The travel trends of 2026: here’s what’s the travel experts predict will shape your next holiday
Are you deciding where to travel to in 2026? Check out our travel trends for the year to be ahead of the curve...
From reading retreats and longevity travel to seeking comfort in childhood memories, and combining travel with mind and body improvements, here are some of the trends shaping travel into 2026 and beyond. Railway travel: new – and cooler – highs Two trends collide as travellers hop on board the train trend while also escaping hot European summers. According to no-fly railway specialist Byway Travel, there’s increased interest in cooler Alpine spots in Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland – and it helps that these places are just made for overland train travel. Staggeringly beautiful routes winding their way through mountain passes are often only accessible by train (or a hike) and with a variety of mountain guesthouses and hotels on the way, it’s never been easier to connect the popularity of railway travel with a desire to holiday in more comfortable temperatures. Read 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world to get inspired and plan your ultimate train trip... Identity travel: a sense of self It’s nothing new that many travellers are seeking out more meaningful experiences, as they look to make holidays a truly impactful break away from hectic everyday lives. But for some, travel is also about finding a deeper connection to themselves, their families and their ancestors. Consulting firm Grand View Research’s research shows increased interest in this form of genealogy or roots travel (also known as heritage travel or ancestral tourism). They found 60% of millennials are prioritising cultural experiences and specifically a desire to reconnect with their roots, especially those from a diaspora, coupled with the fact that genealogical information is now much easier to access due to a rise in the purchase of DNA kits and vastly improved digital archives and records. This could mean exploring your family’s Scottish history, tracing your ancestors’ journey from West Africa, or discovering an unexpected connection from genealogy results. It’s a form of travel that feels more reflective, adding another, and more personal, layer to the destination. Longevity travel: wellness with a twist At 2025’s Luxury Summit in Las Vegas, industry experts cited longevity travel as a top trend for 2026. Combined with the overall beauty trend of biohacking – making intentional changes to your diet, lifestyle, and mindset to maximise what the body can do – travelling for deeper restoration and better health is set to grow. According to a survey by eDreams ODIGEO which incorporates travel brands such as Opodo, 92% of global respondents already feel that holidays have a ‘very’ or ‘quite’ positive impact on their mental wellbeing. As we focus increasingly on improving our mental health and sleep hygiene and an enthusiasm to embrace traditional healing methods, it’s no surprise that it will become more of a factor in shaping our time off. Check out our round-up of the best health retreats to try, from stress-relieving retreats in Thailand to sleep clinics in Spain. Respectful safari-ing: keep your distance In summer 2025, dozens of safari jeeps were filmed blocking wildebeest crossing a river during the Great Migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, causing outrage across the board. Not only was it morally and ethically wrong, is a crowded experience on safari even enjoyable? Travelling to see wildlife has and always will be a huge draw, but it seems a ‘less is more’ approach is being cultivated. Tour operators aim to make safari more sustainable by encouraging travellers to enjoy wildlife experiences outside the peak season, visit lesser-visited national parks and reserves (including to lesser-visited countries such as Uganda, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia) and incorporate experiences that show Africa as a place of diverse communities, culture and entrepreneurship, and not just a wildlife haven. Quiet travel: calm over crowds It’s a noisy world outside and we’re all craving a little peace. But it’s not just about total quiet; the sounds of nature can be just as soothing. As tour operator Black Tomato says, recent studies have connected natural soundscapes to higher satisfaction and pro-environmental attitudes. This could mean seeking out quiet hours at busy attractions, listening to monks chanting, farm stays that allow you to experience rural idylls, hearing the squawks and sounds of the jungle, or enjoying the stillness and darkness of the night sky. With so many of us managing a fast pace of life, and an over-stimulated one at that, seeking out natural or low-stimulation on our travels is one trend that will endure way beyond 2026. We've chosen 10 destinations to disconnect – ultimate remote places to stay to get away from it all. Nostalgia travel: safe spaces in testing times Whether it’s going off grid or simply unplugging from your phone or laptop, retro stays that remind us of holidays past are on the up. Think forest cabins with actual record players, watching DVDs and playing board games: going analogue has never been more on-trend. Booking.com’s 2026 survey highlights a growing number of travellers who want to “relive meaningful moments and share them with others.” It found that 46% of global travellers are drawn to destinations that make them feel young, connected or at home. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2025/12/GettyImages-2224998884-77e13f1.jpg" width="724" height="483" alt="Top-down view of a cozy reading and music corner in a sunlit cabin, featuring an open book, cup of coffee, and a vinyl record player on wooden side tables near a gray sofa" title="Top-down view of a cozy reading and music corner in a sunlit cabin, featuring an open book, cup of coffee, and a vinyl record player on wooden side tables near a gray sofa" /> Event-driven travel: travelling for the moment 2026 is the year for one of the world’s biggest sporting events, the Fifa Men’s World Cup. It’s also the first time it will be hosted by three countries – USA, Canada and Mexico – and data from eDreams ODIGEO show that searches for Mexico have increased by 15% and by 14% for Canada. Similarly, interest in Milan is up 24% as the city and nearby resort town Cortina D’Ampezzo prepare to host the Winter Olympics in February, all motivated by a desire to be part of something beyond evergreen experiences and attractions. Travelling for music festivals and concerts in also on the up, alongside planning around cultural festivals such as Rio carnival, Day of the Dead in Mexico and Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival. Group travel: solo but not alone, with women leading the way While solo travel can mean anything from travelling completely independently to joining a guided group tour as a solo traveller, Hostelworld’s 2025 State of Solo Travel 2025 report found that many solo travellers (58%) said meeting new people was the best aspect, up from 43% in 2024. While freedom and spontaneity were the biggest reasons to go solo, over two-thirds actively look to meet new people. At the heart of this trend are female solo travellers; they’re more likely to take solo trips, citing stepping out of comfort zones, increased self-confidence and feeling mentally refreshed among the benefits. Connected to this is the rise in women-only group travel, often tours created by women for women with a focus on female-owned businesses and experiences. This year, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) reported that the number of travel companies focusing exclusively on female travellers had increased by 230% in the last few years. We've got 8 of the best foodie destinations for solo travellers around the world, or 8 UK food trips for solo travellers if you want to start closer to home. Book club retreats: readaway travel Reading on holiday is nothing new, but the desire to focus on reading and take part in reading-focused trips is set to grow. In their Unpack ’26 trends report, travel company Vrbo reported that searches for ‘book retreats’ and ‘book club retreat ideas’ are up 100% and 265% on Pinterest. They also found that 91% of travellers are seeking trips focused on reading, relaxation and quality time with loved ones, tapping into the wider trend for more meaningful, mindful and slower-paced holidays. Many retreats choose books based on the destination, mixing the book with a sense of place and community, bringing the book alive in the very place it’s set in. According to market research company Future Market Insights, the entire literary tourism sector, including visiting places because of their connection to a book, was worth an estimated $2.4bn last year.
