cities

Iranian state media report explosions in port cities pof Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Jask, as well as Qeshm Island.

Explosions heard in the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Bandar-e Deyr and Asaluyeh as US bombs Iran for a third time this week.

They came for the soccer.

We gave them Americana.

Their tickets entitled them to World Cup games.

We threw in an education in United States history, geography, and the economics of the $20 baseball cap.

They expected an athletic tournament.

We staged a county fair, featuring nine exhibits stretched across 3,000 miles, with people and surroundings as varied as our twangs.

Visitors to the Boston venue will remember the success of the Soccer Train, a commuter rail and site of opposing pep rallies on the 50-minute trip to Foxboro Stadium.

Classic stories from the Los Angeles Times’ 143-year archive

Imagine that, longtime Bostonians said. A culture clash where nobody gets hurt.

Visitors to the Dallas venue will remember our failures: the blight around the aging Cotton Bowl, the empty seats inside, the construction-hampered traffic flow that turned game days into nightmares.

For nearly a month, in nine locations, the world has applauded our wonders, cringed at our bruises, and, in some places, even felt our embrace.

So how did we do?

Sometimes, we shined. Other times, we stumbled.

Sometimes we yelled too much, pushed too much. When the rest of the world was rushing joyfully out of a subway or dancing through an alley, often we put up our dukes and played the frightened bullies.

But we also smiled a lot, and listened a lot, and sometimes accepted that which we did not understand.

Like those hourlong postgame fan celebrations that forced stadium police to work overtime. We eventually realized something could not be so bad if it made so many people so happy.

We hollered and hugged, we were impatient and helpful. In other words, we were ourselves.

Sometimes we thrilled. But other times, we disappointed.

Visitors to the New York venue will remember what Dublin sales representative Gerry Taylor remembers.

Nothing.

Taylor learned on the first weekend that despite slick World Cup advertisements, New York was not New York.

Just as Boston was not Boston, but Foxboro. And Detroit was not Detroit, but Pontiac. And Los Angeles was Pasadena.

And New York was actually a smelly, industrial area in northern New Jersey.

Taylor left his Manhattan room early one Saturday morning, four hours before the opener between Italy and Ireland.

He wrapped himself in an Irish flag and planned on a making a pregame stop in a pub next door to Giants Stadium.

“Do this all the time in Dublin,” he said. “Pop a few Guinness at the pub, talk to other fans, get ready for the game.”

But upon arriving in East Rutherford, N.J., he realized the only thing he could drink next door to the stadium was toxic waste.

There wasn’t a pub in sight. Or a store. Or a house. Or even a street that wasn’t an expressway.

He spent the next three hours sitting with two friends on a curb, cursing his introduction to sports in America.

“Are all stadiums like this, away from cities, in the middle of nothing?” he asked. “Seems to me it must be hard to have good sports in places like this, isn’t it? We are let down.”

The only thing we can assure him, and others as disillusioned as Taylor, is it wasn’t because we didn’t try.

Rating the 1994 World Cup venues, best and worst of show:

Chicago

BEST: We knew this would be a great spot from the moment we first bit into something called “the Belly Buster,” sold at a hot dog stand near Soldier Field.

Ingredients: Polish beef dog, relish, ketchup, mustard, onions and jalapeno peppers. It lived up to its billing. Trust us.

And so did everything else.

Soldier Field is the perfect location for an international event, being just a short cab ride from one of America’s great downtowns.

Michigan Avenue has been buzzing for a month, what with German tourists in Bermuda shorts buying black patent leather shoes to accompany their white socks. At night, horse-drawn carriages fought with taxis for street space in some of the best action since Ben Hur.

Bolivian Marco Etcheverry tackles German captain Lothar Matthaeus from behind in Chicago, Ill. (AP Photo/Santiago Lyon)

(Santiago Lyon / Ap)

WORST: The only people who didn’t enjoy themselves here were the Greeks, both the national soccer players and the large Chicago-area community that gathered to watch them one Sunday morning against Bulgaria.

Greece lost that game, 4-0. In the process, the teams drove Greek fans so crazy they started seeing things.

At one point during the game, a Greek tossed a smoke bomb on the field, later claiming it was tradition to do so after his team scored.

His team is back in Athens, and it still hasn’t scored.

IMPRESSIONS: The World Cup’s kind of town, Chicago is. Not only were the streets brimming with international flavor, the shuttle system to Soldier Field was so efficient that cabbies complained about not getting enough chances to rip people off.

Now that’s a venue.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: During a bachelor party held on the 36th floor of a prominent local hotel, somebody poured beer down the elevator shaft. By morning, the ale had dripped to ground floor and short-circuited the electrical system.

Many hotel guests–some checking out with reams of World Cup-related luggage–were forced to carry everything down 20 flights of stairs.

Once at the bottom, they had to tip valet-parking drivers for walking 10 steps to pick up their cars.

Boston

BEST: We marveled not at a city’s effect upon a World Cup, but vice versa.

“What has happened to a town divided along ethnic lines has been remarkable,” said E.J. Kahn of the Boston Host Committee.

By order of Mayor Tom Menino, the historic City Hall area was turned over to foreigners of every imaginable color and tongue.

Old-timers who never thought they would see an African soccer team playing at the home of the New England Patriots also never thought they would see people dancing on their cobblestone streets in tribal costumes.

Police were particularly worried the night after Argentina had defeated Greece in a first-round game. While the Greeks partied in front of City Hall, the Argentines celebrated eight blocks away in Copley Square.

The fiestas drew closer and closer until five Argentine fans wearing blue-and-white uniform shorts stood directly behind a dozen Greeks dancing in a circle.

Just as security guards prepared to move in, the circle slowly opened, and the Greeks motioned for the Argentines to join them. The Argentines did.

The hardened city sighed.

WORST: Many fans apparently didn’t realize that the game would be played about 45 minutes south of Boston in the desolate suburb of Foxboro.

And nobody knew that once they arrived at the stadium, in a forested area where parking availability seemed unlimited, parking spaces would cost $20 each.

Visitors got even with the World Cup Organizing Committee, though, by leaving their hotels in Boston and staying closer to the stadium in places such as Providence, R.I.

Our smallest state as a World Cup host? Not quite what organizers had in mind.

IMPRESSIONS: The Northeast may have tried harder than any other area, and it showed.

The normally reserved Bostonians, ranked 28th out of 36 U.S. city residents in a recent survey rating kindness to strangers, discovered warmth and tolerance.

When dozens of Irish tourists were swindled out of tickets, Bostonians found them more. When foreigners didn’t understand those distinct accents, Bostonians spoke more slowly.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: For an hour after Argentina’s victory over Greece, more than a hundred Argentine fans remained at Foxboro Stadium, dancing and singing.

Police politely asked them to leave their seats, but the group only moved as far as the lower concourse. Thirty minutes later, police finally escorted them down the concourse and out the front gates, where they continued to party.

Was the game that exciting? Well, yes and no. With this stadium being 20 miles from the nearest decent-sized city, they had nowhere else to go.

Dallas

BEST: From the World Cup volunteers to city cab drivers, we appreciated the people. Amid bleak surroundings and uncomfortable temperatures, they provided the venue with some badly needed touches of humanity.

One hero was Laura Addington, a schoolteacher from Louisiana. She served as an interpreter for everyone. Well, at least everyone who spoke English, French, Spanish, Italian, German or Arabic.

Other stars were the African taxi drivers. They knew the roads, and they knew soccer, which is the only reason we were able to find Maradona during rush hour.

WORST: Some nights were almost cool enough to hold a sporting event. Yet most of the games were held in the blazing afternoon or early evening sun to accommodate European television.

Those brave enough to attend games suffered through stifling heat. Don’t buy those happy expressions you saw on ESPN. It was torture.

IMPRESSIONS: Dallas is a Cowboy town. And not the Germans, Argentines or any of the soccer fanatics who came through here changed that.

With poor attendance and a distinct lack of any electricity other than that generated by the Cowboys’ new set of uniforms, this proves there are about a thousand better places in this country to hold an international event.

Not that Dallas is a bad place–it’s merely the wrong place.

We have learned that events such as the World Cup require diversity of thought and appreciation of differences. Dallas is just too danged American for any of that.

What Dallas’ failure here portends for the 1996 Olympics in another southern town called Atlanta, well, that’s for another story.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: By some estimates, the World Cup games here were outdrawn even by the demolition of the Cotton Exchange building downtown one Saturday morning. But at least at the soccer games, nobody was treated for smoke inhalation.

New York-New Jersey

BEST: With the melting pot of New York City nearby, this was the only truly international venue.

The stadium rocked with the sounds, colors and even smells of those countries competing.

Except for its location in New Jersey, Giants Stadium was also the perfect World Cup facility, with a beautiful field and gleaming facilities that had foreigners gawking.

WORST: The only Cup fever to hit New York City involved the Stanley Cup.

Maybe it was because of the Rangers. Or Knicks. Or Gay Games. It certainly wasn’t the Yankees, whose attendance was routinely tripled by the World Cup games.

Maybe it was because every day in New York City feels like an international festival. Or maybe it was because New York City simply didn’t have the time.

Whatever, the city that doesn’t sleep also didn’t care. It was interesting to drive to the stadium listening to New York City sports-talk radio hosts rip soccer, then arrive to discover mile-long lines at the front gates.

New Jersey license plates, all of them.

IMPRESSIONS: Organizers could save tourists and taxi fare by dropping all pretenses that the game is being played in New York City.

The success of this venue proves it is time to start celebrating the ethnic charms and splendid facilities of northern New Jersey . . . and leave New York to worry about the Mets.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: The location for the World Cup host committee in this country’s largest city? New Brunswick, N.J., 90 minutes from Manhattan.

The location of these New Jersey-played games as listed on commemorative postal stamps? New York.

