights and eating lovely food, go for Florence, Rome or Venice. But for a laid-back, villa-style escape in nature, consider the Tuscan countryside. The best bit? You don’t even have to choose – Intercity trains mean you can jump from city to city easily and affordably, and tick a bunch off in one holiday. We’ve included recommendations for all the best spots in Italy on our list below – enjoy! Recommended:🏖️ The best beaches in Italy🏝️ The best islands in Italy🏫 The best small towns and villages in Italy☀️ The best things to do in Italy Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affi

In a year when it’s become pretty much impossible to so much as glance at a screen without being bombarded with all manner of maddening AI slop, it’s comforting to know that there is still plenty of vivid, funny, brilliantly human writing out there if you know where to look. From laugh-out-loud debuts and masterful autofiction to big-name autobiographies, gripping non-fiction thrillers and binge-worthy travelogues, here are our editors’ favourite page-turners of 2025. Add this lot to your ‘to read’ pile, stat. RECOMMENDED: 🎵 The 40 best songs of 2025📀 The 25 best albums of 2025

Reminiscing on festival season 2025? Well, the good times ain’t over yet, and if you ask us, it’s never too early to start planning which festivals to book in next year. Loads of great music festivals have already announced their headliners, and some of them kick off as early as January.  It’s worth noting that, in 2026, one of the planet’s biggest and best music festivals is not happening. That’s right – after an electric 2025, good old Glastonbury is on a fallow year to allow the land a bit of TLC. Not to worry, mind. No matter your music taste, who you’re going with, your weather preference or your capacity for camping, the world will have a festival that’s right for you, from Europe to the USA, Canada to Japan and Australia to India.  The best festivals in the world at a glance: ☮️ Best for hedonists and hippies: Boomtown 🔈 Best for beat freaks: Outlook 💡 Best for discovering something new: Tremor 🎵 Best for R&B and afrobeats: Afro Nation 🗽 Best city festival: Governors Ball 🎸 Best rock festival: Fuji Rock 🤩 Best for big names: Primavera Sound 🌠 Best for escaping reality: Big Red Bash Overwhelmed? Don’t sweat – here’s our comprehensive roundup of the best festivals in the world taking place in 2026. RECOMMENDED:🌍 The 26 best new things to do in the world in 2026🌤️ The best festivals in Europe in 2026🎭 The world’s coolest neighbourhoods to explore🌃 The best cities in the world right now

There’s a whole load of cool stuff happening across the world in 2026, but if you’re after some outstanding art to add to your bucket list for the year, Time Out has you covered. We’ve called on our international network of editors and writers, and dug around the ‘upcoming’ sections of galleries across the planet, to curate our very own list of all the art and culture worth travelling for in 2026. From retrospectives of greats like Raphael and Matisse to city-wide biennales and beautifully crafted fashion retrospectives, read on for all the very best exhibitions taking place across the planet in 2026. RECOMMENDED:🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2026🛍️ The coolest streets in the world🏘️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌍 The best new things to do in the world in 2026 Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.

Urgently in need of some cool pressie inspo for your nearest and dearest? Don’t worry about it! Our London gift guide is here, and it features loads of lovely pressies to suit just about any Londoner you can imagine.  From nifty gadgets to stylish accessories, covetable homeware to kids’ gifts, our editors have got every base covered, including plenty of sustainable options and handmade bits from some of London’s coolest indie brands and makers.  Need even more present inspiration? Check out our roundup of London’s best Christmas hampers for 2025. Time Out’s 2025 Christmas Gift Guide at a glance 🏰 Best for tech nerds: Nothing headphones 💷 Best for foodies: Allday Goods knife 🔬 Best for style queens: Peachy Den scarf and mitten set 🎡 Best for cool blokes: Percival martini cap 🎨 Best for youngsters: Ty Beanie Bouncers RECOMMENDED: More Christmas fun in London. 

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

This list is old. Here are the best things to do in the world in 2026.  2025 is set to be a momentous year when it comes to travel. Citywide celebrations and milestone anniversaries will be taking place in Amsterdam and Rome, sparkling new cultural centres are flinging open their doors in Rotterdam, New York and Abu Dhabi, and there are fresh chances to see some wonderful wildlife in Australia, Singapore and Greenland – but that’s just the beginning. Read on for our roundup of the 25 coolest, weirdest and most adventurous new things to do across the world in 2025, no matter your whereabouts or budget. RECOMMENDED:🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK in 2025🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2025🌃 The best cities in the world right now  