As temperatures soar, seek out a coolcation instead
Summer is much-loved for good reason – that ‘holiday’ feeling, long lazy days by the beach, the promise of a cold beer, cocktail or mocktail at the end of a warm day, balmy nights where there’s no need for a jacket ‘just in case’. But as climate change wreaks havoc on global temperatures, many regions are now getting excessively hot in the traditional summer season, and continuing to experience warm ‘summer’ temperatures well into September, October and even November. Enter the coolcation. If you switch on your USB fan as soon as the mercury passes 25˚C (tops), your European breaks may need a change of direction; think mountains, lakes and forests. From the beaches of a Scottish peninsula to the mountains of Italy, these are some of our favourite 'coolcation' locations to discover. For more travel inspiration, check out 10 unmissable European road trips for food lovers and 8 breathtaking train journeys across the world. Five coolcation travel ideas The Kintyre Peninsula, west of Glasgow, Scotland One of Scotland’s prettiest peninsulas, Kintyre on the west coast is a place of wide, white-sand beaches, eye-popping views and comfortable autumnal temperatures. For road-trippers, the Kintyre 66 (K66) winds through all six of Kintyre’s regions including Campbeltown, one of Argyll’s largest towns. Walkers have the long-distance Kintyre Way, castle ruins aplenty, and scenic excursions to Argyll’s islands including the white-sand beaches of the Isle of Gigha, the most southerly of the Hebridean islands. Surrounded by water (the Atlantic, Kilbrannan Sound, West Loch Tarbert and Loch Fyne), this is a land of fishing towns and harbours – little wonder it’s a seafood paradise. There’s an actual Seafood Trail on Kintyre and Gigha which takes in some of the best spots around the region’s bays, coves and islands for freshly caught produce. If self-catering, Prentice Seafood is a must for fresh crabs, clams, scallops and more, while neighbouring Skipness has the wonderful Skipness Castle Seafood Cabin for seafood platters and fresh mussels. On Gigha, the highlight is the Boathouse Café Bar at Ardminish Bay for island-reared halibut and Gigha oysters. And of course, there’s whisky. Campbeltown was once the ‘whisky capital of the world’ with 34 distilleries; now there are three, but an increasing number of gin distilleries like Kintyre Gin Distillery at Torrisdale near Campbeltown make a good stop for a tasting and tour. Check out our guide to the best Scottish whisky distilleries to discover more. Egilsstaðir, East Iceland Iceland always has a reason for a season, be it midnight sun, northern lights (Aurora Borealis) or winter wonderland vibes. For a twist on Reykjavik, head to East Iceland. Its largest town Egilsstaðir is a direct flight from the capital and a good base for hikers, bikers and birdwatchers to explore the East Fjords and Vatnajökull National Park post-summer. The region prides itself on hyper-local food, including Icelandic lamb, wild mushrooms and dairy products such as the yogurt-like skyr, much loved by Icelanders and a common feature at breakfast with fresh berries and local honey. A popular Egilsstaðir spot is Nielsen Restaurant, known for its refreshing takes on traditional ingredients such as reindeer tataki and reindeer terrine – co-owner Kari was a former head chef at Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Dill, in Reykjavík. At the family-run Lake Hotel (the town’s oldest) on Lake Lagarfljót, emphasis is again on local; Arctic char, lobster, skyr, wild berries, and much of it from their own farm or nearby Vallanes Farm, Iceland’s first organic farm. For a more remote adventure, head to the Wilderness Centre, about 30 miles/50 kilometres southwest of town, for Icelandic horse-riding, jeep adventures and hikes. The owners have recreated traditional farm buildings for accommodation, revamped a smoke hut to smoke meat, and serve meals created from passed-down family recipes using local produce such as lamb and rhubarb grown on their fields. Trentino-Alto Adige, northern Italy In the Dolomites is the self-governing border province of Trentino-Alto Adige (or Trentino-South Tyrol) where residents typically speak Italian, German and the Ladin dialect. It’s a sublime region for hiking in summer and autumn before the winter sports/ski season begins, and foodwise, it’s an intriguing fusion of Italian, Austrian, Mediterranean and Alpine. Think hearty meaty stews (Germanic) with polenta (Italian), broths with dumplings; spinach and cheese-flavoured strangolapreti and bread dumplings, canederli. Pasta is, of course, always on the menu from spätzle, fresh egg pasta, which has Germanic roots, to casunziei, beetroot-filled ravioli with poppy seeds, and schlutzkrapfen, half-moon pasta parcels of spinach and ricotta. Speck, a popular Italian salumi, is a Trentino favourite, and the region produces 200+ cheeses; try Alta Badia, reminiscent of Swiss Gruyere, and fruity Vinschger. Trentino is also known for its lake fish; try the many spots on Caldonazzo and Levico lakes, a half-hour drive from Trento. Autumn sees the wine harvest; South Tyrol is home to three indigenous grape varietals with 99% of wines enjoying DOC classification. Take an e-bike to explore the Giro del Vino 50, a 55km circuit with 50 wineries and distilleries along the route. Helsinki, Finland As the midnight sun slowly sets, autumn becomes a beautiful time of year to visit the Finnish capital. It’s ‘ruska’, when the leaves change colour, and the city is a sea of fiery golds, reds and yellow. And just outside the city, Nuuksio National Park is perfect for hiking and foraging for wild herbs, mushrooms and bilberries, and for enjoying the colours of ruska. A word of warning: while everyone has the right to forage, guided tours are recommended if you’re planning on mushroom-picking… Try classic dishes like creamy Finnish salmon soup with dark rye bread, marinated herring and river fish, poronkäristys which is stewed venison with mash and berries, and lihapullat, meatballs from ground pork, beer or even elk. Autumn also welcomes the 300-year-old Helsinki Baltic Herring Market, an atmospheric event that captures the country’s maritime heritage. At Natura restaurant in the city centre, the focus is on seasonality, ethically produced and locally sourced produce, sometimes from their own farm, with good vegan and vegetarian options. Think truffle pancakes with mushrooms, and roasted trout from Kotka on the east coast. For a post-walk coffee, Helsinki has no shortage of inviting cafés and bakeries. Try Tintin The Café for its flaky almond croissants, cinnamon buns and homemade sourdough – you can also book a breadmaking workshop to learn the secrets yourself. Bourgogne-Franche Comté, France In eastern France, bordering Switzerland and the Jura mountains, the eastern Franche Comté region is something of a pilgrimage for lovers of nutty Comté cheese. It pairs particularly well with a Jura wine or melted in a fondue or raclette in a cooler climate that feels quite Alpine. But the giant cheese wheels are just one gourmet attraction of this under-visited, lesser-known part of France where the deep forests and valleys are ideal for hiking and biking. There’s fresh cherry jam from the orchards in Fougerolles, Morbier cheese with its ash-grey line, smoky, garlic and cumin-flavoured saucisse de Montbéliard, the oldest sausage in France (first recorded in the 14th century), and Bresi, a smoked salt beef made in Franche Comté since the Middle Ages. The region even has a protected signature chicken dish, poulet de Bresse. Wine-wise, try the golden ‘vin de paille’ (‘straw wine’) and ‘yellow wine’, aged in the barrel with yeast; alternatively, trace the Franco-Swiss Absinthe Trail past fields of herbs and smuggling locations. The region’s pine forests and meadows are a playground for bees, resulting in fragrant pine and acacia honey. In the picturesque old town of Besançon, a local favourite is the unpretentious Le 76 which serves classic French dishes with a gentle twist; salmon fillet in yellow wine, vol-au-vent with wild mushrooms. You can pick up local produce from cheese to jams in Besançon’s farmers’ market on Place de la Révolution or browse the more upscale stalls inside the Musee de Beaux Art. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2025/08/GettyImages-2186326331-d7734a5.jpg" width="726" height="481" alt="Besancon, France, July 10, 2024: people walking pedestrian street Grande Rue in sunny day in Besancon city centre, tourists stroll shopping street with stores and shops in Besançon old town" title="people walking pedestrian street Grande Rue in sunny day in Besancon city centre, tourists stroll shopping street with stores and shops in Besançon old town" /> More travel inspiration Best city breaks in the UK Best Morocco food trips Best French food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish food trips 12 small towns across the UK every foodie should visit The UK's best pubs with rooms UK boutique hotels for food lovers 10 exciting UK city breaks for food lovers Best restaurants with rooms UK spa hotels for food lovers Best romantic UK hotels Best seaside staycations Best country hotels
