Dinah Gardner

It’s been a rough few years for the world at large – but in many ways, a fantastic one for neighbourhoods. Although we haven’t been able to travel the world as freely as we once did, billions of us have been spending more time than ever closer to home. And in many of the world’s greatest cities, the result has been a full-blown neighbourhood renaissance. It’s true that much-loved local shops, restaurants, bars and creative spaces have, sadly, shuttered for good. But there’s also been a whole wave of new businesses opening, driven not just by increased footfall outside city centres, but also by the ‘great resignation’. City-dwellers have quit their corporate jobs to finally follow their joy, whether it’s opening that corner café or much-needed local LGBTQ+ bar, or just spending more time living slowly and spending more time (and money) in their local area. At the same time, local officials the world over have been re-establishing their neighbourhoods as places for people. In some cases that’s meant overhauling street space: less driving, more walking, cycling and hanging out. In others, it’s meant tackling problems like overtourism, inequality and air pollution. All of this has led to districts looking very different than they did just a few years ago – and becoming better places for locals and travellers alike. RECOMMENDED: The 33 coolest streets in the world Every year, we canvas thousands of city-dwellers around the world in our Time Out Index survey. As always, this year

Ens agradaria que el 2022 fos l'any de la tornada definitiva a la normalitat i per això hem demanat als nostres editors d'arreu del planeta que ens presentin algunes de les noves meravelles que es podran visitar enguany als seus països i ciutats. Uns quants nous motius per viatjar a destinacions com París, Nova York, Lisboa, els Països Baixos, el Japó, Taiwan i Egipte: nous museus i teatres, una exposició floral que té lloc només un cop cada deu anys, un nou parc temàtic basat en els personatges de Miyazaki i una experiència sísmica a Lisboa. Tremolem d'emoció. NO T'HO PERDIS: Els pobles més bonics de Catalunya

Nos gustaría que el 2022 fuese el año del regreso definitivo a la normalidad y por eso hemos pedido a nuestros editores de todo el planeta que nos presenten algunas de las nuevas maravillas que se podrán visitar este año en sus países y ciudades. Varios nuevos motivos para viajar a destinos como París, Nueva York, Lisboa, Países Bajos, Japón, Taiwán y Egipto: nuevos museos y teatros, una exposición floral que tiene lugar solo una vez cada diez años, un nuevo parque temático basado en los personajes de Miyazaki y una experiencia sísmica en Lisboa. Temblamos de emoción. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Alojamientos insólitos en Cataluña

Teletrabalho obrigatório. Escolas encerradas. E nós a pensar em viagens. Claro – vale tudo para não desanimar. E em 2022 não vão faltar razões para dar a volta ao mundo. Aberturas de museus impressionantes, exposições campeãs de likes nas redes sociais, peças de teatro imersivas, festivais de música e até um parque temático de Game of Thrones: todas são óptimas desculpas para apanhar um avião e conhecer uma nova cidade ou revisitar um sítio onde fomos felizes. Seleccionámos 22 destinos e coisas para descobrir em 2022, um género de bucket list do ano novo, em tom de esperança no que aí vem. Recomendado: Precisa de ajuda para cumprir as suas resoluções de ano novo? Aqui vai  

What’s the deal with Zhongshan? The swirl of lanes caught in the crosshatch of main streets ringing Zhongshan MRT is Taipei’s most fascinating district. It’s a wonderful mish-mash of handsome brick buildings, mammoth shopping malls and secret alleyways stuffed with cafés, vintage clothing stores, corner temples and funky restaurants. On one side of the road, you have luxury branded shops and five star hotels, while on the other street hawkers peddle egg cakes and cheap summer dresses. You can switch tempo just by turning a corner: the back lanes are always green and mellow, flush with flowers in window boxes, while the high streets throng with shoppers. Zhongshan is also half-Japanese, for this is where you’ll find the highest concentration and the absolute tastiest Japanese food, whisky and cocktail bars in Taipei, and cutting-edge fashion in a string of shopping complexes. There’s history too in a smattering of heritage structures preserved and reworked into a dance studio, an art gallery, a cinema and a string of bite-sized bistros. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the 50 coolest neighbourhoods in the world If you only do one thing… Breathe in the seductive scents of cypress and fir at the Lin Tien Barrel Store, which has been handcrafting wooden pails, giant bathtubs, steamer baskets, rolling pins, ladles and cooking chopsticks since 1928. Mr Lin’s family business is a slice of real living history. Get cultured Light installation at Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei. Photograph