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

There are two types of people in this world: those who feel the temperature drop and retreat indoors with a blanket and a hot chocolate, and those who feel their pulses quicken. If you’re ready for a blast of Arctic air to your cheeks, hungry for the sound of skis on snow and would rather hike on a frozen lake thigh deep in snow than curl up with cosy crime, this one’s for you. We’ve rounded up the best of this winter’s trips for you, whatever your budget and whatever you like – as long as what you like is the cold. The best winter destinations at a glance: 🇳🇴 Best for igloos and cosy cabins: Norway 🏙️ Best for a winter city break: Bergen 🐻 Best for wilderness experiences: Canada ❄️ Best for snowy landscapes: Lapland ⭐ Editor’s pick: Japan RECOMMENDED:🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2025 Laura Hall is a travel writer based in Copenhagen. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

The most important thing about Christmas is here: the festive sandwich. So pure. So dense. So carby. This year, the staff of Time Out London have taste-tested seasonal sarnies from 10 independent bakeries, delis and street food stalls across London in order to find the jolliest Christmas sandwich in town. From vegetarian cheese feasts to meaty marvels and vegan sourdough wedges, these are the very best Christmas sandwiches in London. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

If you really want to experience local life at its most authentic when exploring a new city, the best thing you can do is take to the streets. And no, not that one major thoroughfare with the samey high street megastores and generic coffee shops. We’re talking about the neighbourhood backstreets and lively avenues that locals love; the places packed with independent shops and creative people, where a brand-new hi-fi listening bar will share the space with an old-school grocer or a centuries-old pub.  This year, to create our annual ranking of the world’s coolest streets, we asked our global network of local editors and experts to nominate the street that epitomises the very best of their city. Time Out’s global travel team then narrowed down the list and ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.  From Saturday samba sessions in Rio de Janeiro to a shapeshifting shopping street in Osaka, every avenue, alleyway and side street on this year’s ranking is unique to its hometown. Walking their length is like taking a stroll through the city in miniature, getting a taste of what makes life there brilliant – from food and culture to shopping and nightlife.  Did your favourite street make the list? Read on to find out. RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2025🌆 The world’s best cities in 2025 Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening a

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. Ticking off the main tourist attractions on a city break is all well and good, but it’s only when you veer off down a side street or stumble across a leafy avenue that you really get a glimpse of a city’s true character. Streets are the heart of local life; they’re where communities come together, where new local businesses become go-to staples and where urbanites go out, hang out and have fun.  So what are the world’s coolest streets worth a stroll right now? To find the answer, we reached out to our global team of local expert editors and contributors, who each made a case for the coolest street in their city. We then narrowed down the selection to create a definitive ranking of the best avenues, thoroughfares, backstreets and boulevards on the planet. And so you have it: the coolest streets in the world’s best cities. Over the last few years, street life has gone through something of an evolution. Outdoor drinking and dining, at one point a temporary measure, has become a staple on many of the streets on our hotlist; only bolstered by green initiatives like pedestrianisation and low-traffic avenues. In other words, these streets have become much more walkable and pleasant places to spend our time. On every street on this list, there are bold, creative new ventures in food, drink, nightlife and culture: from listening bars to repurposed heritage buildings, these streets are where you’ll find a city’s most ex

In late 2020, Capella Bangkok opened to join a string of luxury hotels on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, sharing a private driveway with the Four Seasons in the heart of the trendy Charoenkrung district. Just four years later, an international ranking crowned it the very best hotel on the planet. So, what makes this 101-room city hotel so special? Let’s start with the view. The hotel is designed so that every room faces the same way, out over the Chao Phraya River. Suites have floor-to-ceiling windows serving skyline from every angle – even from the bathroom sinks – or you could stake claim to your own riverside patch with a stay in one of the hotel’s ultra-exclusive villas, complete with a plunge pool and private tropical garden.  Every room and suite is decked out in a soothing Japandi style: think cream and honey tones, wooden partitions, and plenty of space and light. Beds are, of course, ridiculously plush, thanks to pillowtop mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets. Bathrooms are spa-like, with rainfall showers, a free-standing tub and his-and-hers sinks. There’s nothing too over-the-top here, but it’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into anticipating what a guest might need – and what might make them smile. Take the bedside touchscreen that allows you to control the lighting, the blinds, and pretty much anything else in the room. Or the fragrant ‘bath tea’, or the vanity kits printed with vintage photographs of the river.  Capella Bangkok landed its ‘world’s be

