International Traveller

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The luxurious Langham brand is set to arrive in the Italian city ofVenice with the opening of The Langham,Venice.The 138-room property will be housed in the former Casino Mocenigo, which dates back to the early 1600s, located on theVenetian Lagoon on

The frozen tundra of the Canadian Arctic is a true land of myth and lore. Hardy explorers once faced the most challenging conditions in their quest to chart new shipping routes through the ice-choked waters. The story of the Northwest Passage and its

Half-timbered town in cornfields and vineyards near Zurich, topped by a castle with manicured gardens. Charming, Belle Époque resort town on a lake in the Jura Mountains embraced by orchard-covered hills. A farming village on Lake Lucerne. Thin

The core Grand Tour route runs 1643 kilometres. Budget seven days minimum, more for a leisurely pace with time for sightseeing and hiking. Otherwise, consider a regional section. Zürich, Geneva or Basel are the most convenient starting points. grandt

Dreaming of a tropical holiday filled with secluded beaches, quaint villages and coral reefs teeming with vibrant fish? Beyond Bali, a collection of destinations across Indonesia – largely undiscovered by Australians – await, each one more staggering

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• A must-visit is Lara Djonggrang Restaurant, based on a centuries-old legend that surrounds the Candi Prambanan temple in Central Java. The food is like a local, very authentic encyclopedia of cuisine of the archipelago, it is designed to change vis

For independently minded travellers wanting to explore lesser-known local neighbourhoods, the Tai Seng/ MacPherson estate is a treasure trove of hidden gems. Once a vibrant kampung (local village) area rife with gang wars and an industrial estate, Ta

Tek Sen – Local heritage home-cooked-style Chinese cuisine. Chulia Street Night Hawker – An introduction to local street food that Penang is known for. Red Garden Food Paradise – One of the last remaining food courts with entertainment offering

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE REASON PEOPLE SHOULD VISIT BANGKOK? You can find almost anything you want in Bangkok. There’s a huge mix of cultures, people and food. It’s also a city that stays awake 24 hours a day: you can eat anywhere, anytime, whether from

Jing Jai Market – The market concentrates on handmade products and organic foods, opening from 6am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. Forest Bake – With fresh bakes daily, it serves 90 per cent handmade produce using natural wild yeast and real butter

WHAT’S THE PERFECT WAY TO START THE DAY IN HO CHI MINH CITY, COMMONLY KNOWN BY ITS FORMER NAME, SAIGON? My perfect morning starts with a bowl of pho bò (beef) at Pho Minh while listening to the birds sing. A true Saigon experience is having a genuine

The biggest island in El Nido bay. While everyone wants to see the [area’s] lagoons and most popular beaches, Cadlao has empty beaches, swimming caves and thick jungle, and is the closest to town, even reachable by kayak. A one-hour drive from El Nid

WHAT IS THE ONE THING PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HONG KONG WHEN THEY ARRIVE? Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps or never stops, it is filled with energy and there is always something to do, to see, to eat and to drink in this city. HONG KONG HAS ONE

During the last few years, Nanluoguxiang has undergone a fusion of East and West. The main street is a cornucopia of food stalls and small thrift shops ideal for souvenir shopping; bars, cafes and live music venues fill the gaps. An unhurried afterno

WHAT IS THE NO. 1 FOOD YOU WOULD ENCOURAGE SOMEONE VISITING MACAU TO TRY? I am first-generation Macanese: my dad is Portuguese and my mum is Chinese. Bacalhau (cod fish cakes) are a must-try Macau snack and my dad’s are the best. Dad’s restaurant, Ma

BEING AN ARTIST, CAN YOU TELL US THE BEST GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS TO VISIT IN SOUTH KOREA? In Eastern countries, ceramics are the foundation of art. As such, in order to see the essence of Eastern countries and Korean culture, I would like to recommend

Located at Ōgimi Village, you can learn about bashō-fu, a beautiful textile made from banana fibre, originating from Okinawa and recognised as an important intangible folk cultural property by the Japanese government. You can visit the Bashō-fu Hall

Yakushima is a lush and mountainous rainforest island with many rivers flowing out from its centre. It is a nature lover’s paradise and an escape from crowded cities. Giant, hundreds-of-years-old trees can be found in the dense, wet rainforests of th

