One of the things that makes Berlin so exciting is the high proportion of creative people who have decided to call this lively city home, and with the artists comes the inevitable process of gentrification. However, considering the city has been broke since reunification, the economic surge currently hitting Berlin can’t be all bad, providing the old school grit still has a place amidst the new-world glamor and the artists can still afford the rent. Things you can enjoy for free therefore offer some of that authentic ‘Berlin’ feeling, and you’ll be sure to rub shoulders with the locals.

The latest in Barcelona art and culture from a Cabinet of Curiosities to more light at Arts Santa Monica, and Caixa Forum hosts the Impressionists.
Dive into the wonderful world of Madame La Marquise, a gorgeous new gallery space for visual arts and spoken word, with the feeling of a private home.

Revel in the abundance of natural beauty and magnificent treatments on the Costa del Sol. Whatever your leisure and treatment preferences, Spain has something for you, starting with the sumptuous Thalasso Wellness Centre at Hostel Selenza on the ‘Golden Mile’ between Marbella and Estepona. The Selenza boasts a spa area of 2,000 square metres, with bubbling massage pools, ‘Byzantium’ steam rooms and Zen sauna, chromotherapy armchairs and an ice fountain, matched by a plethora of treatments from Anti-Stress to slimming, volcanic stone massage to a special program for golfers.

The highlight of my train trip from Berlin to Stockholm was going over the Great Belt Bridge between Zealand and Sprogø in Denmark. Although the train takes a tunnel for the spectacular suspension bridge section, the box girder bridge from Sprogø to Funen is truly magnificent.

Take a trip along newly opened Yecla Wine Trail to discover the revitalized taste of the famed local 100 year old monastrell vines, now said to yield fleshy, concentrated complex wines. The Yecla wine trail gathers hotels, restaurants and winemakers together in a cultural experience that will give you a taste of the nectar of the gods from this special locality.

The Desert of Tabernas in the Levante, is the only ‘real’ desert in Europe, known for its strange lunar landscape of parched river beds and barrens slopes, high temperatures year-round and dry climate. The rain, when it comes, is torrential and the resulting erosion of the sandstone is responsible for creating the characteristic landscape of the badlands of Spain.

Malmö is a cosmopolitan city with a dramatically revitalized post-industrial energy. Once a run-down harbor area, the seafront is now bristling with life and architecture, notably the landmark ‘Turning Torso’ building which appears to twist into the ground and sky above the seaside cityscape packed with cafes bars and restaurants.

The festival to honor all Saints is believed to be the time when boundaries between living and dead disappeared, and people visit the graves of relatives to decorate them elaborately with offerings of flowers. You can attend services of the Eucharist Catholic Mass and join a procession to the graves without having relatives there.

Cover yourself in jasmine flowers and emulate Cleopatra, on the sumptuous hillside of Grasse in the French Riviera. The flowers are picked one by one to preserve their delicate essence, and the wicker baskets full of jasmine are made into decadent perfumes by Jacques Polge, perfumer for Chanel since 1978.

Denmark knows a thing or two about being green. Since the 2009 Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, Danish options for eco-friendly travel have continued to grow. Here are a few tips on how to make conscious green travel choices.

Madrid is sunshine, culture, atmosphere, tapas... and Inbox 12. Inbox 12 is a unique postcard publication where you receive 12 illustrated cards by local artists designed to celebrate their favourite places in the city. Even if you can't visit in person, take a moment to enjoy these special places in Madrid through the gorgeous drawings.

It’s not just the airport in Barcelona that is connected. Taking a radical approach to cultural enterprise, the interlinked venues of creative entrepreneur Emilio Álvarez offer a glimpse into the artistic side of Barcelona. Angels, a contemporary art gallery, Carmelitas, a restaurant featuring locally sourced food, and Room Service, an avant-garde furniture design shop, all feature something unique.