Just north of the throngs of beach-goers and sun-seekers on Tenerife’s southwestern coast, this striking clifftop hotel has been a go-to for blissed-out poolside luxury with a side of golf and high-end dining since 2005. Its signature salmon-coloured buildings and palatial Moroccan-style architecture make it one of the most recognisable properties in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio – and rightly so, as this place is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous. Upping the ante is brand-new high-end accommodation option The Retreat, an exclusive ‘hotel-within-a-hotel’ where guests are granted total privacy, ultra-personalised service and no-holds-barred access to the hotel’s best bits. Why stay at Ritz-Carlton Abama? This is a Ritz hotel, so you can expect unadulterated luxury. You’ll see kids doggy-paddling under bridges in the Lagoon Pool and parents ordering their third glass of champers. In the lobby, you’ll see golfers gearing up for a day at the on-site 18-hole championship course. Who knows, you might even see a celebrity. I’ll admit, being none of the above, I was expecting to feel a little out of place – but there’s more than enough room here to be in your own bubble, and the staff really do go out of their way to make you feel welcome.  I’ve mentioned how good-looking it is, but it bears repeating. The hotel is whimsical in its beauty, with bridges looping over a koi-filled central lake, pink staircases twisting out of buildings, and gangly palm trees shooting high into the sky. Fami

Just north of the throngs of beach-goers and sun-seekers on Tenerife’s southwestern coast, this striking clifftop hotel has been a go-to for blissed-out poolside luxury with a side of golf and high-end dining since 2005. Its signature salmon-coloured buildings and palatial Moroccan-style architecture make it one of the most recognisable properties in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio – and rightly so, as this place is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous. Upping the ante is brand-new high-end accommodation option The Retreat, an exclusive ‘hotel-within-a-hotel’ where guests are granted total privacy, ultra-personalised service and no-holds-barred access to the hotel’s best bits. Why stay at Ritz-Carlton Abama? This is a Ritz hotel, so you can expect unadulterated luxury. You’ll see kids doggy-paddling under bridges in the Lagoon Pool and parents ordering their third glass of champers. In the lobby, you’ll see golfers gearing up for a day at the on-site 18-hole championship course. Who knows, you might even see a celebrity. I’ll admit, being none of the above, I was expecting to feel a little out of place – but there’s more than enough room here to be in your own bubble, and the staff really do go out of their way to make you feel welcome.  I’ve mentioned how good-looking it is, but it bears repeating. The hotel is whimsical in its beauty, with bridges looping over a koi-filled central lake, pink staircases twisting out of buildings, and gangly palm trees shooting high into the sky. Fami

If you’ve got a window seat on the right side of the plane landing at Tenerife South airport, it’s impossible to miss the terracotta labyrinth of Barceló Tenerife. This massive, 272-room hotel feels like a small town, with low buildings clustered around plant-filled courtyards and a river-like pool snaking through its centre. Once checked in, you’re given a map of the place, like you would at a zoo or a theme park. There are restaurants and bars, hairdressers and shops, a nightclub, a volleyball court, a climbing wall, a lake, even an on-site environmental reserve. In other words, there’s everything you could possibly need here from an all-inclusive – and then some.  Why stay at Barceló Tenerife? Barceló Tenerife is on the island’s sun-soaked southern coast, and like many of the chain’s properties, it’s beautiful in a way that makes every effort to preserve its natural environment, rather than impose on it. Between clay-coloured buildings (all of them low-lying – you won’t find towerblock hotels in this corner of the island), there are cacti-studded patios and palm tree-filled courtyards. Interiors are shady and calm, full of rattan furnishings, wood and ceramics. But Barceló Tenerife is as fun as it is relaxing – this is an all-inclusive, after all, with families and couples catered to with a huge breadth of entertainment, adventure and food and drink offerings.  What are the rooms like at Barceló Tenerife? The 272 rooms here range from poolside doubles and spacious family s

If you’ve got a window seat on the right side of the plane landing at Tenerife South airport, it’s impossible to miss the terracotta labyrinth of Barceló Tenerife. This massive, 272-room hotel feels like a small town, with low buildings clustered around plant-filled courtyards and a river-like pool snaking through its centre. Once checked in, you’re given a map of the place, like you would at a zoo or a theme park. There are restaurants and bars, hairdressers and shops, a nightclub, a volleyball court, a climbing wall, a lake, even an on-site environmental reserve. In other words, there’s everything you could possibly need here from an all-inclusive – and then some.  Why stay at Barceló Tenerife? Barceló Tenerife is on the island’s sun-soaked southern coast, and like many of the chain’s properties, it’s beautiful in a way that makes every effort to preserve its natural environment, rather than impose on it. Between clay-coloured buildings (all of them low-lying – you won’t find towerblock hotels in this corner of the island), there are cacti-studded patios and palm tree-filled courtyards. Interiors are shady and calm, full of rattan furnishings, wood and ceramics. But Barceló Tenerife is as fun as it is relaxing – this is an all-inclusive, after all, with families and couples catered to with a huge breadth of entertainment, adventure and food and drink offerings.  What are the rooms like at Barceló Tenerife? The 272 rooms here range from poolside doubles and spacious family s