Why autumn is the best time to visit these typical summer destinations
Skip the heatwaves and crowds, and discover a whole new side to some of Europe's most-popular summer destinations by visiting in autumn instead
If you’ve holidayed during the height of summer and returned to that same place off-season, you’ll know why it feels special. Temperatures drop just enough to feel comfortable, queues lessen and fewer crowds create a different energy. And, travelling during the shoulder season has never been more pertinent: as overtourism threatens the infrastructure of many popular holiday spots, visiting off-peak is one way to alleviate the strain and have a better time. As someone who’s visited some of Europe's most-popular summer destinations later in the year, I can attest that you see the place come into its own as locals breathe easy after the summer rush. For foodies, autumn in Europe is seasonal produce bonanza. If summer means salads, ice creams and cold beers, autumn is wild mushrooms, figs, chestnuts – and the appetite to go with it. For more travel inspiration perfect for autumn, check out 10 unmissable European roadtrips for food lovers and the best autumn breaks for food lovers. 5 typical summer destinations to visit in autumn Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain Better known as the gateway to the resorts of the Costa del Sol, Malaga Airport actually has its own train station that can quickly connect you to its namesake city. This compact coastal town is one of Spain’s most underrated, packed with cobbled streets, family-run restaurants, cosy tapas bars and both a fine and street art scene – not to mention its proximity to the beach and cooler, inland mountain towns like Mijas and Ronda. Without the summer crowds and heat, it’s infinitely more pleasant to walk along the pier Muelle Uno, cycle to the coast or enjoy the views from Gibralfaro Castle and Malaga’s many rooftop terraces and bars. Like many Spanish cities, Malaga has plenty of art to enjoy at the world-class Picasso and Carmen Thyssen museums. It’s also home to Hamman al Andalus, an impressive Moroccan-style hammam with baths and treatments. In October, the aroma of roasted chestnuts will surround you as you explore the city, as streetside vendors smoke this seasonal highlight. Autumn is also a fruit fest, with custard apples, persimmon and fresh figs available. Try torta de higo – fig cake with a slice of Spanish cheese. For the freshest autumnal produce, you can’t beat Malaga’s Atarazanas market, open Monday to Saturday, for its stalls, kiosks and handful of informal bars and restaurants. A few steps away outside is Palodú restaurant, which serves two seasonal tasting menus; prop up at the counter to watch the chefs in action as you feast. Top tip: If you’re a golfer, autumn is the time to visit. Near-perfect temperatures also make it the optimum time for hiking, biking and horse-riding in Sierra de las Nieves national park. Lake Como, northern Italy Summer by the lake sounds good in theory: cooler than the beach, mountain views and pebbly lakeside shores eliminating sandy sweaty stickiness. But, northern Italy’s lakes can still reach high temperatures. That’s why autumn – and even winter – can be a much better bet. It’s still warm, the scenery transforms to reddish-gold hues and, if it rains, the lakes take on a wonderfully misty atmosphere. Towns like Varenna and Bellagio can be heaving in the summer, and understandably so – Bellagio is one of Como’s prettiest spots. But once the crowds have left, it’s quieter and calmer, and wandering the streets or eating dinner on the waterfront is more joy than jostle. Sights such as Villa Balbianello, known for its striking gardens and architecture, are free of queues – it’s no wonder this spectacular spot has hosted so many celebrity weddings and shoots for films. Sitting in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, seasonal produce during autumn includes local fish, mushrooms and chestnuts. As the evenings cool, it’s a great time of year to tuck into dishes such as polenta with wild mushrooms, cinghiale (braised wild boar) or pumpkin ravioli with aromatic sage. After an aperitivo on Bellagio’s lakefront, head up into the hills to Ristorante La Madonnina di Barni – its mountain view sets a cosy spot for a seasonal dinner, such as venison stew or porcini mushroom risotto. October is also chestnut season; ask locals about the nearest castagnata, the chestnut festivals that take place across Italy. Top tip: Ferries, boats and water taxis are a great way to move between lakeside towns; itineraries often change in autumn, so check timings. Dress warmly for cooler mornings and evenings. Athens, Greece In 2024, the Greek capital not only hit record tourist numbers, but its hottest temperatures, too. Autumn is a chance to beat both highs. November can be heavenly here, and queues for popular sights such as the Acropolis and Parthenon are a lot more manageable, while walking through the neighbourhoods of Plaka, below the Acropolis, and Anafiotika, on the slopes of the Acropolis, feel like less of a ‘tourist route’. While Greek food favourites are available year-round – such as slow-cooked lamb kleftiko or flaky spinach-and-cheese spanakopita – autumn is an opportunity to try seasonal dishes like fasolada (white bean soup) and spetzofai (sausage and pepper stew). Athens’s Central Municipal Market is a top spot to browse or pick up food gifts, or stop for an ouzo and mezedes (snacks) at Karayiannis in the fish market section. The courtyards of Athens neighbourhoods Exarhia and Petralona lend themselves to spontaneously stopping by a bar or restaurant, while the Pangrati and Kolonaki neighbourhoods are great for streetside dining. A longstanding favourite is Dexameni, with its leafy setting in Kolonaki: great prices and simple food done well, like halloumi with fig marmalade and beef patties with basil and almonds. Top tip: The Athens Riviera is just 12 miles (20 kilometres) south if you want to feast on fresh fish and seafood by the sea. And, if you love a vineyard, the wineries of the Mesogaia valley are 19 miles (30 kilometres) south-west, including Vasilis Papagiannakos, Greece’s first bioclimatic winery, and the family-run Gikas Winery. The Turkish Riviera, Türkiye Known as the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast, this 600-mile (965 kilometres) coastline in southwestern Türkiye (across the provinces of Antalya, Muğla and Aydın) stretches along the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Deservedly popular for its resorts, activities and lively beach towns, it’s also busy (and hot) in the height of summer. A drop in temperature as autumn rolls in is great for walkers, who can hike through pine forest along parts of the Lycian Way (a 320-mile trail between Antalya and Fethiye). On the beaches, it’s still warm and calm enough to go waterskiing, paragliding and bodyboarding. Booking a gulet (traditional schooner) cruise is recommended for a serene day at sea. Popular towns like Bodrum, Kalkan, Marmis, Fethiye and Ölüdeniz become easier to navigate, where local markets are a food-lover’s paradise. Kaş is a dream to explore, with its boutique stores and atmosphere cafés, or head to UNESCO World Heritage site Pamukkale’s natural spa, with its terraced pools of thermal waters. Mushrooms and chestnuts are a regular autumnal feature, but pumpkin is Türkiye’s seasonal highlight, from pumpkin soup to pumpkin desserts served with tahini drizzle or a sprinkling of walnuts. Another is pomegranate – not just the fruit, but pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds, too. Try kisir, a bulgur wheat salad topped with one or both. A popular spot with locals and return visitors is one of Antalya’s oldest restaurants: 7 Mehmet. Located inland, its third-generation chef and owner continues to serve family recipes – some unchanged since the restaurant opened in 1937, others with a twist, such as rice pilaf with pineapple and bergamot. Top tip: Different towns have their own market days. As markets are often just once a week, find out before or early in your holiday which market is the best/closest/most convenient for you. Cyprus Even in November, it’s warm enough for a dip in the sea if you head as far south as Cyprus – not to mention the luxury of uncrowded beaches, quieter hotels, comfortable temperatures and a price drop, too. In the west-coast town of Paphos, explore the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings, enjoy the views from Ancient Kourion’s cliffside Greco-Roman theatre, or soak up the seafront vibe of Larnaca. Inland, the pretty village of Lefkara, known for its lace-making heritage (and located in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains), can get overrun in the peak period, but as the season changes, it becomes a lot more palatable. Visitors can also book free craft workshops, choosing between traditional weaving, wood carving or bread- and halloumi-making. Autumn, of course, is harvest time. There’s the nine-day Limassol Wine Festival from the end of September, which celebrates the grape harvest and local wine. But, if you miss it, Cyprus has numerous vineyards where you can sample local wines alongside plates of homemade halloumi. There’s also the Commandaria Wine Route, which passes through 14 villages and includes wineries that produce the island’s ancient sweet dessert wine. Other seasonal produce includes olives, pomegranates, mushrooms and hawthorn (yellow and red berries used for hawthorn jam). Head into the Troodos for feasts in family-run restaurants – weekends are especially atmospheric, as local families and groups of friends enjoy long lunches on open-air terraces. Top tip: For UK drivers, Cyprus is one of the few countries in the world that also drives on the left. And, while you don’t need a car, it’s handy if you want to explore the island or village-hop in the mountains. More travel guides The best health and wellness retreats for foodies Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known cities 5 destinations at the cutting edge of sleep tourism Best romantic hotels Best French food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best European city breaks 10 unique walking holidays for foodies Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations
10 destinations to disconnect – the most remote places to stay to get away from it all
Discover your ultimate destination to relax, from a mountain retreat in the Swiss Alps to a five-star Greek getaway
A wilderness cabin in the wilds of Romania, a country house in the Welsh woodlands and a secluded hideaway among Sardinia’s sand dunes. These are among the (increasingly many) places where travellers can take a moment out of everyday life, switch off (literally, if desired) and find a way to both disconnect and reconnect. Whether it’s through good food, forest hikes, better sleep, yoga, gazing at the night sky or tapping into your creativity, there’s more than one way to ‘retreat’ into these havens of peace and calm across the UK and Europe. For more relaxing travel inspiration, check out the most breathtaking train journeys across the world, European hidden gem hotels to discover and the best UK spa hotels for food lovers. 10 destinations to disconnect Three Choirs Vineyard, Newent Valley, Gloucestershire, England This cedar lodge set among 75 acres of vines – one of England’s oldest vineyards – in a remote Gloucestershire valley is a great place to switch off. Its story goes back to 1973 when local wine merchant Alan McKechnie was curious to see if vines would grow on Gloucestershire’s south-facing slopes. He planted half an acre, and the rest is history. Grape varieties include pinot noir, bacchus, phoenix, siegerrebe and seyval blanc, and the wine menu features Three Choirs wine and guest bottles; wine tastings are also available. Brasserie food is tapas-style, with local and regional cheeses, fresh figs with stilton, sweet potato, apricot and cumin falafel, and a sirloin steak sharing board. Accommodation consists of the Vineyard Lodges, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and a veranda to enjoy the sounds of finches, woodpeckers, buzzards and sparrowhawks; or the Vineyard View Rooms, closer to the brasserie, each with valley views and a south-facing patio. Check rates and availability at three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales In the Narberth hills of Pembrokeshire, nestled among ancient woodland and meadows, is a small luxury hotel modelled on a traditional Welsh country house. Owners Neil and Zoe Kedward bought the building in 2007 and have restored the once-derelict house with the help of local tradesmen and craft specialists, mixing original features with Welsh art, crafts and antiques. Food is a centrepiece, both at the fine-dining Fernery restaurant and informal Artisan Brasserie. For executive chef Douglas Balish, it’s all about seasonal, sustainable ingredients, often just picked from the hotel’s kitchen garden, or fresh fish and oysters from nearby harbours. In-house sommelier Cathryn Bell ensures local producers are celebrated on a curated wine list. There are seven- and five-course tasting menus, including menus for pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans, with dishes including sea bass with gnocchi, fennel and bouillabaisse; silken seaweed with tofu and satay; and lamb with lime pickle, mint and wild garlic. The hotel’s 13 cosy rooms and suites overlook the Preseli hills or hotel gardens, and there are standalone cottages around the grounds too, where over 5,000 trees have been planted. grovenarberth.co.uk Doubles from £260; check rates and availability at booking.com, hilton.com or mrandmrssmith.com Finn Lough, Ireland From walks through ancient woodland and kayaking around secluded islands to hunkering down in the library or by the forest barn firepit, Finn Lough has plenty of places to switch off from daily life. Stay in transparent domes in the forest under a starlit sky, in a river cabin next to a rewilded waterway, or in one of Finn Lough’s relaxing suites at the main house at this adults-only Irish retreat. There are also villas by the edge of Lough Erne with a private garden and deck or balcony with waterside views. Ingredients are grown, foraged and sourced locally, whether that's the breakfast hampers delivered to your door, mimosas and pastries at the main house each morning, lunch and drinks at the House Bar (which also has a vintage cinema showing a daily 9pm film), or the evening-only restaurant Lasair – expect hickory-smoked burrata, scampi in Thai coconut curry, teriyaki pork belly and olive oil cake among the choices. On sunny days, lakeside venue The Bay opens for lunch. Check rates and availability at finnlough.com Knockinaam Lodge, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Who wouldn't love a hotel set in its own private cove? This secluded 19th-century country house hotel in southwest Scotland has a locally sourced menu created by chef Tony Pierce, offering fine dining at the restaurant and al fresco at The Cove, with fresh seafood, local meats, and many ingredients sourced directly from the kitchen garden - currently on course to become a fully certified organic garden. Manicured lawns sweep down to the sea with extensive views across the North Channel to Ireland, ripe for beach walks, runs or contemplation. Dine at the 3 AAA Rosette restaurant, where a daily changing menu features dishes such as Orkney scallops, Galloway lamb, and celeriac with white truffle oil. Knockinaam Lodge has 10 rooms, with sea or garden views, with thick, deep-pile robes and local Apothecally essence of Galloway toiletries. And though remote, it’s just three miles from the seaside village of Portpatrick, and eight miles from Stranraer and Cairnryan ferry port. Check rates and availability at knockinaamlodge.com La Belle Eco, Montréal (near Carcassonne), France Disconnecting isn’t just about getting away, it’s about reconnecting with your creative self too. Surrounded by ancient woodland, the manor house hotel of La Belle Eco near the medieval town of Carcassonne in southwest France is a relaxing getaway, but also a place to experience traditional crafts and enjoy organic food, from homemade sourdough pizza to dishes using garden ingredients. With just nine rooms, there’s automatically a more intimate feel, each one decked out with organic bedding and upcycled antiques. There’s a natural swimming pool, wood-fired hot tub, eco sauna and massage room for physical and mental relaxation. But La Belle Eco is about community too, with its art studios, fairy glen and barn. Taking ‘impact’ into account was high on the agenda when building this space: an ‘eco refit’ means solar panels, compost toilets and hemp insulation. No sprays/pesticides are used in the garden, and indigenous species have been planted to boost biodiversity. labelle.eco Doubles from £168; check rates and availability at booking.com Le Dune Piscinas, Sardinia, Italy Picture a former mining storage facility transformed into a boutique seaside hotel, between some of Europe’s highest sand dunes (part of a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Mediterranean sea. That’s Le Dune Piscinas. The secluded setting of this 28-room hotel, which opened in 2024 after a three-year restoration, is made for switching off, whether in the quiet library or on a sunrise/sunset walk for a sighting of Sardinian deer. You can relax at the American bar, or enjoy beach-view meals at glass-fronted Il Ginepro, where locally sourced ingredients are the highlight: octopus, potato and mullet bottarga (preserved fish roe); culurgiones (stuffed pasta) with potatoes and wild mint; and suckling pig roasted on myrtle branches. The evening-only Rosso Tramonto is all about gourmet tasting menus. Rooms and décor are inspired by local artists, and designed with a mix of Sardinian marble, cast iron, wood and local fabrics. The private beach is another haven, and there’s an outdoor cinema, spa and pool with underwater treadmills. ledunepiscinas.com/en Doubles from £248; check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Gundari, Folegandros, Greece On the lesser known Cyclades island of Folegandros – population under 1,000, no airport, one road – is the island’s first five-star, EarthCheck Certified resort, Gundari. Its 29 suites and villas are bio-climatically designed, using solar energy to minimise energy use, kitted in natural colours and with private pools. This is a place to truly slow down, and the views of the Aegean Sea – not to mention the the limited mobile phone reception – certainly help. The cliff-edge pool with swim-up cocktail bar is as impressive as it sounds, as is the subterranean sea view spa. The resort also has an organic farm and wine bar, and restaurants are helmed by Greece’s first Michelin-star chef, Lefteris Lazarou, serving dishes such as squid with basil pesto, seabass carpaccio, and Cycladic salad with local souroto cheese. You can also visit the traditional Cycladic town of Chora, and swim and snorkel at Katerga and Livadaki beaches. gundari.com Doubles from £394; check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com MAD Retreat, Haute-Nendaz, Switzerland The Alpine chalet-style rooms and setting in the forest 1,300 metres above the Rhône valley are an instant decompressor here – the ultimate aim of the 45-room MAD Retreat (for ages 14 and up). It offers classic or themed retreats, a combination of individual sessions, holistic treatments such as aromatherapy and sound therapy, massages and group activities, depending on what guests want to achieve. There’s also a yoga chalet, saunas, a hammam, heated pools, an open-air massage mazot (an Alpine raised wooden building once used to store valuables) and activities such as forest bathing and hiking. The main chalet and 23 local wood mazots have been locally designed using sustainable materials such as wood and stone, and the place is wholly powered by hydroelectricity, solar panels and other renewables. The cuisine is mostly vegetarian and vegan, with buffet breakfasts, light lunches and three-course dinners; think wild rice with herbed tahini, and plum tartlet. madretreat.ch Doubles from £529; check rates and availability at booking.com Bunea Wilderness Cabin, Carpathian Mountains, Romania After travelling off-road through the Dâmbovița Valley, it’s impossible not to switch off in this remote mountain setting above Pecineagu Lake, immersed in one of Europe’s most untouched forests, home to wolves, bears and lynx. Built by Foundation Conservation Carpathia, this cosy wooden cabin that sleeps six (across a double and bunk room) is a fantastic spot to view wildlife such as European bison and deer and hear the howl of a wolf. It's also a chance to just ‘be’, enjoy nature and soak up moments of solitude. It’s ‘all-inclusive’ too, but not as you might think. Due to its off-grid location, a specialist guide is on hand to maximise the wildlife experience, and you’ll enjoy delicious organic dishes from meatball soup to polenta with sour cream alongside organic Romanian wines, all of it sourced from local markets and farmers in the valley. Check rates and availability at responsibletravel.com or travelcarpathia.com Lådfabriken, Orust island, West Sweden This former fish box factory has been transformed into a luxury boutique bed-and-breakfast on the island of Orust, an hour north of Gothenburg in the West Sweden archipelago. The four rooms are simply designed with pops of colour in furnishing and fabrics, and there’s an ‘EKO Tiny House’ in the garden, with solar panels and a loft bedroom overlooking the Skagerrak Sea. Just 30 metres from the sea, Lådfabriken is the perfect place for a quick dip, kayaking, coastal cycling and fishing – the hotel also encourages beach clean-ups. Unsurprisingly, seafood is the food focus; lobster dinners, seafood buffets, dishes such as fresh crayfish cocktail and Lådfabriken-style fish soup, accompanied by fine wines. The restaurant is part of the ‘A Taste of West Sweden’ network, which connects restaurants and cafés with regional producers, so you might find handpicked oysters, or local yogurt, charcuterie or Wrångebäck cheese. The garden is home to over 100 roses, berry bushes and fruit trees; enjoy the end result at breakfast, with over 12 types of jam and marmalade. ladfabriken.eu Doubles from £186; check availability at booking.com More travel inspiration 10 unique walking holidays for food lovers Best foodie destinations for solo travellers Best health and wellness retreats for foodies Best saunas to visit in the UK Best day trips from London by train Best seaside staycations Best new restaurants in the UK Best holiday cottages for foodies Best autumn breaks Best cosy cabins for foodies Best UK glamping sites Best UK afternoon teas Best Irish holidays
Five sustainable travel destinations for a greener trip
Discover where to go for a more eco-friendly trip, from a European mini break to exotic adventures
Designated ‘green cities’, unofficial ‘nature islands’, regions that are low-impact by default, there are plenty of places that offer a slightly more sustainable, climate-aware, and community-conscious way of travelling. From capitals with an emphasis on urban farming, and lesser-visited areas where tourism supports local communities, to conservation projects and hyper-local food in the Caribbean, these five places show how it can be done – and where local produce reigns supreme. For more travel inspiration, check out our guides to foodie city breaks by train or the best romantic getaways for food lovers. Singapore A City in Nature with its mission to bring nature (back) to urban areas, plus vertical gardens and better connected green spaces all part of a wider Green Plan 2030, Singapore isn’t just a slick, modern metropolis. Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s premier urban garden, with 1.5 million plants, and a sky walk connecting the towering solar-powered trees. Out of town, visit car-free island of Pulau Ubin to cycle and walk along boardwalks, past disused quarries, kampongs (traditional villages) and enjoy the birdlife and peace of the Chek Jawa Wetlands. Head to Open Farm Community urban farm and restaurant near Singapore’s Botanic Gardens (also worth a stop) to feast on seasonal fish from Lombok, farm-grown okra, and chocolate sake fondant, with a focus on local and organic Southeast Asian ingredients. Sample the wine list that includes lesser-known domains and forgotten grape varieties, all made chemical-free. At Bollywood Farms (and culinary school), you can tour the farm, visit the museum, and eat at the Poison Ivy Bistro (the banana cake is heavenly). For fine dining, Michelin Green Star restaurants Fiz and Seroja both pay homage to Singapore’s heritage and the food of the Malay archipelago. Singapore’s Chinatown and Little India are packed with small, independent restaurants, while the open food courts/hawker centres serve up everything from Hainanese chicken rice to laksa, a spicy coconut noodle soup. An interesting experience is the Future Food Tour, a chance to meet some of the city’s innovative chefs and entrepreneurs and try local food and drink (and a handful of surprise stops en route). Where to stay: The biophilic-designed (an approach that maximises natural elements) Park Royal Collection Marina Bay is the city’s first ‘garden-in-a-hotel’ with Southeast Asia’s largest indoor sky-lit atrium, with over 2,400 plants, trees and shrubs, and a rooftop urban farm which supplies the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant, farm-to-bar, and even farm-to-spa. Doubles from £285, check availability at panpacific.com or booking.com Garden hotel Pan Pacific Orchard is another homage to nature, with four, large plant-filled terraces and over 100 plant species across the property, creatively designed by architect firm WOHA known for blending the environment into its designs. Doubles from £249, check availability at panpacific.com or booking.com. Valencia, Spain Europe’s Green Capital in 2024 has long been integrating green living, eating and working into its DNA. With three ‘green routes’, around 200 kilometres of cycle paths, and virtually flat terrain, it’s easy to bike (and walk) between sights such as Valencia cathedral, CAC (City of Arts and Science) museum, UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) and the Art Nouveau-design Central Market. The market, alongside Mercado Colón, is a top spot to pick up local produce for a picnic – fresh bread, regional cheeses, speciality hams, plump olives – much of it grown in La Huerta, the 120 square kilometres of fruit orchards and vegetable plots surrounding Valencia. Head to Turia Park, the east-west, nine-kilometre city park; once a flooded riverbed, it’s been transformed into a much-loved communal outdoor space. If seasonal and surprising is your bag, K-MoNEt by Huerta y Huerta in the upscale Russafa neighbourhood serves Mediterranean fusion food based on what’s available in their huerta (allotment). Also in Russafa is Michelin-starred La Salita; it’s excellent for vegetarians thanks to the creative culinary mind of head chef Begoña Rodrigo. In the fishing district of Cabanyal, head to Mercader Cabanyal for local food, prop-up bars and food court-style dining, and stay for the sunset from Las Arenas beach. South of Valencia are the beaches and forests of Albufera Natural Park and Albufera Lake – Albufera is where Spain’s paella bomba rice is grown. In nearby El Palmar village, you’ll find local, family-run restaurants and arrocerías (rice restaurants), several claiming to serve the best paella; mostly you can’t go too far wrong. Arrocería Maribel and Arrocería El Rek serve up good paellas, focus on low food miles and support local fisherman and growers. Where to stay: Calling itself the only ‘historical monument hotel in the city’, you can see Gothic arches, a 2nd-century Roman mosaic, and remnants of the 13th-century Arabic city walls at the 25-room boutique Caro Hotel in a 19th-century palace. Doubles from £188, check availability at booking.com or thomascook.com Less than half an hour outside the city is Parador de El Saler, one of Spain’s many state-owned heritage hotels. By the coast and using renewable energy, it champions regional dishes, has created a sanctuary for Mediterranean turtles, and its on-site Natursenda trail introduces guests to local biodiversity and the work being done to reintroduce long-eared owls and hedgehogs. Doubles from £95, check availability at booking.com Placencia, Belize Its Central American neighbour Costa Rica is quite rightly lauded for its green credentials, but Belize on the Caribbean coast and the region’s second smallest nation, has plenty to offer – including the bird sanctuary of Half Moon Caye, Central America’s first marine protected area, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, and Cockscombe Basin, the world’s first jaguar preserve. There’s a rich cultural heritage, of Mestizo (Spanish Indian), Kriol (African European), Garifuna (Black Caribbean) and Indigenous Mayam influences, and sights such as the Maya temples of Lamanai and Xunantunich, and atmospheric town of San Antonio with its local market and Cahal Pech archaeological site. In the peninsula town of Placencia, Dr Lyra Spang’s Taste Belize food tours are an excellent introduction to the diversity and cultural heritage of Belizean cuisine, and the keen focus on local. You might tuck into homemade tamales, steamed corn dough filled with meat, cheese or beans, stop at Carmen’s Kitchen for salbutes (fried tortillas) and pork tacos, try Kriol rice and beans in homemade coconut milk at roadside Miss Geneva’s Fine Foods, before finishing up at locally run beach bars Barefoot Beach Bar (run by two sisters) or Tipsy Tuna for cold Belikin beers. North of Placencia is Hopkins village, a cultural centre of the Garifuna community, where a Garifuna Cultural Immersion Tour includes a cooking lesson with the chef; you might prepare spiced coconut-based hudut soup, grilled fish and traditional mashed plantain; otherwise, try the over-water Swinging Armadillo Beach Bar & Restaurant for dishes inspired by Garifuna and Belizean influences, such as fresh lobster in local spices, casava, and sweet potato pudding. Where to stay: Built around a tropical garden that’s home to resident green and black iguanas, K’in Resort’s rooms and cabins have lamps made by local craftspeople from recycled wood, bedspreads and fabrics by a local seamstress, and door frames from local stones. The pièce de résistance is its beach pool built from sustainable chukum tree resin. Placencia’s Green Globe-certified Itz’Ana Resort has put in place rainwater collection, smart tech and solar power, and its organic vegetable garden inspires the restaurant’s seasonal, seafood-focused menu. The resort also supports community projects, a manatee conservation programme, and the Marine Conservation Camp for local children. Western Uganda Wildlife conservation and community tourism are at the heart of travel experiences in this part of the landlocked East African nation of Uganda, where the Great Apes are the big attraction for trekkers in Kibale National Park (chimps), Bwindi Impenetrable Park (mountain gorillas) and Mgahinga National Park (mountain gorillas and golden monkeys). Here, supporting local guides, porters and projects goes a long way, and many lodges offer hospitality training programmes, champion local ingredients in their restaurants, and support community projects. At Kibale National Park, enjoy a pre- or post-trek coffee with a Ugandan mandazi (doughnut-esque bread) or a Rolex (omelette-stuffed chapati) for lunch at the on-site Café Kibale, a training café run by the Great Lakes Foundation which puts students through a six-month training program that includes barista training, food hygiene and food prep. Book a community tour at the nearby Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, a haven for around 200 bird species, and enjoy a meal with a local family; community walks, homestays and guided wetlands hikes are also available. After gorilla tracking in Bwindi, enjoy a Gorillini cocktail or a bite at the Bwindi Bar which trains local disadvantaged youths in hospitality and tourism, while in the town of Kisoro near Mgahinga National Park, don’t miss the Coffee Pot Café for delicious pizzas, sandwiches, cakes and coffee; it also has a shop selling local and regional crafts. Where to stay: The luxury Volcanoes Safaris lodges near the national parks of Kibale, Bwindi and Mgahinga, are a treat to stay in, designed