Europe - The Best Time to Visit

Albufeira and its Surroundings

July 22, 2025July 21, 2025 by Ben

Albufeira encapsulates both the best and worst of what the Algarve has to offer. As the region’s most developed resort town, it draws thousands of Brits each year seeking cheap sunshine and €2 pints. Yet the town retains some solid appeal: spectacular beaches framed by ochre cliffs, an old town that’s somehow resisting the concrete invasion, and a central location perfect for exploring this stretch of coast. Within a 15-kilometre radius, you can go from Vilamoura’s ostentatious luxury to traditional inland villages, with every possible experience in between. Albufeira: Where British Nightlife Meets Portuguese Charm Albufeira’s old town splits into … Read more

Iceland’s Cities

July 20, 2025 by Ben

It’s true that when we think of Iceland, we tend to picture its raw, untamed landscapes first – if not exclusively – with its volcanoes, waterfalls, fjords, parks and nature reserves, but rarely its cities. And yes, it’s true they’re few in number and rather small. Yet the main one, Reykjavik, is worth stopping for and exploring properly. And then there are the others too… About Cities in Iceland Iceland is a small country of 383,000 inhabitants where the capital, Reykjavik (140,000 residents), and its suburbs alone account for two-thirds of the Icelandic population. This means that outside this area, … Read more

What to see and do in Marseille in a few days?

July 19, 2025 by Ben

Marseille is far more than its picture-postcard images suggest. France’s second city blends different eras and atmospheres against a Mediterranean backdrop. The calanques rub shoulders with tower blocks, luxury yachts pass traditional fishing boats, and pastis flows as freely in trendy bars as it does in the old cafés of Le Panier. You can explore the city on foot, by boat, metro or car, depending on your mood and destination. The neighbourhoods shift dramatically from one hill to the next: well-heeled around Endoume, working-class in Noailles, hip along the Cours Julien. This diversity is what makes Marseille tick, far from … Read more

Orkney : Scotland’s somewhat forgotten archipelago

July 17, 2025 by Ben

When you think of Scotland, places like Edinburgh, Loch Ness, and the wild, rugged Highlands probably spring to mind. A few other classic images are synonymous with the destination. But it’s true that the small archipelago in the north of Scotland, known as the Orkney Islands, rarely gets a mention. And yet, it’s a world apart… Where are the Orkney Islands? Just fifteen kilometres off the north coast of mainland Scotland and south of the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands form a unique world that was under Viking and Norwegian rule for centuries. The archipelago covers a total area of … Read more

If you’re looking for the “greenest” capital in Europe, Oslo is the place to go

July 16, 2025 by Ben

With all the talk of global warming and increasingly frequent heatwaves, it’s cities—especially the largest ones—that often suffer the most. This has led some urban planners and developers to promote the idea of extensive green and wooded areas in urban zones, a strategy currently under discussion for Paris, to create what are known as ‘cooling islands’. The main goal of this is to lower the temperature by several degrees during heatwaves. And it works so well that many cities, particularly in Europe, have adopted the formula. That said, the pace of change varies from one country to another, with some … Read more

What to see and do in a week in Lisbon and its surroundings

July 12, 2025 by Ben

Lisbon is a firm favourite for European travellers, and it’s set to remain so this summer! Its easy accessibility and still-affordable prices for both travel and expenses on the ground are two of its main draws. But you can also add the variety of its neighbourhoods, its monuments, its pretty cobbled streets, its unique atmosphere, and a consistently warm welcome. So, what is there to see and do in a week in Lisbon and the nearby region? Three days to discover the Portuguese capital… Explore the Alfama district by wandering through its winding alleyways, peaceful squares, and terraces. Here you … Read more

Discovering Paris with expert guides

April 24, 2025 by Ben

Paris rewards those who take time to understand its stories. While independent exploration has its merits, guided tours offer deeper insights into the city’s heritage. The format of guided tours in Paris varies significantly based on group size and focus area. Small group walking tours, typically limited to 8-12 participants, allow for more interaction with guides and easier navigation through crowded areas. Private tours offer flexibility in timing and itinerary customization, while larger group tours often include transportation between major sites. Essential monuments and historic sites Paris guided tours can range from broad city introductions to specialized thematic experiences. Art … Read more

France’s Most Beautiful Villages: Beuvron-en-Auge

April 23, 2025 by Ben

In the heart of the Pays d’Auge, in Normandy, with its half-timbered houses typical of the Norman bocage landscape, apple trees lined up in the surrounding orchards bear witness to an ancestral tradition: that of cider and calvados. This picturesque atmosphere finds its most accomplished expression in one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages: Beuvron-en-Auge. Located 30 kilometers from Caen and 25 kilometers from Deauville, in the Calvados department, this village of 200 inhabitants constitutes a remarkably preserved testament to the timber-framed architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries. Its label, obtained in 1991, rewards the exceptional conservation of its historic buildings … Read more

Morning rituals at Lisbon’s markets

April 18, 2025December 10, 2024 by Ben

Lisbon, Portugal- June 11, 2018: Beautiful and vintage Ribeira market in Lisbon in Spring

The clock reads 4 AM as trucks pull up to Lisbon’s Mercado da Ribeira. Fish boxes clatter against concrete while vendors arrange their stalls under fluorescent lights. The air carries notes of salt and seawater. This daily sequence, unchanged for generations, supplies fresh seafood to Portugal’s capital. Fishmongers sort their catches with practiced efficiency – each movement refined by years of repetition. They arrange silver-scaled sardines in precise rows, stack red snapper on beds of ice, and position octopus tentacles with careful attention. The market’s concrete floor remains wet, footsteps leaving momentary impressions as workers navigate between stalls. María Santos … Read more

Rouen, France: Where Gothic Shadows Dance with Modern Light

April 18, 2025November 4, 2024 by Ben

Time flows differently along the Seine in Rouen. As the river bends through the city, it mirrors centuries of architecture in its gentle current – each ripple catching fragments of pointed spires and half-timbered facades that have witnessed nearly a millennium of Norman history. The Artisan’s Touch: A Legacy in Wood and Stone In the medieval quarter, cobblestone streets tell stories through their worn surfaces, leading to workshops where woodcarvers still practice their craft. These artisans shape oak beams into the distinctive patterns that define Rouen’s historical buildings, maintaining techniques passed down through generations. Their tools echo those used by … Read more