Category Archives for "South Europe"

Menorca suffers from something called Spanish Myth Syndrome: the unshakable viewpoint held by millions back home that there’s nothing more to Spain than simple sunshine, sea and sangria.

I’ve written about…

Where locals eat in Lisbon Finding Lisbon RestaurantsWhere Locals EatBreathless, sweaty and most definitely ready for food, I pushed open the glass door and stumbled inside. “Are you still serving?” I asked, the words more direct than I’d have liked. A man walked towards me, in black against the bright white walls, clear-varnished wood and chic-hipster vibe I’d […]

Kalamata, you beauty, you. You’re not all about the olives. But they are some of the world’s best. With the towering green Taygetos mountain range, long seafront expanse and atmospheric old streets, it’s a wonder more people don’t know about you

For a taste of rural Greek life to sooth the soul, head through the olive groves, up the hill, and overlook the Gulf of Messinia.

Athens is an unusual city. With its eye-watering place in world history, the olive-soaked Mediterranean air breezing through and the Acropolis shining on a hilltop, Athens should be an easy city to fall in love with.

Yet alongside the romance, Athens packs in skyscrapers, traffic jams, urban grit and edgy street art.

And a visit there is all the better for it.

Menorca threw several surprises my way when I visited. Wild flowers, for one, with fields flush with poppies, violets and periwinkles all dancing like hippies in the sun. There were bronze age settlements for another, and olive oil-soaked cheese, cured lovingly by hand and made from milk gathered freshly that morning.

Five symbols squeeze together, like children trying to fit into one photograph.

NO8DO, NO8DO, NO8DO.

It’s written on unfurling flags and…

When friends first ask about what they should see and do in Seville, I start with the traditional list. After that, though, we get down to spilling my true secrets. My tips and tricks for soaking up the seduction of Spain’s hottest city and living like a local in the heart of Andalusia.

A number of things are wrong. To begin with, I’m standing in a field surrounded by darkness, my mind pulling the duvet covers back over its head and mumbling into its pillow. Second, I’m…

Everything you need to know about shopping in Seville, including where to buy authentic Seville souvenirs

What to eat in Tenerife – Tenerife Food GuideWhat is typical Tenerife food? Forget jokes about Full English Breakfasts and fish and chips for a pound, the real cuisine in Tenerife stretches back over centuries.Your Guide to Food in Tenerife ​The Top 10 Foods to Try in Tenerife​ GofioBarraquitoRopa VIejaPuchero Roast Chestnuts  Almogrote Papas Arrugadas Tenerife Honey Tenerife Wine Mojo   […]

There’s no doubt about it: Seville is one of Spain’s most exciting cities, a place with intoxicating heat, history, architecture and food. From cosy hotspots in the centre of town to fortress-like luxury in the hills. Here are the best places to stay in Seville after years spent living there (and reviewing hotels for a living.)

Known for its sunny package holidays, the subtropical island of Tenerife hides its unusual things to do in plain sight. Unusual Things to do in Tenerife With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and food, landscape and culture aplenty, Tenerife offers so much more than simply lying on the beach. And hardly […]

Venice has a tempestuous love affair with the world. Millions of adoring fans visit La Serenissima each year, lured by the sirens of the Adriatic. Perhaps I’ve spent too much time squashed on the London Underground, but…

 Unusual things to do in GreeceLooking for inspiration for wonderful and unusual things to do in Greece but tired of lists churned out by people who’ve never been there? Look no further! Here is a collection of beautiful, cultural things to do in Greece, peppered with a bit of soul and a lot of golden […]

Things to do in Porto  Ah, pretty city Porto, you beautiful place, you. All glowing in from dawn til dusk in a tumbly, jumbly terracotta haze and reflected Harry Potter glory. With your giant gondolas from the port trade, your azulejo tiles and your steep streets to a thousands scenic viewpoints, you wear your prettiness with a […]

Authentic Portugal These days, everyone is talking about things to do in Portugal and why you should go there now. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites, gastronomy, history, architecture, great beaches and whimsical creations and pastries, millennial Portugal most definitely is the new black.But before you skip on down to the list of things to do in […]

It all started with the police check last night.

