On the trail – Connemara

This region on Ireland's wild, western coast has long inspired artists and poets. Discover its dramatic scenery on an epic road trip

City life Athens

For a taste of Greece, there's nowhere like the capital. Athens' food scene is being transformed with age-old producers running cutting-edge restaurants and hip bakeries adding fresh flavours to historic neighbourhoods

A river runs through it

Extending from a rugged escarpment into a valley carpeted in mopane and miombo woodlands, the Lower Zambezi National Park is only a 45-minute plane ride from Zambia's busy capital city, Lusaka, but feels a world away. As elephant numbers rebound following a celebrated conservation scheme and new luxury camps take root, this lesser-visited corner of Africa is establishing itself as one of the continent's most exciting safari destinations

Deep roots in the smoky mountains

Rising along the eastern flank of Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains are known for their hiking trails, waterfalls and wild bears - this is, after all, the most naturally biodiverse pocket in the us. But a road trip through its old-growth forests reveals a more human story. Here, tight-knit communities are preserving ancient appalachian crafts and traditions, from pottery and broom carving to folk dancing, all alongside some of America's most bombastic resort towns

California

It might be halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, but central California's San Luis Obispo county is a world away from the fast buzz of the city. In this slow-paced, rural region, artisan communities are connected both to each other and the natural world, working against backdrops of olive groves, cool valleys and a coastline blanketed in early-morning mist

ZARAGOZA

Full of elaborate architecture and thrumming with vibrant tapas bars the Aragónese capital is a rich, storied base for exploring the stirring landscapes of Spain’s wild north east.

STATEN ISLAND

The lesser-known New York borough gets short shrift from both locals and visitors, but it provided Will Ashon with a revelation that led to his latest book

The writer's journey

TRAVEL HAS TAKEN SOME OF OUR GREATEST WRITERS TO UNEXPECTED PLACES, BOTH ON AND OFF THE PAGE. A NEW TITLE EXPLORES THE TRIPS WITH A REAL TALE TO TELL

DUNGENESS

Known for its desolate, end-of-the-world beauty, this Kent headland harbours artist studios, birding trails and excellent seafood

SAN JOSE

DISCOVER MYSTERIOUS MANSIONS, SWEEPING VINEYARDS AND EXPERIENTIAL FINE DINING IN CALIFORNIA’S TECH CAPITAL

WHERE TO STAY: Marseille

BOUTIQUE BOLTHOLES PAY HOMAGE TO AN ANCIENT HISTORY AND THE SEA IN THIS SOUTHERN FRENCH CITY

A TASTE OF Romania

BAKED GOODS, GRAINS AND CURD CHEESE ARE CENTRAL TO THE COUNTRY’S CULINARY CULTURE

TUNE IN

Look back at a century of British broadcasting with this programme of exhibitions

TORONTO Star struck

THE LAUNCH OF A NEW MICHELIN GUIDE TO THE CITY IS FURTHER PROOF OF ITS GLITTERING GOURMET CREDENTIALS

HANOI

With atmospheric night markets, historic temples, sleek cocktail i bars and an evolving culinary scéne, Vietnam’s beguiling capital offers the perfect marriage of tradition and modernity

Belfast

Gone are the days when Belfast was a place to mull over political murals before beating a swift retreat to the fabled sights of the Antrim Coast. Northern Ireland's capital is now a draw in itself thanks to a slow-but-sure blossoming of locally grown restaurants, innovative bars and downright fun places to sleep after indulging. Many hotels are dining destinations in their own right, but if yours is light on services - as is the concept at many of the city's newer high-design, low budget offerings in this lively student-populated city, you'll be toddling distance from a comfy coffee spot or restaurant where local ingredients drive inventive menus.

FAMILY Magic moments

FOR ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, DISNEYLAND PARIS IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS

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