Detroit

BEST: Do not underestimate the accomplishment of organizers who ran the Detroit venue by avoiding all traces of Detroit.

Games were staged an hour’s drive north in the suburb of Pontiac, a bedroom community dominated by large front lawns and strip malls. If Detroit street gangs possess missiles that can fly that far, we didn’t see them.

The venue MVP (Most Valuable Professor) was Trey Rogers, the god of sod. The assistant prof of turf-grass science at Michigan State actually made grass grow inside the Silverdome.

After three years of experiments, at a cost of $2.4 million, the indoor stuff held up admirably and was hailed by all but the most serious allergy sufferers.

The crowd cheers at the Pontiac, Mich., Silverdome as the United States and Switzerland play. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

(Bill Waugh/AP)

WORST: Much like East Rutherford and Foxboro, there was no there there. The venue lacked big-city energy and a pulse.

The streets emptied at 10 p.m. After night games, if you hadn’t paid someone to hold a spot in line at Herschel’s Deli, the happening spot was a Taco Bell drive-through.

Of course, after a game in the non-air-conditioned Silverdome, all anybody wanted to do was lie down in a nice comfortable meat locker.

IMPRESSIONS: Smiling faces, helpful people, but mostly sweat. Three-alarm, two-shirt sweat.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: After the June 24 game between Brazil and Sweden, a thunderstorm passed directly over the media tent as hundreds of journalists were filing their stories. The thunder was deafening and the tent shook as if it were going to break.

Lightning threatened to knock out the power. The lights flickered, World Cup officials implored reporters to save their files or risk losing them.

This scene was repeated at media and hospitality tents in most of the venues. But aside from the Mexican team, nothing in the tournament has collapsed.

Washington

BEST: We never thought we’d say this, but we liked the subways.

The blue line, which stopped three blocks from RFK stadium, was a shoulder-to-shoulder mass of international passion.

The Dutch fans made their mark by pounding on the ceilings. The Swiss, by chanting through the underground terminals.

The Mexicans demonstrated their presence with songs, singing loud even though they could barely breathe while crushed in overloaded cars during the final 10 minutes of the trip.

It was all underground, but it was true democracy, rare even for our nation’s capital.

WORST: Everything was wonderful until you actually walked inside RFK.

The stadium is falling apart. The Mexican fans literally caused it to rock with their constant bouncing during Mexico’s emotional tie with Italy.

The stadium security officials were surly and overbearing. Maybe it was those horrible purple berets that made them so mad.

The stadium media-tent volunteers, mostly of college age, were the worst. This would be of no interest to the public, except many worldwide impressions of this country are created by foreign journalists.

And those foreign journalists were treated horribly. Little attempt was made to understand or deal with them.

Tickets were refused with no explanation given. Attempts to talk with media coordinators were denied. Questions about the facility were greeted with shrugs.

Translators working player interviews refused to even offer translated quotes until they had been typed and apparently approved by supervisors, which often took two or three hours.

When one Middle Eastern journalist complained about discrimination, one college girl working as a volunteer laughed in his face and replied, “I don’t think so.”

IMPRESSIONS: Sports organizers beware. Any further events staged here should not involve any local volunteers or officials from this World Cup.

This is a wonderful city, and as our capital, it should be the one of the first places promoters go for big events. But now we wonder if haughty attitudes and low-rent facilities haven’t kept the big games away.

The pre-game show at RFK Stadium prior to the Norway v Mexico group stage match of 1994 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by David Caban/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

(David Caban/David Caban)

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: A local activist hung a “Save Bosnia” sign in the stands during the opening game here between Mexico and Norway. It was taken down by local officials. He sued for the right to display it. He won.

Not that the guy wanted to rub it in, but visible the next game were two “Save Bosnia” signs.

San Fransisco-Palo Alto

BEST: We love Los Gatos. This mountain town of 28,000 near San Jose has adopted–and been adopted by–the Brazilians.

After Brazil’s games at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Los Gatos became Little Rio, complete with samba music, incessant drumbeats and conga lines through Town Plaza Park.

“This is very exciting,” local resident Judy VanKampen said. “It is totally different than what you normally see in Los Gatos, which is people walking down the street with dogs and strollers.”

Even though crowds were lively, they were orderly. Some of the women might have strained the city’s public decency codes with their skimpy bikinis, but city officials, to their credit, looked the other way.

Sure they did.

Brazilian forward Romario beats United States defender Alexi Lalas at Stanford Stadium, July 4, 1994 in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)

(Thomas Kienzle / Associated Press)

WORST: The whining of Palo Alto politicians because World Cup organizers identified the venue as San Francisco.

But unless we are missing something, nobody has written a song called, “I Left My Heart in Palo Alto.”

IMPRESSIONS: Of all the venues, Stanford University was the worst in creating obstacles for World Cup organizers.

University officials were in position to drive a hard bargain because FIFA, soccer’s organizing body, wanted a presence in San Francisco but did not want to use Candlestick Park because of its smaller size.

Thus, Stanford Stadium is by far the least modern of the venues. Even though some improvements were made, World Cup organizers did not get all of their demands met.

Yet those academics learned that the World Cup is just the type of event that educational institutions should be encouraging.

The excellent soccer is the least of its legacies. Teams from four continents played here, and the visitors who followed those teams to Palo Alto left something of themselves behind.

Unfortunately for the merchants, it was not money. They were disappointed in their take.

But the visitors contributed something more valuable, their cultures. Los Gatos, one feels, will never be the same.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: A Brazilian woman walked into an ice cream store in Los Gatos one hot day and ordered a beer.

Los Angeles-Pasadena

BEST: My, but the old lady still can sing. Our Rose Bowl looked wonderful with its face lift and colorful frills.

When the air is clear and the heat isn’t oppressive, there is no better view in this World Cup than that of the San Gabriel mountains looming behind the Rose Bowl scoreboard.

Well, OK, the view of that scoreboard after the United States played Columbia was pretty nice too.

Soccer fans inside the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, Calif., prior to World Cup Final match between Brazil and Italy, Sunday July 17, 1994. (AP Photo/Lois Bernstein)

(Lois Bernstein / Associated Press)

WORST: That World Cup chief Alan Rothenberg would allow his hometown facility to rip off hungry and thirsty soccer fans–many of them his neighbors–with inflated prices is inexcusable. Two dollars and fifty cents for a Sno-cone? Fish and chips for $7.50?

IMPRESSIONS: The scene reminds us of the 1984 Olympics, causing emotions we never thought we would feel again. Traffic flowing smoothly, the city clean and pressed, citizens talking about something fun.

Surveys say that many people here couldn’t care less about the event, but the ones who do have made it memorable.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: With so many men ignoring the “Women” signs on the portable toilets outside the Rose Bowl, officials placed “Out of Order” signs on several working potties and secretly passed around the word that women should use those.

Orlando

BEST: Quick, somebody get this town an NFL team. There was no better stadium-area atmosphere than here, where fans congregated less than a mile from the Florida Citrus Bowl at a trendy shopping and dining area called Church Street Station.

One night the Dutch fans were having so much fun, they started stealing baseball caps from policemen. Another night, the Mexicans were having so much fun they lay down on the railroad tracks upon hearing an oncoming train.

OK, so maybe we don’t all have the same kinds of fun.

Expensive restaurants became rollicking pubs. Thousands of foreigners became wailing, wandering messes.

Did we mention that the Irish were also in town?

WORST: This was soccer in a sauna. Every team that played under the unforgiving midday sun recorded a triumph of spirit.

For fans, merely getting to the games was a similar triumph. Ten dollars to ride a parking lot shuttle? Fifteen dollars to park at a local school, with the money being handed to a member of the PTA?

This was central Florida hucksterism at its worst. But then, they learned from the experts down the street, those guys wearing the ears.

IMPRESSIONS: With the Dutch and Belgians in town, this was supposed to be the site of hooliganism. Police from around the state were summoned for 12-hour shifts. But nothing happened. The most serious crime involved people refusing to leave bars at closing time.

Already our vacation capital, Orlando proved that it deserves to become a sports capital as well. It knows how to turn a game into an event without anybody getting hurt.

After existing for so long in the shadow of fantasyland, it acts as if it loves this real stuff.

YOU HAD TO BE HERE: In the downtown area on July 4, fans from everywhere joined to sing “Happy Birthday.”

To whom? To the United States, of course. Considering how we came of age in yet another international sporting scene this summer, it was a happy birthday indeed.

Times staff writers Elliott Almond, Julie Cart, Lisa Dillman, Chris Dufresne, Helene Elliott, Randy Harvey, Mike Penner and Times Sports Editor Bill Dwyre contributed to this story.

IF YOU are looking for your next European city break, then look no further as the best spots on the continent have been announced.

From popular Spanish spots to Italian hidden gems, the best 15 cities in Europe have been named – though it is bad news for the UK that didn’t feature on the list at all.

Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are decided by readers’ votes and this year over 661,000 people took part.

Coming out on top is Florence in Italy, scoring 89.48 out of 100.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who has previously visited the city, said: “There is no better place to go for art lovers, with Florence being home to famous works from Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.

“You can also dine like a king, with slices of pizza for €1.50 (£1.29) and pasta dishes from €5 (£4.29).

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“All of the major attractions are a short walk from each other although if you really need a break, you can book an electric golf-buggy eco-tour that traverses the narrow roads.

“Something unusual to keep an eye out for is Florence’s wine windows – ordering a glass of vino through a tiny hole in the wall was created as a way to socially distance during the plague in the 17th century.”

Then in second place is Prague, in the Czech Republic – nicknamed ‘jewel in the crown of Europe’ – scoring 88.89 out of 100.

One Sun reporter who previously visited the city said: “Prague may be best known for its beer, but hillside winery Vini ní Altan is a great option.

“There are great views from inside the intricately carved wooden gazebo, and children can burn off some energy in the vine-strewn park below.