Celebrating 100 years in operation and still on the rails, the heroic Train des Pignes passes through 25 tunnels, over 16 viaducts and 15 metallic bridges in the mountainous areas of the Alpes-Maritimes region. Run by the Railways of Provence, the Puget-Rostang eco-museum has a 100th Anniversary exhibition on the remarkable Train des Pignes. Construction started in 1883, and the line connecting Nice and Digne opened in 1911 in a truly amazing feat of engineering.

You’re in Stockholm for a night. Where do you go to eat and drink? On a ship or with a Pelikan!

With the change in seasons comes more fun things to do in Barcelona. Here are some places to try this fall.

In a case of life mirroring television, not only is Blair Waldorf engaged to the fictional Prince of Monaco on the series Gossip Girl, featuring misbehaving Upper East Side New York teenagers; there’s a real Royal Wedding planned for Monaco’s reigning prince, Albert II. In July, the Prince is set to marry statuesque South African beauty Charlene Wittstock, twenty years his junior and an Olympic swimmer previous to their romance and upcoming wedding.

Hit the beach at Barceloneta and take a quick dip in minus 8 degrees. Yes, IceBarcelona, an ice bar, will give you shelter from the heat of a summer day, with mittens and a winter coat exchanged for your sarong, while you sip cocktails and enjoy sculptures made of ice. The furry arctic-style jackets you get to wear are worth the €15 price of admission (not that you can take them home, but then you wouldn’t want to once you get outside again!), along with one drink.

We all know that artists love wine, but last summer in Bordeaux wine loved the artists right back. The Artist Castle program matched professional artists with the patronage of wine producers.

The French Riviera wasn’t always the relaxing destination it is now–once a hotbed of tension and rivalries, the coast was guarded by fortresses from the Middle Ages. From medieval castles to citadels and fortified towns, these structures have now become peaceful sites for wonderful cultural experiences featuring the Riviera’s finest panoramas.

It’s always show time in Paris, where beautiful dancers, singers, and magicians create a magical escape from the everyday. Since the original “cabaret artistique” renamed Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat) opened in Montmartre in 1881, Parisian Cabaret is celebrated for bringing the most decadent, exotic acts to the stage.

The Moorish Baths of Andalucia offer to create an idyllic sense of well being, taking you back to the historic days of the Caliphs in gorgeous settings. The spas and thermal springs have been known for their beneficial properties for centuries, with baths built in the Romans and Moorish times in order to take advantage of the therapeutic waters. Andalucia offers an extraordinarily lush experience, with the natural landscape and vibrant historical settings, enhanced by luscious spa retreats.

Sweden may be home to cosmopolitan design and sophisticated urban life, but once you get out of the city it’s a wilderness up there! Whether you’re climbing on the West Coast, skiing above the Arctic Circle or trekking across Sweden’s northern mountains, there’s nothing like nature to refresh your spirit.

Bohuslän is on the edge of Western Sweden, an archipelago of 8,000 islands spanning the coast from Gothenburg to the Norwegian border. Wander along the jetty in picturesque fishing villages, take a seal safari in Kosterhavet Marine National Park, and explore the islands by sea kayak, sailboat or ferry. Catch your own seafood surprise and help cook the lobsters, prawns and mussels fresh from the water.

One of my top 3 favorite flea markets in the world (the others are in Brussels and Berlin), the bustling Mercat del Encants is always worth the trip! The bustling aisles of bric-a-brac and outright junk are endlessly intriguing, with an eclectic mix of people looking for their own particular treasure.

You can find almost anything at Barcelona Encants Fleamarket, from clocks to vintage clothes, antique furniture to a model combi van, a gramophone to an upright piano. Go early and be prepared to fossick through the piles of clothes heaped up on the ground to discover designer fashion buried in amongst the acres of polyster, or just indulge in the incredibly wide range of videos, cosmetics and other junk to be collected.

The panorama of tiny islands that form the archipelago of Stockholm are even more enchanting when viewed from the air or experienced by water – so take to the skies and waterways of the Swedish capital and get your feet wet in this summer exploration of the elements.

Cruise to the top of the Ericsson Globe Sky View in a glass gondola for the most spectacular dome experience, viewing the city laid out before your eyes from the world’s largest spherical building.