with local materials and drawing on local art and fabrics. They also employ all-local staff, support education programmes and Indigenous communities, and menus champion Ugandan dishes such as Filinda bean stew with matoke (green banana) and pork with jackfruit, alongside European ones. Also taking a community empowerment stance is Uganda-owned Primate Lodge in Kibale, built from local materials and using solar-powered electricity, while Agandi Uganda Eco-Lodge near Bwindi has simple, beautifully designed African cottages, Ugandan-style huts, ‘tree nests’, and a campsite. Meals use local ingredients, many from its own garden. Dominica Over two-thirds rainforest, Dominica (not to be confused with the, also beautiful, Dominican Republic) is often dubbed the ‘nature island’. Rivers, streams, lakes and waterfalls explain its lushness, but it’s a volcanic isle too, of mud pots, geysers and the legendary Boiling Lake, a wonderful if testing hike. Low-impact adventures include kayaking, snorkelling, and whale- and dolphin-watching, and 170-plus bird species, 1000+ flowering plants and 300-plus miles of trails in Morne Trois Pitons National Park (the eastern Caribbean’s first UNESCO site) add to its bounty. And if shopping for souvenirs, look out for beautiful basketware crafted by the Indigenous Kalinago people. Dominica’s colonial French, English and Spanish influences are evident in its Creole-style cuisine; this is the place to enjoy fresh grilled marlin, mahi-mahi and lobster, Dominican broth with seafood, chicken or callaloo spinach, and carb up on dasheen/taro (root vegetable), plantain and sweet potato. Inland, the rainforest views from French-Caribbean inspired Zeb Zepis Bistro near Emerald Pool in the middle of the island are worth the trip. Open for lunch only (Thu to Sun; cash only), the seasonal menu might offer tuna tartar, grilled snapper with green pepper sauce, and stuffed crab, with many ingredients from its own gardens. Wellness resort Jungle Bay’s Calabash Restaurant & Bar has a daily changing menu that includes Dominica Delight, fresh fish served with local root veg, veggie curry roti wrap, and its signature Jungle Bay Green Salad. Some of the best food-and-drink experiences are the impromptu ones – a rum punch at a roadside bar, dinner in a beach shack, or cold Kubuli beer at a kiosk. Where to stay: Find organic food, yoga and meditation, and a nature-focused spa at Rosalie Bay eco boutique resort, where, from March to September, you might see turtles lay eggs on the beach or witness hatchlings as part of its turtle conservation programme. Doubles from £171, check availability at booking.com Inland, stay at the gorgeous Papillotte Wilderness Retreat with its own herb and medicinal garden, waterfall bathing and hot mineral pool. For a splurge, try off-grid, solar-powered eco-resort Coulibri Ridge in Petit Coulibri, its orchard and farm supplying its farm-to-table menu. The hotel also runs two non-profits; one on animal welfare, the other rebuilding after Hurricane Maria. More travel guides Top 10 breathtaking holidays around the world 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations Best Morocco food trips Best Spanish food trips Best Portuguese food trips Best European vineyards to visit and stay Best foodie city breaks by train Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best country house hotels in the UK Best Scottish hotels
Extend your city break: 5 unique itineraries to get to the heart of foodie destinations
Extend your next city break by adding a few days to your trip to keep exploring further – read on to discover where to go
Nothing beats a weekend getaway to a European city. Within a few hours, you’re in another world, one of gorgeous architecture, atmospheric bars and excellent restaurants serving up both your favourite and less familiar dishes. But often, just an hour or so outside the city, is another world of gastronomic and natural gems – by adding another couple of days to your trip, you can easily transform your short break into a slower, more sustainable trip. Discover where to go below. For more travel inspiration, check out our guides to 10 unique walking holidays for foodies or discover 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world. Five unique foodie destinations to explore beyond the city centre Tallinn, Estonia One of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, UNESCO-heritage Tallinn has been elevating Baltic cuisine with its focus on seasonality, sustainability, and local produce. Kick off with breakfast at RØST in the city’s revamped Rotermann Quarter for cinnamon and cardamom buns, Estonia’s legendary dark rye bread, and Scandi-roast coffee. For lunch, try traditional-meets-modern Rataskaevu 16 in the Old Town and tuck into a three-cheese pie, flounder with kohlrabi and sea buckthorn mousse. At zero-waste Michelin Green Star Fotografiska (also a rooftop bar) in Tallinn’s photography museum, try organic beef tartar with burnt onion sauce; roasted pikeperch; and sprouted rye and pearl barley risotto. For fine dining, two-Michelin-starred 180° by Matthias Diether (180-degree views from the U-shaped open kitchen), its four-course tasting menu (vegetarian option with 24 hours’ notice) might feature tomato marshmallow with comte cheese, and dover sole and lobster roulade. Stay at the inviting boutique Schlossle Hotel, built inside 13th- and 14th-century merchant houses in the Old Town. Its own Stenhus Restaurant is top-notch, using ingredients sourced from small-scale Estonian farms, fishermen and producers. Doubles from £148, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk. Go beyond the centre... Tallinn’s coastline has long been shaking off its industrial look; for example, the former militarised zone of Paljassaare Peninsula is now a forest bathing and wild swimming haven. 20 minutes out of the city is NOA Chef's Hall, a newly one-starred Michelin spot with gorgeous views of Tallinn Bay and the Gulf of Finland with a global and local focus; scallops from Norway, Canadian lobster and foraged and preserved local dishes. Under an hour away is Maidla Nature Resort, a manor set in a former servants’ house with three ‘Nature Villas’. These super-cosy set-ups each offer a variation on sauna, fireplace and outdoor bathtub, and a great spot to explore the Estonian countryside from. Go canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, bog-hiking (75 per cent of Estonia is forest and bogs) by day before dining at their Michelin Green Star restaurant SOO. Its seasonal, eight-course gastronomic menu is always changing; sample dishes include herb raviolo with chanterelles, fermented black beans, lemon balm and thyme; and egg curd with Estonian whitefish, cured with dried seaweed, served with pickled fennel and dill. Villas at Maidla Nature Resort from £293 per night, check availability at booking.com or welcomebeyond.com. Prague, Czech Republic There's plenty of sights to discover in Prague: Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle, to name a few. Fuel up before sightseeing at one of Prague’s excellent bakeries such as Pekárna Nostress Bakery for fresh croissants, pastries, and the country’s popular open-faced sandwiches, obložené chlebíčky. For lunch with a view over Charles Bridge, try Restarauce Mlýnec. Its modern Czech menu features Prague ham croquettes with groats, horseradish consommé and chive mayonnaise; brook trout with baked pumpkin sauce; and truffle risotto with pickled mushrooms. Another favourite is The Eatery, recipient of a Michelin Bib Gourmand (for high-end food at reasonable price) which sources ingredients from local farmers and small-scale producers. Try marinated kohlrabi with blue cheese; plum brandy-marinated trout; and charcoal grilled fallow deer loin. For something different, explore Manifesto Andèl, a tech-enabled, global street food market for emerging restauranteurs. Stay at the design hotel Mosaic House with art installations, cosy interiors and private spa. Its on-site Mosaic Café is a great spot for breakfast, coffee and light bites, and there’s a library and secret garden for zen time. Doubles from £71, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or lastminute.com. Go beyond the centre... Add a city break to your city break – an hour from Prague is the 700-year-old Plzeň, birthplace of world-famous Czech lager pilsner. Key sights include Loos Interiors (eight residential interiors created by the designer Adolf Loos), the Great Synagogue and St Barthomolew’s Cathedral. The calling card for many visitors is a tour of the Pilsner Urquell brewery. You can also tour Bohemia Sekt, the country’s largest sparkling wine producer. At Na Spilce, a brewery pub in the old fermentation cellars of the Pilsner brewery, comforting creations include sausages in dark beer with horseradish served in a beer bread roll; sturgeon with caraway seeds and Nebílovy cider sauce, and gnocchi with a nutty, herby, baked pumpkin purée. Stay at the family-run, beautifully designed Rango Hotel. It's 16th-century cellar restaurant specialises in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine serving fresh pasta, pizza, and meat and fish cooked on their lava grill. Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com or lastminute.com. Berlin, Germany Between the famous sights of Brandenburg Gate, East Side Gallery and Museum Island lies a Berlin restaurant scene that’s both German and global, from streetside doner kebabs and traditional dishes to vegan innovations. Kick off at Silo Coffee for home-roast coffee and truffle mushrooms on toast, or grab a flaky croissant from canal side La Maison. Low-waste, plant-based HAPPA is great for lunch or dinner, giving Alpine Bavarian cuisine a vegan makeover on a regularly changing menu. Making a name for Levantine-Japanese fusion (they call it Japa-terranean) is HANA wine bar and restaurant with innovative mezze such as carbonara-style cabbage with egg, pecorino and garlic; wagyu katsu pita; and mushroom borek with rosemary soy. Berlin has great food tours too; check out Fork & Walk Tours for its huge variety. Stay at the Wilmina Hotel set in a former courthouse and women's prison, now a light-filled, courtyard hotel and home to the cool Lovis Bar and contemporary German food at the Lovis restaurant. Doubles from check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or welcomebeyond.com. Go beyond the centre... About an hour’s drive from Berlin’s city centre is the beautiful Brandenburg lakeside region. Situated on the edge of lake Scharmützelsee is the spa town of Bad Saarow, known for its mud and thermal springs, and ideal for walks, water sports and swimming. It’s also the location for Freilich am See restaurant, a palate-pleaser for German comfort food lovers. Tuck into a weiner schnitzel or have sprout salad with pomegranate and feta. They also serve traditional Bavarian draught beer and fruit brandies from a local distillery. Stay at lakeside spa hotel Villa Contessa for spa treatments and a fine-dining restaurant with its seasonal (dinner-only) menu. Doubles from £280, check availability at booking.com. On the journey from Berlin to the lakes, stop at Spreepark, a former East German amusement park inside the 90-hectare Plänterwald Forest. Undergoing a revival with art galleries, outdoor spaces and a beer garden, it’s home to restaurant Ei-12437-B where traditional German dishes are given a twist on an ever-changing menu; think bread dumplings in mushroom sauce, and wild boar ragout with lingonberry pear and hazelnut spaetzle (egg pasta). Weekend brunch dishes feature homemade granola with pears and hazelnut butter, or wild boar sausage and eggs. Arras, France Often underrated, France’s northern Pas-de-Calais has a mouthwatering food scene, rich in seafood, maroilles cheese, andouillette (offal sausage), and locally brewed beers. A great city break pick is Arras, just over an hour from Calais. Before exploring the belfry and squares of Grand’Place and Place des Héros, head to bakery and tea room Pâtisserie Thibaut for fine French pastries and coffee. For lunch, a firm local favourite is L'Oeuf ou la Poule for its comfort food and warm service; the ‘perfect egg’ and pot chicken are popular picks. For classic and modern, try The French House – everything from French-style chicken biryani to salmon tartare and burgers. For something different, have dinner in the Boves, the tunnels set in former chalk quarries below the city; latest events are provided by the tourist office. Stay at Grand Place Hotel on the main square with its spacious comfortable rooms, or a 10-minute drive away is the lovely auberge/B&B Plumes et Coton, owned by a Pas-de-Calais greeter (locals who offer complimentary walking tours) whose breakfast alone is worth staying for. Check rates and availability at plumes-et-coton.fr or booking.com. Go beyond the centre... The countryside around Arras is worth exploring: uncrowded, quiet, and full of tiny villages, restaurants and auberges. Just 45 minutes northwest of Arras is locally run farmhouse hotel La Cour de Rémi, which has been in the same family for generations. The daily changing menu is influenced by ingredients from local producers and markets and everything is made from scratch – enjoy a terrine with garden pickles and homemade bread made from locally grown ancient grains. Most of the wines are organic and biodynamic, too. Breakfast is king here; just-baked brioche, apple juice from the garden and homemade yogurt among the spread. Stay in one of the 10 cosy cabin rooms and suites, each one with its own perks, whether this be side-by-side bathtubs, a hot tub, or a treehouse room built around a sycamore tree. The hotel is set in 37 acres of parkland which you can explore by bike or foot or explore the surrounding abbeys, châteaux, war memorial sites, and coastline, which is around 40 minutes away. The closest town is Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, 10 minutes away, with a weekly market, independent shops, and homely restaurants. Check rates and availability at lacourderemi.com. Funchal, Madeira Sub-tropical in climate but European in culture, port and capital city Funchal is a great base to explore Madeira’s under-the-radar food scene. Start your day at Art Deco-style farmers’ market Mercado dos Lavradores. Enjoy a coffee with local flatbread bolo de caco, and people-watch from A Confeitaria café before the bustle of the lower-floor fish market. Spend the morning taking the cable car to Funchal’s botanic gardens or exploring the city museums. For lunch, Peixaria no Mercado serves tempura fish and Madeiran speciality, deep-sea black scabbard fish. By night, stroll along restaurant-lined Rua de Santa Maria in Funchal’s Zona Velha (Old Town); try Taberna Ruel for swordfish in banana sauce (fruit, especially passion fruit, is creatively used) and black pork fillet with apple purée. Madeiran wine is a heritage story on its own; visit Blandy’s wine lodge in the Cathedral Quarter or join a food tour with Food On Foot. Stay at boutique, suite-only Les Suites at The Cliff Bay for balcony views of the Atlantic, a great spa, and highly rated restaurants. Suites from £590, check availability at booking.com. Go beyond the centre... Just a 15-minute drive from Funchal is the pretty fishing town Câmara de Lobos – worth a night or two, a day trip, or even just a meal. Wander into little bars to try poncha, Madeira’s fruity alcoholic concoction, and watch the sunset from the boardwalk over a cold beer and lapas, grilled limpets. Later, tuck into Madeiran speciality espetada (grilled meat skewers) at Vila do Carne or top-notch fish and seafood at sister restaurant Vila do Peixe, both local favourites with fantastic harbour views from above town. If you’re partial to a spectacular coastal view, 15 minutes west is Cabo Girão, a glass-floor viewing platform 580 meters above sea level. Relax for a few days at certified bio hotel Quinta da Serra, beautifully set in the mountains above Câmara de Lobos. It is a great base to explore the island’s trails – levadas – and the Laurisilva, Madeira’s UNESCO-protected laurel forest. Produce from its organic gardens is regularly on the menu, and nature and food are celebrated; in late autumn for example, they host a dinner to celebrate the apple harvest and brew their own cider. Doubles from £130, check availability at booking.com. More travel inspiration... Best small towns across the UK every foodie should visit The UK's best pubs with rooms UK boutique hotels for food lovers 10 exciting UK city breaks for food lovers Best restaurants with rooms UK spa hotels for food lovers Best romantic UK hotels Best seaside staycations Best country hotels Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations