12 of the best beach towns in southern Europe

Quiet islands, Venetian harbours, sumptuous seafood and golden sands … these seaside towns in France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Portugal are ingrained with the spirit of summer

Take the kids to … Lappa Valley Steam Railway, Cornwall

With miniature steam engines, a special Santa train, a lake and maze, this charming small attraction near Newquay is a great day out for families with younger children

Making light work: grand designs at Bodø’s Stormen library and cultural centre

This Norwegian town, hastily rebuilt after second world war bombing, now has a vibrant and innovative arts centre in pride of place on its waterfront

Great Brittany: discovering the Crozon peninsula

If you’re going to Brittany – keep driving west. You’ll find huge uncrowded beaches, plenty of delicious seafood and some fairly dodgy festivals

10 top tips from our Rio de Janeiro correspondent

From the birthplace of samba to sundowners by the sea, our man in Rio knows where to go for a good night out, as well as the best spots for taking in the breathtaking tropical beauty of the ‘Marvellous City’

Oaxaca, Mexico – vivid art, joyous festivals – and ant eggs fried in garlic

The fantastic cuisine, textiles and parties of the southern Mexican city stem from a resilient indigenous culture

10 of the best things to do in Tallinn

There’s a lot more to Estonia’s capital than cheap beer. The 1,000-year-old city has a modern vibe, with architecture, museums and cafes to match