John Bills

For most of us, getaways mean sun. Not many dream of a life-affirming getaway in the fog, after all. Not only does the big guy in the sky provide the heat and light necessary for, y’know, our very existence – it also makes for good times, great photos (hello, golden hour) and lifelong memories in beautiful destinations worldwide. And although the sun is always shining somewhere, it shines that bit brighter (and longer) in certain places. With that in mind, we’ve tracked down the spots on every continent that get more sun than most. They say it’s always sunny in Philadelphia – but if you’re a true sun-seeker then you’re probably better off heading to these idyllic tropical islands, paradise-like beaches and mysterious deserts. And remember: there is no such thing as too much sunscreen.

So, you’re craving a trip to an Italian island, to feast on pasta and stroll through cobbled streets. Aren’t we all? But perhaps your bank account won’t allow it, or you accidentally used up all your annual leave. Hey, we get it. But if that is the case, we’ve got the perfect antidote. The beautiful village of Portmeirion, in Wales, brings Italy right to your door.  Celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamt up this marvellous marriage of Italian style and Welsh charm back in 1925, but it took many years to come together. Now, Portmeirion is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Wales (if not the UK), and it’s full of great stuff to do too. For everything from fishing village tours to ancient railways and perfect spots for a pint, check out our list of the best things to do in Portmeirion.  RECOMMENDED:🥾 The best places to visit in Wales📍 The best things to do in Wales🌳 The best places to visit in the UK

July 4 in Las Vegas? That is the stuff of partying dreams. It should be no surprise to hear that the world’s entertainment capital goes all-out over the holidays, with a conveyor belt of fireworks, parades, pool parties, and concerts on offer as Vegas proves itself as king once more. ‘Fireworks’ should be in block capitals, as the skies above Vegas light up in a display of pyrotechnics unlike any other. Find a spot to watch and let the aesthetic explosions do the rest. The best things to do in Las Vegas over the July 4 weekend tick every box. Extravagant nightlife and ostentatious entertainment are the norm here. However, there is something for everyone, as long as the ‘everyone’ in question is okay with crowds. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, although these memories will last a lifetime. A contradiction, sure, but that’s Vegas for you.

The summer solstice is here – in the northern hemisphere, anyway. The solstice falls between June 20 and 22 each year, but is traditionally celebrated on June 21. Also known as midsummer, summer solstice marks the time when the Earth is most tilted towards the sun, making it the longest day of the year. And since the sun is responsible for all life on Earth as we know it (no biggie), the solstice celebrations around the northern half of the globe are justified and then some. There are plenty of ways to celebrate summer solstice: the destinations where June 21 is a big deal embrace pagan rituals, the magic of light, and everything from mountain-top bonfires to candyfloss. Set those clocks (or sundials) and get ready for something marvellous. And to the good people of the southern hemisphere: don’t fret, there are only six months to go until it’s your day in the sun. RECOMMENDED: ☀️ The best places to celebrate the summer solstice in the UK

Want to make 2023 the year you travel somewhere new? Well, we’ve got some pretty spectacular suggestions for you. We asked our global network of travel writers and editors to tell us what they think is the world’s most overlooked travel destination. The resulting list spans everything from tiny islands and seaside towns to massive lakes and whole countries – and makes for some serious travel inspo.  What, exactly, makes a destination underrated? Are we talking about places that don’t regularly appear on top travel lists? Places that don’t get their fair share of tourism? Places that are legitimate hidden gems, off-the-tourist-trail, or offer great (or quiet) alternatives to popular spots in the same region? The destinations on this list fall into at least one of those categories. From Bali’s overlooked neighbour to an untouched area of natural beauty in Zimbabwe, these are the world’s most underrated places to travel to this year. RECOMMENDED:🏰 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe💘 The most romantic places in the world🌈 The most colourful places in the world

Let’s face it, the Belgian coast’s only city is probably not somewhere you’ve dreamed of visiting. But like, say, Antwerp (equally underrated, though much, much smaller), Ostend is a very real, authentic port with a fascinating and chequered history. Take the seafront: bombed to bits in World War II, it’s now a mishmash of juxtaposing styles. Don’t miss the gabled Belle Époque-era townhouses, curved-glass 1950s Casino and King Leopold II’s former villa, with its ’gram-worthy marble-tiled porticoed arcade. Oh, and if you reckon the beach will be rubbish, think again: the widest of promenades is fringed by a line of seasonal bars – all palm trees and Ibizan loungers – curling around an epic sandy bay. How to commute all of this? Do as the Belgians do and take your pick from electric bikes and quirky tandems to pedal-driven go-carts for two.  RECOMMENDED: 🇧🇪 The best things to do in Belgium💐 The best things to do in Brussels🍻 The best things to do in Bruges

To coin a phrase that the kids may or may not use these days, Toronto is happenin’. Canada’s most populous city is jam-packed with magnificent goings on, and the best things to do in Toronto celebrate what makes travel so wonderful. You’ll find everything from film festivals to food extravaganzas via marvellous museums, engaging galleries, and heartbreaking game seven losses. Come on, Leafs, please, this year?Toronto thrives on all fronts. The foodie scene is fantastic, accentuated by some of the best craft beers in North America. The city is ringed by incredible nature, and some of the most famous waterfalls in the world happen to be a short drive away. Get ready to fall in love with The 6ix. RECOMMENDED:🍽️ The best restaurants in Toronto🥑 Where to eat the best brunch in Toronto🍷 The best bars in Toronto🖼️ The best attractions in Toronto🏨 The best hotels in Toronto

Phoenix has come a long way from its founding in 1881. Rapid development has been the name of the game here for a long while, but the changes in the Valley of the Sun continue to confound expectations. A city shouldn’t thrive here but thrive it does, and the best things to do in Phoenix are a thrilling ride through everything that makes Arizona amazing.Summers can be brutal, there is no getting away from that, but Phoenix knows how to stay cool. You can take that however you like, be it culturally or in terms of literal temperature, and the city is packed with fascinating indoor activities and nightlife that sizzles. Yeah, the heat puns are unavoidable. There is nowhere quite like Phoenix; long may it reign. RECOMMENDED:  🎡 The best attractions in Phoenix🍽️ The best restaurants in Phoenix 

Orlando is a city of thrills, and we aren’t just talking about the rollercoasters. Theme parks understandably take top billing in the City Beautiful, but there is more to this place than being hurled around the tracks at alarming speeds or rubbing elbows with Mickey and Minnie. The best things to do in Orlando will have foodies salivating, nature lovers in raptures, and culture vultures circling. In less flowery language, that means brilliant restaurants, gorgeous gardens, and fascinating museums. Temperatures can hit sweltering highs here in summer, and it can be tempting to spend all day in the pool, and there is nothing wrong with that. There are some fabulous water parks here, after all. Orlando is packed with adventure and excitement, with relaxation around the corner if a deeper breath is required. These are the best things to do in Orlando, Florida. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in OrlandoRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Orlando

Okay, there are so many magnificent things to do in San Francisco that leaving might seem strange, but stay with us here. Sometimes, a little excursion out of the city is just what the doctor ordered, and the best day trips from San Francisco are medicine for the soul. When you need a break from the bars, beaches, and restaurants of the Golden City (you might, you never know), hit the road and embrace all that Northern California has to offer. And what an offer it is. Everything from fascinating towns to incredible nature is just a short drive away. You might find your new favorite cafe or a love of wildflowers in the process. San Francisco is one of the world’s great cities, and its surroundings only accentuate the magic. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in the Bay Area

Dust off those boots; it is time to go walking. The San Francisco Bay Area is known for its fantastic hiking, and there are few better places to go for a long amble than this breathtaking corner of the world. The best places to hike in the Bay Area run the range, from the hushed quiet of redwood forests to exhilarating jaunts across the incredibly windy Golden Gate Bridge and more.Lovers of wildflowers will find plenty to admire, while amateur hikers will be able to get the heart pumping without the occasional futility that difficult hikes can inspire. No such fear here; the best hikes in the Bay Area offer something for every skill level, with views to boot. RECOMMENDED: The best wildflower hikes in the Bay Area

Tradition and transformation collide with dizzying results in stunning Sacramento, where a revitalized downtown core sits snugly within an area of beautiful nature that will take your breath away. Well, give you fresh breath, although the excitement downtown might take care of the breath removal part of that, but you get what we’re trying to say. This place is brilliant, and the best things to do in Sacramento are proof. The City of Trees is the capital of the world’s seventh-largest economy, and that sums up Sacramento. Innovative museums and galleries are the norm, while organic farmers markets and fabulous restaurants keep the place buzzing. Take it away, Sacramento. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Sacramento  

¿Dónde estaríamos sin el transporte público? Nuestro mundo está cada vez más dominado por ciudades que crecen día a día, y cada vez más está más claro de que el tráfico de automóviles en constante aumento es una mala noticia para nosotros y para el planeta. En este contexto, los trenes, autobuses y tranvías son los héroes anónimos que, literalmente, podrían salvar el mundo. Está claro que un autobús abarrotado en hora punta no es exactamente la experiencia de un viaje de ensueño. Pero cuando se trata de explorar alguna de las mejores ciudades del mundo, no hay mejor forma que coger un tren y descubrirla a través de los ojos de quienes las habitan. Y algunas de las mejores redes de transporte público del mundo funcionan incluso como una experiencia cultural en sí misma, con diseños y calidades sublimes. Para identificar las ciudades con mejor transporte público, encuestamos a más de 20.000 habitantes de 50 ciudades de todo el mundo. Simplemente preguntamos: ¿es fácil moverse por tu ciudad en transporte público? Y en las ciudades que se muestran a continuación, al menos cuatro de cada cinco habitantes tenían cosas buenas que decir sobre la red de transporte público de su ciudad.  Madrid, en el puesto número 12  La clasificación la encabeza Berlín, con un 97% de los encuestados satisfechos con su red de transporte público. A la capital alemana le sigue Praga y Tokio, con un 96% y un 94% de satisfacción respectivamente.  Para encontrar una ciudad española tenemos que bajar hasta

After years of working to meet requirements, Bosnia and Herzegovina is finally on the highway to EU membership. The European Commission has granted candidate status for the country – and the skies over Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and the rest shine a little brighter (though the autumn weather might also have something to do with that).  What does that mean for travellers? Good things, hopefully. Having lived here on and off for the last 13 years, I’ve heard the term ‘undiscovered gem’ get drilled deep into the ground – but I’m more than happy to say that Bosnia and Herzegovina might just be the most underrated travel destination in Europe. EU status would likely bring improvements to infrastructure, road and air connections and the rest, while the possibility of Schengen status has clear benefits for friction-free border crossings. We’ll wait and see what happens, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism, both for Bosnians and travellers. So why should you be excited? Because Bosnia and Herzegovina is a stunning conveyor belt of beauty packed with history, culture, great food and great people. Sarajevo teems with history, while the Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar is one of the most impressive bridges on the planet; the nightlife in Banja Luka goes all night long, while the streets of Tuzla, Trebinje and Bihać are packed with charming cafes and romantic restaurants. On the subject of the latter, you haven’t eaten grilled meat until you’ve done so in Travnik, with the el