You may think of the French Riviera as a place of gorgeous sunshine, glamorous beaches and azure waters, but there’s plenty of activity in the nearby mountains to satisfy even the biggest thrill seekers. The peaks of the Alpes d’Azur are more than just a spectacular backdrop to the beach, they offer a range of action adventures from mountain biking and pony trekking to white water rafting and something absolutely terrifying (for anyone with a fear of heights) called a “Via Ferrata.”

The Alps d’Azur offer 4000km of hiking paths from the coastline to the hinterland, graded for every possible level of fitness and walking endurance. Take the high road on a “Grande Randonnée” itinerary, and find yourself sleeping in magnificent settings overnight in various mountain refuges and cottages to really get close to the natural landscape. If you prefer the thrill of scaling the peaks, try mountaineering and rock climbing, with canyoning and caving for extra climbing challenge. Remember to stop and enjoy the view when you get to the top!

Graceland Randers opened in Denmark this April as a tribute to the King, in an almost identical copy of Elvis Presley’s Graceland Estate. The official opening ceremony in April was a spectacular event with Suzy Quatro cutting the ribbon, MC Danish celebrity and radio host, Jørgen de Mylius, a ‘Graceland Randers Legacy Protector,’ and a speech by Randers’ mayor Henning Jensen Nyhuus.

“I can’t believe we are at this point. The house exceeds all of my expectations. It’s awesome! The whole project is a fantastic journey and the challenge of my life,” says Elvis-fan Henrik Knudsen, the man behind Graceland Randers. Elvis Nostalgia, Elvis Museum and Elvis Shop are housed in this copy of The King’s home in Graceland. The house intends to “help protect and safeguard the legacy of Elvis’ life, his music, memory,” and of course to attract tourists. With a Ballroom, Movie Theatre showing Elvis documentaries and Highway 51 American Diner it’s sure to excite Elvis fans everywhere.

The old palace of Seville offers a magical setting to enjoy summer evening classical music recitals and open-air concerts of Nights in the Gardens of the Real Alcázar. Seville is the capital of Andalusia and deserves its reputation as one of Southern Spain‘s most beautiful cities. Tree lined boulevards on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, reflect a mixture of Moorish, medieval, renaissance and baroque influences in the architecture and contemporary life of this fascinating city.

The enormous Palace that is now the Alcázar is a perfect blend of rich textures from Moorish, Renaissance, and English traditions, with gorgeous gardens, intricate tiles and bubbling fountains. “Every summer day at sunset, the palace gardens open to visitors to caress your senses at night and whisper the echoes of past, present and distant.

Tour Montparnasse 56 Observatory gives the most spectacular view of the city of lights, offering a restaurant and a terrace on the top floor complete with a helipad for those special visits. The enclosed observatory has a bar serving drinks and snacks, souvenirs and telescopes, while the open-air terrace is reached by 65 stairs and is open to the sun and rain with magnificent evening views of the city at sunset.

Enjoy the panoramic views over Paris from the 56th floor of the only skyscraper in the city centre, as you find landmarks and trace your own route around the city from an entirely different perspective. Watch the planes taking off from Orly Airport, and look across with a clear view to the Eiffel Tower, or watch the guard rail being lowered for a helicopter to land.

The air is filled with the unmistakeable scents of orange blossom, spikenard or jasmine and mystery awaits at each unexpected turn, as culture suffuses all corners of Cordoba in Andalucia. ‘Noches de Embrujo‘ (enchanted nights) festival extends to towns and villages throughout the province.

We’ve come a long way from boat shoes, and tie-dye skirts, and in Sweden eco designers are creating elegant styles in sustainable materials for the über-conscious consumer. Whatever shade of green you’re into – green furniture, green hiking, green fashion – Swedish design is forests ahead!

You know what they say… “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”.

