Australia ’s coolest city sparkles throughout the year, from its balmy summer days that send locals splashing into the surf to chilly winter evenings that leaves the city’s cultural treasures free from tourist crowds and ripe for leisurely exploration.

Whether you want to know the best time to hit the beach, coincide your visit with standout events like the Melbourne Cup, or simply avoid the peak-season crush, here’s our guide on the best time to visit Melbourne.

High season: December-February

High season in Melbourne brings balmy summer nights, grand-slam tennis tournaments and music festivals to the city, creating a jovial atmosphere. Temperatures are hot, hot, hot (sometimes uncomfortably so) and the streets and beaches are busy with both international and domestic tourists.

Shoulder season: March-May and September-November

Shoulder season in Melbourne tends to align with the months of both spring and autumn. This is a great time to be in the city with fewer tourist crowds and cooler temperatures (meaning you won’t work up a sweat quite so quickly!). During September to November, footy-finals fever hits the city, before the horses start cantering in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

Low season: June-August

Low season coincides with Melbourne’s winter, bringing cold weather (by Melbourne’s standards anyway). In reality, temperatures rarely slide south of 10°C (50°F) during the day, making these months a great time for visitors who want to avoid crowds at the city’s best museums, galleries and markets. Plus, hotel prices tend to be cheaper too.

Here's a monthly guide to what you can expect through the year in Melbourne. All events are subject to change.

January

Often scorching, January's temperatures regularly push into the 40s for a few days in a row – but they can sometimes drop below 20°C for a few days too. It's school-holiday time, so beaches are crowded. Australia Day, a national public holiday, brings additional activity at the end of the month, as does the Australian Open, where the world's greatest tennis players brave the summertime heat. St Jerome's Laneway Festival, one of Melbourne’s biggest music events, also falls in January, making this a busy time to be in the city.
Key events: Australia Day; Australian Open; St Jerome's Laneway Festival

February

Another extremely hot month, but the kids are back at school, so you'll have more room at the beach. Nights can be uncomfortably warm and, although it's usually dry, there may be the odd thunderstorm. The lunar new year goes off with a bang in Chinatown as it's done for over 150 years, with dragons of the costumed variety roaming the streets. The date shifts between January and February.
Key events: Chinese New Year

March

Temperatures can still be unpleasantly hot at the beginning of the month but tend to cool down towards the end. Nights are noticeably cooler and it's generally fairly dry, excluding a few heavy downpours. Excitement levels ramp up a few gears for racing enthusiasts in March, as the Australian Formula One Grand Prix comes to town.
Key events: Australian Formula One Grand Prix

April

A particularly pleasant month, with warm days and cooler nights, though you might endure a couple of foggy mornings and strong winds. Rainfall is usually moderate but, this being Melbourne, that can't be guaranteed. Festivals, of both the comedic and food and wine variety, take place in April.
Key events: Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

May

Things cool down in May, with occasional overnight frosts towards the end of the month. Frost and fog generally give way to sunny days, but you'll probably strike some overcast and showery ones as well, with winter just around the corner. Good Beer Week, in May, celebrates all things ale, providing a good excuse to knock back local, interstate and international brews with like-minded obsessives at venues all over Melbourne.
Key events: Good Beer Week

June

Winter kicks in, with cold weather (well below 20°C, and as low as 2°C at night), sporadic frosts, plenty of fog and cloudy skies. Drizzle dampens spirits but rarely descends into heavy rain. Thankfully, June also plays host to the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, providing toe-tapping melodies to wipe away any encroaching winter blues.
Key events: Melbourne International Jazz Festival

July

July usually contains the year's coldest day, and plenty of layers of clothing are required to combat the icy winds. Fog descends and sometimes doesn't bother leaving, although it's usually gone by mid-morning. This is peak low season and tourist hotspots are quiet.

August

August is often the wettest month, although rain tends to fall more as drizzle and light showers than as heavy downpours. It's still cold, but a few days may creep above 20ºC.