Other than an old sugar cane mill, a clifftop art museum and a beach with imported sand, there’s not much going on in Calheta. So you might wonder why this sleepy seaside town is home to two of Madeira’s seven Savoy hotels; the other five a forty-minute drive away in Funchal, the island’s capital. But after a long weekend spent at the newest offering, Savoy Signature’s glossy Saccharum Resort, I get why a hotel like this exists somewhere like Calheta. Saccharum makes the most of the area’s quiet, wild beauty, positioning the isolated town as a worthwhile spot to come for some real peace.  The resort is built between the hills and the ocean on the site of a former sugar cane mill; a heritage the hotel, like the town, flaunts with pride. There are chairs made from old barrels, railings modelled after sugarcanes, and random, massive pieces of old machinery sitting around. Even the restaurants are themed around the beloved regional product, with names like ‘Alambique’ and ‘Trapiche’ referencing sugarcane processes. (On that note, go to Trapiche for a poolside lunch and save the multi-course tasting menu at Alambique for that one blow-out dinner). An ocean-facing infinity pool is the hotel’s focal point; indeed, it feels like most of the hotel convenes here, some of them paying €35 (!) for the privilege of a poolside bed. ‘Premium’ guests get access to Bali beach beds and their own sundeck, but don’t worry, there are loads of vantage points to take in the island’s rugged splendour

Leave the latex at home – Bar Kinky is not a kinky bar, in the traditional sense. But that doesn’t mean it’s not sexy. Behind a curtain and down in the basement of Georgian restaurant Kinkally, this stripped-back cocktail den is all moody metals and concrete, livened up by sultry red lighting. And with only six or so seats at the bar, it’s as intimate as it gets. Allow the bartender to walk you through a menu of bold, playful cocktails with unlikely flavour combinations (vodka with beetroot, walnut and blue cheese, for example, or an elderflower spritz with a dash of soy sauce). If you’re not feeling too kinky, the team is happy to whip up any of the classics. A menu of ‘naughty nibbles’ is on hand for any hunger pangs, including delicious little beef tartare sandwiches and shrimp rolls.  Order this Guinness fans will enjoy the ‘Vision’ – sweet and creamy at the top, sour and slightly savoury at the bottom, made with whiskey, basil, coconut, horchata and milk tea. Time Out tip This place is walk-ins only, but if you’re worried about getting a seat, message the bar on Instagram and they’ll get back to you within minutes to let you know if they have any space. Big group? Ask about the private, bookable room.

Five years after opening in Soho, modern Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba now has a second London venue. Unlike the first, which is next door to Dishoom on the perpetually thronging-with-crowds Kingly Street, Kolamba East sits on a quiet Shoreditch backstreet. Inside it’s equally calm: a large, warmly-lit warehouse space with sand-coloured furnishings, jazz playing through the speakers, and that pleasing low chatter that invites you to settle down and enjoy the vibe.  Even though mango achchuri makes my eyes water, I can’t stop going back for more Where the decor has understated nods to Sri Lanka, like palm tree print wallpaper in the loo, the menu is a dizzying showcase of the island nation’s brightest, boldest flavours. I love spice, but if you don’t, I wouldn’t bother booking: most dishes we try are seriously punchy. Take the mango achchuri, an option from the ‘snacks’ portion of the menu: cold slithers of mango soaked in a fiery chilli dressing. Even though it makes my eyes water – maybe because it makes my eyes water – I can’t stop going back for more. We move onto starters: hot butter soft shell crab (lovely and sweet, but more drowning than swimming in butter) and jackfruit roti (surprisingly plump, served with an energising little cucumber and coriander salad). Sri Lankan cooking uses a lot of dry spice, so you can expect a level of heat that chars the back of your throat – kind of like an illicit cigarette. Lamb shank is a buttery-tender hunk of meat, slow-cooked over

The first thing you should know about Ellenborough Park is that it’s posh – thoroughly posh, in all the ways you’d expect a stately country home bordering the Cheltenham Racecourse to be. There’s a boot room for renting Dubarry boots and wax jackets. Bookable activities include archery, polo, horseback riding and shooting. When the races are on, guests decked out in their finest tweeds and furs are chauffeured to the heart of the action in private luxury cars (it’s worth noting you can walk there in less than 20 minutes, but heels won’t do well with the mud).  A little hoity-toity maybe, but it’s all part of the fun of being here. When you stay in a fifteenth-century manor house, walking to your room means ducking under archways and tip-toeing along creaky floorboards in slightly wonky hallways. Gothic windows frame ridiculously idyllic views across manicured grounds and the Cotswolds hills (keep an eye out for deer). The floor and tables shake when someone walks across the restaurant. Ellenborough Park simply has character, even if that character wouldn’t be out of place in Saltburn. The 61 rooms, unique in size and shape – some regal, others cosy and cottage-like – have been crafted with class by luxury interior designer Nina Campbell. Ours is one of the three Manor Suites, tastefully decorated with navy walls, mahogany Chippendale furniture and plump floral armchairs. Everything has the exceptional attention to detail you only get in really nice hotels: perfectly chopped c