The legends of witchcraft, magic potions, covens, exorcism and persecution are bound into the mountainous landscape of Navarre, in Northern Spain. The local tourist board has mapped out the Witchcraft Route, four itineraries to discover traditions and curiosities alive in these lands. Enter the enigmatic world of the occult while enjoying gastronomic traditions and the authentic magical essence of the region. Visit the cave of Zugarramurdi on the 18th August, rituals are revived in the zikiro-jate, a collective meal featuring roast lamb on a stake. The Inquisition operated in more than 60 towns and villages in Navarre.

Avignon is famous as the City of the Popes and for the children’s song which describes folk dancing on the Saint Bénézet Bridge, “Sur le pont d’Avignon” (“On the bridge of Avignon”) over the Rhône River. The ancient city attracted travellers, merchants and manufacturers throughout the ages, as it was the only place between Lyon and the Mediterranean to cross the Rhône.

Brigitte Bardot was famously 'discovered' on the beach at St Tropez, and since the 1950's this French Riviera resort town has been known as a playground for the international jet set. Once a military stronghold, St Tropez was a quiet fishing village and the site of various trades including ship building, until the start of the 20th Century when it became known as a luxury resort for the rich and famous.

First colonized by the writer Guy de Maupassant and impressionist painter Paul Signac; Matisse and David Hockney have also found inspiration in the stunning light and striking colors of this gorgeous coast.

Dance around the maypole in Sweden for Midsummer's night, as the longest day of the year with ancient pagan traditions, this is one of the most unique holidays in Sweden. Drinking and dancing around the bonfire figure prominently. In the morning gather flowers and herbs to decorate the maypole, and traditional dress is often worn along with crowns made of wildflowers. Midsummer night is said to have a special magic and is the perfect time to make wishes and rituals for good luck into the future.

Malaga offers a magnificent selection of beaches, there is one to suit your holiday whatever your inclinations.

In the heart of Malaga City, the man-made La Malagueta Beach is easily accessible, near the La Malagueta bullring and a favorite with locals and tourists, whether your taste is for biking or sunbathing or seafood. The sand was imported from the Sahara Desert, and offers over a kilometer coastline.

Campra's Opera-Ballet "The Venetian Holiday" (1710) inspired the title of this show, which fits well into the lasting fascination of Venice to Versailles. The serenity of Venice, Masterpieces of Vivaldi, and palace myths of Versailles come together for an exceptional event.

The Venetian Festivities recreate the spectacle of great nautical pyrotechnics on the Grand Canal in Versailles, with extravagantly decorated gondolas, fireworks and fountains every Friday evening until 15th July.

Designer glamour and million dollar yachts are the hallmarks of Marbella, playground of celebrities and the super-rich. This dazzling seaside town is famously known for bringing the Bling Bling to the Costa del Sol. Developed as an exclusive resort in the 50′s, playing host to movie stars, royalty and presidents, known in the UK as the ‘Costa del Crime,’ the town became notorious in the 80′s for local politics, corruption and a haven for British gangsters.

Celebrate Sant Joan Festival in Barcelona on the midsummer night solstice with fireworks, concerts and dancing. The following day is a public holiday so you can dance all night!

Fire is the most important element of the traditional festivities, lit by the flame of Canigò, which comes from the peak of a holy mountain of the same name in the Pyrenees. Since 1955 this flame is kept alive in the kitchen of the museum Casa Pairal to represents the strength of Catalan culture and is used to light the flame on the peak of the Canigò and throughout the region. If you burn something in the Sant Joan fire it will apparently purify your sins and bring you good luck.

The French Riviera is an even more glamorous summer destination when accompanied by the soundtrack of an international jazz, accordion, electronics or country music festival. Set your holiday to music and kick back with the sounds of your choice beneath the stars down by the Mediterranean Sea, on famous Promenades, on village squares, in parks and gardens…

Experience the joys of jazz in the botanical gardens with the international Paris Jazz Festival. The program explores the crossovers and musical forms of Jazz, through Sunday picnic concerts, photographic exhibition ‘Giants of Jazz’, musical games and other games from around the world, workshops and discussions about music and nature until 31st July. Concerts are free after paying admission for the park.

