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Take the train for a laid-back tour of the Côte d’Azur’s glitzy cities and lesser-known towns, jumping off to buy a slice of pissaladière, visit a museum or dip your toes in the sea.

This week’s dream: a spectacular rail tour of ...

It doesn’t get cosier than winter in the twinkly Hungarian capital

A new generation in this storied Chinese megacity is eschewing the fast-paced lifestyles of their parents and embracing fun, freedom and living life to the full — and Shanghai is adapting in interesting ways

Stretching across two continents separated by the Bosphorus Strait, this ancient Silk Road city was once the capital of both the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires. Crumbling hammams rub shoulders with striking contemporary buildings, while the call to prayer from Hagia Sophia mosque can be heard from the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene. Relive the Ottoman heyday in a Sultanahmet townhouse; book a boutique stay fuelled by cafes and galleries in Karaköy; or check in among the designer stores of Nişantaşı.

If you’re after some inspiration for your next city break, Barcelona surely ticks all the boxes: sun, sea, history and culture, along with everything you expect from a modern city – and all just a cou