Wibke Carter 
Mallorca is known for its dreamy beaches, turquoise water, and fragrant pine trees. It also includes crowded towns, the noise of nightclubs, and streams of tourists in the capital of Palma. But another, quieter side to the popular Spanish island exists away from the hustle and bustle – in Es … Read more
Bern’s charms are blatantly obvious as I arrive in the Swiss capital, built as it is on top of a steep peninsula and nestled in the bend of the aquamarine Aare River – the characteristic color of glacier lakes. It’s almost picture perfect with narrow cobblestone streets framed by sandstone … Read more
Editor’s Note: Although travel remains limited for now thanks to Covid, exploring beautiful destinations keeps our wanderlust alive. We hope these Interlaken winter activities inspire you to book future travel. “Do you need a penguin?” a Swiss woman shouts at me as she elegantly whizzes past. For a moment, I’m … Read more
The dramatic sunrise on the volcanic island of Madeira is one of those memories that will stay with me forever. After waiting for what seems forever, the quiet is suddenly interrupted by birds chirping, accompanied by a dramatic color change in the sky from black to orange against a calm … Read more
The sun is blazing, not a cloud in the sky. My eyes survey the sprawling vineyards as a server hands me a glass of local bubbly. Hold on. Let’s rewind here. A glass of local bubbly? In England? The surroundings and the hot weather feel so alien and for a … Read more
The serious looking Maître d′ is skilfully balancing my plate through the restaurant at Château Sainte Sabine and it appears as if he’s about to place a diamond in front of me, a real treasure. I swallow and hesitate for a split-second over my choice of entrée, then dig into … Read more
Lucerne is often called “the City of Lights.” The name goes back to a miracle which is said to have happened here. According to a legend, an angel showed the first arriving settlers with a light where to build a chapel in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of … Read more
I couldn’t suppress a grin when I noticed St George fighting a dragon smaller than the saint’s horse on the façade of Basel’s Minster. “Why is the dragon so tiny?” I asked my guide. “We just don’t have a lot of evil in the city,” she replied. I wasn’t quite … Read more
At first glance, the middle-aged woman with glasses and greying hair is just wrapping little balls of clay the size of marbles but within seconds shapes appear – a head, legs, arms, then finally a fully developed figure. Together with her sister and nephew, Maria Inácia Fonseca runs the craft … Read more
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is, without a doubt, the most famous resort in the German Alps, partly because of its proximity to the highest mountain, the Zugspitze, and partly because it hosted the 1936 Olympic Winter Games. The town’s location between the gentle Ammer mountains and the imposing peaks of the Wetterstein chain, … Read more
Imperial power, World War II tension, outstanding artistic achievements and great human tragedies … Nuremberg has mirrored German history since the Middle Ages. For some, the name of the city evokes images of Albrecht Dürer, sausages and the Christmas market; for others, the prosecution of Nazi war criminals during the … Read more
Founded in 1158, Munich has been the capital of Bavaria since 1506 and therefore boasts of grandiose palaces and royal heritage. The city is impossibly energetic and it’s easy to see why it is southern Germany’s most popular destination. Beer mugs and high-tech cars, contemporary art museums and dirndls – … Read more
Bayreuth, the capital of Upper Franconia in Germany, is beautifully laid out with sandstone streets, baroque architecture and impressive palaces. Arguably, it’s one of the great cultural centers of Europe. The foundations were laid in the 18th century by Margravine Wilhelmine, the favorite sister of King Frederick the Great, who … Read more
Charming Füssen, the southern end of the Romantic Road, is framed by snow-covered peaks and an idyllic lake district. Only an hour south of Munich, many travelers stop here to visit the royal palaces of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau a little over two miles away. While the stunning Königsschlösser are arguably … Read more
Arguably Germany’s most famous federal state, Bavaria’s image is that of men in Lederhosen, cowbells, fairytale castles, and picture-perfect mountain scenery. Yet, this is only a tiny snippet and travelers who care to go beyond the cliché will discover so much more. Bavaria is made up of four distinct regions, … Read more