For most Londoners, Alexandra Park is synonymous with Alexandra Palace or ‘Ally Pally’, the Grade II-listed music venue that sits atop the park’s hill and hosts the annual unruly World Darts Championship. But the surrounding parkland is vast – 196 acres, no less – and drop-dead beautiful no matter the season. I’ve spent many summer days steering a giant unicorn around the boating lake, crunching through carpets of yellow leaves on the tree-lined avenues in autumn, and sledding down the hill (when we get enough snow) in winter. And, of course, that panoramic city view is there to admire year-round.

Amsterdam has its share of historic hotels, but none can boast the legacy of the Doelen. The oldest hotel in the Dutch capital and a designated national heritage site, it’s here in the old banquet hall that Rembrandt’s The Night Watch – one of the world’s most famous paintings – was first displayed, way back in the seventeenth century. While you’ll now find it hanging a ten-minute tram ride away in the Rijksmuseum, a copy of the original is still proudly displayed in the hotel’s Rembrandt Suite.  The entire hotel is modelled after the Dutch master, notably so in the on-site restaurant Omber, where the crockery, menus and even the flowers are all the same shade of deep orangey-brown (apparently Rembrandt’s favourite colour to paint with). The food, we’re told, is influenced by seventeenth-century Dutch flavours, which mostly translates to a lot of pickling and smoking (in other words, delicious).   The lobby could do with a hint of the restaurant’s dark-toned moodiness. It’s almost garishly opulent, coldly lit by a huge crystal chandelier, with ornate gold swirls bordering the walls and enormous vases of flowers, which look somehow a bit stiff and staged. But the rooms and suites are much less stuffy. Our canal-facing suite was the perfect mix of understated and sophisticated, simply decorated with quality furniture, complete with a plush king-sized bed. The best bit? The huge marble-floored bathroom with his-and-hers sinks and a free-standing tub. The Doelen was taken over by

I arrived at Mama Shelter from the beach – sand in my shoes, covered in sun lotion, hair stringy with seawater – and found myself sharing the lift with an impeccably dressed group ascending to the rooftop for sundowners. Not that anyone gave a damn, because anything goes here, the only Portuguese outpost of Mama Shelter’s brand of playful boutique hotels strung across the continent.  It’s as cheeky as its sister venues (sex toys for sale in the lobby, superhero masks on the lampshades, a pretty extensive adult film menu on the telly), but with little Portuguese flourishes to remind you where you are – the forest green tile-clad exterior, a Remodelado tram mural in the lift, ocean-wave carpets in the bedrooms, marine-themed decor in the restaurant and locally-made arts and crafts dotted all over the place.  But, let’s be real, you’re not about to forget you’re slap-bang in the heart of Lisbon. Mama Shelter is just off the lively central thoroughfare of Avenida da Liberdade, and in the other direction you have the boutiques and bars of Príncipe Real – honestly, take any route from the hotel’s corner doors and you’re in for a great walk. Before (or after) you go, though, stick around for a cocktail on Mama’s rooftop or a meal at Mama’s restaurant. Much like its outposts in London, Bordeaux and elsewhere, Mama Shelter is a neighbourhood attraction in its own right.  If the queue’s anything to go by, the rooftop is the place to be at sunset, with an unbeatable view over the city’s

En Time Out, encuestamos a miles de habitantes de ciudades de todo el mundo para elaborar el ranking anual de las mejores ciudades del planeta. Aunque aspectos como una buena vida nocturna, la gastronomía y la cultura son fundamentales para medir la grandeza de una ciudad, la asequibilidad también lo es. Hay que tener en cuenta, sin embargo, que la encuesta de Time Out se centró en el coste de salir por la ciudad y no preguntó sobre la asequibilidad de la vivienda, el alquiler o los alimentos. Teniendo esto en cuenta, pedimos a residentes de más de 100 ciudades que valoraran la asequibilidad de una serie de actividades cotidianas: comer en un restaurante, ir al cine, tomar un café, ver arte, ir al teatro o a un espectáculo de comedia, asistir a conciertos, tomar una copa en un bar y salir de noche. A partir del porcentaje de personas que respondieron «barato o gratuito» y «asequible», analizamos los datos para determinar cuáles son las ciudades más caras del mundo para vivir, siempre según la opinión de quienes viven en ellas. Foto: Shutterstock/Seúl El top 3 Con la puntuación global de asequibilidad más baja, Seúl fue seleccionada como la ciudad más cara de la lista. Solo el 30 % de los encuestados que viven en la capital surcoreana dijeron que comer fuera en un restaurante es asequible; el 21 % dijo lo mismo sobre salir de noche, y el 27 % consideró que tomar una copa allí es barato. Otra ciudad destacada en la lista de las más caras es Oslo, en Noruega. La capital norueg

It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too. Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action. Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.   Strikes in Italy December ITA Airways will hold a four-hour walkout on December 17, between 1pm and 5pm, which will see ground and air crews down tools. This could cause disruption to flights arriving or departing from major Italian airports.  January Additionally, a strike has been called by trade union CUB Transporti between 1pm and 5pm on January 9, which would see ground staff in Italian airports down tools. At Milan Linate airport, staff are planning a 24-hour walkout on the same day. Delays and cancellations are expected. On January 31, flights landing and departing from Verona airport are set to be impacted by an air traffic controller strike.  You can

Ask any Sydneysider and they’ll be sure to tell you that "cozzie livs" hurts big-time. From rent to groceries to a simple coffee on the go, it can feel like our bank balance takes a hit the moment we step outside the front door (or simply while sitting on the couch). So it's no wonder that our data shows Sydney locals reckon we live in one of the most expensive cities in the world to go out in. Each year, Time Out surveys thousands of locals across more than 100 cities – including questions about what life really costs where they live. And while great food, nightlife and culture matter, how much people pay for these pleasures is vital when it comes to affordability. Think eating out, seeing a movie, grabbing a coffee, visiting galleries, catching a comedy show, listening to live music or having a drink at a bar. We crunch the numbers based on how many people said activities like these were "cheap or free" or at least "affordable". The result? Seoul took out the not-so-coveted title of the world’s (perceived) most expensive city to go out in, according to locals, with just 30 per cent of locals saying eating out at a restaurant is affordable. Cities that are (in)famously expensive like London, Los Angeles and our very own Sydney also made the list.  London was officially the toughest on the wallet for time out, with just 16 per cent of locals saying it’s affordable. Sydney came in at – no surprises here – the seventh most expensive city overall, according to locals here. While

A Time Out, enquestem milers d’habitants de ciutats d’arreu del món per elaborar el rànquing anual de les millors ciutats del planeta. Tot i que aspectes com una bona vida nocturna, la gastronomia i la cultura són fonamentals per mesurar la grandesa d’una ciutat, l’assequibilitat també ho és.  Cal tenir en compte, però, que l’enquesta de Time Out es va centrar en el cost de sortir per la ciutat, i no va preguntar sobre l’assequibilitat de l’habitatge, el lloguer o els aliments.  Fent avinent això, vam demanar a residents de més de 100 ciutats que valoressin l’assequibilitat d’un seguit d’activitats quotidianes: menjar en un restaurant, anar al cinema, prendre un cafè, veure art, anar al teatre o a un espectacle de comèdia, assistir a concerts, prendre una copa en un bar i sortir de nit. A partir del percentatge de persones que van respondre "barat o gratuït" i "assequible", vam analitzar les dades per determinar quines són les ciutats més cares del món per viure-hi, sempre segons l’opinió de la gent que hi viu. Foto: Shutterstock/Seül El top 3 Amb la puntuació global d’assequibilitat més baixa, Seül va ser seleccionada com la ciutat més cara de la llista. Només el 30% dels enquestats que viuen a la capital sud-coreana van dir que menjar fora en un restaurant és assequible; el 21% van dir el mateix de sortir de nit, i el 27% van considerar que prendre-hi una copa és barat. Una altra ciutat destacada a la llista de les més cares és Oslo, a Noruega. La capital noruega és coneg

Generally speaking, the cost of living is higher in cities than in smaller towns and rural areas, particularly when it comes to rental and housing costs. But in some cities, it feels like simply stepping outside your front door can wipe out your bank account.  At Time Out, we survey thousands of city-dwellers across the planet to create our annual ranking of the world’s best cities. While stuff like great nightlife, food and culture are all important in measuring a city’s greatness, so too is affordability.  We asked locals in over 100 cities to rate the affordability of a bunch of day-to-day activities: eating out to a restaurant, going to see a movie, grabbing a coffee, going to see art, going to see theatre or comedy, going to see live music, getting a drink in a bar and going on a night out. Based on the percentages of respondents who answered ‘cheap or free’ and ‘affordable’, we’ve crunched the data to figure out the planet’s cheapest and most expensive cities to live in, all according to the people who actually live there. With the lowest overall affordability score, Seoul emerged as the most expensive city on the list. Only 30 percent of respondents living in the South Korean capital said eating out at a restaurant was affordable; 21 percent said the same for going on a night out and 27 percent said it was cheap to grab a drink. Photograph: Shutterstock Elsewhere on the expensive list is Oslo in Norway. The Norwegian capital is notoriously pricey to eat out in, and o

