Can’t you almost taste it? Summer’s citrusy zing in May’s creeping warmth and brightening light. In 2021, scientists and politicians alike are optimistic that by spring, life will have returned to something close to normal – which would mean international travel is firmly possible again. Europe will be emerging into summer proper, everywhere from Tuscan hilltop towns to golden Grecian beaches – and, if you’re sustainably-minded, you can reach most of these dreamy destinations by train. And further afield, corners of Africa, the Caribbean and Canada will peak as well. So why wait a minute longer? It’s high time you hit the road.

  • 1. Munich, Germany1. MUNICH, GERMANYTemperature: 19°C high; 8°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 1 hour 50 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1Can’t wait until autumn to pull on the lederhosen? May in Munich brings Springfest (or Fruhlingfest), Oktoberfest’s little sister. Expect the same risky mix of fairground rides and beer-filled steins, but smaller and less lairy crowds. The city has its own version of hygge: ‘Gemütlichkeit’. Soak it up in one of the many twinkly pub gardens, or under the vaulted ceiling of a beer cellar. Enough hops? The sun is shining on river surfers riding the Eisbach wave in the Englischen Garten – a year-round swell best left to pros. It might just be warm enough for the park’s nude section to fill up, too; this is Germany, after all.Sustainable travel tip: Travelling from England to Munich by train is easy and fast. After arriving in Paris on the Eurostar, catch a TGV Duplex train direct to Munich, or via Stuttgart. Journey time from Paris is about six hours.GETTY IMAGES
  • 2. Brighton, United Kingdom2. BRIGHTON, UNITED KINGDOMTemperature: 14°C high; 10°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from London: 1 hour by train
      Time difference: GMT +0Kinky and quirky. Bohemian and burlesque. Brighton invented Britain’s seaside scene long before Margate started luring London creatives from their concrete cocoons. It’s still our coolest beach town – for proof, come in May. That’s when the Great Escape new music festival hits: what The Times calls Britain’s answer to SXSW, and Steve Lamacq claims is the music world’s Cannes. Expect a studiously obscure line-up you’re definitely not hip enough to have heard of (sample bands: Pyschedelic Porn Crumpets; Tropical F*** Storm). Also on in May is Brighton Fringe. As England’s biggest open-access arts festival, count on it to bring the weird. Plus, the sun should be peeking onto that pebble beach this time of year. Sorry, Kent Riviera: Brighton’s just better.Sustainable travel tip: Taste Brighton’s independent (and sustainable) spirit with Brighton Food Tours: itineraries focus solely on the city’s indie producers and vendors.The best restaurants in BrightonThe best restaurants in BrightonEATING & DRINKINGThe best restaurants in BrightonGETTY IMAGES
  • 3. Sicily, Italy3. SICILY, ITALYTemperature: 22°C high; 12°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 2 hours 55 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1The football at the toe of Italy’s boot, the Mediterranean’s largest island is a reliably sunny way to kick off an early summer. There’s scalded volcano country and fertile wine land, Greek temples and Roman ruins. You can wander the shady lanes of baroque hill towns such as Ragusa, then stroll sun-soaked plazas in the coastal city of Syracuse. Come May, the countryside blooms, and the water lapping the beaches is warm. Bring your towel with you when you go to lunch in the old fishing village of Porto Palo – Sicily’s prettiest secluded cove, Capparrina di Mare, is just a little further west.Sustainable travel tip: Cool fact: you can travel to Sicily by rail, aboard an InterCity train that gets loaded onto a ferry for the seafaring part of the journey. Arrive in Paris via Eurostar, then take the overnight Thello sleeper to Milan. From here, you can catch an InterCity sleeper service to several Sicilian destinations: Messina, Catania, Siracuse or Palermo (choosing Messina means you’ll disembark in time for lunch). Sound complicated? Railbookers can deal with the details.Sicily holiday ideas and best small hotelsThe best small and secret hotels in SicilySUMMER HOLIDAYSThe best small and secret hotels in SicilyGETTY IMAGES
  • 4. Memphis, USA4. MEMPHIS, USATemperature: 27°C high; 17°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 12 hours
      Time difference: GMT -6The Memphis in May Festival – a month of celebrations centred around the beloved preoccupations of blues and barbecue – brings an already party-loving city even more to life. Lately, this storied part of the American South has been gifted with a little extra sparkle, too: an expanded Graceland features an entire museum dedicated solely to Elvis’s cars; the new Mighty Lights of Hernando de Soto Bridge shine a nightly show over the Mississippi’s swell. Beale Street remains an essential destination: a neon strip of legendary blues clubs. And don’t leave without a taste of those famed baby-back ribs. With around 115 barbecue restaurants inside the city, there’s really no excuse.Sustainable travel tip: Memphis may not exactly be pedestrian-friendly, but, thanks to the recent development of more than 300 miles of bike lanes, there’s now a quick and clean way to navigate both downtown and the city’s wider sprawl. Explore Bike Share supplies the Memphis version of Boris bikes, accessed via an app.GETTY IMAGES
  • 5. Norwegian Fjords5. NORWEGIAN FJORDSTemperature: 16°C high; 6°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 2 hours 5 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1Cruising through the fjords is one way to do it – another is a monumental road trip, skimming cliff edges and winding through greening countryside, above blue water sparkling below. In May, wildflowers are flourishing and hiking trails are blissfully quiet; free not only of tourists, but also of summer’s irksome midges. Drive the Discovery Route from Bergen and catch spring’s blossoming apple trees at dramatic Hardangerfjord, then feel your stomach drop at the lip of flat-topped Pulpit Rock. Steady your nerves back in Bergen, where Scandi-red clapboard houses sit aside buzzy cocktail bars; No Stress prides itself on its house-made syrups and juices, and can be relied upon for a good-time throng.Sustainable travel tip: A couple of regions in the fjords are a certified ‘Sustainable Destination’: a national labelling scheme that rewards areas deemed to be systematically preserving local culture and environment. Lyngenfjord offers outdoor adventures, visits with the Sami people and locally reared and foraged food; Lysefjord, home of Pulpit Rock, has excellent hiking routes and restaurants focused on local produce. Heart set on a cruise? Nærøyfjord can be explored onboard electric ferry Future, or the hybrid vessel VisionNorway Fjords road tripNorway Fjords: Road trip along Scandinavia’s most dramatic coastlineROAD TRIPSNorway Fjords: Road trip along Scandinavia’s most dramatic coastlineGETTY IMAGES
  • 6. Bahamas, Caribbean6. BAHAMAS, CARIBBEANTemperature: 29°C high; 22°C low
    • Season: dry
      Travel time from UK: 12 hours
      Time difference: GMT -5Behold the Bahamian sweet spot: May. The winter hordes long gone, and spring-breakers freshly departed. Hurricane season doesn’t set in until June. Beaches relieved of rowdy crowds settle sedately in the sun. There’s nothing to do but stake out your patch on pristine Cabbage Beach (even quieter at the north end), take your pick of poolside lounge chairs, and pluck the fruits of Gladstone Road Farmers Market (open until the end of the month). You might even splash about with a sow at Pig Beach. But where to stay? On our 2019 Gold ListHarbour Island’s Bahama House is a chic little cottage on its own pink-tinged slice of paradise sands.Sustainable travel tip: Andros Island isn’t just an unspoiled slice of backcountry untroubled by cruise ships and high-rise hotels; it’s also home to Tiamo, an impressive eco-lodge with just 13 thatched bungalows fringed by white beach and thick palms. Tiamo runs on solar power, has composting toilets (though you wouldn’t know it to look at them), and employs staff from local communities who are trained as nature guides – take an informed boat tour through mangroves or explore caves and forests inland.Read our full review of Harbour Island, BahamasHarbour Island: old-school glamour in the BahamasCARIBBEANHarbour Island: old-school glamour in the BahamasGETTY IMAGES