The Madrid Rio is a a new urban beach, nature and recreation area on the banks of the Manzanares river, built over the old inner-ring road in the heart of the city only 1.5km from the Puerta del Sol. Take a pair of roller skates to explore this luscious park along the bicycle paths, to see various monuments from the Puerta del Rey gate to the Royal Palace and the shrine of the Virgin of El Puerto.

Arguably the most gruelling and prestigious sporting events in the cycling world, this three week bicycle race can best be described in three words: Men in Lycra. Really hot men, and really tight colourful lycra, pedalling wildly as they chase each other up and down hills. As you can tell, I'm not exactly a sporting aficionado, (there's only one triathlete in the family), but even I can appreciate the insanely fit and dedicated athletes who will be cycling over 3,600 kilometres in the competition.

In case you haven't received an invitation for the Monaco Princely Wedding, there is still time to make a trip to the Principality and join the public celebrations. The civil marriage ceremony of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock takes place on Friday 1st July in the Throne Room, while 3,500 guests are expected to attend the religious ceremony on Saturday 2nd July in the Main Courtyard of the Palace. The royal couple will then tour the Principality from the Place du Palais to the church of Saint Devota (Patron Saint of Monaco), where the Princess will leave her bouquet. Miss Wittstock is an ex-swimming champion, surfer and Honorary President of Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo.

The Pont Neuf is one my favourite bridges in the world. Although the stone doesn't lend itself to vibration, this means I can take a break from making experimental sound art, and simply revel in the elegant arches and curved love-seats which offer a gorgeous view of Paris and a perfect location for a picnic.

There is something endlessly alluring about a port town, the yearning to connect with far-away places is played out through ships coming and going in the harbour, while exotic spices and tastes bring foreign cultures into everyday proximity. The Greeks landed here in 600 BC and started trading in the natural harbor; it was an important Roman Empire hub and held a strategic position in the French Empire, until steam took over from sail and eventually the port was obliterated in WWII during the Battle of Marseille. The city was also an entrance point for newly independent Algerian immigrants and settlers from the 1950s, creating a vibrant French-African quarter.

The city of Bordeaux is inevitably associated with vineyards and fine wine, so it's no surprise that the winning design of the Wine Culture and Tourism Center evokes the image of a wine tasting decanter. The centre is due to open in 2014, and the regional tourism board hopes that it will become an iconic architectural symbol and destination attraction for Bordeaux, in much the same way that the Guggenheim Musem has come to define Bilbao.

Gran Canaria is more than just the beautiful sandy beaches and charming villages, this small island offers a variety of activities and destinations. Find out for yourself what keeps people coming back to experience everything from camel riding to volcanic wine tasting, canoeing to botanical garden walks.

The French Riviera is famous for its chic, picturesque coastal towns, and June or September is the perfect time to visit Cannes. The Film Festival has wrapped up and the red carpets have been rolled away, the summer season is just around the corner and you can take a few days to enjoy the ambiance, culture and sunshine of this fabulous French Riviera city.

Barcelona is renowned for the colourful, poetic, satirical and sometimes political stencil art that makes even the narrow back streets look enticing and vibrant.

Gourmet dining may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of Copenhagen, you may know the fairytale castle, the Little Mermaid and Tivoli Gardens, however Copenhagen is also renowned as the gastronomic capital of Scandinavia. The city is home to Noma, San Pellegrino's 2010 ”Best Restaurant in the World”, and a number of Michelin starred restaurants exist alongside more affordable eating experiences

Paris is a remarkably green city with many options to get off the beaten track. The edges of the capital are interspersed with delightful green areas, from contemporary parks to charming historical walks and tucked-away secret gardens.

Back in March 2011, the supplement of Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia named Barcelona as the 2nd most liveable city in the world – coming only after New York - while Madrid made it to number 8 in the Top 10. National Geographic lists Barcelona first in the Top 10 Beach Cities, containing 7 beaches including easily accessible city beach Barceloneta with Rebecca Horn's wonderful rusting tower: