By Sophie Vermeulen
Amsterdam-based travel writer. Writes about European cities, trains, design and the small places worth the detour.
Ferragosto 2026: 17.5 million tourists set to spend €9bn in Italy
Italy anticipates 17.5 million visitors and €9bn in direct spending during the Ferragosto period. Foreign tourists lead the surge, while Ita
Greece's door visa opens Aegean islands to Turkish tourists
Greece's 'door visa' lets Turkish citizens visit 12 Aegean islands for up to seven days without a Schengen visa. Nearly 1.5 million Turks vi
Lake Como vs Lake Garda: Which Italian lake suits your trip?
Lake Como dazzles with five-star hotels and celebrity glamour, while Lake Garda offers more affordable, active holidays. Both have drawn vis
Search Suspended for British Surfer Missing Off Portugal's Algarve Coast
Portuguese maritime authorities have suspended the search for British surfer Arran Strong, who vanished off Arrifana beach on Monday. Strong
Train routes to Europe's traditional craft towns: ceramics in Italy, glass in Czechia
Europe's rail network connects travellers to small towns preserving ancient crafts. Faenza, Italy, is a ceramics hub; Nový Bor, Czechia, is
Istanbul Airport leads Europe with 294 direct flight destinations
Istanbul Airport serves 294 direct destinations, the most of any European airport. Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol tie for se
Cuba's tourism industry collapses as US sanctions and fuel shortages force hotel closures
Cuba's tourism industry has been brought to 'almost total paralysis' by US sanctions and fuel shortages, with 73% of hotels closed. Seven in
European cities dominate global street food ranking, Paris takes top spot
Paris has been named the world's top city for street food in a study by Radical Storage. European cities claim seven of the top ten spots, w
Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania top Europe's deadliest roads list
Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania have the highest road fatality rates in Europe, with Serbia 72% above the EU average. Nordic countries like No
Coolcation trend reshapes European tourism as heatwaves drive travelers north
Scorching heatwaves across southern Europe are fueling a surge in 'coolcation' bookings to Nordic countries and mountain resorts. While nort
Italy's parliament moves to ban horse-drawn carriages in Rome and other historic cities
A cross-party bill in Italy's Chamber of Deputies seeks to ban horse-drawn carriages used for tourist transport. Supporters argue that moder
Kazakhstan's summer festivals reshape Central Asia's creative landscape
Kazakhstan is turning valleys, canyons and national parks into festival destinations. Events like the Paragliding World Cup and Altai Fest d