“Prague boasts the largest castle in the world — effectively a small town on top of a hill.

Rounding out the top three is Salzburg in Austria, scoring 88.31 out of 100.

The Sun’s Laura Purkess said: “Salzburg, the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music, sits in Austria’s beautiful Eastern Alps.

“While most of us associate the Alps with snow- caps and skiing, this city makes an ideal summer holiday destination — and it’s affordable.

“If you’re a keen hiker, it’s relatively easy to get from the city centre into the mountains which are filled with stunning, tree-lined trails that take anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours to complete.

“Hardcore fans of The Sound of Music should swap the free walking tour for a proper guided one of the film sets that takes you to locations beyond the city centre, including Church Mondsee, where Maria wed the Baron.”

Porto, Portugal and Ljubljana, Slovenia – nicknamed the ‘green jewel of Europe’ – then followed to round out the top five.

Two spots in Spain featured on the list with Seville in 10th and Madrid in 13th.

Seville is the capital of Spain’s Andalusia region and is known for its Moorish architecture as well as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As for the Spanish capital, Madrid, you can head to a number of museums and Royal Palaces.

Two spots in Italy also featured on this list with Rome in seventh, and for a lesser-known Italian spot, head to Siena which featured in 14th.

The medieval city found in Tuscany, boasts a UNESCO-listed historic centre, where you can head to Piazza del Campo – the main square – and Duomo di Siena – a cathedral with black-and-white marble.

And places like Funchal – nicknamed the Hawaii of Europe – snuck into the top 20.

One solo traveller who often shares tips and clips from his overseas adventures with his online followers has named the five cities he’d ‘never go back to if his life depended on it’

Many people are often looking for new places to explore if they’re planning to go travelling, whether that be alone or in a group. However, one solo traveller who says he’s been to 60 countries has advised against the places you definitely shouldn’t go – according to him.

Lucas Brancatisano, who is known as @alocalguide_ on Instagram, often shares travel tips, experiences and clips from his overseas adventures with his 6,300 followers on the site. In one of his latest reels, he named the five cities he’s visited during his travels that he’d ‘never go back to if his life depended on it’.

1. New Delhi, India

Lucas described the Indian capital as a ‘whole new level of overstimulation’, saying that there’s pollution, noise, busses, horns and cows on the road, and claims that the sky is ‘filled with smog’.

He exclaimed: “It’s not for me, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.

“The rest of India in parts is absolutely lovely, but New Delhi… not for me.”

2. León, Nicaragua

The solo traveller described León as “sweaty and dangerous at night”. Lucas said Nicaragua itself is fantastic and he had a “great time” there in 2024, but that he just didn’t enjoy going to León. “I’ll never go back,” he said.

3. Oia, Santorini

Lucas exclaimed: “This place is my definition of hell,” as he describe the holiday spot.

He added: “In summer, getting sunburnt, 1,000 selfie sticks with everyone getting the same sunset photo.

“You can just look at it online, you don’t have to go and get a photo of it.

“Don’t go there, you’ll have a really bad time.”

4. Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Lucas said he went to Phnom Penh in Cambodia “a long time ago”, but said that when he went there, all he remembers is a very built up city with lots of tyre shops and “not much going on”.

He added: “I could be wrong, and please let me know in the comment if I am wrong, because Phnom Penh maybe I would go back to.

5. Benidorm, Spain

The traveller descried Benidorm as “hell”, adding: “If you find yourself there and you’re not British, you’re in hell.

Lucas said there’s English breakfasts on every single menu there and loads of British people “rolling around”, as well as “pasty skin everywhere”, saying that it’s just “not a very nice place”.

He added: “If you’re in Spain and you’re going to Benidorm, you need tor rethink all the life choices you’ve made up to that point, because your’e in the wrong spot.”

Concluding his reel, Lucas exclaimed: “That’s my list, there’s not many I wouldn’t go back to, but they are five of them.”

Despite the post racking up more than 6,000 likes, some people had differing views.

One person wrote: “Will definitely go back to León in Nicaragua.”

While another added: “I was in Phnom Penh last year. It was very cool. Great riverside markets, river cruise, pubs and restaurants, temples. Beauty everywhere.”

A third chimed in: “I loved Oia!”

While a fourth added: “Benidorm to Brits is Cancun to Americans.”

A fifth chimed in: “Went to India, New Delhi, 10 years ago; the taxi just dropped me off in the city centre and left. I was so overwhelmed with everything going on that I sat down on the footpath and started to cry, a cow came out of nowhere and started to eat a cardboard box beside me.

“Locals stopped and started pointing at me and taking photos. Weirdest and best travel story I think I have, would I do it again? Hell ya haha.”

“TIKTOK made me do it”, I say to my friend, as I send her a snap of my coffee  made by a robot.

If there was ever a city that embraces technology to celebrate the ridiculous, it’s Tokyo. And ­coffee is just the beginning.

Last time I went to Japan’s capital, around 10 years ago, it was an expensive trip. Back then, the Yen (the country’s currency) was strong against the British pound and everything was twice the price.

This time around, with rates dropping over the years, one of the world’s coolest cities is surprisingly affordable again.

And I was buzzing to begin exploring on a budget.

Starting strong, I’d checked into trendy Yotel, a slick and modern hotel that embodies Japan’s futuristic vibe.

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With 23 properties around the world, the brand is known for its prime locations, without the steep price tag.

The Tokyo one has room rates from £118 per night and is just steps away from one of the city’s coolest areas, the Ginza district.

The well-heeled neighbourhood is packed with stylish restaurants and bars, high-end shopping and elegant department stores.

Shopping is a major activity in Tokyo, with the flagship Uniqlo store just a few minutes from Yotel. This is the biggest Uniqlo in the world, its 12 floors packed with cool clothes and knitwear at a fraction of the UK price.

Then there is possibly the most famous shopping district in Tokyo, Harajuku. This is the place for eccentric outfits, outrageous headwear and funky souvenirs.

There are also cool vintage stores nestled between the tourist tat, but I was more concerned with all the ridiculous things to eat and drink along here.

A toasted sandwich with rainbow cheese, followed by a giant multicoloured candyfloss and a coffee at Café Reissue that had a foamy top in the shape of Hello Kitty.

This is where you will also find the Shibuya crossing, the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, where crowds get ready to race across when the traffic stops.

With 3,000 people crossing every two minutes, this interchange has become a tourist attraction in itself, as you run for your life and dodge people making TikTok videos, taking selfies and proposing.

For dinner, we bunked down at Kushiyaki Bistro Fukumimi Ginza, an underground izakaya.

The antidote to Tokyo’s tech-savvy tourist trails, this traditional tavern serves meat skewers and Japanese picky bits, with lots of lively banter.

As well as the great food, we made some new pals at the bar.

The language barrier didn’t seem to matter in the jovial atmosphere.

After a taste of authentic Japanese dining, I wanted to experience the country’s unique culture and try some traditional pastimes.

First stop was a Tea Ceremony at Maikura (£43, mai-ko.com).

Once we’d been decked out in colourful kimonos, we all sat on the floor to enjoy matcha with a special blessing.

Then it was straight on to Ginzabashi to make and carve our own chopsticks at an independently owned cafe (£18, ginzabashi.com).

By this point, we had worked up quite the appetite, so we tried our hand at sushi making at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market.

Covered in rice and with a not-so-artistic display of Nigiri and Maki in front of me, I can confirm it is not as easy as it looks.

But, our patient sushi master was on hand to help us out and the end result was a lot more impressive than I was expecting.

The experience is £52 per person, but the price includes a tour of the market and you get to eat all the sushi you roll and some extras too (japanwondertravel.com).

Simply wandering around the city itself is enough to keep you busy. Street art, historic buildings, quirky characters and buzzing neighbourhoods are all part of Tokyo’s appeal.

That’s how I found myself at the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in Harajuku being served by a bear.

The name Anakuma Café means “bear in a hole” in Japanese, and this tiny booth is exactly that.

I order my flat white on a tablet and it’s served through a hole in the wall by a comedy furry hand.

By the time I stopped laughing and taking pictures, my coffee had gone cold, but it was all about the experience. Which is as cheap as chopsticks.

THE MOST liveable cities in the world have been named – but the UK didn’t make the cut.

Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey has been running for nearly 20 years, looking at a number of factors into what makes a city loved by its locals.

This includes everything from safety and connectivity to green spaces and late night openings.

New this year is ” excitement, urban ambition and security,” when it comes to making a city great.

Sadly, none in the UK made the top 20, with the study citing London missing out as it doesn’t have the “security of certain mature markets“.

What did come out on top was the city of Tokyo in Japan.

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It was praised for both its stability and security, citing its “old-fashioned sense of security”.

It explained: “Young children walk to school unaccompanied by their parents, huge events take place every week without major disorder, and crime rates are consistently low.

“Tokyo should celebrate being such a well-mannered metropolis but its exemplary conduct is never taken for granted.”

However, a number of European cities made the top 20 list.

In second place was Copenhagen, citing its “booming restaurant and sauna scene” as well as its low crime rate and urban cycling schemes.

This was followed by Lisbon in third place, for it’s great public transport and local communities.

Lisbon has even become one of the top expat destinations in the world.

Coming in fourth was Vienna, followed by Sydney in 5th.

Other European entries to make the top 10 include Zurich (6th), Madrid (7th), Paris (8th), Munich (9th) and Oslo (10th).

Stockholm, Barcelona, Milan, Amsterdam and Helsinki all snuck into the top 20.

Israel’s military has advanced beyond Lebanon’s Litani River for the first time since 2006.

Israel’s military has advanced beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006 and appear poised to encircle the major city of Nabatieh.

Senior Lebanese military sources on Saturday told the Turkish state news agency Anadolu that Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River, which Israel has declared the perimeter of its unofficial buffer zone.

