https://www.scmp.com/rss/521371/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bloomberg Bloomberg London’s museum scene is in a slump. The number of visitors to the Tate Modern and National Gallery in 2025 was down 26 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, from 2019. In the last three months of 2025, visits to state-funded museums in England – all of them free since 2001 – fell more than 8 per cent from 2019. Museums themselves cite varying reasons, including a decline in international travellers, despite tourism bouncing back after the Covid-19 pandemic, and fewer visitors in their teens... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3352691/when-londons-museums-started-losing-visitors-they-decided-get-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3352691/when-londons-museums-started-losing-visitors-they-decided-get-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Peter Neville-Hadley Peter Neville-Hadley The duck-like beak of the sleek AVE high-speed train points the way south out of Madrid as it trundles sedately along a tangle of tracks before picking up speed and turning east towards Valencia, on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. First class consists of great armchairs – single seats on either side of the aisle with vast amounts of leg room. My tray table is down to hold a novel, and to receive a snack and a coffee in due course. But despite the carriage’s pleasantly woody interior, the adequate... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3351831/discover-europe-affordable-first-class-eurail-adventures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3351831/discover-europe-affordable-first-class-eurail-adventures?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa By Lauren Taylor “I can see Elsa’s palace!” my five-year-old exclaims with pure joy, the first time it comes into view at Disneyland Paris. On the other side of a lake is a realistic-looking, snowy mountain, on which Elsa’s Ice Palace is perched. The World of Frozen – an immersive experience based on the popular film franchise inside Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park) – is now open to the public, and we are among the first to access this huge new section of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351017/world-frozen-disneyland-paris-delights-guests-magical-olaf-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3351017/world-frozen-disneyland-paris-delights-guests-magical-olaf-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Fans of William Shakespeare know that the great playwright came from Stratford-upon-Avon, the English riverside town where tourists still throng to see his childhood home. But he made his name in London – though few traces of him remain in the British capital. A newly discovered 17th century map sheds new light on the Bard’s London life, pinpointing for the first time the exact location of the only home Shakespeare bought in the city, and where he may have worked on his final plays. Shakespeare... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350395/william-shakespeares-only-london-house-located-newly-discovered-17th-century-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350395/william-shakespeares-only-london-house-located-newly-discovered-17th-century-map?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Worsening wildfires, soaring heatwaves and rising water levels have prompted Greek officials to take a closer look at protecting priceless archaeological sites that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The monuments, scattered across the country, earn Greece millions of dollars in tourism revenue. But many of the sites are in rural areas and officials believe better planning is needed in case large crowds of tourists need to be evacuated in an emergency. After a three-year study by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350008/greece-moves-protect-19-ancient-sites-olympia-wildfires-and-heatwaves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3350008/greece-moves-protect-19-ancient-sites-olympia-wildfires-and-heatwaves?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:15:50 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Reverend Paolo Venturelli never gets too close when he visits Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The Dominican friar prefers to stand away from the wall where it was painted, on the opposite side of the room that was once used by members of his order for meals. “From there, the painting looks as though it were painted in the middle of the refectory,” says Venturelli of the masterpiece depicting the story of Jesus’ final meal with his apostles. “It unleashes all kinds of human and spiritual... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3348074/where-last-supper-housed-convent-where-dominican-friars-still-live?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3348074/where-last-supper-housed-convent-where-dominican-friars-still-live?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Peter Neville-Hadley Peter Neville-Hadley It seems odd that one of the earliest depictions of a kiss in the history of Western painting should be found in a church. But after a half-hour train ride inland from Venice, and a gentle stroll through historic Padua’s winding streets, there it is, inside the heavily painted interior of the early 14th century Scrovegni Chapel. In a fresco called Meeting at the Golden Gate (circa 1305), by Giotto di Bondone, two ageing figures greet each other with a public display of affection that seems to... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3348137/padua-italys-painted-city-best-shows-are-frescoes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3348137/padua-italys-painted-city-best-shows-are-frescoes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson This issue means a lot to me (you’ll understand by the end). Choosing what goes in our annual Art Issue is no small feat. While we’re never short of story opportunities in Hong Kong, we’re practically drowning in them come March every year as the global art world descends on the city. But when we heard Spanish photographer and artist Coco Capitán was coming to town for “Imagination Investments”, a three-part exhibition that marks her first major presentation in the city, we knew we had to speak... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347292/week-postmag-artists-spain-hong-kong-stockholm-and-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347292/week-postmag-artists-spain-hong-kong-stockholm-and-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:45:19 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A hidden cloister just a few steps from Rome’s Pantheon temple is a peaceful place for silent meditation – if the millions of tourists who trudge past even know it is there. Behind the large wooden door, its frescoed walls closed to the general public reveal details of the compound’s dramatic history, including papal conclaves and the Roman Inquisition interrogation of Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. At the centre is a pond with goldfish and turtles surrounded by olive trees, two large palms... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3347268/most-beautiful-cloister-rome-hides-dramatic-and-dark-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3347268/most-beautiful-cloister-rome-hides-dramatic-and-dark-past?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Once upon a time, there was a Viking king. He prayed to Thor, Odin and Freya, and ruled over a land that did not have an official name in the year 950. Being imaginative as well as influential, he commissioned a stone ‌to celebrate his centre of power in Jelling. It was inscribed in runes, translating to “King Gorm made these runes in honour of his wife Thyra, the pride of Denmark”. With this sentence on the Great Jelling Stone, he not only gave his deceased queen eternal proof of his love but... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346702/bluetooth-vikings-and-birth-denmark-showcased-trip-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3346702/bluetooth-vikings-and-birth-denmark-showcased-trip-across-country?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Natasha Tang Natasha Tang Paris’ dining scene spans Michelin temples to market-fresh bistros. One night, you’ll chase truffle-infused classics near the Louvre; the next, fusion plates in a Marais atelier or natural wines by the canal. Whether you’re here for Paris Fashion Week, art museum exhibitions, long strolls by the Seine or garden escapes, seek out these under-the-radar spots for a real taste of the city. Jaja This courtyard spot sits at the back of a quiet Marais passage, part historic town house, part... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346077/unsung-eats-5-best-places-eat-and-drink-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3346077/unsung-eats-5-best-places-eat-and-drink-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian With major Persian Gulf aviation hubs largely paralysed by airspace closures amid the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, travellers have flocked to direct Asia-Europe routes, driving a sharp surge in airfares. This week, economy class on most direct one-way Beijing-Paris flights is fully booked, with a small number of economy seats – plus premium economy and business class seats – remaining. Economy seats on an Air China flight on Sunday are already booked out, with a one-way... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345379/how-persian-gulf-turmoil-reshaping-europe-asia-aviation-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345379/how-persian-gulf-turmoil-reshaping-europe-asia-aviation-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:00:26 +0000 Paul French Paul French You could be forgiven for thinking that the UK has gone samurai mad of late. Director Michihito Fujii’s Last Samurai Standing remains high up the Netflix UK chart, Penguin Books is enjoying a massive bestseller in Shotaro Ikenami’s multi-volume The Samurai Detectives, and the FX miniseries retelling of James Clavell’s Shogun (originally a 1975 novel) was a surprise hit and won various awards. The samurai-inspired Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the fastest-selling video game in Britain in 2025,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345076/gripping-london-samurai-exhibition-explores-japans-warrior-class-and-cuts-through-myths?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press He is known as the French Banksy – or simply JR. Now the artist, popular across France for his large-scale projects ranging from photographs to graffiti and street art, wants Parisians to do something unusual on the city’s arguably most famous bridge: stop. In June, he plans to transform the bustling Pont Neuf, which dates back to the 17th century, into a walk-through “cave”. The temporary, monumental public artwork will cover the stone arches with a rocky illusion and invite visitors to cross... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344412/how-french-banksy-jr-plans-turn-famous-paris-bridge-massive-cave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3344412/how-french-banksy-jr-plans-turn-famous-paris-bridge-massive-cave?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Santa Maddalena is covered in snow, which ⁠only enhances its picturesque charm. It is drawing a growing number of visitors, something locals describe as a mixed blessing. The village, home to fewer than 400 people, is nestled in the heart of Italy’s Dolomites, with a jagged mountain backdrop highlighting the diminutive church tower. Named the most beautiful village in South Tirol by Geo magazine, Santa Maddalena is located within the Unesco-listed Puez-Geisler Nature Park between Villnoss and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3343892/how-tourists-are-overwhelming-tiny-village-italy-perfect-photo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3343892/how-tourists-are-overwhelming-tiny-village-italy-perfect-photo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A 15th century statue that once stood outside Milan’s iconic Duomo has found a new home. Bearded Saint with Book was recently restored under the “Adopt a Statue” programme, launched in 2020 by the centuries-old institution that oversees the cathedral’s conservation. It is now on display behind a glass window at the headquarters of transport company FNM in central Milan’s Cadorna Square. The programme recruits donors – companies or individuals – to fund the restoration of a statue under a loan... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3343809/how-milan-duomos-old-sculptures-are-getting-new-life-adopt-statue-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3343809/how-milan-duomos-old-sculptures-are-getting-new-life-adopt-statue-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Mark Footer Mark Footer The Year of the Fire Horse is associated with intense energy, bold movement and pioneering spirit, making it, perhaps, a fitting time for a transformative travel experience. And what better way to channel a steed’s spirit of adventure than through some of the world’s most memorable equestrian experiences, from the Sandalwood ponies of Sumba, Indonesia, to the thoroughbreds that “dare to confront fire” in Marrakech, Morocco. Mongolia and the Naadam Festival “A Mongol without a horse is like a... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3342612/world-seen-saddle-6-equestrian-adventures-mark-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3342612/world-seen-saddle-6-equestrian-adventures-mark-year-horse?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa Lars Marstone is leaning on the pier in Lysekil’s harbour, arms crossed, as though personally greeting the wind and waves arriving at this town on Sweden’s southwest coast. ‌Moored nearby is Signe, his lovingly restored wooden boat. Her name derives from the Old Norse Signý, meaning “victorious” or “blessed”. For more than 50 years, Signe has been braving the waves. Today, she will be taking us on ‍an oyster and mussel tour, the first leg of our expedition to some of Sweden’s “blue food”... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3341006/taste-swedens-delicious-sustainable-blue-food-fresh-sea-boat-tours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3341006/taste-swedens-delicious-sustainable-blue-food-fresh-sea-boat-tours?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:43:05 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok In Brussels, few things are as they seem. As the Belgian city’s famed son René Magritte once said, “everything we see hides another thing”. I think of the surrealist painter, best known for hauntingly simple works such as The Treachery of Images (This is Not a Pipe) (1929) and The Son of Man (1964), often on this trip to Brussels. It is 8am when our flight from Hong Kong touches down, yet the sky is still inky, the air bone-chillingly cold. There is an eeriness to the streets as our car meanders... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3340827/craft-beers-dim-sum-chinese-hotpot-and-more-culinary-trip-through-brussels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 04:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Eight people killed in three separate avalanche accidents in Austria were citizens of the Czech Republic and Austria, authorities said on Sunday. The deadliest incident on Saturday occurred in the Grossarl Valley in the state of Salzburg, where three men aged 53, 63 and 65 were killed. A 60-year-old woman also died after being buried by snow. The victims were part of a group on an alpine ski course offered by the Austrian Alpine Club, the organisation announced on Sunday. “Risk competence and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3340350/bodies-skiers-killed-austria-avalanches-be-recovered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3340350/bodies-skiers-killed-austria-avalanches-be-recovered?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:37:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press One of the best-preserved ancient Roman homes on the Palatine Hill is opening to the public for the first time, albeit via a live-streamed tour of its hard-to-reach underground frescoes and mosaics. The House of the Griffins was first discovered during early 20th century excavations of the Palatine Hill, which rises up from the Roman Forum and dominates views of central Rome today with its striking red-brick ruins. The verdant hill, located just off the Colosseum, was the site of temples and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3340116/steps-colosseum-virtual-tour-offers-peek-inside-ancient-roman-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3340116/steps-colosseum-virtual-tour-offers-peek-inside-ancient-roman-house?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Should foreign tourists pay more for state-funded galleries than locals, or should art be accessible to all without discrimination? France is hiking prices for non-Europeans at the Louvre this week, provoking debate about so-called “dual pricing”. From January 14, any adult visitor from outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will have to pay €32 (US$37) to enter the Louvre – a 45 per cent increase – while the Palace of Versailles will up its prices by three... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339857/louvre-ticket-price-increase-non-europeans-unabashed-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339857/louvre-ticket-price-increase-non-europeans-unabashed-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service A ski trip is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with loved ones, hit the slopes, engage in wellness activities and practise an active hobby or two. Around the globe, there are spectacular destinations well known for skiing, including several in western Europe and Japan, but there are also a few underrated gems. Here are three recommendations. Courmayeur, Italy, and beyond The Dolomites are part of the Alps in Italy and are listed as a Unesco World Heritage site for outstanding universal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339659/3-underrated-ski-resorts-canada-japan-and-italy-visit-winter-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3339659/3-underrated-ski-resorts-canada-japan-and-italy-visit-winter-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 04:43:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Lately, each passing year feels like an entirely new era of travel as trends shift with the speed of a centrifuge. A decade ago, independent media recommendations were made after unearthing new, cool things all over the world and bringing them to light. Today, it is just as much about testing all the things everyone on social media is buzzing about and determining whether they pass the sniff test in real life. Reflecting on it all, here is a report on the state of travel now, packed with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338095/7-travel-tips-2026-play-board-games-locals-skip-michelin-restaurants-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3338095/7-travel-tips-2026-play-board-games-locals-skip-michelin-restaurants-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Over the past decade, Hong Kong artist Un Cheng has made abstract self-portraits and introspective landscapes that share the theme of escapism. Her latest solo exhibition sees her turning her gaze towards Europe – perhaps seeing travel as the ultimate escape – but these new paintings are not just about getting away. After spending October to December 2024 in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Poland, she returned to Hong Kong, where she reflected upon her trip and made discoveries... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3338098/why-hong-kong-artists-bedroom-music-inspired-solo-exhibition-about-self-healing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3338098/why-hong-kong-artists-bedroom-music-inspired-solo-exhibition-about-self-healing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Anne Doull is busy during winter. Not only does she have a regular job as an engineer, but her family also owns 650 sheep in the northwest of Mainland, the main island of Shetland, an archipelago off northeast Scotland. Last year, her family became patrons of Shetland Wool Week, an annual handicraft gathering that has been held for the past 16 years and is among the highlights of the region. Knitters and crafters from all over the world come to the isles on the northern tip of Britain, and many... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3336704/why-scotlands-shetland-islands-and-their-wool-attract-knitters-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3336704/why-scotlands-shetland-islands-and-their-wool-attract-knitters-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:14 +0000 Gillian Rhys Gillian Rhys In a peaceful valley among gentle rolling hills in Hampshire is a field much like any other in this part of southeast England. Seen through the hedgerow from a narrow country lane there’s nothing to signify it was the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous novelists. But 250 years ago, on a frosty December 16, Jane Austen was born in Steventon rectory, which stood on this site, and lived here until she was 25, more than half her 41-year life. The city of Bath is the location most... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3336072/search-jane-austens-england-quiet-rectories-grand-estates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3336072/search-jane-austens-england-quiet-rectories-grand-estates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:00:16 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service On my right, Jurassic fern fronds and violet morning glories cascade over a cliff on crystalline water, smashing into the craggy shore hundreds of feet below. To my left, lime-green succulents cling to a wall of volcanic rock. “You can see why Portuguese call this ‘the Garden in the Ocean’,” says Silvia Mota, a guide for tour operator Backroads’ new walking and hiking trip in Madeira, Portugal. This lush, 286 square mile (740 sq km) island – almost three times the size of Martha’s Vineyard, an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333879/hawaii-europe-how-madeiras-lush-hiking-trails-offer-scenery-worthy-movie-set?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333879/hawaii-europe-how-madeiras-lush-hiking-trails-offer-scenery-worthy-movie-set?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service When I visited Scotland’s Isle of Arran in September, the 167-square-mile (432 sq km) island – with a population just shy of 5,000 – was filled with warmth and a generosity of spirit that was entirely authentic. Recently anointed a Unesco Geopark and nicknamed “Scotland in Miniature”, Arran is an island on the west coast of Scotland anchored in the sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde, an hour-long ferry ride from the city of Glasgow. My guide, Alex Dickinson of Mogabout, did not leave a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333045/whisky-wool-and-andy-murrays-luxury-estate-journey-across-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333045/whisky-wool-and-andy-murrays-luxury-estate-journey-across-scotland?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa To the sea or to the mountains? Year after year, this pressing question divides couples and families planning their holidays. But in northwestern Italy, you can find both within a short distance. Liguria and Piedmont offer sea and mountains within a very small area. Visiting is also worthwhile from a culinary point of view, with local delicacies between the Ligurian capital Genoa and the Piedmontese capital Turin all worth a try – if necessary, even on a single plate. The most famous of all... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333056/what-eat-and-drink-italys-liguria-and-piedmont-regions-where-mountains-meet-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3333056/what-eat-and-drink-italys-liguria-and-piedmont-regions-where-mountains-meet-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:15:09 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre As 2025 draws to a close, we look at four retrospective exhibitions opening around the world, which celebrate remarkable creatives who continue to have a lasting impact on the cultural psyche. Here are some landmark exhibitions to look out over the next few months, from an overview of Asia-inspired works by American artist Robert Rauschenberg to an exhibition that envisions a creative conversation between legendary designers Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo. Robert Rauschenberg – Hong Kong A... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3331735/4-notable-art-exhibitions-opening-around-world-showcasing-likes-vivienne-westwood-and-wes-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3331735/4-notable-art-exhibitions-opening-around-world-showcasing-likes-vivienne-westwood-and-wes-anderson?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg “This is insane,” a woman says as a butler takes her on a tour of The Chancery Rosewood’s spa. We are in the basement levels of what used to be the US embassy in London. Now, there are state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pools and a cold-plunge tank, along with a sauna and steam room. I am stretched like a cat on a heated marble lounger that is far more comfortable than any angular stone slab has the right to be. “This is kind of insane,” I think, as a member of staff uses an instant-read thermometer... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331320/chancery-rosewood-hotel-london-luxurious-alternative-vips-and-royalty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3331320/chancery-rosewood-hotel-london-luxurious-alternative-vips-and-royalty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Ever wondered what war smells like? Or pondered the odour of love, the stench of medieval Paris, or the fragrance of religion? A new exhibition in Germany allows visitors to discover unknown smells by sniffing their way through 81 different fragrances across 37 different galleries. The show “The Secret Power of Scents”, which opened to the public on Wednesday at the Kunstpalast museum in the city of Duesseldorf, combines fragrances with art, taking visitors on a journey of more than 1,000 years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3330840/german-scents-exhibition-combines-1000-years-fragrances-art-and-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3330840/german-scents-exhibition-combines-1000-years-fragrances-art-and-history?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 11:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa “What can go wrong?” I ask my instructor, Luca, as he straps me into a harness attached to a huge parachute, looking over a mountain edge. “A lot of things in life can go wrong,” he smiles, which does little to calm my nerves. I am about to paraglide in the French Alps with skis – also known as ski-gliding – and then fly over the valley towards the Alpine town of Méribel, dropping a total of 1,400 metres (4,600ft). Luca reassures me he has been a paragliding instructor for 10 years, doing 500... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3330550/how-paragliding-french-alps-takes-ski-holiday-higher-level?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3330550/how-paragliding-french-alps-takes-ski-holiday-higher-level?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Had enough of swish but samey high-end hotel chains? These days it can be quite difficult to tell one stay from another, even at the luxury end of the market. Clearly enough people have noticed as there is now an increasing number of smaller chains whose properties reflect more local flavour, and who offer a homelier and more personal touch. If this sounds more your style, then look out for these names when booking your next getaway. Aethos Hotels Known for its mindful hospitality concept, this... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3330456/10-independent-luxury-hotel-chains-around-world-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3330456/10-independent-luxury-hotel-chains-around-world-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The man who just took charge of Rome’s top tourist attraction wants to set the record straight: the Colosseum will not be hosting any electronic dance music parties on his watch. Simone Quilici, director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, shared his plan to bring concerts to the almost 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in an interview with an Italian newspaper earlier this month, and social media proceeded to do what it all too often does. “Massive raves” were imminent, multiple accounts... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3330429/future-romes-colosseum-concerts-theatre-productions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3330429/future-romes-colosseum-concerts-theatre-productions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:35:11 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela When it comes to booking the ultimate luxury hotel stay, there is a list of go-to brands or hotel groups that seasoned travellers tend to look for, from Belmond and Four Seasons, to Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula and Rosewood. These tried-and-tested names are popular for a reason and promise the best experience money can buy. While these hospitality behemoths continue to dominate the market, seasoned travellers sometimes yearn for more intimate, less cookie-cutter hotels that still feel... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3327727/independent-luxury-hotels-offering-more-intimate-local-feel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3327727/independent-luxury-hotels-offering-more-intimate-local-feel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:11:22 +0000 Grace Ma Grace Ma It is hard to be hungry or bored on an Oceania Cruises voyage. The only challenge is navigating the endless feasting if you go solo. On a four-night showcase cruise on Oceania’s latest vessel, Allura, I join a group of about 700 media and trade personnel sailing from Italy’s northwestern city of Genoa to northeastern Trieste, with a stop in Split, Croatia. Oceania Cruises is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line, which also owns Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Allura is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329641/why-oceania-cruises-allura-foodies-paradise-onboard-dining-culinary-trips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3329641/why-oceania-cruises-allura-foodies-paradise-onboard-dining-culinary-trips?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:15:09 +0000 dpa dpa Brighton, one of Europe’s first seaside resorts, is as quirky, bizarre and charming as anyone could wish. It rose to fame in part thanks to Richard Russell, a man whose health theories surrounding seawater in the 18th century brought people flocking to this coastal spot in England. You will not find a statue to commemorate him anywhere, just a plaque affixed to the house – now the Hotel Royal Albion – where the doctor once lived. The city’s most famous feature is Brighton Palace Pier, whose... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328753/what-do-brighton-palace-pier-and-i360-kemptown-and-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3328753/what-do-brighton-palace-pier-and-i360-kemptown-and-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson The first time I stayed at a Kimpton was this past spring, on a trip to Koh Samui, Thailand. The vibe? Lush, laid-back and “ridiculously personal”, just as I learned their tagline promises. I left well-fed, mildly sunburned, slightly obsessed and thrilled to discover a Hong Kong outpost was in the works. It was only later that I heard the local debut already had its own prequel (I’m new here, remember?), one that involved scaffolding, smoke and a skyline-lit blaze that made headlines in March... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3328519/week-postmag-mariners-club-returns-bistros-boom-and-miffy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3328519/week-postmag-mariners-club-returns-bistros-boom-and-miffy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 03:03:54 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse From Sunday, non-EU travellers entering Europe’s Schengen open-borders zone will be photographed and fingerprinted at border crossings, as the European Union rolls out its much delayed automated border checks. The aim of the new system is to eventually replace the manual stamp on passports and secure better information sharing between the bloc’s 27 states. The border-check system will allow authorities to know when people enter and exit a country, with the goal of better detecting anyone... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328721/europe-begins-automated-border-checks-photographs-and-fingerprints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328721/europe-begins-automated-border-checks-photographs-and-fingerprints?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:42:14 +0000 Ron Gluckman Ron Gluckman Once the tour buses have finished the spring trips to colourful tulip fields, dazzling in blazes of red, magenta and purple, much of the Netherlands returns to its favourite pastime, arguing over how to save Amsterdam from drunken stag parties, drugs, a surplus of souvenir shops and all the other detritus of tourism overload. This is, of course, not unique to Amsterdam. European cities from Barcelona to Venice also struggle with mass tourism, enacting tourist taxes and other means to limit... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328387/utrecht-home-miffy-more-great-alternative-amsterdam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3328387/utrecht-home-miffy-more-great-alternative-amsterdam?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson Have you ever wanted to pack it all away and move to the farm? I certainly have, usually around the 10th consecutive hour in front of a screen. It’s tempting to romanticise rural life. Fewer emails. More trees. Cute farm animals. Reality, of course, is rarely so idyllic. In this week’s cover story, Joyce Yip visits Nam Chung, where Kit-ching has spent the last decade building a life as a full-time farmer. Her August was supposed to be a break. Instead, typhoons tore through the area, flattening... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326997/week-postmag-stories-rural-resilience-and-aura-farming-phenomenon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326997/week-postmag-stories-rural-resilience-and-aura-farming-phenomenon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 04:45:07 +0000 Mark Footer Mark Footer Albergo diffuso, or “scattered hotel”, is a concept that originated in 1980s Italy, offering a different kind of sustainable hospitality experience. Instead of a single building, the hotel’s rooms and services are spread among a variety of buildings within a small, often ancient, village or part of a town. There is a central reception area, often with a restaurant or common spaces, and staff that provide typical hotel services. Guests are encouraged to live as temporary residents within the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3327009/innovative-albergo-diffuso-concept-entire-village-your-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3327009/innovative-albergo-diffuso-concept-entire-village-your-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Mark Andrews Mark Andrews Surprisingly, the weather 200 years ago obliged, with the Durham County Advertiser describing it as “propitious”, which is just as well given that the vast majority of the reported 533 train passengers were seated in open wagons. There was, though, one covered coach on the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), the world’s first public rail service, on September 27, 1825. That coach, named The Experiment and the precursor to today’s train carriages, was reserved for the railway’s... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3326625/5-britains-best-heritage-train-experiences-luxury-sleepers-steam-locomotives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3326625/5-britains-best-heritage-train-experiences-luxury-sleepers-steam-locomotives?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press While some Barcelona residents sought to repel a tsunami of tourists with plastic water pistols, a neighbourhood association in Santiago de Compostela opted for a friendlier approach: a guide to good manners for visitors to their town, the endpoint of the Catholic world’s most famous pilgrimage. Translated into several languages, the guide was posted throughout the northwestern Spanish city and distributed at its ever-growing number of hostels. It reminded tourists to keep noise down, respect... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326364/why-santiago-de-compostela-increasingly-desperate-face-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3326364/why-santiago-de-compostela-increasingly-desperate-face-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty has finally come to a close, as protagonist Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) said “Bonjour” to new friends in Paris, ready to navigate new adventures in the French capital, while also finding closure with her ex-fiancé Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) and love at last with his older brother, Conrad (Christopher Briney). With songs pulled from the soundtrack of Amélie, the quintessential French romcom, and even a Serge Gainsbourg feature, the final... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3325971/belly-paris-where-tsitp-season-3-was-filmed-city-lights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3325971/belly-paris-where-tsitp-season-3-was-filmed-city-lights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu In the Paris boutique of a Swiss luxury watchmaker, a Chinese customer anxiously discusses a credit card payment with her bank. After hours of back and forth, it finally goes through – to everyone’s relief. “Things like this rarely happened before,” a salesperson at the store said, explaining how the card of the female customer was repeatedly declined as she tried to purchase a €25,000 (US$29,126) watch. The salesperson has also noticed a decline in spending by Chinese customers, ceding their... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325232/chinas-cash-conscious-consumers-force-europes-luxury-giants-think-small?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325232/chinas-cash-conscious-consumers-force-europes-luxury-giants-think-small?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service I’m trekking down the side of a Swiss mountain and I see my salvation far below in the lush green valley. The structure appears no bigger than a dot, yet it has what I’m craving: a hot meal and a bed. On foot, it’s still three hours away. I breathe in, filling my lungs with fresh Alpine air, and I put my legs back to work as I exhale, revitalised. My destination is Rotstockhütte, one of hundreds of hiker huts across the Alps that offer food, rest and respite from the elements amid stunning... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3324216/going-hiking-switzerland-how-hiker-huts-offer-unique-experience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3324216/going-hiking-switzerland-how-hiker-huts-offer-unique-experience?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:45:08 +0000 Teresa Bergen Teresa Bergen Breathing to the left, I glimpse the rocky Croatian coastline, heavily forested with squat pine trees. To the right, the teal waters of the Adriatic Sea. Below me, squishy sea cucumbers and spiny urchins dot the seabed. While the water looks tropical, its temperature is only about 20 degrees Celsius, comfortable as long as I keep moving. It is the first week of June and I am on a group trip with SwimTrek, a British-based company that leads swimming holidays around the world. We’ve all made our... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000