Basel — Travelrags

AfarOct 14, 2026

Forget the Heat and Crowds of Summer. The Newest Trend in Europe Cruises? A Fall Harvest Wine Sailing

Fall cruises through Europe’s wine regions offer a unique glimpse at a magical time for wine production: harvest season.

24 things in this story

Amawaterways' Celebration of Wine river cruisesPlaceCelebrations of Wine sailings during harvest time
AmaLuciaPlace156-passenger ship for Rhine River sailing
Elsewhere
Guggenheim Museum BilbaoMuseumBilbao, SpainFrank Gehry–designed contemporary art museum
Quinta do ValladoRestaurantDouro Valley, Portugalproducer of red and white table wines and port
Silver SpiritPlaceLisbon, Portugalluxury small-ship line Silversea Cruises
S.A.L.T Culinary VoyagesPlaceLisbon, Portugalfocus on regional food and wine traditions
Château Prieuré-LichineRestaurantMargaux, Francehistoric Grand Cru estate
Château MargauxRestaurantMargaux, Francehistoric wine-trading dates back to 15th century
BermeoNeighborhoodBilbao, Spainhistoric fishing town with Txacoli winetasting
Santiago de CompostelaParkVigo, Spainpilgrimage trail hike past farms and forest
Marché des CapucinsMarketBordeaux, Francemarket for oysters and fries
S.A.L.T. KitchenRestaurantLisbon, Portugaldined on Portuguese specialties with complimentary wines
S.A.L.T. LabPlaceLisbon, Portugalcooking classes with induction stovetops
S.A.L.T. BarRestaurantLisbon, Portugalpre-dinner drinks focused on regional harvest ingredients
pastel de nataCaféLisbon, Portugalsweet Portuguese egg tarts originated in convents
SeishinRestaurantLisbon, Portugalspecialty Japanese restaurant with uni and truffle
La DameRestaurantLisbon, Portugalserves classic French fare with wine pairings
La TerrezzaRestaurantLisbon, PortugalItalian restaurant with truffle gnocchi alfresco
Château Villa Bel-AirRestaurantGraves, Francefull-bodied red wine from Graves
Zagara SpaPlaceLisbon, Portugalfitness center with outdoor fitness equipment
Silversea's Grape Harvest cruisesPlaceLisbon, Portugaltwo grape harvest cruises scheduled in 2027
Silver DawnPlaceLisbon, Portugal596-passenger ship for Grape Harvest sailing
RüdesheimNeighborhoodRhine River, Germanyhistoric riesling winemaking town
Windstar's Culinary & Wine cruisesPlaceAthens, GreeceCulinary & Wine cruise with chef and vintners

Read the full piece at Afar →

The GuardianSep 6

‘Fabulous museums and no queues’: five of the best under-the-radar city breaks in Europe

From the Renaissance treasures of Parma to offbeat creativity in Nantes, these cities offer world-class art, great food and a laid-back alternative to Europe’s hotspots As dilemmas go, it’s an unusual one: saddle up a giant squid or board a submersible for a voyage to the bottom of the ocean. In the end, I find myself drawn to a fierce-looking merhorse and tentatively take the reins. High above…

25 things in this story

KunstmuseumMuseumHolds over 300,000 works spanning eight centuries
Museum TinguelyMuseumHome to the work of sculptor Jean Tinguely
VolkshausBeer gardenBoutique hotel in the old town
Elsewhere
Carrousel des Mondes MarinsSightNantes, FranceSteampunk merry-go-round inspired by Jules Verne novel
Les Machines de l’ÎleAttractionNantes, FranceArt and regeneration project on abandoned quays
Grand ÉléphantSightNantes, France12m-high mechanical pachyderm carrying passengers
Galerie des MachinesAttractionNantes, FranceLearn about the magic behind the machinery
Le Voyage à NantesFestivalNantes, FranceTransforms streets into open-air art gallery
La CigaleRestaurantNantes, FranceArt nouveau brasserie serving seafood platters
Les AnneauxPublic artworkNantes, FranceGiant steel rings framing views of the Loire
Belvédère de l’HermitageViewpointNantes, FranceViewing platform inspired by a swallow’s nest
Ligne VerteTrailNantes, FranceGreen line painted on pavement linking highlights
Passage PommerayeAttractionNantes, FranceExquisite 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcade
Château des ducs de BretagneAttractionNantes, FranceMoated 15th-century castle
Musée d’arts de NantesMuseumNantes, FranceHouses international art spanning seven centuries
Jardin des PlantesParkNantes, FranceCharming botanical garden with modern art
Lieu UniqueSightNantes, FranceCultural space and concert venue in former LU biscuit factory
Jardin ExtraordinaireParkNantes, FranceGarden and climbing wall in disused granite quarry
Little Atlantique BreweryPubNantes, FranceBrewery housed in a 19th-century former oil mill
Cité des ImaginairesSightNantes, FranceRiverside cultural hub in a derelict industrial building
Oceania Hôtel de FranceHotelNantes, FranceHotel just off the Place Graslin
Winter’s JourneyFestivalNantes, FranceSeasonal festival of concerts and light installations
Fondation BeyelerMuseumRiehen, SwitzerlandImpressive collection of modern and contemporary art
Vitra Design MuseumMuseumWeil am Rhein, GermanyLargest permanent exhibition of modern furniture design
VitraHaus CaféCaféWeil am Rhein, GermanyServes a delicious lunch

Read the full piece at The Guardian →

Lonely PlanetJul 31

The 11 best places to visit in Switzerland

Here are the best places to visit in Switzerland, from fairly-tale towns to the mighty Matterhorn.

17 things in this story

RhineSightRiver straddling Basel, good for sundown drinks and wild swims.
Elsewhere
Jungfrau regionNeighborhoodBern, SwitzerlandHighlight of Switzerland’s mountainous Bernese Oberland.
EigerSightBern, SwitzerlandIt is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau…
MönchSightBern, SwitzerlandTogether with the Eiger and the Jungfrau, it forms a highly recognisable group of mountains, visible from far away.
JungfrauSightBern, SwitzerlandTogether with the Eiger and Mönch, the Jungfrau forms a massive wall of mountains overlooking…
JungfraujochSightLauterbrunnen, SwitzerlandEurope’s highest train station, reached via rail from Lauterbrunnen.
Zytglogge clocktowerSightBern, SwitzerlandEye-grabbing clocktower in Bern's medieval Old Town.
Kindlifresserbrunnen fountainSightBern, SwitzerlandFountain immortalizing a mythical giant said to snack on children.
Einstein-HausMuseumBern, SwitzerlandWhere Einstein developed his theory of relativity.
KunstmuseumMuseumBern, SwitzerlandExhibits an outstanding fine arts collection.
Zentrum Paul KleeMuseumBern, SwitzerlandCelebration of Swiss painter Paul Klee.
Aare RiverSightBern, SwitzerlandAction moves to the water in summer for swimming and rafting.
MatterhornSightZermatt, SwitzerlandGnarled fang of rock soaring above Zermatt.
Matterhorn Glacier ParadiseTrailZermatt, SwitzerlandCable car station with views of glaciers and 4000m peaks.
Testa GrigiaSightZermatt, SwitzerlandIt overlooks the Plateau Rosa section of the Theodul Glacier on its east side.
Camping EichholzPlaceBern, Switzerland
Marzili LidoSightBern, Switzerland

Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →