europe

Europe’s quietest beaches

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by Gemma Askham

Arriving at the beach and discovering you have it all to yourself is one of life’s greatest joys. But it’s usually an elusive pleasure – unless you know where to look. Even in the age of social media leaving no stone untagged, it is possible to unearth secluded spots that deliver sapphire waters without a carpark tailback. From wild dunes and oil-painting coves to shallow, swimmable seas, these 5 beaches bring the goods – but few of the people.

FRENCH ATLANTIC COAST, BORDEAUX

Bordeaux and beach sound like an unlikely pairing. Which explains why a magnificent 200-mile stretch, only an hour’s drive west, remains largely forgotten even in August. The sand is Caribbean golden, with a long walk out to a slowly deepening sea, and little shelter apart from dunes. Some beaches offer facilities: Hourtin Plage channels a Byron Bay energy, with juice stalls, surf schools and camping. At others, such as Plage de la Jenny, it’s just you and nature.

OROSEI, SARDINIA, ITALY

To define ‘perfect beach’ you need only book a flight to Sardinia, where an eye-catching coastline abounds in every direction. For the quietest picks, it’s an east-west split. The eastern Gulf of Orosei is fantasy-island stuff: seemingly endless strips of amber-hued sand, such as Spiaggia Su Barone and Cala Luna, sit beside vibrant blue waters and deeply perfumed pine trees.

XEROKAMBOS, CRETE

Inside Sitia’s Unesco Geopark, the winding, thyme-scented roads around Xerokambos village lead to a spectacular coastline where untouched nature coexists with shallow, family-friendly waters. North of Xerokambos, Alatsolimni’s fine-sand beach is within walking distance of meze-serving tavernas, yet remains blissfully secluded thanks to its salt marsh.

ILHA DE TAVIRA, ALGARVE

Around 45 minutes from Faro, Ilha de Tavira is a sand spit inside the flamingo-trodden Ria Formosa Natural Park – an estuary landscape featuring spacious swathes of sandy beach and traditional fishing boats, where Portuguese Water Dogs still dive down to retrieve fish from nets

CALA PILAR, MENORCA

TikTok may have rumbled the paradisical beauty of Menorca’s Cala Mitjana and Cala Macarelleta, making towel space on their floury sands an early-bird privilege, but Cala Pilar remains blissfully under the radar. It’s in a marine reserve on the northern coast, so getting here requires some (suitably attired) footwork for the 40-minute forested hike from the carpark. Your reward is the final wow moment when the wooden boardwalk snakes down and the beach suddenly appears.

Barcelona ending apartment rentals by foreign tourists

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CNN – Barcelona, a top Spanish holiday destination, announced on Friday that it will bar apartment rentals to tourists by 2028, an unexpectedly drastic move as it seeks to rein in soaring housing costs and make the city liveable for residents.

The city’s leftist mayor, Jaume Collboni, said that by November 2028, Barcelona will scrap the licenses of the 10,101 apartments currently approved as short-term rentals.

“We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona’s largest problem,” Collboni told a city government event.

The boom in short-term rentals in Barcelona, Spain’s most visited city by foreign tourists, means some residents cannot afford an apartment after rents rose 68% in the past 10 years and the cost of buying a house rose by 38%, Collboni said. Access to housing has become a driver of inequality, particularly for young people, he added.

National governments relish the economic benefits of tourism – Spain ranks among the top-three most visited countries in the world – but with local residents priced out in some places, gentrification and owner preference for lucrative tourist rentals are increasingly a hot topic across Europe.

Local governments have announced restrictions on short-term rentals in places such as Spain’s Canary Islands, Lisbon and Berlin in the past decade.

Spain’s Socialist housing minister, Isabel Rodriguez, said she supported Barcelona’s decision.

“It’s about making all the necessary efforts to guarantee access to affordable housing,” she posted on X.

Vacation rentals platform Airbnb, which hosts a significant number of Barcelona listings, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Collboni is making a mistake that will lead to (higher) poverty and unemployment,” Barcelona’s tourist apartments association APARTUR said in a statement, adding the ban would trigger a rise in illegal tourist apartments.

Hotels stand to benefit from the move. The opening of new hotels in the city’s most popular areas was banned by a far-left party governing Barcelona between 2015 and 2023, but Collboni has signaled he could relax the restriction.

“Those 10,000 apartments will be used by the city’s residents or will go on the market for rent or sale,” Collboni said of the measure.

Barcelona’s local government said in a statement it would maintain its “strong” inspection regime to detect potential illegal tourist apartments once the ban comes into force.

No new tourist apartments have been allowed in the city in recent years. The local government has ordered the shutting of 9,700 illegal tourist apartments since 2016 and close to 3,500 apartments have been recovered to be used as primary housing for local residents, it said.

Cycling in Mallorca

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Whether you are an amateur or a professional cyclist, you will want to experience the spectacular cycling routes on Mallorca. Many believe the island is the mecca of European cycling and with the number of cycling tourists now exceeding 150,000 per year and some professional teams setting up training bases here in winter, there is much evidence to support this claim. The warm and sunny climate in autumn, winter and spring together with a demanding landscape, well-surfaced roads and a developed infrastructure to cater to the needs of cyclists at all levels, the island has justifiably earned this title.

All over the island cyclists find beautiful quiet country roads calling out to be discovered and explored, some leading to historical castles, mountain top monasteries and lighthouses. Here are the routes you should not miss if you are visiting the island for a cycling holiday.

Sóller Tunnel: A famous route that takes you through a scenic tunnel to the charming town of Sóller.

Cycling the Coll de Soller climb is a ride that infatuates so many cyclists who flock to Mallorca. The southern ascent which is the shorter than the north offers 20 tight bends while the north side has almost 30 hairpins to contend with. The northern ascent can also be ridden straight from Port Soller giving you another 4km of climbing. It is not only a feat of engineering in the heart of the Tramuntana mountains, but a piece of cycling art, whichever side you choose to ride from.

Sa Calobra: A challenging climb with breathtaking views.


    The Sa Calobra climb is Mallorca’s most famous, spectacular and, arguably, toughest cycling climb.

    Sheer limestone cliff faces reach down to the turquoise sea. Weaving through the craggy lunar landscape, a feat of engineering and a work of art: a looping grey squiggle of silver tarmac that entices cyclists from across the globe.

    The Sa Calobra road balances beauty with brawn. It’s one of the most picturesque routes in Europe, but it demands serious mental toughness since you have to ride all the way down it before you ride up it. Once you’re at the hamlet by the sea, there’s no alternative to the long climb back up (unless you catch a boat or hitch a lift…).

    Cap de Formentor: Ride to the northernmost point of the island for stunning vistas

    We think the Cap de Formentor lighthouse ride might indeed be Mallorca’s finest – especially now there are restrictions on cars and buses.

    Formentor Mallorca is not an easy ride. At 35km long, it includes nearly 1,000m of climbing – but it combines this with dreamy views, impressive engineering, and near perfect tarmac. Sa Calobra may be the most famous ride on Mallorca, and Andratx to Pollenca may be (one of) the most challenging, but we think the Mallorca lighthouse ride has the most unforgettable scenery of all.

    Coastal Roads: Explore the coastal roads for picturesque views of the Mediterranean.

    The 110 km Tramuntana west coast road runs from Pollensa in the north to Andratx in the south and is arguably the most spectacular on Mallorca. This route climbs 2,520 metres taking you over Coll de Femenia, Puig Major (the highest point on Mallorca), Can Costa, Cap des Bosquet, es Grau, Coll de sa Gramola and finishing in the town of Andratx. Puig Major, the highest road on Mallorca, is 13.7 km with an 818-metre elevation and an average gradient of 6%.

    6 Stunning European Castles

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    What is it about castles that are so alluring to travelers? Aside from getting us one step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the staggering structures showcase some of the world’s best architecture and most stunning landscapes—and maybe even a ghost story or two.

    There’s perhaps no better place on earth to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems like you can’t visit a city or take a road trip without stumbling upon some sort of royal residence. Here you’ll find medieval stone walls, sky-high towers, and bridges arching over glittering moats, everywhere from the Bavarian Alps to the Mediterranean coast

    Pena Palace, Portugal

    Inspired by German Romantic architecture, Pena Palace—situated on top of a hill in Sintra—looks like a Disney castle with its pink and yellow towers, ornamental buttresses, and cartoonish gargoyles. The interiors are equally dramatic. Don’t miss the intricately carved ceilings and walls of Queen Amelia’s apartments and the striking all-white reception room. (Bonus: Sintra is only 40 minutes from Lisbon, meaning you really have no excuse not to visit.)

    Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

    Neuschwanstein Castle is not only one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, but it is also one of the most recognizable castles on the planet—thanks in large part to the fact that it served as inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Originally built at the behest of reclusive King Ludwig II as a private retreat in 1886, the majestic structure boasts a clifftop location and ornate rooms; today, it attracts some 1.4 million visitors every year.

    Guaita Tower, San Marino

    San Marino may be tiny—under 24 square miles, and completely surrounded by Italy—but it still has some pretty impressive sites. The capital city is known for its three hilltop towers (you can even spot them on the country’s coat of arms), the prettiest of which is Guaita Tower. It was constructed atop Monte Titano in the 10th century, and it is now open year-round to visitors.

    Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

    The Alcázar de Segovia was once a medieval fortress, but it was rebuilt in its current, castle-like style following a fire in 1862. Today, visitors can explore its museum, multiple halls and secret passageways, and towers overlooking Segovia’s town square. Then, be prepared for some equally impressive interiors. They’re marked by stained glass windows, polished suits of armor, lavish dining and dancing halls, and so many canopied beds.

    Hohenwerfen Fortress, Austria

    Another medieval, mountaintop castle, Hohenwerfen Fortress is one of the most stunning sites in all of Austria—and that’s saying something. The 11th-century castle overlooks the scenic Salzach River Valley (about 35 miles south of Salzburg), offering Christmas markets and falconry demonstrations along with its daily tours.

    Bled Castle, Slovenia

    There’s a reason (well, many reasons) why Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular sites, featuring emerald waters, a church-dotted islet, views of the Julien Alps, and, of course, a Disney-like castle on a hill. Climb your way up the forest trail to see Bled Castle’s orange-roofed towers and 11th-century walls up close, then turn around to be afforded some of the most picture-perfect views of the lake you’ll ever find.

    Best London Tours

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    Buckingham Palace tour

    Take the unique opportunity to step inside Buckingham Palace each summer. Explore the palace’s usually private spaces, including the State Rooms, Throne Room and galleries filled with fine art on this self-guided tour.

    prices from $87 Book now

     Hop-on, hop-off bus tour

    See London from the top deck of an open-top double decker bus. The hop-on, hop-off bus tour ticket allows you explore London at your own pace, even at night, and you can enjoy added extras including free walking tours and a 24-hour Thames river pass.

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    London Explorer Pass including 2 to 7 Attractions

    Save up to 25% on top London attractions with this hot Explorer Pass. Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions and tours from a list of 65+ attractions and see London’s best at your own pace.
    Go City’s London Explorer Pass is a digital credits package which is loaded with credits, with each attraction being one credit. For example, 3 attractions = 3 credits, 7 attractions = 7 credits.
    If you’re in London for a while, then don’t worry about time running out. Your pass will last for 60 days, with plenty of attractions to choose from across all of London. Tread the boards at Shakespeare’s Globe, admire the Gothic architecture at Westminster Abbey, and even enjoy the View from the Shard.

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    How to Plan a Budget Trip to Europe

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    FREE WEBINAR: Learn the Secrets to Travelling Europe on a Budget!

    Join Sarah Weingust (founder of HostelPass) for this entertaining (and free) webinar packed full of tips and tricks on how to make the most of your trip to Europe. Sarah will share everything she’s learnt from her years of travel and industry-experience to help you save more than you ever thought possible.

    Considering Europe? This webinar isn’t just a recommendation – it’s a must-attend!