De um modo geral, viver numa cidade é mais caro do que viver em vilas ou zonas rurais, sobretudo quando se fala de rendas e habitação. Mas há cidades onde parece que basta sair de casa para a conta bancária começar a sofrer. Na Time Out, todos os anos realizamos um inquérito a milhares de pessoas que vivem em cidades um pouco por todo o mundo para construir o nosso ranking das melhores cidades do planeta. E, embora a vida nocturna, a comida e a cultura sejam essenciais, a acessibilidade também entra (e muito) na equação. Pedimos a leitores de mais de 100 cidades que avaliassem o quão acessíveis são várias actividades do dia-a-dia: comer fora num restaurante, ir ao cinema, beber um café, visitar exposições, ir ao teatro, assistir a concertos, beber um copo num bar e sair à noite. Com base nas percentagens de respostas “barato ou gratuito” e “acessível”, cruzámos os dados para descobrir quais são as cidades mais caras e mais baratas do mundo, tudo segundo quem lá vive. Com a pontuação mais baixa em termos de acessibilidade geral, Seul surge como a cidade mais cara da lista. Apenas 30% dos residentes da capital sul-coreana dizem que comer fora num restaurante é acessível; 21% dizem o mesmo sobre sair à noite e só 27% consideram barato beber um copo.  Photograph: Shutterstock Outra presença no topo das cidades caras é Oslo. A capital norueguesa é conhecida por ser dispendiosa e os dados confirmam-no. Oslo teve a pior pontuação de todas as cidades quando se trata de comer fora:

Looking to treat the jet-setter in your life this Christmas? Short of flight tickets, there are plenty of gifts that will bring a smile to their face and help them plan, pack and travel better in 2026. We’ve rounded up the best travel products money can buy, from practical packing tools to luggage, sleep aids and a beautifully designed travel journal. Happy shopping.  RECOMMENDED: 🛍️ The best Black Friday and Travel Tuesday deals in 2025❄️ The world’s best winter destinations – and how to plan the perfect trip🎄 The best Christmas markets to visit in Europe Papier ‘Off Piste’ Travel Journal  Photograph: Time Out A lot of travel journals out there are a bit naff and impractical. But the beautiful collection from Papier is nothing of the sort. There are seven designs to choose from, but our favourite is the forest green and baby pink ‘Off Piste’, which has a closer resemblance to a Murakami hardback than a journal. It’s a classy, good-looking gift – but not only that, it’s actually very useful for those who still like to plan their travels by hand. There’s ample space for planning, with pages dedicated to packing lists, accommodation details and itineraries; then you have the actual journal bit, with lots of room to write about your experiences. Best of all? Personalisation is included in the price. Sentimental, practical, beautiful and personal – ticking every box for your favourite jet-setter. £29, www.papier.com Antler Compression Packing Cubes Photograph: Time Out If

No hay nada para experimentar la vida local de la manera más auténtica cuando se explora una nueva ciudad como salir a la calle. Y no, no hablamos de esa gran avenida llena de las mismas macrotiendas de siempre y cafeterías genéricas. Nos referimos a las calles secundarias de barrio y a las avenidas llenas de vida que adoran los locales; esos lugares repletos de tiendas independientes y gente creativa, donde un nuevo local para escuchar música puede convivir con una tienda de alimentación de toda la vida o con un bar centenario. Este año, para crear nuestro ranking anual de las calles más cool del mundo, pedimos a nuestra red global de editores y expertos locales que nominaran la calle que mejor representa lo más auténtico de su ciudad. Después, el equipo global de viajes de Time Out redujo la lista y clasificó cada calle según criterios como gastronomía, bebida, cultura, diversión y sentido de comunidad.   Calle Barquillo Desde las sesiones de samba de los sábados en Río de Janeiro hasta una calle comercial en constante transformación en Osaka, cada avenida, callejón o vía incluida en el ranking de este año es única en su ciudad de origen. Recorrerlas es como pasear por la ciudad en miniatura, probando aquello que hace que la vida allí sea brillante: desde la gastronomía y la cultura hasta las compras y la vida nocturna. Madrid se cuela en el listado como la única ciudad española, con una de sus míticas avenidas con solera como insignia del carácter castizo que tanto se di

It was only a month or so ago that we reported the sad news that the Paris-Berlin sleeper train is coming to the end of the line. The overnight service was launched in December 2023 by ÖBB’s sleeper arm Nightjet, and quickly became a staple of Europe’s sleeper train offering. However, thanks to funding cuts from the French state-owned rail operator SNCF, the Nightjet train will be axed on December 13. Not all hope is lost, though – enter European Sleeper. The Belgian-Dutch rail cooperative intends to fill the void left by Nightjet with its own new sleeper service connecting the French and German capitals. It’s set to hit the tracks on March 26, 2026, and tickets will be on sale in December. So, what will be different, and what will stay the same? According to The Guardian, the European Sleeper train will follow a different route from Paris to Berlin. The current Nightjet service heads east from Paris-Nord, passing through Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Erfurt and Halle before arriving in Berlin at 8.30am. European Sleeper intends to head north via Brussels, though the exact route is TBD. It will also have space for more travellers – up to 700, according to co-founder Chris Engelsman – thanks to the entire train continuing on to Berlin, while half of the carriages on the current Nightjet service split to Vienna. The Paris-Vienna train will also be axed as part of the funding cuts to Nightjet services. More new night trains launching in Europe next year European Sleeper is a relatively

It’s been quite the year in train travel. In Europe, new overnight services have taken off across the continent (even though some were sadly axed). North America’s famous Rocky Mountaineer train was named the world’s best rail journey, while over in Asia, China and Vietnam were finally connected by sleeper train after a five-year hiatus. Travelling by train is climate-friendly, offers unparalleled views, and makes the journey itself sometimes more impressive than the destination. Passengers are spoilt for choice with luxury carriages to sleeper trains (where you also save on a night’s accommodation) and everything in between. The good news is that train travel is only picking up steam, rather than slowing down, next year. All sorts of new routes, from Europe and the UK, to Canada and the UAE, are set to leave the station for the very first time. From five-star trips to the Amalfi Coast to a new coastal connection in Cornwall, here are 13 of the most exciting new train routes launching in 2026. The UAE It’s been a long time coming, but next year a passenger train will finally connect all seven emirates. The 900km-long Ethiad Rail will travel through 11 cities and regions across the UAE - from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east - passing through Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Comfort is key, with each train offering a range of amenities and entertainment, from an advanced air-conditioning system to charging stations. But fear not, it doesn’t

What do you love best about your city? Maybe the people are super friendly, or you’re never short on brilliant places to eat. Sometimes it’s just a general good vibe. There’s so much that goes into making a place great – approximately 34 different factors, according to Resonance Consultancy. Resonance has been creating an annual list of the world’s 100 best cities for several years now, based on a ‘unique fusion of data-driven analysis and real-life perception’. In non-jargony terms, they take the results of a huge resident survey and combine them with statistics like how many places you can fly to from local airports, how many top universities there are, unemployment rates, and more. There are three central pillars that the firm is looking at: liveability (that’s stuff like transport and internet access); loveability (including the quality of the nightlife, museums, and the culture sector); and prosperity (aka all the business/economic stuff). London, New York and Paris top the ranking – again The 2025 report has just come out, and the same three cities as last year have triumphed once again. In fact, the top spot has gone to the same city for the past 11 years in a row. Clearly, it’s doing something right. Photograph: Pierre-Olivier / Shutterstock.com London is the world’s best city for 2026 So what is this near-perfect place? London is officially the best city in the world, once again. Described as the ‘Capital of Capitals’, the Big Smoke came first overall for prosperit

This year, Time Out named Madrid Europe’s best city for food. Alongside its large restaurant groups, renowned chefs and street food trends, the Spanish capital is home to several exciting young cooks, each of them embarking on the adventure-slash-madness of opening a restaurant. For Time Out’s Best Young Chefs series, we’ve selected three of the greatest chefs under 30 working in the Spanish capital right now. Honourable mentions: the guys from teppanyaki restaurant Tetsu, who have barely turned twenty; David, at the helm of tavern-style hotspot Taberna Chiripa; Pablo Laya, who leads the kitchen of the almighty Saddle (1 Michelin star); and Oswaldo González, chef at one of Madrid's most sought-after restaurants, Los 33. There are also those who missed out because they (or some of them) just turned thirty. Three friends united by a restoration project; chefs displaying the type of discernment, technique and curiosity that typically comes from years of experience. We're talking about Trèsde in the La Latina neighbourhood, Insurgente in Chamberí and Éter in Legazpi.  Without further ado – here are Madrid’s best young chefs right now, according to Time Out. Recommended: The 30 best Madrid restaurants Alice Reydet (TonTon) TonTon ‘My cuisine is very free, very honest, and very down-to-earth. I cook things I feel like eating and that are feasible with the infrastructure and equipment we have. Sometimes I feel that many chefs, especially men, try to do everything