Travel News

For a chance to see the biggest palace in the world that is still in use by a member of a royal family, head to the Stockholm Royal Palace.

In the centre of the Swedish capital, the 18th-century building was erected on the foundations of a 13th-century castle that burnt down in 1697. It is now home to King Carl XVI Gustav, as well as a glorious selection of fascinating sights in over 600 rooms.

These include the royal apartments, the hall of state, the apartments of the orders of chivalry, the treasury, the Tre Kronor palace museum, the armoury and museum of antiquities of Gustav III.

The palace is decorated in a Baroque style and tours round the huge building are available. Twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, lucky visitors are privy to watching the changing of the guards.

Other top attractions in Stockholm include the Skansen open air museum, the Vasa Museum, Gamla Stan and the Archipelago.

One of Brussels' most fashionable restaurants La Quincaillerie is also a highly original eatery.

Set in a former hardware store, the brasserie opened in 1988 and since then has been subject to critical acclaim, attracting celebrities from all over the world including Richard Branson, David Bowie, Brad Pitt and Catherine DeNeuve according to its website.

Based in the trendy Ixelles district, the venue retains hints to its former use during the early 20th century, with a giant railway station clock and Art Nouveau wood panelling and drawers.

The traditional brasserie menu includes a good assortment of meat, but it's the shellfish bar that dominates the selection, although there is also a good range of food available for vegetarians.

Ixelles is home to a huge number of restaurants, with offerings from many different food styles including Lebanese, French, Indian, Italian, Thai and Vietnamese.

The unique Aria Hotel in Prague is dedicated to the theme of music.

Each floor is devoted to a different genre: classical, opera, jazz and contemporary. And every room pays homage to a different composer, musician or performer, including artwork, books and a flat screen computer all with information about the given artist.

These include Elvis Presley, Dizzy Gillespie, Dvorak, Louis Armstrong, Mozart and Billie Holliday.

Designed by Italian Rocco Magnoli, famed as the decorator for the late Gianni Versace, each room boasts sumptuous Mediterranean flourishes.

Keeping true to the music theme, facilities at the hotel include a music library and screening room, as well as a music box entertainment room.

The glorious Vrtbovska garden is the city's oldest Baroque garden and is on the Unesco world heritage list.

And guests can also treat themselves to food from the international menu at the Coda Restaurant.

With a fantastic location, guests will be just a short walk from the many attractions that the Czech Republic's capital has to offer, including Prague Castle, Kampa Park and the Old Town Square.

Anyone who's anyone in Athens sups at Daphne's.

The celeb favourite offers fantastic traditional Greek food with a modern twist, combining familiar ingredients with others that are more unusual.

Dishes include hot pepper and feta cheese dip, prawns with toasted almonds and meatballs in an ouzo-laced tomato sauce.

Situated in Plaka, Athens' old town, the restaurant is based in a restored 19th-century neoclassical villa, with walls adorned with paintings, including frescoes in the indoor garden.

The staff are attentive and multilingual, so diners will feel absolutely comfortable as they relax in the opulent surroundings.

In the warmer months, guests can sit in the outdoor garden area, which offers some of the city's best views of the Parthenon.

The beautiful old cobbled streets of Plaka just under the Acropolis are home to a number of tourist attractions, including the Museum of Greek Folk Art, the Jewish Museum of Greece and the Centre of Folk Art and Tradition.

The exquisite Casa Fuster is the ultimate in luxury in Barcelona.

With a fantastic unique Spanish Art Nouveau exterior designed by architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner at the beginning of the 20th century, the hotel is listed as a landmark building.

The whole building is decorated in sumptuous style, resonating the luxury that would have been experienced by the original owner and namesake of the hotel, aristoctract Mariano Fuster.

It is home to the ever-popular Cafe Viennese, which, like the 96 bedrooms, is decorated with silk, velvet and warm colours. Guests can also dine at the gourmet restaurant Galaxo.

The whole hotel successfully combines original features with modern touches to create a mesmerising luxurious experience for guests.

During the warmer months, it is also possible to take advantage of the outdoor terrace, which offers spectacular views of the city. From here, guests can also take advantage of other services including a Jacuzzi, gym, solarium and pool.

Barcelona is home to a huge range of fantastic landmarks including some amazing architecture, most notably that of Antoni Gaudi, whose distinctive work is displayed throughout the city.