  • 7. Catalonia, Spain7. CATALONIA, SPAINTemperature: 20°C high; 12°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 2 hours 15 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1There’s more to Catalonia than Barcelona – though May is an excellent time to explore the provincial capital, with hot days, clear skies and fewer folks ahead of the summer squeeze. Further north, Girona’s old quarter is medieval enough to have starred in Game of Thrones. Plus, it’s the site of the nation’s greatest dining experience: El Celler De Can Roca hasn’t been hailed the world’s best restaurant twice by chance. Then head down to the Costa Brava, not the resort-y part, but the section where stone-cut towns such as Peratallada and Pals pack honey-hued charm, and beach-side Begur’s Cuban-style mansions house gorgeous, independent hotels. From here, it’s a short, winding drive to Aiguablava, this Costa’s most perfect patch of sand, in a Caribbean-blue bay. In May, you might just find a vacancy, before it feels like the most coveted sunbathing spot in Spain.Sustainable travel tip: You can travel from London to Barcelona and Girona by train within a day. Once you’ve arrived in Paris on the Eurostar, board a high-speed TGV Duplex for Barcelona (about 7.5 hours) or Girona (seven hours).The best restaurants in Gracia and Eixample, BarcelonaBarcelona’s coolest foodie neighbourhood right nowEATING & DRINKINGBarcelona’s coolest foodie neighbourhood right nowGETTY IMAGES
  • 8. Botswana, Africa8. BOTSWANA, AFRICATemperature: 27°C high; 10°C low
    • Season: dry
      Travel time from UK: 13 hours
      Time difference: GMT +2The Okavango Delta hogs all the press, but Chobe National Park, in Botswana’s north-east corner, is every bit as captivating, especially in May. It’s the beginning of dry season, but just before high season, so camps aren’t too crowded, the weather is mild (around 25°C) and evaporating surface water drives large herds of animals to the Chobe River. Cruise past crocs and hippos on a boat safari, with a glass of chilled South African wine in hand. The park is also home to one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants. andBeyond’s Chobe Under Canvas provides a proper adventure, bringing you as close to nature as you might care to get.Sustainable travel tip: Most national parks and reserves in Botswana lease the land from local communities, generating royalties that are invested back into the community and into conservation. The country has also created an Eco-Certification System for tourism businesses (more here botswanatourism.co.bw), so check whether your operator and/or accommodation is meeting those standards.Botswana safari holidays in the Okavango DeltaBotswana: six incredible safari lodgesPLACES TO STAYBotswana: six incredible safari lodgesGETTY IMAGES
  • 9. Egypt, Africa9. EGYPT, AFRICATemperature: 34°C high; 24°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 4 hours 40 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +2Rebounding Egypt shows new confidence this year with the long-awaited opening of its $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum (after several delays, it’s slated to welcome visitors by the end of 2020). Just over a mile from the show-stopping Giza Pyramid Complex, the museum promises, among other things, a faithful reconstruction of Tutankhamun’s extravagantly ornamented tomb, featuring more than 5,000 original pieces. Though the country’s troubles have not vanished, the number of returning tourists has crept upwards enough to encourage other luxuries; the new Cairo St Regis is a chic high-rise hotel offering respite from street-level chaos. May might be the best time to see Egypt’s wonders without an accompanying rabble, before summer gets truly sweltering, but off-season enough to bag five-stars for less.Sustainable travel tip: Cruising down the Nile on your bucket list? Set sail on a traditional wooden felucca, a more sustainable option than the ubiquitous four-storey floating hotels, some of which are known to pollute the river with fuel and sewage.What to see in Aswan, EgyptAswan: the great divideWINTER SUNAswan: the great divideGETTY IMAGES
  • 10. Dublin, Ireland10. DUBLIN, IRELANDTemperature: 15°C high, 6°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 1 hour 25 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +0What, not for St Patrick’s Day? But Dublin isn’t all braying pub mobs. In May it makes room for brooding artistes. Its writerly sons Joyce, Yeats and Wilde all wandered these Georgian streets for inspiration, and May’s annual International Literature Festival honours the capital’s high-minded pedigree, with authors flying in from all over the globe to argue and provoke. Then embark on a literary pub crawl, and sip pints where Dublin’s greatest writers did so a century before. In May, there’ll be moderate weather, crowds and prices: a pleasant time to wander the Grand Canal, dine in restaurant/bookshop The Winding Stair, and take in the works of new Irish playwrights at the Abbey Theatre, originally co-founded by Yeats.Sustainable travel tip: Ferries sail daily from Liverpool and Holyhead to Dublin. Travel from Holyhead and you can buy ‘rail and sail’ tickets with both Irish Ferries and Stena Line, so you needn’t bother with a car at either end.Our insider guide to DublinAn insider’s guide to DublinCITY BREAKSAn insider’s guide to DublinGETTY IMAGES