Israeli forces are now on the outskirts of Nabatieh, a city that is key to southern Lebanon’s economy and a cultural hub for the region. If the Shia-majority city were to fall, it would mark a significant development in the war on Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and subsequent official ceasefire.

Nabatieh is viewed by many Lebanese as a symbol of resistance due to its historic role on the frontline of Israeli assaults.

Reporting from the southern city of Tyre, Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto said Israel was expanding its air campaign in southern Lebanon and encircling Nabatieh in preparation for a potential assault on the city.

“It looks like Israel is trying to make this final push to encircle Nabatieh, breaking through the second and third lines of defence of Hezbollah and isolating the western Bekaa Valley from the south of the country,” Hitto said.

Israel has issued evacuation orders for at least 10 villages in southern Lebanon, as it expands its invasion, despite being engaged in ongoing peace talks with Lebanese officials.

The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, instructed residents in several Lebanese villages to evacuate immediately, warning they could be killed if they remained.

The order came the day after officials from both countries met in Washington to discuss a permanent end to the war. It began in early March when Iran-backed Hezbollah began attacking Israel following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Hitto said people fleeing their homes have few options, with more than 20 percent of the population — around 1.2 million people — displaced by fighting.

“Those options are turning into basically people living with relatives if they have that option, or people living in makeshift camps in public parks and public spaces. I’ve seen many families living in their vehicles for long periods of time,” Hitto said.

“Some of these families have been continuously displaced since 2023,” Hitto added.

The latest forced displacement orders are a further test to the nominal “ceasefire” in place since mid-April and repeatedly violated by Israel. It justifies its actions by saying it is targeting Hezbollah as part of efforts to disarm the group.

On Friday, at least 14 people were killed in Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese officials are working to disarm Hezbollah, but the task has proved extremely difficult.

Lebanese and Israeli officials are currently engaged in negotiations to end the war, marking the first time the two sides have spoken directly in decades.

The talks are being facilitated by the United States, and a new round is expected in Washington next week.

Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, held talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday to discuss the security situation and  ongoing negotiations with Israel. According to the state-run National News Agency, they agreed to intensify efforts to end the war, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Aoun also spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and stressed the importance of Israel respecting the current ceasefire.

THIS summer, six cities across the UK will be hosting a major sporting tournament – and each one makes for a great weekend break.

This summer, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will take place from June 12 to July 5 across Manchester, Birmingham, London, Leeds, Southampton and Bristol.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

With the cricket being played in these cities, it is the perfect excuse to book a UK staycation city break and enjoy everything else each city has to offer.

Whilst fans of fast bowling, wearing white and tea breaks will delight in the cricketing drama, there are plenty of other opportunities to relish during a summer city break in England.

Birmingham

Outside of the sporting event, Birmingham has a lot to offer – with everything from Peaky Blinders sets, the Balti curry and a jewellery quarter, according to Visit England.

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Head to the Black Country Living Museum to learn about the industrial history of the city or, if you are a fan of Formula 1, then drop by the F1 Arcade for some competitive racing.

The city is also home to a number of canals which are the ideal place to paddle on Roundhouse Birmingham’s three-mile kayak tour.

For Peaky Blinders fans, you can step into the living set and filming spots featured in the series including St George’s Hall, the Georgian Quarter and Stanley Dock.

You can even grab a ‘Ruby Murray’ (a 1950s singer who’s name became Cockney rhyming slang for curry) on Birmingham’s famous Balti Triangle.

Make sure to explore Digbeth too, which is a trendy neighbourhood with a new food hall.

A Visit England spokesperson said: “Top tip – Edgbaston Village is not only home to the cricket ground but also leafy streets, a buzzing food scene and historic gardens.

“Take a leisurely stroll around the reservoir or try your hand at paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing via Edgbaston Watersports (disability-friendly sessions are available).”

Matches will be taking place at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on:

• Friday June 12 – England vs Sri Lanka
• Sunday June 14 – Bangladesh vs Netherlands & India vs Pakistan
• Wednesday June 17 – South Africa vs Pakistan 

Bristol

Heading more south, Bristol offers amazing street art as well as swimming and even surfing.

Visitors can head to The Wave, which is a surfing and bodyboarding simulator, in an in-land lake.

But if you prefer a dip, you can head to Bristol Lido instead, which dates back to the Victorian period.

If you prefer to see art, then Bristol is ideal as you can head to Wake the Tiger or visit the new ‘Cracking Exhibition Gromit: 50 Years of Aardman’ in Bristol at M Shed between June 20 and September 13.

Bristol of course has a lot of street art to explore as well, which was recently named one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel experiences for 2026.

If you want to get even more hands on and embrace your inner Banksy, you can participate in a Where the Wall spray painting session.

A Visit England spokesperson said: “Don’t forget to call into the Gloucestershire Cricket Museum and Learning Centre for the chance to see some top cricket memorabilia.

“The collection includes the Benson & Hedges Super Cup, won in 1999, plus a collection of bats, balls and other cricketing equipment signed by some of the most famous cricketers of our time, including Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Jack Russell.”

The museum is open on match days.  

Matches taking place at Bristol County Ground include:

• Sunday June 21 – West Indies vs Sri Lanka
• Tuesday June 23 – New Zealand vs Scotland & Sri Lanka vs Ireland
• Thursday June 25 – South Africa vs Netherlands
• Saturday June 27 – Pakistan vs Netherland & West Indies vs Ireland

Manchester

In Manchester, football lovers can check out the National Football Museum and even try out the interactive games floor with a penalty shoot-out challenge.

If history is more your thing, then make sure to not miss out on the Everyone Welcome Manchester LGBTQ+ Walking Trail, which heads around the Gay Village.

Alternatively, you could swing by the Manchester Museum, where you can come face-to-face with a T-rex named Stan.

Currently, The Mystery of Banksy – A Genius Mind exhibition is also on at Depot Mayfield until July 5

And as for music events, visit Aviva Studios which has events year-round.

A Visit England spokesperson said: “Stay as close to the action as possible with a pitch-side hotel room at Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford.

“Rooms look over the grounds, with two match tickets offering access to a private balcony overlooking the pitch.”

Matches at Old Trafford Cricket Ground include:

• Saturday June 13 – Scotland vs Ireland & Australia vs South Africa
• Sunday June 21 – South Africa vs India 
• Thursday June 25 – India vs Bangladesh
• Friday June 26 – Sri Lanka vs Scotland

Leeds

In Leeds, you can get into the cricket atmosphere by heading to Sixes, which allows visitors to play the sport in a fun, party-style way, with World Cup and T20 ‘modes’ available to play.

Elsewhere in the city, visitors can also head on a guided food tour and visit six independent spots to eat, showcasing the best of Yorkshire food.

Make sure to also wander around the Victorian Quarter, where you’ll find a mix of high-street, designer and independent brands across the historic shopping arcades.

A Visit England spokesperson said: “The suburb of Headingley is buzzing with bars, pubs and restaurants and is sure to provide a lively atmosphere around the match.

“Post-match, sports bar The Box, offers rooftop views over towards the stadium.

“For a pre-match bite, another rooftop location is Crowded House in Leeds city centre set within the Trinity Centre, alongside Trinity Kitchen which offers an array of global cuisine.

“Stay at Headingley Stadium Hotel and wake up close to the action.”

Matches at Headingley Cricket Ground include:

• Wednesday June 17 – Australia vs Bangladesh & India vs Netherlands
• Thursday June 18 – West Indies vs Scotland
• Saturday June 20 – England vs Scotland
• Tuesday June 23 – Australia vs Pakistan

Southampton

For a sporting city on the south coast, you should visit Southampton.

The World Cup Cricket Tournament is taking a ‘tea break’ in the Southampton Hampshire Bowl, where reigning champions New Zealand will attempt to defend their title.

Of course though, while in Southampton, you have to make the most of the water and can do so by heading to Southampton Water Activities Centre with canoeing and jet skiing.

Alternatively, you could step into the Solace Sauna in Lepe Country Park, which is a heated, beachside sauna experience with add ons including aromatherapy, scrubs and masks.

A Visit England spokesperson said: “Following a World Cup tour can be tiring, Eforea Spa at Utilita Bowl however offers a side of relaxation and rejuvenation alongside the thrilling jeopardy.

“Guests can experience an outdoor hot tub, Ice Fountain and Hydrotherapy Pool pre- or post-match.”

Matches at Utilita Bowl include:

• Saturday June 13 – West Indies vs New Zealand
• Tuesday June 16 – New Zealand vs Sri Lanka & England vs Ireland
• Friday June 19 – New Zealand vs Ireland
• Saturday June 20 – Australia vs Netherlands & Pakistan vs Bangladesh

London

Would this list really be complete if it didn’t feature the UK’s capital?

London has two major cricket venues – Lords in North London and The Kia Oval in South London – which will both host matches in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Lords is home to the Marylebone Cricket Club which is one of the most famous clubs in the world.

And if you are heading to a match at Lords, then you can also visit the nearby Regent’s Park and Marylebone Village, which is bursting with spots to grab a bite to eat, bars and independent shops.

Even though you are in a city, you can still enjoy a bit of water fun as well by heading paddleboarding with Paddleboarding London, which operates tours around Primrose Hill, Little Venice and Camden Market.

As for The Oval south of the river, it is home to Surrey County Cricket Club and you can even go on a tour of the grounds.

Nearby, make sure to visit Market Place in Vauxhall for some top notch street food.

A Visit England spokesperson recommended: “Lords is the fitting backdrop to host the final, taking place on July 5.

“Cricket enthusiasts can go behind the scenes and gain access to exclusive areas of the ground including the Long Room, Player’s Dressing Rooms and MCC Museum, home of the Ashes Urn – cricket’s best-known artefact, as part of a museum and tour experience.”

Matches in London at Lords in North London and The Kia Oval in South London include:

• Wednesday June 24 – England vs West Indies at Lords
• Saturday June 27 – England vs New Zealand at The Oval
• Sunday June 28 – South Africa vs Bangladesh & Australia vs India at Lords
• Tuesday June 30 – Semi Final at The Oval
• Thursday July 2 – Semi Final at The Oval
• Sunday July 5 – Final at Lords

Match tickets start at just £5 per child and £20 per adult, via the official ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 website.

A BUDGET train operator has launched a brand new rail service.

From this week, travellers can take a cross-border train journeys for under £30.

Lumo’s new low-cost journeys between London and Scotland have launched this week, connecting travellers between London Euston and Stirling.

Customers can travel on this 300 mile train route for only £29.90 per person, with journeys scheduled multiple times a day.

Stirling council leader, Cllr Susan McGill, said: “The sight of the first blue Lumo train in Stirling is an exciting moment, and we will continue to work closely with Lumo to ensure the new service is a success and delivers lasting benefits for everyone across the region.”

The new route also includes a handy connection between London and Preston, Lancashire, for just £23.90, and between Preston and Stirling for £14.90.

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Four direct return journeys will take place between Stirling and London Euston every day, with a fifth service running between Preston and London.

Lumo already runs a budget-friendly passenger train along the East Coast Main Line, connecting travellers between London King’s Cross, the North East of England and Edinburgh.

This new west coast route will call at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert.

For Scottish towns Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert, this is the first ever direct rail connection to London.

Graeme Cook, rail director for Transport Scotland, said: “Lumo’s new Stirling to London route is a very welcome addition to cross-border services which will provide wider economic and connectivity benefits to Scotland.

“The new services will not only boost tourism and hospitality for Stirling and the Forth Valley, but also increase connectivity by now providing customers from Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert with direct access to rail connections on the West Coast Main Line and London.”

The train service will run from Monday, May 25, with the full timetable set to be available in July.

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich may be known as a financial centre, but it has a creative side, too. The Kunsthaus Zürich became the biggest art gallery in the country when its David Chipperfield-designed extension opened in 2021. Its collection spans 800 years of art, and includes old masters, Swiss artists such as Giacometti, works by Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, Van Gogh and Warhol, and contemporary artists.

The area around the Kunsthaus is now the Zurich Gallery Mile, best explored on the Zurich Art Weekend (12-14 June), held a week before the more famous Art Basel. Galleries have special exhibitions, guided tours and talks, and there are performances, art walks, screenings and parties.

In Zurich-West, a brewery built in the 1890s became an arts centre in the 1990s. The Löwenbräukunst-Areal now houses several modern and contemporary galleries, including a branch of Hauser & Wirth.

Near Lake Zurich, the Museum Rietberg showcases non-European art in three historic villas (one where Wagner wrote Tristan and Isolde), a modern extension and surrounding parkland. Current exhibitions focus on Indian paintings, Japanese woodblock prints and Chinese lacquerware.

Day trip In Baden, 15 minutes away by fast train, the Museum Langmatt reopened this month after two years of renovation. The art nouveau villa displays about 50 French impressionist masterpieces by Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir and more.

Lille, France

Paris is the undisputed art capital of France, but Lille has some excellent galleries with lower prices and a fraction of the crowds, and can be reached even more quickly by Eurostar from London (just 1hr 20mins). The Palais des Beaux-Arts, in a beautiful 19th-century building, houses perhaps France’s richest art collection after the Louvre, by artists such as Rodin, Van Dyck, Rubens, Delacroix, Goya and Courbet (and entry is just €7 versus the Louvre’s €22).

LaM, a modern and contemporary art gallery that’s a 30-minute bike, Métro or bus ride from the city centre, reopened in February after an extensive renovation. The inaugural exhibition is a Wassily Kandinsky retrospective (until 14 June), while the permanent collection includes work by Modigliani, Fernand Léger, Paul Klee and Louise Bourgeois. Its sculpture garden contains 10 monumental pieces by Alexander Calder and more.

Day trip In Roubaix, 10 minutes away by fast train, an art deco former swimming pool is now La Piscine museum. The old showers and changing rooms now display ceramics (some by Picasso), paintings, textiles, jewellery and sculpture, all lit through stained-glass windows. In nearby Lens, the Louvre-Lens museum – a satellite gallery of the Louvre – has 250 artworks arranged chronologically from the third century BC to the mid-19th century.

Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw’s art scene had a huge boost in 2024 with the opening of the Museum of Modern Art (MSN Warsaw). The bright white building stands in contrast to Stalin’s menacing Palace of Arts and Science next door, and showcases Polish and international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Sarah Lucas and Wolfgang Tillmans.

Other modern galleries include the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, which has 20th-century and contemporary art from painting to installation, video and performance. It has staged exhibitions by artists including Marlene Dumas and Luc Tuymens, and is currently showing the American abstract artist Barbara Kasten (until 7 June). The Ujazdów Castle now houses the Centre for Contemporary Art, with a diverse programme of exhibitions, talks, films and outdoor events in the surrounding park.

Warsaw isn’t just about modern art. The National Museum, founded in 1862, is one of the oldest museums in the country. Its six permanent art galleries range from antiquity through medieval art to the 19th century. One highlight is Jan Matejko’s enormous Battle of Grunwald (1878), one of the best-known paintings in Poland. A temporary exhibition of 30 paintings by the Krakow-born artist Olga Boznańska (1865-1940), who also has work in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, runs until 5 July.

And at the Royal Castle, the two most prized paintings in the Lanckoroński Gallery are by an old master: The Girl in a Picture Frame and The Scholar at the Lectern by Rembrandt.

Day trip Łódź, a couple of hours away by train, has a trio of galleries covering 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century art respectively: the Herbst Palace Museum, MS1 and MS2.

Verona, Italy

Fair Verona, the home of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, is overshadowed as an artistic centre by its neighbour, Venice. But this romantic city has more to offer than Juliet’s balcony. The Palazzo Maffei, a 17th-century baroque building on Piazza della Erbe, opened as a gallery in 2020. It is laid out like a cabinet of curiosities, displaying an incredible private collection of art from antiquity to today. There is a strong focus on modern masters, including Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky and Magritte.

GAM, the modern art gallery, is in the Palazzo delle Ragione, one of the oldest public buildings in Italy (built in the mid-1100s). The collection spans from the early 19th century to the present day, with a focus on the Italian avant garde. As well as the artworks, visitors can see the palace’s beautiful Cappella dei Notai and ascend the Torre dei Lamberti, the tallest building in Verona.

The Castelvecchio museum, housed in the 14th-century castle, displays Veronese and Venetian paintings from the medieval period to the 1700s, with work by Bellini, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens.

The Palazzo della Gran Guardia hosts temporary exhibitions – most recently the photography exhibition Human. The VisitVerona website has an events calendar with all upcoming exhibitions.

Day trip Book ahead to see the Giotta frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, 45 minutes away by fast train. The crowds here mean the city’s other attractions, such as the art gallery inside the Eremitani Museum next door, are often empty.

Oslo, Norway

Modern art lovers will find much to admire in the Norwegian capital. Edvard Munch has his own 13-storey museum, Munch, displaying three versions of The Scream and other renowned works including The Sun, Madonna, The Dance of Life and Love and Pain. The museum also showcases painting by Munch’s contemporaries, and holds temporary exhibitions – currently Paula Rego (until 2 August). Outside is Tracey Emin’s 9-metre high sculpture The Mother.

The National Museum, which opened in 2022, is the biggest gallery in the Nordic countries. It has a room devoted to Munch, and its own versions of The Scream and Madonna. The pioneering female artist Harriet Backer also has her own room, with many more Norwegian artists displayed alongside Berthe Morisot, Matisse, Picasso and others.

The Astrup Fearnley Museum, designed by Renzo Piano (the architect behind the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Whitney in New York), has a leading collection of contemporary art, plus temporary exhibitions.

Day trip Munch owned a villa at Ramme, 40 minutes from Oslo, from 1910 until his death in 1944. The property has been restored and visitors can now book a guided tour, visit an underground art gallery displaying his work and that of other Norwegian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries, and follow an outdoor culture trail along the fjord.

These are some of the least welcoming cities in Europe.

European capitals continue to be beloved getaway destinations for countless Britons looking for a quick break from daily life. With straightforward access by plane or train, these cities are perfect for long weekend trips. Yet an increasing number of locations are gaining notoriety amongst travellers for being hostile, dirty and dangerous.

One city in particular has been singled out as a place to avoid, according to recent reviews from British visitors. Long considered the ultimate destination for a romantic retreat, Paris has faced significant backlash, reports the Express.

In a Reddit thread, one user branded the city as grimy and said locals were “unbelievably rude”.

ExplanationWorried14 wrote: “I said ‘merci’ when someone actually stopped at a crossing and he looked angry and shrugged like I was an idiot.

“Some school girls sang a song about me being an English w****, despite me wearing a long, flowing hippie dress that in no way revealed any flesh, and I felt unsafe.”

“Got followed by two men near the Louvre. Would never go back. I don’t know why people say it’s romantic… I guess those people are into some weird stuff.”

Another commenter pointed to rampant criminal behaviour and mentioned that the French capital came with a steep price tag.

Mister Pink said: “Lots and lots of crime is very visible all around in the form of pickpockets and con artists. Very expensive, and the Parisians generally were pretty rude.

“At least when you go to the nicer bits of London for food, the area tends to be quite nice to match the outrageous prices.”

Other well-known European cities fared little better in the eyes of the Reddit users, who were equally ruthless in their verdicts.

Berlin was branded as a city overrun with rude locals.

Philosophyguilty wrote: “Old school Berliners are vicious. If you live in Berlin for any length of time, you will have a tale or two about them.”

Softwarepanda agreed, writing: “Never been in a place with so much grumpiness.”

Brussels was labelled as having a “pretty grim vibe”, while Rome — a city forever synonymous with La Dolce Vita — was alleged to be crawling with “scammers and gropers”.

JET2 has added nearly 20 new routes to its 2027 roster, in case you’re an early bird who likes to catch a holiday well ahead of time.

The airline is heading to the Greek islands, a pretty French town, and a Channel Island that ‘looks like the Caribbean‘.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Jet2 is adding shorter and ‘more convenient’ trips to its rota for 2027 in order to meet demand – and Birmingham Airport will have three new routes.

One is to Bergerac, a pretty medieval town in France‘s Dordogne – a region known for having magnificent castles and tasty food.

The town was previously one of the routes cut by Ryanair – but was later brought back for the summer season.

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Jet2 will begin flying to Bergerac from May 22, 2026 with one weekly service.

A Bergerac route is also being introduced from Manchester Airport starting on May 22.

Birmingham Airport, along with Bristol and Manchester is adding routes to Jersey, the Channel Island that during the summertime has been compared to the Caribbean.

When Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited she said: “When my family and I visited, every beach was outstanding, the weather glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.

“Jersey has many epic beaches, often next to free car parks and regularly featuring fabulous cafes serving both generous portions of food and cold beers.”

Jet2 will also begin flights to the Greek destination of Kavala which is nicknamed the ‘Blue City’.

It earned its name from its turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea – and for holidaymakers it has long stretches of beach and plenty of clubs and bars.

Brits will also be able to fly to Kavala from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.

Bournemouth Airport is adding a one-weekly service to Spain’s Reus from May 2, 2027.

Found in Catalonia, the city has little alleyways filled with cafes and small boutiques.

But, if you’re looking for beaches, Reus is a 20-minute drive and train journey to the beach city of Tarragona.

Tarragona considered a quiet alternative to Barcelona as it’s mostly visited by locals who want to escape the busy city centre.

The airline will start new routes to Paris too from East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester Airport.

In most cases these services will take under an hour and a half offering a speedy gateway to the city full of landmarks, foodie spots, galleries and art museums.

If you want to avoid the tourist heavy landmarks, check out what Travel Reporter Alice Penwill did during a daytrip to the city from markets to Seine River walks.

Or take advice from Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire to have lunch at Brasserie Lipp and spend time at 18th arrondissement – a less-touristy area.

Locals to Edinburgh Airport will be able to jet off to not one but two Greek Islands next summer.

The airline will begin one-weekly services to Chania on the beautiful island of Crete.

Crete is Greece’s biggest island offering ancient culture, tasty cuisine and incredible swimming spots in the Mediterranean Sea.

Chania itself is a Venetian port with lots of tavernas – the area is a hub of activity, with food, drink and shopping all overlooking the blue sea.

The second location is Skiathos, an island in the northwest Aegean Sea and part of the Sporades archipelago.

One Sun Writer who visited stayed at the Skiathos Palace Hotel, spending days on Koukounaries Beach which is renowned for watersports and diving.

One-weekly flights from Edinburgh Airport to Croatia’s city of Pula will begin on May 2.

The city is said to have the “perfect summer temperatures”, according to a group of travel experts – with highs of 27C in July and August.

Pula has its very own Colosseum, and it’s the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved.

It’s even said to be more intact than its famous counterpart in Rome.

Of course, the seaside city has incredible beaches too like Galebove stijene and Jamica Beach.

From London Gatwick, the airline will fly to Mytilene (Lesvos) – a city found on the third largest Greek island.

In the city, visitors can explore Mytilene Castle, take a stroll around Ermou Street Market and enjoy seafood at the tavernas along the waterfront.

At London Stansted, the airline will start flying to Almeria once a week from May 1, 2027.

The city in southeast Spain has an abundance of tapas bars – thanks to its tapeo culture, if you order a drink then you usually get a free tapa dish too.

The city is very close to the Tabernas Desert which has been used as a filming location for famous Westerns, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are delighted to be significantly expanding our Jersey programme for Summer 2027, with a great choice of flights now departing from six UK airports as a result.

“Thanks to the addition of the new routes and the existing programme, we are offering fantastic choice to Jersey.”

A NEW direct rail service connecting two major UK cities started running again for the first time in over two decades.

The first direct service left the station this morning at 7am.

A new daily rail service between Oxford and Bristol Temple Meads began today, offering a direct service between the two cities for the first time in 23 years.

The new service started this morning after plans were finally given the go-ahead on Friday, May 13, by Network Rail and Great Western Railway.

Running from Monday to Saturday, the new service will travel via the following stations: Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads.

Both services began today with the first train leaving Oxford at 7am, arriving into Bristol Temple Meads at 8.20am.

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Going the other way, the first service departing from Bristol left at 7.14am and arrived into Oxford at 8.32am.

The fastest journey times from Oxford will be one hour and eight minutes and from Bristol one hour and 11 minutes.

Until today, there was no direct service between Oxford and Bristol, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The new rail line also means there is now a direct service for passengers travelling between Swindon and Oxford.

Previously travellers needed to change at either Didcot Parkway or Reading.

Great Western Railway’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, said the decision comes after years of campaigning from customers and partners.

“The economic and social benefits are clear, and we are confident that these new services demonstrate the value of rail in driving economic growth, environmental benefits, and creating education and employment opportunities which previously were not possible – as well as directly linking two of the key leisure markets in the UK,” he said.

Swindon South MP and Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said the “weekend trial of direct trains was hugely popular” and the new service will provide travellers with “a fast, convenient alternative to being stuck in a traffic jam on the A420”.

Network Rail Western route director, Marcus Jones, said bringing back the direct service “is a significant step in improving connectivity across the Western route” and the new links “will make it easier for people to travel between key economic centres, opening up new opportunities for work, education and leisure”.

The Philadelphia Eagles will play in London as part of the NFL’s international games next season.

The NFL will stage a record nine regular-season games overseas during 2026, with three in the UK while Australia and France are hosts for the first time.

The London series begins on 4 October with the Washington Commanders hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will then host games on the following two Sundays against the Eagles at Tottenham then the Houston Texans at Wembley.

The first international game will take place during the first week of the season, with the Los Angeles Rams having a divisional match-up against the San Francisco 49ers at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 49ers will also face the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL returns to Mexico, while the Baltimore Ravens meet the Dallas Cowboys in the league’s first game in Rio de Janeiro.

There will be three games in continental Europe, with the New Orleans Saints facing the Pittsburgh Steelers as Paris hosts its first game at the Stade de France.

The Cincinnati Bengals then face the Atlanta Falcons at the home of Real Madrid while the New England Patriots, who reached last season’s Super Bowl, will take on the Detroit Lions in Munich.

SINGAPORE Airlines is launching more flights from two UK airports to one of ‘world’s best cities.

With increased flights, it’s even easier to visit the destination that’s home to cheap Michelin star meals, trendy cafes and a futuristic nature park.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Singapore is often named one of the world’s best cities, and this year is no different with it coming in sixth place in the ‘World’s Best Cities’ report.

It then came in 23rd in Time Out’s Best Cities 2026 list in March.

Now, it’s even easier for Brits to explore with Singapore Airlines increasing its routes from both Manchester and London Gatwick later in the year.

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From July 13, the Manchester to Singapore services, will increase from five-times weekly to daily.

And from October 25, flights from London Gatwick will increase from 10 times a week to a twice-daily service.

In total this means Singapore Airlines will launch six daily flights in total from London, which includes the four daily services from London Heathrow.

Direct flights to Singapore from the UK take between 13 and 14 hours.

At the moment, and through next week, temperatures in Singapore have highs of 30C, in fact it’s around that temperature year round, so you are guaranteed to get some warmth no matter the month.

Being one of the world’s best cities, there’s plenty to do from exploring its impressive architecture to visiting its futuristic nature park, Gardens by the Bay.

The world-famous attraction is home to the world’s largest glass greenhouse, an indoor waterfall, and a viewing platform up high on its Supertree.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey recently visited the city, and here’s what she had to say.

She said: “I didn’t expect to love the city as much as I did, but I loved how safe and clean it felt compared to other major cities.”

“It’s the kind of place where you’ll never struggle to find amazing food, no matter what your budget is.

“Make sure to look up too – most buildings have living walls or rooftop gardens as strict rules mean any new structures must replace greenery they build on.”

Other must-visit spots include the neighbourhood of Joo Chiat that has been named one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.

It has beautiful pastel-colored Peranakan shophouses, rich Eurasian heritage, and a mix of traditional eateries and trendy cafes.

For incredible views across the skyline, one of the best free spots is at Henderson Wave Bridge, which is the highest footbridge in the city.

As for eateries and bars, some of Kara’s favourites include Keng Eng Kee which has been family-run for more than 50 years.

Or at the indoor market food hall called Hawker Chan, you can get Michelin meals for less than £5.

YOU might have thought going on a barge break would be relaxing, quiet and peaceful being surrounded by nothing but nature and water.

That’s what I thought too, before I moored up on what was one of the biggest party spots in the Midlands.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Birmingham’s Gas Street basin is one of the most iconic stretches of canal in the world. So when we found a free mooring spot right there in the city centre we were delighted.

We tied up our rented barge to the metal posts and went out for dinner and a couple of drinks.

It was only when we returned to spend the evening on board that we realised it was going to be somewhat noisier than a few passing dog walkers or nesting geese at 5pm had initially made us realise.

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Because by 9pm, it felt like we were moored on the party strip in Ayia Napa. 

There were disco boats with banging music passing on one side, and large groups of boisterous pedestrians on the other – passing very loudly between one bar or club and another. 

We had inadvertently plonked ourselves right in the very party heart of the Midlands. 

One year-round barge user told me that he has moored in this very spot before only to wake up adrift – one of those boisterous party people had untied him in the middle of the night as a prank.

It wasn’t until after two in the morning when the last of the last orders were called that it began to quieten down – and we started to hear the sound of geese again rather than dance music.

Thankfully we were still tied to those posts though. 

So the next morning, after coffee, we moved the boat another half a mile to a quieter spot where we would spend our second night in Brum. 

It was the only blip on what was to be a terrific long weekend in the Second City.

Because although I’d been to Birmingham several times before I’d never really devoted any time to the place – just headed straight to whatever job I had and then gone off again.

This trip was an attempt to redress this miss. And it was great fun – Birmingham was a blast. 

We aren’t the first people to realise this. The city has had a lot of money spent on it and tourism here has had a shot in the arm – not least from the success of Peaky Blinders, which is celebrated across the centre. You can’t miss the many references. 

Thanks to our very central location, it was also extremely navigable: that meal we had, at Indian street food restaurant Indico Mailbox, was barely a five minute walk from our bed. 

And, as Londoners, it felt very cheap. Very cheap indeed.

At one point I confidently told a bar worker that she had only charged us for one of our two drinks. She hadn’t, it really was £5.25 for a pint and a glass of wine. 

That was the cheapest round of quite a few – we found, as we often do, that a good way to see the sights was by turning our day there into a pub crawl.

So although we did get into some set piece tourism spots – the very good city gallery, the cathedral with its spectacular stained glass windows etc – it was while walking from one pub to another.

And goodness, does Birmingham have a vibrant pub scene. 

The standouts were: The Wellington, with its incredible array of real ales and ciders, The Craven Arms, The Spotted Dog and the Woodman.

The latter is currently isolated in the middle of vast building works next door to one of the oldest stations in the world, Curzon Street, which will also become one of the newest when HS2 finally opens.

Remarkably it still functions as a top, top boozer despite this. So that was our time in the city – now onto how we got there.

And this was what they call a life hack: we realised that for the same money it would cost to spend two nights in a city centre hotel and eat out for every meal, we could hire a barge and do (most of) our own cooking, as well as picking our own berth (see above for the pitfalls in this aspect of the plan).

We went as a single couple but two couples sharing could do this even more affordably – most boats have two double rooms.

We picked up our boat from – and returned it to – the marina at Alvechurch, some 11 miles south of the city centre.

It’s an interesting journey into the city for two main reasons.

Firstly you get to travel through – and if you like, you can tie up to explore – the famous Bournville suburb, where the Cadbury brothers, real-life Willy Wonkas, built a model Victorian neighbourhood for their chocolate factory workers – and it remains largely unchanged. 

Then there’s the dramatic Wast Hill tunnel, at 1.5 miles one of the longest in Britain’s entire 3000 mile canal network, which takes longer to navigate by slow moving barge than the train journey through the Channel Tunnel.

It has an extraordinary and slightly ghostly atmosphere within: complete darkness except for that distant pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel. 

But the great advantage of this short trip is that there are no locks! Just a five-hour each way tour followed by one single, easy-to-perform U-turn at the end before your return leg. 

It is without doubt the least demanding, most relaxing canal trip I have ever done. 

The only thing that could have improved it would have been if I were still young enough to have taken advantage of all that nightlife on our doorstep – or rather barge step.

MAKE convenience the driving force behind your holiday.

There are superb destinations within easy reach of ferry terminals in France and Spain.

Escape to sunnier climes in the car with no pricey flights or fear of flight cancellations.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the five best getaways for families, all within an hour of the ferry terminal.

COMILLAS, SPAIN

DRIVE 40 minutes from the ferry terminal of Santander and you’ll find the rustic town of Comillas, crammed with striking Gaudi architecture and art nouveau buildings that overlook a pristine sandy shore.

It’s not as crowded as some of Spain’s more popular holiday resorts and it’s home to the Oyambre Natural Park which is littered with dramatic cliffs and has a plethora of bird life.

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Make sure to try a dish loved by locals, marmitako.

The traditional fisherman’s stew comes loaded with tuna, seafood and veggies and will keep you feeling satisfied for hours.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Comillas Hotel in the town is from £439.06pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Plymouth on July 20.

Find out more at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE

ACTIVITY-loving families will feel right at home in Boulogne-sur-mer, a 30-minute drive from the French port of Calais and with adventure on its doorstep.

Spend a day at the largest aquarium in Europe, Nausicaá, where you can gawp at over 60,000 creatures including reef sharks, manta rays, sea lions, penguins and giant tortoises — the Echappée Tropicale section is new for this year and is framed around mangroves and lagoons.

Nearby Wissant beach is ideal if you’re travelling with youngsters, thanks to its shallow water pools.

And Boulogne-sur-mer’s glorious old town with its cobbled streets, is a wonderful spot for an afternoon potter.

GO: Two nights’ self-catering at the Evancy apartments is from £60pp based on a family of four sharing.

See evancy.com.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

BILBAO, SPAIN

IF you’re less into fly-and-flop and more of a city dweller, look no further than the Spanish city of Bilbao.

The city centre is a 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal.

Once you arrive, ditch the car as everything is easily accessible on foot or by tram/metro.

Pintxos, essentially the basque version of tapas, is the theme of most menus here.

This means you can sample as many restaurants as you fancy, tucking into the best of the nibbles — they tend to be very affordable, too.

Little ones will love riding the funicular up to the peak of Mount Artxanda, offering jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city.

Adults, on the other hand, will want to sample a glass of Txakoli, a local wine that’s dry, crisp and pairs perfectly with warm weather.

There’s also a beach if you do want to dip your toes into the sea.

GO: Six nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Euskalduna Hotel is £507.11pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao on July 19.

Yiou can book at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE, FRANCE

THE coastal resort, less than an hour from Calais, is chic French glamour meets old-world Britain.

Don’t take my word for it, though.

Back in the day, it attracted big names like Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sean Connery used to stroll its shores, and President Macron has been seen there.

You’re also within a short drive of France’s oldest amusement park, Parc Bagatelle, which will soon feature a new adrenaline ride, North Storm.

It is 33 metres high and throws riders around on 360-degree rotations.

On top of thrill rides, there are also shows and a mini animal farm.

GO: Two-storey family rooms at the 4H Le Grand Hotel Le Touquet cost from around £286pp with access to an indoor heated pool, a padel tennis court, games room and bike rental service.

See legrandhotel-letouquet.com/en.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

COURSEULLES-SUR-MER, FRANCE

A SWIFT 30-minute drive from Caen ferry port in Ouistreham, the sleepy fishing town of Courseulles-sur-Mer feels typically French and sits a little off the beaten tourist track.

Be sure to have a go at sand yachting.

Often described as a mix between go-karting and windsurfing, the sport relies on blustery winds to propel you across the sands in a three-wheeled cart with a sail attached to it.

Juno beach is a great spot to try it.

For adrenaline junkies there’s Parc du Chant des Oiseaux which has slides, climbing nets and a zipline, or for something more gently paced there’s an 18-hole mini golf course.

It’s worth renting a bike and exploring the nearby cycle routes while you’re here, too.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 3H La Crémaillère is from £454.85pp, based on four people sharing a one-bedroom duplex and including car ferry from Portsmouth to Caen on July 20.

For details, see brittany-ferries.co.uk.

MAKE convenience the driving force behind your holiday.

There are superb destinations within easy reach of ferry terminals in France and Spain.

Escape to sunnier climes in the car with no pricey flights or fear of flight cancellations.

Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the five best getaways for families, all within an hour of the ferry terminal.

COMILLAS, SPAIN

DRIVE 40 minutes from the ferry terminal of Santander and you’ll find the rustic town of Comillas, crammed with striking Gaudi architecture and art nouveau buildings that overlook a pristine sandy shore.

It’s not as crowded as some of Spain’s more popular holiday resorts and it’s home to the Oyambre Natural Park which is littered with dramatic cliffs and has a plethora of bird life.

SWISS GRAND TOUR

I went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Make sure to try a dish loved by locals, marmitako.

The traditional fisherman’s stew comes loaded with tuna, seafood and veggies and will keep you feeling satisfied for hours.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Comillas Hotel in the town is from £439.06pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Plymouth on July 20.

Find out more at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE

ACTIVITY-loving families will feel right at home in Boulogne-sur-mer, a 30-minute drive from the French port of Calais and with adventure on its doorstep.

Spend a day at the largest aquarium in Europe, Nausicaá, where you can gawp at over 60,000 creatures including reef sharks, manta rays, sea lions, penguins and giant tortoises — the Echappée Tropicale section is new for this year and is framed around mangroves and lagoons.

Nearby Wissant beach is ideal if you’re travelling with youngsters, thanks to its shallow water pools.

And Boulogne-sur-mer’s glorious old town with its cobbled streets, is a wonderful spot for an afternoon potter.

GO: Two nights’ self-catering at the Evancy apartments is from £60pp based on a family of four sharing.

See evancy.com.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

BILBAO, SPAIN

IF you’re less into fly-and-flop and more of a city dweller, look no further than the Spanish city of Bilbao.

The city centre is a 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal.

Once you arrive, ditch the car as everything is easily accessible on foot or by tram/metro.

Pintxos, essentially the basque version of tapas, is the theme of most menus here.

This means you can sample as many restaurants as you fancy, tucking into the best of the nibbles — they tend to be very affordable, too.

Little ones will love riding the funicular up to the peak of Mount Artxanda, offering jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city.

Adults, on the other hand, will want to sample a glass of Txakoli, a local wine that’s dry, crisp and pairs perfectly with warm weather.

There’s also a beach if you do want to dip your toes into the sea.

GO: Six nights’ B&B at the 4H Abba Euskalduna Hotel is £507.11pp, based on a family of four sharing a room and including car ferry travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao on July 19.

Yiou can book at brittany-ferries.co.uk.

TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE, FRANCE

THE coastal resort, less than an hour from Calais, is chic French glamour meets old-world Britain.

Don’t take my word for it, though.

Back in the day, it attracted big names like Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sean Connery used to stroll its shores, and President Macron has been seen there.

You’re also within a short drive of France’s oldest amusement park, Parc Bagatelle, which will soon feature a new adrenaline ride, North Storm.

It is 33 metres high and throws riders around on 360-degree rotations.

On top of thrill rides, there are also shows and a mini animal farm.

GO: Two-storey family rooms at the 4H Le Grand Hotel Le Touquet cost from around £286pp with access to an indoor heated pool, a padel tennis court, games room and bike rental service.

See legrandhotel-letouquet.com/en.

The ferry from Dover to Calais costs from around £200 for a family of four travelling in a small car.

See directferries.com.

COURSEULLES-SUR-MER, FRANCE

A SWIFT 30-minute drive from Caen ferry port in Ouistreham, the sleepy fishing town of Courseulles-sur-Mer feels typically French and sits a little off the beaten tourist track.

Be sure to have a go at sand yachting.

Often described as a mix between go-karting and windsurfing, the sport relies on blustery winds to propel you across the sands in a three-wheeled cart with a sail attached to it.

Juno beach is a great spot to try it.

For adrenaline junkies there’s Parc du Chant des Oiseaux which has slides, climbing nets and a zipline, or for something more gently paced there’s an 18-hole mini golf course.

It’s worth renting a bike and exploring the nearby cycle routes while you’re here, too.

GO: Five nights’ B&B at the 3H La Crémaillère is from £454.85pp, based on four people sharing a one-bedroom duplex and including car ferry from Portsmouth to Caen on July 20.

For details, see brittany-ferries.co.uk.

TEN of the best places to go this summer have been revealed – if you want to avoid the big crowds.

A new study conducted by Skyscanner has looked at summer search data to find places with lower search interest, which will mean finding the lesser known areas to visit.

In the Smarter Summer report, Turku came out on top when it came to being an under-the-radar destination.

The Finnish city is the oldest in the country, and even used to be the capital.

Known as the gateway to the 40,000-island Finnish archipelago (said to be the world’s largest archipelago, the other main attraction is the 13th century Turku Castle.

Flights are as little as £80 return, although Brits will have to change in airports like Gdansk or Helsinki.

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After Turku was Thunder Bay in Canada, home to a huge rock formation on lake Superior called the Sleeping Giant.

Average flights here are £305 return, with a change in Toronto.

Also listed was the pretty seaside city of Crotone in Italy, once a Greek colony that was the home of Pythagoras.

Ryanair fly to Crotone but there are no direct flights – Brits will have to change in Milan or Bologna.

This does keep flights cheap thought – Skyscanner found they had the cheapest average price of around £62 retun.

Three islands in Greece made the top list, including Kalymnos which is known for both its rock climbing and diving.

Ferries run from Kos, Rhodes and Athens.

There is also Ioannina, a small inhabited island in the middle of a lake with a historic Byzantine fortresses

Being so secluded, one of the easiest ways to get there is a three-hour bus from Thessaloniki.

And finally there is Astypalaia, a butterfly-shaped island home to a Venetian castle as well as the eight red-roofed Chora windmills.

The island has direct flights from Athens, with its own small airport.

Pico in Portugal, along with Kiruna (Sweden), Clermont Ferrand (France) and Cordoba (Argentina) also made the list as well.

Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner Travel Expert, said: “This year’s Smarter Summer Report is designed to help people make more confident choices on when and where to travel, using Skyscanner’s proprietary data to highlight smarter timings, better-value options and alternative destinations.

“In a more changeable travel environment, checking live prices and staying flexible on where and when you travel can go a long way when it comes to finding better value.”

“More importantly, travellers should stay informed and check the latest travel advice before booking.”

The study also found the cheapest day week to travel on average was, surprisingly, July 7 – just before the school holidays.

And the cheapest day of the week was just as surprising, with Saturday being the most affordable.

They also named some of the cheapest destination to fly to on average this year, which include:

• Dortmund, Germany (£72)
• Cork, Ireland (£83)
• Luxembourg (£86)
• Castellon de la Plana, Spain (£89)
• Baden-Baden, Germany (£89)
• Eindhoven, Netherlands (£94)

Turin in Italy was £102 on average, followed by Cologne (£114), Jersey (£123), and Trapani (£125).

Here are our top bucket list holidays you should go on this year.

And these are some 2026 travel hacks to save you money this year.

WHAT do a former Tory councillor from Kent and a Wimbledon-supporting socialist have in common?

They are both sharing a beer with me on my “solos” group tour of Portugal.

And the three of us are talking over the day’s activities with a Trump fan from the east coast of America.

Luckily, politics is off the menu.

Very much on the menu, however, is sardines, salted cod and the country’s speciality egg yolk pastries. But more on them later.

We are part of a 26-strong group on a dash around the southwestern-most territory of Europe, which is packed with old-world charm.

SWISS GRAND TOUR

I went on Europe’s ‘Route 66’ with 46 attractions and beautiful beaches

TEMPTED?

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Our adventure, organised by solo tour specialist Just You, starts in Porto, where the steep hills that rise up from the River Douro are dotted higgledy-piggledy with colourful houses.

Author JK Rowling lived among the granite streets here before she was famous — and it is said the city’s gothic architecture, along with the traditional robes of its university students, inspired her world of Harry Potter.

At least one establishment, bookshop Livraria Lello, cashes in on the fact, charging entrance fees to see its elaborate interior and upstairs cafe where Rowling would drink her coffee.

Talking of elaborate, it doesn’t get much more so than the “Gold Church”, real name the Church of St Francis.

Designated a Unesco World Heritage site, its interior is dripping with carved wood covered in gold leaf, with the precious metal having been shipped over from Portugal’s former colony of Brazil.

It’s certainly dazzling, as is a trip down the Douro River to the vineyards, which supply grapes for that most Porto of products . . . port.

Can you get more Portuguese? Well, actually, my guide informs me that, historically, it was mostly grown here by the British.

The two countries have long been allies, with many Englishmen living in Portugal in the 1600s.

Back home in those days, the English liked wine but were always at war with the pesky French, meaning booze cruises across the Channel were often a no-no.

Instead, they turned to north Portugal and the Douro Valley to grow their own.

It will come as no surprise then that many of the port brands bear English names.

These include Taylor’s, Cockburn’s and Sandeman, and you can see lots of them emblazoned on the wine cellars that fill the hills of the city of Gaia, which is just across the narrow river from Porto.

By the way, white port (yes, that’s a thing) is tipped to be the next big thing in the cocktail market.

After time in Porto, Gaia and the Douro Valley, day four of my eight-day trip sees the group begin to wind south to capital Lisbon, but not before stops at Aveiro, Coimbra and Obidos.

Let’s take them one by one. Aveiro is marketed as the “Venice of Portugal”. OK, it has some canals, but a trip on a large, electric gondola just doesn’t feel as romantic.

A fellow traveller did remark on its Art Deco beauty, though.

Coimbra could maybe be the Oxford of Portugal, boasting the country’s oldest university, which dates back to 1290. Bats live in its library to eat book-destroying bugs.

A guided tour of the city, which was once the capital, will take you into the grand university building, which sits among former church schools in a street that was the widest in Europe until the 1800s.

You will also likely hear the story of Don Pedro and Donna Ines. I heard it twice and am still a little hazy on the details.

Based on truth, it is Portugal’s Romeo And Juliet tale, which involves the 14th-century prince Pedro digging up the five-year-dead corpse of his mistress Ines.

He then crowned her queen and made his courtiers kiss her hand. The things we do for love.

The walled city of Obidos continues with the historic buildings. Perched on a hilltop, the medieval settlement is completely enclosed by its fortifications. And its small size makes its stunning streets very manageable to navigate.

While there, it’s worth trying its cherry liqueur, called ginjinha, which is served in chocolate cups that you can eat afterwards.

The final days of the tour were spent in Lisbon, a city built on seven hills.

This may make exploring its small streets a challenge, but you can always hop on and off the quaint yellow trams.

The downtown area and main squares are flat enough and filled with impressive buildings despite the earthquake that devastated the area in 1755. A couple of miles out from the centre lies the Belem district.

Its Belem Tower is a small, picturesque fort which marks the transition from tall forts (for shooting arrows) to horizontal ones (for hosting canons).

And it does this by combining both aspects of those designs as it juts prettily into the Tagus river.

Thirty minutes drive from the capital lies Sintra, another Unesco World Heritage Site. With its microclimate making it cooler and wetter than Lisbon, it stays green all year round.

It also plays host to colourful palaces where past royalty would spend their summers hunting.

I’m sure they feasted well, too. And I didn’t do badly on that front, either.
The Portuguese say they have 365 different recipes for cod (one for each day of the year).

It is often dried and salted, which they call bacalhau. I had bacalhau covered with onions and accompanied by wafer-thin fried potatoes.

Another national delicacy is pastel de nata, an egg custard tart pastry, often dusted with cinnamon.

Grabbing one with a coffee will only set you back a couple of euros for both the treat and the drink.

It’s the sort of thing you can do to while away the hours with new-found friends from the group of initial strangers on the tour.

Which, arguably, is the key factor of the holiday’s success. Do you like your travel companions? Are you cut out for solo travel?

Cards on the table, this was my first solos tour. I met people I liked and no one I disliked. Ages ranged from 40 to 95, though 85 per cent were retired.

Lots I spoke to had been using solo tour companies for many, many years.

For some it was their first time.

If you haven’t tried it before, all I can say is: You might like it, you might love it.

But you only live once (unless you’re Donna Ines) . . . and Portugal is well worth a visit.

Unrest reported in several locations around the country.