September

Spring brings changeable weather, even by Melbourne standards. Be prepared for any combination of wet, dry, cold, warm, windy and calm – even in the same day! Considered by many as Australia’s biggest sporting event, the AFL Grand Final takes place in the city on the last Saturday in September, a game that carries the hopes and dreams of Melbourne's Aussie Rules footy fans – expect a fervent atmosphere.
Key events: AFL Grand Final

October

As changeable as September, October comes with even more variance in temperature: daily highs are just as likely to be below 15ºC as they are to be above 25ºC. There's a fair smattering of rain too. Fortunately, moods are easily buoyed by the Melbourne Festival, which sees the city's myriad stages and galleries filled with all manner of performances and exhibitions.
Key events: Melbourne Festival

November

Hot, cold, wet, dry – and completely unpredictable. Some November days swelter in the mid-30s, while others languish below 16ºC. Wild storms sometimes strike. The highlight of the month is undoubtedly the Melbourne Cup, one of the world's most famous horse races and the high point of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival. Everyone gets the day off and a party atmosphere prevails.
Key events: Melbourne Cup

December

Not as temperamental as November but still changeable weather. Hot day sometimes end in thunderstorms and sudden cool changes. Christmas, and all its accompanying festivities (and decorations) adds a crescendo to the month, followed by the annual Boxing Day cricket match at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The month ends in a bang, with half a million dollars' worth of fireworks lighting up the city’s skyline on New Year’s Eve.
Key events: Christmas; Boxing Day Test; New Year’s Eve

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When to go to Melbourne

Whether you’re a cold-weather camper, a summer backpacking fanatic or a cross-country road tripper, finding the perfect campground can be a challenge, especially when it comes to maximizing your scenery and minimizing the crowds.

While it’s easiest to stay in campgrounds that are already well visited, willingness to go off the beaten path goes a long way in the outdoors, and it can often pay dividends in the form of untouched views and quiet spots to take in the wilderness.

Here are the most scenic campgrounds in the USA. While a few of our favorite spots are located in popular national parks, most of the campgrounds offer some form of solitude from the main drag while still being ridiculously scenic, and a handful are open year-round.

Bartlett Cove Campground, Alaska

Set in Alaska's iconic Glacier Bay National Park, Bartlett Cove Campground is a beach camper’s dream. With spectacular views of the crystal blue glacial water and the promised seclusion of a hike-in camping destination, this remote campground consistently impresses on all fronts. The campground itself is free and offers visitors the chance to kayak the chilly waters of Glacier Bay as well as hike in the thick forest that covers the shoreline. Bartlett Cove is Alaska at its finest, and certainly its most scenic. Visit Bartlett Cove in summer for the longest days and the best views without the threat of icy cold temperatures of accumulating snow and ice.

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Silver Bell Campground, Colorado

Located outside of Aspen, Colorado, Silver Bell Campground is among the country’s finest for scenery and accessibility. With just 14 sites, the campground remains relatively quiet year-round, but it still manages to provide guests with once-in-a-lifetime views of aspen groves, Maroon Creek and the ever-spectacular Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Eager wildlife watchers can spot bighorn sheep, pika and other alpine critters with the 14,000ft Elk Mountains as a backdrop. Visit Silver Bell in late summer or early fall and watch as the aspens turn to gold around your campsite.

The great Colorado 'fourteener' road trip

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

If you’ve ever done the famous Haleakalā sunrise tour, then you know what’s in store for backpackers willing to go a little bit further to catch those stunning views. If not, Mark Twain may have summed up the sight of a rosy tropical dawn rising over this stunning volcanic crater best when he said it was “the sublimest spectacle I ever witnessed.” Contrary to what most visitors might think, you aren't limited to day hiking. The Haleakalā National Park backcountry also offers prime wilderness tent camping, with utterly unique views of sliding sand, jutting rock cliffs and rich vegetation. Grab a permit from the visitor center and set off on your island adventure to the hike-in sites and wilderness cabins. Visit Haleakalā National Park in the late spring or early fall to avoid the highest temperatures and most of the rainy season.

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Assateague Island, Maryland

One of the world’s most unique camping environments, Assateague Island in Maryland is a designated National Seashore, meaning that this little slice of east coast heaven is as pristine as it gets for scenic camping. The position and relatively scarce tree-cover on the island provide epic views across miles of ocean, and the walk-up or drive-up beachfront sites ensure that your view is never a matter of competition. The island is not only home to ever-shifting sands (as a barrier island, it is constantly moving as a result of strong waves and winds), but also a herd of wild horses, which attract sightseers from across the country. Assateague Island is open year-round, but it is best experienced in late summer and fall when temperatures are still warm enough to explore during the day but cool enough to be pleasant for the evening, waterline sunsets.