  • 11. The Scottish Highlands11. THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDSTemperature: 13°C high; 7°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from London: 1 hour 30 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +0The Scottish Highlands are insanely beautiful year-round but in May they burst into life. The wildflowers and rhododendrons are brightfully blooming and the midges have not yet arrived to spoil the fun. There’s something gloriously untamed and forgotten about The Highlands – wonderfully grand country estates such as Ardtornish are still the norm, with reams of lochs and lakes for fishing or acres of land for tramping. There’s an abundance of romantic hidey-holes to forget about the rest of the world; and if you’re finding May still a little chilly, a trip to a whisky distillery will soon warm you up. All this, so tantalisingly close to home.Sustainable travel tip: Spend a night on the Caledonian Sleeper train and wake up in either outdoor adventure resort Aviemore, or the capital city of the Highlands, Inverness.Fishing and wilderness in the western HighlandsAn insider’s guide to ArdtornishAWAY FROM THE CITYAn insider’s guide to ArdtornishOLIVER PILCHER
  • 12. California, USA12. CALIFORNIA, USATemperature: 22°C high; 12°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 11 hours
      Time difference: GMT -8Come May we’re California-dreamin’ – of Yosemite National Park, cool and quirky San Francisco and shiny sparkly Los Angeles. If you harbour Jack Kerouac fantasies then take an all-American road trip through the state or along Big Sur. Conversely, the cities and towns of California are diverse and interesting enough individually to brave the long-haul flight for. San Francisco is the state capital of food and outdoor action (if not the actual state capital), while Los Angeles is a strange glittering town of health, wealth and youth, and San Diego is great for surfing. The smaller towns dotted along this sunny coast, such as Malibu and Palm Springs, are also charming enough to keep you occupied.Sustainable travel tip: Between tech giants and movie studios, California is overwhelmingly agricultural, and its status as the nation’s food basket means the majority of its trendy farm-to-table restaurants are the real deal. San Francisco, in particular, champions regional farms and producers all over its menus: avoid Downtown tourist traps and head for hot restaurants in hip ’hoods such as Cow Hollow and the Mission. Don’t miss the temple to local food at the Ferry Building’s covered market, either.Joshua Tree National Park, California: the ultimate guideWhere to find the magic in Joshua TreeINSIDER TIPSWhere to find the magic in Joshua TreeJACK JOHNS & OWEN TOZER
  • 13. Tuscany and Florence, Italy13. TUSCANY AND FLORENCE, ITALYTemperature: 23°C high; 12°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 2 hours 10 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1If you weren’t already head-over-heels in love with Italy, a trip to Tuscany will inevitably cast you into the deepest of adorations. The birthplace of the Italian language is crammed full of UNESCO world heritage sights, medieval country houses and ancient cities. This region isn’t just a living, breathing museum though, it is also famed for its Chianti growing vines, rolling Tuscan hills, the crazily cute Cinque Terre and coastal region The MaremmaFlorence, the capital, is great for a bank holiday weekend, warm enough to stroll in a sundress and devour gelato, but before the city becomes stuffy and overrun by organised tourist groups.Sustainable travel tip: You can reach Florence by train, with a night in Milan for good measure. After arriving in Paris via Eurostar, catch a high-speed TGV train to Italy’s fashion capital (journey time: about seven hours). Next morning, a high-speed Frecciarossa train zips you to Florence in just a couple of hours.Things to do in Florence, ItalyThe best of Florence, ItalyCITY BREAKSThe best of Florence, Italy
  • 14. Dodecanese Islands, Greece14. DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECETemperature: 23°C high; 17°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 4 hours 15 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +2Think of the Greek Islands and think of whitewashed stone villages illuminated against the blue Aegean, ancient ruins and tiny little fishing villages. The Dodecanese islands, a chain of 12 larger islands (Rhodes is the best known of them) and lots of little ones, are all these clichés and more. For a real taste of Greek life, the volcanic island of Nisyros is wonderfully welcoming and a haven for artists. Symi, half an hour from the Turkish coast, has Michelin stars and is glamorously old school, Kastellorizo inspired the likes of Pink Floyd and Patmos has incredible Byzantine architecture, or if you can’t settle on one, go island hopping on the Calypso.Sustainable travel tip: Reaching Rhodes without boarding a plane is possible, but you’ll need to be dedicated. Probably the simplest way is to take the Eurostar to Paris, followed by a TGV to Munich (seven hours), and from here the overnight Lisinski sleeper train to Zagreb. Next day, take a train to Belgrade (seven hours), and spend a night and day in the Serbian capital. An overnight train will then take you to Thessaloniki, from where you can enjoy a very scenic journey on an InterCity train to Athens (four hours). Finally, an overnight ferry sails you to Rhodes. Now, here’s the catch: the sleeper to Thessaloniki only operates mid-June to mid-September. See the brilliant Seat61.com for an alternative route that involves a second ferry and more train changes.Our guide to Nisyros, Dodecanese, GreeceNisyros: the cutest Greek island you’ve never heard ofDESTINATIONSNisyros: the cutest Greek island you’ve never heard ofGETTY IMAGES
  • 15. Tel Aviv, Israel15. TEL AVIV, ISRAELTemperature: 24°C high; 17°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 4 hours 55 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +2A beach holiday and city break – Tel Aviv has the best of both worlds. Its outdoor-loving locals come alive in May, when everything spills outdoors and beautiful young people hit the beaches and restaurant terraces for the most superlative food and lively arts and social scenes. Those seeking history and culture should head to Jaffa, the old part of the city where hip boutiques are springing up in its ancient stone walls.Sustainable travel tip: Water shortages are an ongoing problem in Israel, so be mindful: take showers rather than baths, don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth, and consider staying at an independent hotel or B&B over a water-guzzling resort.The Jaffa hotel Tel Aviv reviewThe Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s modern-meets-medieval hotelPLACES TO STAYThe Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s modern-meets-medieval hotelANA LUI
  • 16. Istanbul, Turkey16. ISTANBUL, TURKEYTemperature: 22°C high; 13°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 3 hours 45 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +3Before Turkey’s blazing summer heat sets in, head to Istanbul for an easy and accessible city break from the UK. The city is a glorious mish-mash of European and Asian culture – buzzing bazaars filled with keen-to-haggle hawkers selling trinkets sit next to contemporary art galleries. Sunrise calls to prayer from glittering mosques intertwine with the sound of electronic music from boat nightclubs floating on the Bosphorus. There are countless palatial hotels to stay in; or considerSoho House‘s Istanbul outpost, a little haven in this electrifying city.Sustainable travel tip: Yes, you absolutely can travel to Istanbul by train, though it’ll take you a good four days. The route, however, is a fascinating one, in parts retracing the journey the Orient Express made back in the 1920s. Arrive in Paris on the Eurostar, then take a TGV Duplex to Munich (6.5 hours), and from here the overnight Lisinski sleeper train to Zagreb. Next day, take a train to Belgrade (seven hours), and spend the night there before travelling onwards to Sofia (11.5 hours, summer service runs direct until mid September). Explore the Bulgarian capital before the final leg, an overnight sojourn aboard the Sofia-Istanbul Express.Read our exclusive review of Soho House IstanbulExclusive review: Soho House IstanbulPLACES TO STAYExclusive review: Soho House IstanbulGETTY IMAGES
  • 17. Vancouver Island17. VANCOUVER ISLANDTemperature: 17°C high; 10°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 9 hours 15 minutes
      Time difference: GMT -8In amongst the knotted tangle of Vancouver Island‘s evergreen forest, it’s easy to forget that this is supposedly the most populated island in North America. Mother Nature is still queen, with bears (grizzly and black) roaming the interior and excellent whale-watching off the coast. Even if you’re not barmy about wildlife, this island is one big playground. Daredevils can throw themselves down whitewater rapids, paraglide from peaks or snorkel and dive the sea. There’s a more chilled-out side too; the surfer town of Tofino is quickly becoming the best place for food, while glamping takes on new heights at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.Sustainable travel tip: Pay a visit to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The park falls within the traditional territories of nine different nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, and park authorities work closely with those nations to manage the lands respectfully and represent First Nations culture. It’s one of few examples of tourism in Canada working for indigenous people, and is well worth supporting.Read our full Clayoquot Wilderness Resort hotel review
      Clayoquot Wilderness Resort hotel reviewPLACES TO STAYClayoquot Wilderness Resort hotel reviewREX FEATURES
  • 18. Algarve, Portugal18. ALGARVE, PORTUGALTemperature: 23°C high; 18°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 2 hours 55 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +0Before you dismiss the Algarve – look between the tourist resorts and there is a quieter, more peaceful side to this coast. Not to mention some of the most fantastic beaches in Europe. In May the weather’s hotting up but it’s not yet too busy. Stay at the wonderful Bela Vista Hotel with an amazing spa on Praia da Rocha; and explore the secluded town of Castro Marim. Yes, the area is synonymous with beach holidays – but venture off the beaten track for quiet hillside retreats set in olive groves, such as Casa Arte, or Fazenda Nova, a quaint country house.Sustainable travel tip: Portugal has been hit especially hard in our tough economic times, and spending your entire holiday in the Algarve’s seaside resorts doesn’t do much to help. But making time to explore inland hiking routes and family-owned B&Bs isn’t just good for local business, it’s good for your holiday, too. The 185-mile Via Algarviana traverses the region’s hills and rural villages from east to west, with plenty of lovely places to stay along the way (try Casa do Lavrador in Furnazinhas, where breakfast comprises a heavenly spread of homemade preserves, breads and cheeses).Our guide to the authentic Algarve, PortugalThe authentic AlgarveBEACHESThe authentic AlgarveGETTY IMAGES
  • 19. Cape Verde19. CAPE VERDETemperature: 27°C high; 20°C low
    • Season: dry
      Travel time from UK: 7 hours 45 minutes
      Time difference: GMT -1Known as Africa’s answer to the Galápagos Islands, richly diverse Cape Verde is good for a guaranteed hit of sunshine located in The Atlantic. The dramatic interior hides volcanic hot springs and arid deserts, while the beaches, with their azure seas and white sands, are more befitting of the Caribbean. With this abundance of natural resources and a dash of African charm and culture, Cape Verde’s potential is finally being recognised.Sustainable travel tip: Most tourists head to Cape Verde for a fly-and-flop holiday, but why not prioritise local culture and landscape with Responsible Travel’s walking and cultural trip instead? The itinerary includes stays at family-run guesthouses and plumps for hiking routes that don’t trample over ecologically delicate areas.Our free travel guide to Cape VerdeInsider’s guide to visiting Cape VerdeGUIDESInsider’s guide to visiting Cape VerdeGETTY IMAGES
  • 20. Malta20. MALTATemperature: 24°C high; 15°C low
    • Season: spring
      Travel time from UK: 3 hours 10 minutes
      Time difference: GMT +1Tucked away between Sicily and Tunisia, Malta has a delicious mix of European and African culture while fiercely retaining its own identity. The tiny archipelago (including Gozo) starts to warm up by May, meaning days can be spent bronzing on sandy beaches in hidden coves, swimming in turquoise lagoons, or exploring ancient ruins and quaint fishing villages. If you’re a little short on time, head to Europe’s smallest capital city, Valletta, for a long weekend. Maltese food is a delight, with strong Mediterranean influences which produce dishes such as pistachio cannoli or honey-glazed rabbit. There’s also wine bars hidden in twisty-turny side streets and a city so antiquated you feel as though you’re in a museum. All this and it’s right beside the sea.Sustainable travel tip: A couple of minutes’ walk from Valetta’s Grand Harbour, boutique hotel Locanda La Gelsomina hasn’t just sensitively restored a 500-year-old traditional Maltese building. The family-run hideaway also takes steps to reduce the not-insignificant impact of tourism on this small island, making use of solar-powered heating and rainwater collection.Malta and Valletta holidays

Source: cntraveller.com