kayaking in riga at night

Stags on tour: The ultimate Riga stag do

See & Do

Riga nightlife options are perhaps a little more eclectic than in some cities. Yes, there’s the classic holiday destination bar – with the coveted panoramic views over the city. But there are also spots where you can launch yourself headlong into Riga bar culture. Pubs aren’t just for drinking in. Comedy nights are expected the world over. But foosball, poetry and board games can be a little harder to find – especially in an unfamiliar place. The ultimate night? You’ll find that singing with your own live band and backing vocals in the city’s karaoke bar…

traditional christmas tree in old town square riga

Wrap up for winter in Riga

See & Do

Whatever the temperature, Riga’s Christmas markets won’t fail to warm your heart. Though, things might feel a little light and breezy in the wallet department. Mulled wine loosens the purse strings as artisan crafts, Latvian snacks and a lap or two of the local ice rink all compete for your time and holiday budget. The decorations and festivities make it all worthwhile. With winter sports, warming undercover markets and potent liqueurs on offer, there’s no reason to skip Riga because of the winter weather.

Oslo

Destination

Perching on the water’s edge, surrounded by vast tracts of wild greenery, and with world class, well, everything, it’s easy to see why Oslo consistently ranks as one of the best places in the world to live. While you might not be able to up sticks and move to this perfect little slice of Scandinavia, you can always come and visit – and you’d be short on nothing but time.
Despite being rammed with great restaurants, daring cultural spaces, and an astounding range of architecture, the city is quite compact, meaning you’re never too far from your next adventure. And that’s all before we get started on the stunning nature that surrounds the Norwegian capital, an area replete with magical woodland walks and serene lakes. There’s also thousands of years of history etched into the patchwork of the city, weaving seamlessly with the modern tastes of the cosmopolitan inhabitants. It’s this mixture that makes Oslo such a unique place.

fine dining restaurant oslo

Breakfast, lunch & dinner in Oslo

Food & Drink

The Norwegian capital is home to hundreds of great eateries, and the best restaurants in Oslo are as good as anywhere else in the world, including nearby haute cuisine mecca, Copenhagen. The city has a whole variety of international cuisine on offer, and Norwegian food itself has plenty to explore beyond dried meat and line-caught salmon. If you love food, you’ll love Oslo – especially the restaurants that we think serve up the best breakfast, lunch, and dinner in this city.

hills and lake at forest near oslo

A hiker’s guide to Oslo 

See & Do

The hilly, forested areas around Oslo are so integral to the city they even have their own special name: marka. Much loved by the inhabitants of the Norwegian capital, these areas are well maintained and full of hiking and biking trails, although retain a lot of the wildness that makes them so unique. While you’ll only be a couple of hours walk from civilisation, you might come across animals like lynx and moose. Most trails, however, are simple to traverse and incredibly safe, and you’re more likely to be bathed in birdsong and the smell of fresh flowers than spot anything dangerous. There’s also public transport that drops you off to prime walking spots, so you don’t even need to rent a car to enjoy them.

view of water and mountains at Nærøyfjord in norway

Fjord-spotting from Oslo

See & Do

There’s nothing quite as astonishing as sailing through the rugged rocky outcrops that define the famous Norwegian fjords. The scene is beyond serene no matter what the time or weather is. A rainy morning covers the routes in a magical mist; a sunny evening adds a layer of shimmering gold to the already stunning scenery. Even a boring grey day can’t dull the wonder of these UNESCO heritage sites, such is their natural splendour.

view of vigeland sculpture park in oslo

Top 8 things to do in Oslo

See & Do

Stroll through the remnants of might Viking culture; consider canvases that changed how we see art; hike through some of the lushest, most viridescent wilds you can think of, all while being less than an hour from a bustling capital. When it comes to things to do in Oslo, there’s a near-endless number of activities to suggest.

Vienna

Destination

Much is made of Vienna’s nightly musical masterpieces that play out across the city. And, we can’t blame Austria for blowing this particular trumpet. After all, this is the birthplace – or final resting place, of the classical greats. But if you’re not remotely interested in music, is there still much to see? You could ignore every concerto being robustly parped from every acoustically gifted building in Vienna and still have one of the best city breaks going. Museums and galleries notch up numbers in the dozens. Coffee houses switch from being living museums to third wave nooks slinging the finest espresso. Drag bunches pop up where you’d least expect them and the Hofburg Palace is a monster of a landmark for you to explore.

No decent European city worth its salt can ignore the Christmas markets. And Vienna? It lays on dozens of stall-filled, bratwurst-strewn markets that leaves the city glowing with the buzz of thousands of fairy-lights. Summers almost take a back seat, with everyone indoors for operas and sonatas. Which is a shame, as they miss out on a gelato and a stroll along the Donaukanal. Make sure you find your way outdoors too. Vienna’s got some cracking architecture to spot.

Vienna Philharmonic performing at the new years concert

A music lover’s tour of Vienna

See & Do

Would it be going too far to say Vienna is the epicentre of classic musical? Unlikely. Few other cities can lay claim to entertaining 10,000 people every day with a diary chock full with thousands of concerts. There’s a strong classical contingent waiting to wow you with concertos, operas and song books from history’s greats. Cafes tinkle with the sound of ivories played. And any stops to quaff coffees and cakes are usually just a moment’s respite before you’re on to the next statue, composer’s previous home or free walking tour. Here’s just a snippet of what you can expect…