Destinations Archives

Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany.

Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg: 2026 visitor guide with prices & hours

Plan your visit to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. My 2026 guide includes ticket prices, opening hours, and tips for the world's largest model railway. Walking into Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany, I thought I knew what to expect. Model trains going round in circles, maybe…

How to find the best chocolates in Brussels

Brussels’ reputation as the home of fine chocolate is well deserved. From small family-run workshops to internationally known names, the Belgian chocolate shops are filled with tempting window displays. But with so many shops to choose from, working out where to go – and which…

Kirby Hall: Practical guide to visiting Northamptonshire’s Elizabethan ruin (2026)

Kirby Hall visitor guide: explore this Northamptonshire Elizabethan ruin. Find practical information on ticket prices, hours, and site history. This guide was updated in March 2026 to reflect new prices and opening hours. Other guides may be outdated. Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire is one of…

Why Karekare Beach is Auckland’s best beach

Discover why Karekare Beach is considered Auckland's best coastal spot. A guide to the rugged landscape, film history, and essential safety tips. Karekare Beach is one of the most dramatic and atmospheric stretches of coastline on New Zealand's North Island. Located on Auckland’s rugged west…

Siena travel guide for first time visitors

Arguably the most beautiful city in Tuscany, Siena has sensational food and one of the world’s most eccentric festivals. What is Siena all about? It’s hard to rein in the giddiness walking through Siena’s winding hilltop streets. The walls climb high, the decoration leaps out…

View over the rooftops in Trieste, Italy.

Trieste travel guide for first time visitors: Attractions, restaurants & shopping

A Trieste travel guide for first-time visitors. Learn about the city's unique coffee culture, Austrian history, and the best places to shop. What is Trieste all about? Clear days in Trieste are pretty magical. The water of the Adriatic Sea looks so, so blue, and…

The photo frame outside the Arataki Visitor Centre in the Waitakere Ranges.

Getting the best out of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park

The Waitākere Ranges Regional Park is one of Auckland’s most impressive natural escapes. Just 30 minutes from the city centre, this vast area of North Island forest, coastline, and waterfalls offers a complete contrast to the urban buzz. With over 16,000 hectares to explore, it’s…

Visitor guide to Piha Beach: Auckland’s black sand wonder

Explore Piha Beach, Auckland's famous black sand destination. Our visitor guide covers surfing, safety, and the walk to Lion Rock. Piha Beach, one of New Zealand’s most famous surf spots, is located around 45 minutes west of Auckland CBD on the North Island. Known for…

Plan your visit to the Yale Center for British Art: Opening hours, ticket prices and parking

The Yale Center for British Art (YCBA) in New Haven, Connecticut, showcases one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of British art outside the United Kingdom. This guide gives you all the practical details you need — including opening hours, ticket prices, parking, accessibility and…

Why Melaka is so much better by day than by night

Is Melaka better by day? I explore the historic architecture and culture that make daylight hours the best time for a visit. The colourful trishaws of Melaka The trishaw weaves through the narrow streets, adorned with as many flowers and spinning windmill contraptions as the…