WHERE TO STAY Sofia

BULGARIA'S STORIED CAPITAL HAS A WEALTH OF AFFORDABLE LUXURY HOTELS

A TASTE OF Jamaica

CENTURIES OF INFLUENCES ARE AT PLAY IN A CUISINE RICH IN MEAT DISHES AND FISH IN ALL FORMS

CULTURE FIX

A host of eclectic new museums have opened their doors across the world this year, from a celebration of Norwegian art to a study of queer British history

Setting the scene

TOLKIEN'S MIDDLE-EARTH IS BACK ON OUR SCREENS - HERE'S HOW TO EXPLORE ITS AWE-INSPIRING LANDSCAPES

MEET THE ADVENTURER Philip Henderson

THE EXPEDITION LEADER TALKS ABOUT A RECENT TRIP THAT NEARLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF BLACK CLIMBERS TO HAVE SUMMITED EVEREST

UTRECHT

This year, as the bike-friendly Dutch city celebrates its 900th anniversary in style, explore its canal-side bars, farm-to-table restaurants and historical sites, some dating back to the Roman Empire.

SLOVENIA

From Maribor in the east to the chocolate-loving town of Radovljica in the west, a trip across northern Slovenia reveals a bucolic landscape, hearty, traditional dishes and world-class sweet wine

WINTER SPORTS RETURN TO THE SLOPES

AFTER TWO YEARS OF TURMOIL, SKIING IS BACK IN BUSINESS, WITH TRAVEL COMPANIES REPORTING SALES AT PRE-COVID LEVELS AND AN AVALANCHE OF EARLY BOOKINGS FOR A BUSY SEASON.

TRAVEL WRITING COMPETITION 2022

Every year, the editors of National Geographic Traveller (UK) judge hundreds of entries in their search for the next big travel-writing talent. The competition asks for 500 words on an inspiring, authentic experience that conveys a strong sense of the destination and the local people. Here are 2022's prize-winning entry and runners-up

WHY THE BENIN BRONZES ARE BEING RETURNED

London's Horniman Museum plans to return its collection of looted bronzes to Nigeria. Could this be a turning point for cultural restitution?

VALPARAÍSO

Long associated with poets and folk heroes, the free-spirited Chilean port city is today a canvas for the country's best street artists. Explore its steep lanes and find galleries, dive bars and restaurants marching to the beat of their own drums

INTO THE DEEP

DOTTED WITH ICEBERGS, ABANDONED VIKING SETTLEMENTS AND HARDY HUNTING COMMUNITIES, THE FAR-FLUNG FJORDS OF SOUTH GREENLAND MAKE FOR AN UNPARALLELED POLAR CRUISE. SAILING DURING HIGH SUMMER, A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIP OFFERS FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON THE DRAMATIC COASTLINE, WHILE ON-SHORE EXCURSIONS REVEAL THE ELEMENTAL FORCES SHAPING LOCAL LIFE

LAND OF GIANTS

From bulbous baobab trees and towering goliath herons to stalking prides of big cats, Ruaha National Park is a land of astonishing sights - and statistics. This is the largest protected wildlife area in Tanzania, and one of the most biodiverse in East Africa, yet it receives just a tenth of the visitor numbers of the country's more famous Serengeti. A new 'citizen science experience' aims to change that, offering hands-on conservation experiences in the heart of the park's wild Usangu Wetlands

COLOMBIA

Diverse as it is dazzling, Colombia is where vast regions of rainforest sit at the foot of some of the highest mountains in the world, where hundreds of miles of Pacific and Caribbean coastlines promise countless, untouched beaches. But this isn't just a place to marvel at the scenery, it's a place for adventure: ride out with cowboys in the lowlands; scuba dive off remote islands; taste Colombian-grown coffee right at the source; spend time with Indigenous communities in the Amazon; and lose yourself in some of Latin America's most captivating cities

Dubrovnik

SEA VIEWS AND ELEGANT DECOR TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN THE PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC'S HOTEL SCENE

TRONDHEIM

From its pristine fjords to fertile forests, the Norwegian city draws heavily on the landscape when it comes to its culinary offerings, with a new generation of chefs and producers championing the area's rich, natural bounty

A TASTE OF Nigeria

FRESH FRUIT, SPICY SOUPS AND YAMS IN MANY GUISES ALL PLAY A PART IN NIGERIAN FOOD CULTURE

Art & soul

A HAVEN FOR LOVERS OF THE ARTS, SAN FRANCISCO IS CELEBRATING A STRING OF OPENINGS AND ANNIVERSARIES WITH A CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PRAGUE

Famed for its historic beauty, the Czech capital rewards travellers who look beyond its golden-stoned Old Town dig deeper and discover a new side defined by edgy arts, innovative eats and hip boutiques

NEW YORK

Known for its civil rights history, soul food and thriving music scene, Harlem is attracting a new wave of travellers keen to appreciate the community and culture of New York's most influential Black neighbourhood

Namibia

IN THE COUNTRY'S NORTHWESTERN CORNER IS KUNENE, A REGION OF VAST DESERT SCAPES FORMED TENS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO. HERE, ANIMALS AND PEOPLE HAVE ADAPTED TO LIVE IN SOME OF AFRICA'S HARSHEST CONDITIONS, THRIVING IN A LANDSCAPE THAT OFFERS FEW RESOURCES. FOR TRAVELLERS SEEKING SPACE, SILENCE AND STAR-STUDDED SKIES, FEW DESTINATIONS COME CLOSE

THE EDGE OF ENGLAND

FEW STRETCHES OF THE ENGLAND COAST PATH ARE AS STORIED AS THE 20 MILES CONNECTING THE KENT TOWNS OF DEAL, DOVER AND FOLKESTONE. RISING OVER COLOSSAL CHALK HEADLANDS, THE HIKING ROUTE COMES ALIVE WITH TALES OF ROMAN GENERALS, RAF SQUADRONS AND SMUGGLERS. BUT FAR FROM LIVING IN THE PAST, EACH COMMUNITY PASSED IS CULTIVATING A BUZZY NEW REPUTATION IN THE PRESENT DAY

REEF, RAINFOREST & ANCIENT RUINS

Caribbean beach towns cradled by an almighty barrier reef and showstopping Maya citadels half buried in rainforest are among Belize’s crown jewels. But a journey through the small Central American nation reveals hidden facets, too: a patchwork of distinct communities, from Mennonite to Maya, and conservation projects safeguarding nature for future generations

TOKYO

Japan's capital is a megalopolis made up of distinct neighbourhoods, each with their own character. The outré trends of HARAJUKU make it a mecca for independent fashion, while the neon maze of SHINJUKU, with its countless cocktail bars, offers in-the-know revellers an unforgettable night out. Less famous but vital to Tokyo's cultural tapestry is CHIYODA CITY, home to the Imperial Palace and its landscaped gardens, and ODAIBA, a manufactured island housing hallucinogenic, futuristic museums. AKIHABARA continues to be the birthplace of technology and subcultures that go global, while in chichi GINZA, the world's best sushi awaits. Tokyo may be impossible to explore fully, but with our guide to the best 'hoods, there's plenty of fun to be had trying

FAMILY FLAVOURS

SUZIE LEE'S FIRST RECIPE BOOK IS INSPIRED BY THE CHINESE CUISINE SHE GREW UP WITH, BOTH AT HER PARENTS' TAKEAWAY IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND ON TRIPS BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND OF HONG KONG

BELPER

After decades in the doldrums, this Derbyshire town is back to its best, with a vegan restaurant, micropub, cool cocktail bar and more

A TASTE OF GRENADA

Whether it's chocolate made from beans grown in vanilla orchards or tea infused with soursop leaves, Grenada's specialities offer up a taste of the island

BANGKOK

Known for its street food, the Thai capital is also home to a flourishing fine dining scene

TEL AVIV

While the whole of Israel is vegan-friendly, in Tel Aviv, plant-based dining is taken to another level. Going vegan in this laid-back city of skyscrapers and sunkissed beaches means sampling some of the best food in town, whether you're perusing a market stall overflowing with produce, dining in style or relaxing in a shady cafe garden. Be it sushi, steak or even a cheeseboard, in Tel Aviv, you can seek out a plant-based version that's at least as good as the original

BAKLAVA

A Turkish classic with a noble past, this sweet, layered pastry has spread across the Middle East and beyond, with each country adding its own twist to the recipe