WHAT MAKES TOKYO ONE OF THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD? Tokyo has its own role at each station. For example, Jimbocho is a city of books, Ginza is a city of rich people, Harajuku is a city of young people, and Sugamo is a city of old people. I’m sure t

The hidden Kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas is a perfect safe haven for first travellers, with one of the most successful COVID-19 responses in the world. See Mount Everest as you fly into this ancient kingdom, hike through mystical valleys where f

WHAT MAKES KERALA SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO SURF? There are a few things that make Kerala great for surfing. The first and most obvious is the waves can be really good! But other than that, the surf culture has grown in a really interesting way that’s un

I’ve long believed what separates Shiraz architecture from Iran’s other cities is that the buildings are designed to be more spacious and taller; we like to have a bigger sky in our courtyard. My favourite sites to take people to in Shiraz are Hafez

WHAT WERE YOUR INSPIRATIONS FOR THE INTERIOR SPACES AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF QATAR? The interior design concept ‘desert-scapes’ was carefully curated to create a local cultural experience for visitors, while being complementary to Jean Nouvel’s arch

INCLUDING LOUVRE ABU DHABI (OF COURSE), WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO GO TO EXPERIENCE ART IN ABU DHABI? There is a fantastic exhibition centre, Manarat Al Saadiyat, just five minutes from Louvre Abu Dhabi which in addition to showcasing some great sh

The United Arab Emirates may be a young country, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its founding in 2021, but that doesn’t mean there’s no history to be found here. Sitting quietly and understatedly in the heart of Dubai is the newly opened Jumeirah A

WHY VISIT? Muscat is a serene and beautiful capital nestled between the sea and the mountains, with a strict sense of traditional architecture; it has very little of the big-city vibe. The colours are fabulous: blue for the sea and sky, white for the

To say that 2020 has shaken the city of Beirut would be an understatement. No doubt, this Levantine jewel has had its share of uncertainty and drama, yet nothing can deter the spirit of the eternally vibrant Lebanese capital, which should be more tha

JORDAN’S CAPITAL CITY AMMAN IS A FASCINATING AND ANCIENT CITY – YET PERHAPS TRAVELLERS DON’T SPEND AS MUCH TIME HERE AS THEY COULD BECAUSE THEY CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO PETRA AND WADI RUM! HOW LONG WOULD YOU RECOMMEND VISITORS SPEND HERE AND WHAT DO YOU

Flying into Tel Aviv, the flight-path video playing on my personal screen resembles a map of global hot spots: the Syrian cities of Aleppo, Homs and Damascus are to my left; Gaza City to my right while Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the holy city of Hebron

The NORMAN TEL AVIV is located on King Albert Square in the heart of the city centre. thenorman.com ABERCROMBIE & KENT ’s 11-day Classic Israel private journey takes in the major highlights of the country including Tel Aviv, staying at The Norman an

WHAT LOCAL DISHES ARE A MUST-TRY IN NAIROBI? The wide range of dishes on offer at Mama Oliech’s, on Marcus Garvey Road, reflects the diversity of Kenyan people. Don’t miss the tilapia with ugali. Njuguna’s, on Waiyaki Way, is the place to go for nyam

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE ULTIMATE REASON PEOPLE SHOULD VISIT NAMIBIA? Namibia is a beautiful country. It is very peaceful and welcoming and people are friendly and always willing to assist. When travelling using the desert highways you will enco

One of Marrakesh’s best-kept culinary secrets is its street food. The weaving alleys of the medina are dotted with vibrant local establishments, serving rich and flavoursome dishes that out-do the food found in most restaurants. This is where you wil

There’s nothing that hurts my heart quite like the traveller who thinks they can see Istanbul in three days. It’s just not based in reality, and you are in danger of missing the really good stuff. My recommendation? Spend your three days on attractio

In Bar, Budva, Kotor and Herceg Novi there are old towns that represent a great fusion of history and culture, tradition and spirituality, past and modern times. You will fall in love with narrow, small streets (crowded with tourists during summers).

This gem of a neighbourhood, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited in the world. Richly filled with grace, ancient marvels and 19th-century neoclassical mansions, Plaka, known a

Atlantis Books – It’s an amazing little bookstore located on the main marble street of Oia. Some quite rare pieces of literature in several languages are available. Castle of Oia – Strategically built on Oia’s most elevated position, the historic

There is no better way to explore [Losinj and its neighbouring islands] than by sailing. Approaching the islands by sea and sailing into their coves – from the large, protected and well-known gems to the small, hidden coves and secluded beaches – is

Perhaps the finest thing a hotel can do for its guests is to offer an insider’s portal into the local culture. Casa Burano goes one step further. It eschews the concept of one physical building, creating instead a decentralised hotel fashioned from f

Take the ACTV vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove (F.te Nove), a 15-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, to Burano. Feast on sustainably caught fish that local fishermen deliver right to the kitchen door at TRATTORIA AL GATTO NERO . gattonero.com E

Immerse yourself in a true earthly paradise by enjoying a combined sea and land experience; the Amalfi Coast is a place that makes your travel a lived dream destined to last forever. The private cruise begins at golden hour on the sparkling waters, e

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE REASON PEOPLE SHOULD VISIT MALTA? For more than a quarter of a millennium the most aristocratic families of Europe sent their sons to Malta to join the Knights of Malta. On an island that is only 17 by nine miles [27 by 14 kilome

Whether you’re interested in viewing art or looking to buy, my number one rule for those visiting Paris is to walk a lot, and walk in different neighbourhoods. This way you get a feel for the city, but by looking and observing, you get a better sense

The day is bright and warm. I checked the weather forecast and the temperature will not drop from 24 degrees. I wear my sneakers, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and I am ready to go. The Salamanca district, the most sophisticated area in the city and

HOW DOES THE CENTRE POMPIDOU MÁLAGA REFLECT THE CULTURAL RENAISSANCE THAT THE CITY HAS UNDERGONE IN RECENT YEARS? The city of Málaga already had an important cultural and museum offering, but the opening in 2015 of both the Centre Pompidou [pictured

ART EXPERIENCE: Launched by New York City art collector Lio Malca, La Nave is a small but amazing gallery in the former salt storehouse next to Ses Salines beach. FARM-TO-TABLE RITUAL: For an authentic Ibizan experience, the farming rituals at La Gra

No trip to Lisbon is complete without trying a pastel de nata (or 10). Known outside of Portugal as the Portuguese tart, this sweet treat has a long history, having originated some 300 years ago at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jerónimos Monastery

WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT IN THE CITY? Believe it or not, my favourite thing in Nuremberg is this local falafel stand call Sindbad (sic) in the main square. There’s always a line. It’s the best in the city because the wrap (bread) itself i

What most visitors to Vienna don’t know is that the city has very small-structure sustainable urban agriculture here and you can visit many of these farms and talk direct to the farmers. Visitors can design their own urban farm trail and visit the wi

1. ROOM My preferred room is number 45, ‘Puccini’, a little duplex suite with a magical view of Lech, a peaceful and dreamy bedroom on the second floor. I sleep excellently in this room. All suites at Kristiania Lech talk about the ‘Grand Tour’ of th

What makes W Amsterdam different from other hotels in Amsterdam is that we are not afraid to colour outside the lines. We try to be not only a hotel, but also a place to inspire locals, entrepreneurs, artists and people who want to inspire one anothe

When it comes to green living, Copenhagen has moved beyond cycling and recycling to reconceptualise how modern cities can function. This eco-aware route is, of course, best explored on a bike – just like a local. The well-marked separate cycle lanes

Ureddplassen is a place for a short break, a nice rest or picnic, and for long nights with the midnight sun or Northern Lights. The wave-shaped toilet building with glass walls is beautifully lit in the dark [pictured top]. The elegant viewing platfo

If you only have a day or two to spend in Helsinki, then the best public saunas to visit are probably Allas Sea Pool [pictured above] right near the main port (not such a secret!) or Löyly Helsinki [bottom right], a short walk from the design distric

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TRAVELLERS WANTING TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR VISIT TO THE HERMITAGE – ONE OF THE LARGEST MUSEUMS IN THE WORLD? The Hermitage is [effectively] a big movement in a circle; before your visit to the museum you need to decide