Torchlight zig-zagged across the car and we huddled in the backseat.

“You are English,” said the policeman. “And yet you say you want…

 Deep beneath the scorched sun of the Peloponnese, the Eumelia luxury eco-farm comes from a couple jaded by politics who, quite literally, decided they wanted to get back down to earth.  The earth in question is red and dry and crunches underfoot. Rippling boardwalks surf across the dust to connect the five cabins to the main […]

If words like authentic and off the beaten track delight you, then you’ll love the rustic luxury of Villa Vager in the Peloponnese, Greece. This Villa Vager Review forms part of a series on The Big Greek Road Hop: Driving the Peloponnese. Find more about exploring this beautiful part of Greece over here.  Villa Vager […]

Pedro Martina’s sun-worn face lights up as he grabs my shoulder and points into the distance.
“Three of them are under the water now,” he says. It’s certainly not the first time Pedro has hunted whales…

Forget island-hopping through Greece: if it’s culture, natural beauty, beaches and a sense of discovery you’re after, it’s time to hire a car and hit the road through the Peloponnese. If it was good enough for the ancient gods and the Olympians, it’s good enough for you.

Guide to Seville Here’s your guide to what to do in Seville. I lived in Seville for years and fell in love with its fiery passion and cool, quiet courtyards. From traditional flamenco to wasabi-tinged tapas, let me show you what to do in Seville.What to do in Seville: Your Complete GuideSeville puts the spice into Spain. […]

As you’d expect from a UNESCO World Heritage City, Toledo Spain has plenty of things to do. It’s only an hour or so from Madrid so attracts plenty of day trippers. But there’s a better way to see the city and explore its unique sights: stay there. Here’s how to make it happen and what […]

Every coast is salty. But northwest Spain’s Galician coastline seems the saltiest of all: its landscape licked into shape by the churning, whirling waves, its cuisine at one with the sea and its architecture, history and general attitude shaped by the way that surf reaches the shore.

This is a place to experience the real side of Spain, away from tower blocks, fake paella and concrete-edged, crowded hotel pools.

Don Quixote and Cervantes SpainHow to Explore Don Quixote’s SpainDon Quixote’s Spain served as a fitting backdrop for the world’s oldest novel: one ill-fated quest to restore chivalry to the world. Poetically, today’s La Mancha still reflects that pioneering literary age. From the “Don Quixote windmills” to the home of Cervantes himself, grab a sidekick […]

Inside an Athens philosophy tour Join the world’s philosophical heavyweights in an Athens philosophy tour. Thousands of years have passed and yet we’re still all working on the pursuit of happiness.An Athens Philosophy TourApparently, searching for happiness is a modern, millennial affair. We’re told we’ve lost touch with what makes life meaningful, ablaze in a flutter […]

A NEW LOOK AT SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN’S BASQUE COUNTRY San Sebastian Hipster Things To Do One of the greatest thrills that travel through Europe offers up has to be the mix of cutting edge new with achingly rustic old. Cobbled streets, peeling paintwork and flavours and fashion that stretch back through millennia connect us to […]

Cork. It’s one of those words I love. Short, sweet and to the point, stirring up memories of emerald isles, springy toughness between finger and thumb and wine-flowing evenings with friends. But it’s never been a word that’s settled for long inside my mind. Flitting in and flying away like a whispery breeze on a […]

Unusual things to do in SpainSun, sea, sand, plus a dazzling display of unusual things to do. That’s Spain for you: ski slopes, Picasso, and Barcelona’s ceramic lizard mixed in with paella, flamenco and convivial, tasty tapas. Every country is misunderstood to one degree or another. But I still remember my surprise on arrival at how vast and […]