San Juan Islands, Washington

If you’re looking for the ideal balance between solitude and scenery, the San Juan Islands in Washington may just be your new favorite place. Jutting out of the chilly Pacific Ocean between Canada and Seattle, these islands are accessed by boat or float plane, which means that their scenic beauty and unique outdoor offerings are not as overrun as most of the Pacific Northwest’s iconic outdoor destinations. Between soaring bald eagles, resident orca pods and miles of virtually untouched shoreline, camping on the San Juan Islands is a wilderness lover’s dream. Whether you choose to camp in Friday Harbor, the most popular and accessible part of the San Juan Islands or you opt to make the backcountry kayak trek to Jones Island, the 188-acre Marine State Park that is part of the San Juans, you’ll be greeted with beautiful landscapes at every turn. While the best time to visit the San Juans is during the summer, April and October are usually slightly less crowded but still offer the chance to view migrating orca pods and enjoy the island’s best hikes in dry weather.

Where to eat, stay and play in Washington's San Juan Islands

Caladesi Island, Florida

Among the most underrated camping spots in the country, the iconic yet rarely visited Caladesi Island State Park is a bonafide wonderland for campers seeking the perfect combination of epic views, relaxing beach time and winding hiking trails. Located on Florida's west coast, Caladesi Island is a boat-only destination, making it an easy choice for folks hoping to escape the majority of the coastal crowds. As one of the only untouched regions on the Gulf Coast, Caladesi Island is an incredible opportunity to spend time in a well-maintained protected area with meandering, beach-front trails, wildlife watching, and premium space to kayak and swim. The crystal clear ocean and abundant natural flora and fauna make Caladesi Island a top choice for scenery-driven campers. Land camping is not allowed, but the marina has water and electricity hookups for overnight boat stays. Visit Caladesi Island in April or May before the southern summer heat kicks in and well before peak hurricane season.

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Tuolumne Meadows Campground, California

While busier than some of the other campgrounds on this list, Tuolumne Meadows manages to capture the best of Yosemite National Park 's soaring granite walls and cascading waterfalls without the pressing crowds of Yosemite Valley. Enjoy trails that transport you to epic views, or visit Tenaya Lake for the perfect summer picnic and the chance to swim, canoe or relax on the beach. At 8600ft, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground provides sweeping views of the trademark Sierra Nevada subalpine meadows, including gorgeous summertime wildflowers that sprout along the banks of the Tuolumne River beneath towering granite domes for which Yosemite is so well known.

How to spend your first visit to Yosemite National Park

Mount Pisgah, North Carolina

When it comes to Mount Pisgah, it’s not just the campground that inspires awe in its visitors, but the road to get there too. Dubbed "America’s favorite drive," the Blue Ridge Parkway escorts visitors through some of the Southeast USA’s finest terrain – sky-high blue spruce, lofty mountain peaks and bright wildflowers – before reaching Mount Pisgah Campground. Although it's not a remote campground, Mount Pisgah offers guests the chance to stay in close proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park without overnighting directly in the crowded park campgrounds. In addition, Mount Pisgah Campground provides premium access to dozens of trails featuring some of the region’s most beautiful wilderness. At just under 5000ft in elevation, Mount Pisgah offers cooler temperatures throughout the hot summer months and an all-encompassing view of surrounding Appalachian territory. Visit in early summer to savor the late spring alpine blooms and beat the heaviest crowds heading to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A fall road trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains of the USA

Grand Canyon North Rim Campground, Arizona

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include at least one campground in the vicinity of one of the world's most fantastic natural spectacles. For decades, visitors to Grand Canyon National Park have stood in awe before the stretching landscape of red rock, coursing river, and high desert flora and fauna. The North Rim Campground allows visitors to sleep on the plateau of land separating Roaring Springs Canyon and Transept Canyon, bordered by the famous North Rim Transept Trail. Travelers lucky enough to snag a spot at this coveted campground will be treated to unearthly sunrises as light streams into the canyon in the early mornings, as well as world-class stargazing. Sites at the North Rim Campground book up fast, and the North Rim is open only from mid-May to mid-October. Visit during the fall if you’re hoping to beat the high summer temperatures and the bulk of the crowds.

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A land of snow-capped mountains, mirror lakes and lush forest, New Zealand comes up on many travelers’ bucket lists. Before you book your flights, however, it’s important to make sure you have all your paperwork in order. Here’s all you need to know about whether you need a visa for New Zealand, and how to get one if you do.

What you need to know about visas in New Zealand

Residents of Australia and the United Kingdom do not need visas to travel to New Zealand and can easily visit the country. Australian residents can stay in New Zealand for as long as they like, while visitors from the United Kingdom can stay for up to six months.

In addition, over 60 countries have visa waiver agreements with New Zealand, including the USA and most European countries. This means that residents from these countries do not need visas to visit New Zealand for up to 90 days.

To enter the country, residents of visa waiver countries (including the UK) need to fill out an Electronic Travel Authority (NZETA) before arriving in the country. These can take up to 72 hours to process, so visitors need to fill out the form online before they leave for New Zealand.

The best time to go to New Zealand

Residents of other countries will need to apply for a visitor’s visa, which allows tourists to spend up to nine months in the country. The easiest way to do this is online. Visas can take a little while to process, so be sure to apply in advance.

For those wanting to stay a little longer, working holiday visas are available to young people from many different countries. Working holiday visas are usually open to people aged 18-30 (or 18-35 for some nationalities) who want to travel and work in New Zealand. These visas are usually valid for up to 12 months or 23 months for travelers from the UK and Canada.

All visitors to New Zealand need to hold passports that are valid for at least three months after their planned departure dates. They should also have return tickets or enough money to buy return tickets.

What you can bring into New Zealand

As an island country, New Zealand has many rare plants and trees, and a strong commitment to biosecurity. To protect its unique environment, there are strict rules about what is and is not allowed in the country.

Any items which could present a biosecurity risk need to be declared when entering the country, including food, plants, animal products and outdoor equipment (like sports or walking shoes). Travelers should check the guidelines before traveling and ask border staff if they have any doubts about the items they are carrying.

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Do you need a visa to go to New Zealand?

Those heading to Toronto will find a bright and bustling city, filled with museums, art galleries, towering skyscrapers and more than 1500 parks and green spaces.

Canada’s largest city is a cultural phenomenon, with residents from around the world and scores of languages, foods, customs and celebrations – they’re what make it great. Here are some fabulous things to do to make the most from your trip there.

CN Tower

Riding one of the glass elevators up the CN Tower is one of those things you just have to do in Toronto. Dominating the city's skyline, the 553m communications spire stands over the city like a beacon. Three observation levels reveal unforgettable views and even Niagara Falls can be seen on a clear day.

There are floor-to-ceiling windows, glass floors and an 'EdgeWalk' for those with the backbone to walk around the perimeter of the main pod. With no fence and no windows, it's just you, tethered to a track. Even if you don't visit, you're bound to catch a glimpse of the tower at night: the entire structure puts on a brilliant (free) light show year-round.

Discover street art

Every neighborhood has a little street art, encompassing everything from graffiti to commissioned murals. Look around and you'll find examples hidden down forgotten streets in the Financial District, adorning brick walls in the Annex neighborhood and the east end, and covering entire facades in the Village, Kensington Market and the west end.

The most popular – and perhaps the most photographed – location is Grafitti Alley, a collection of myriad artists' works that spans three blocks just off Queen St West. Highly Instagrammable and perfect for colorful selfies.

St Lawrence Market

Opened in 1845, St Lawrence Market has been part of the city's fabric for almost 175 years. It's a foodies' paradise, with more than 120 vendors selling fresh produce, meats, cheeses and all manner of prepared foods at South Market. Come here to poke around and to graze. Weekends bring the farmers and antique markets, and both are worth checking out.

Inside the old council chambers upstairs, the Market Gallery has rotating displays of paintings, photographs, documents and historical relics, while next door, cooking workshops and special events are held at the Market Kitchen.

Hockey Hall of Fame

The mecca of Canada's national sport, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a spectacular labyrinthine museum in the Financial District. Inside, multimedia exhibits showcase the greats – icons and players of the game. Visitors walk through a recreated Montréal Canadiens' locker room, watch documentaries and movies, and even shoot pucks at video-projected National Hockey League goalies.

Even those unfamiliar with the rough, super-fast sport are likely to be impressed by the world's largest collection of hockey memorabilia. Don't miss the goalie-mask wall, with rows and rows of personalized face shields. And, of course, be sure to take a pic with the beloved Stanley Cup, the championship trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff winner.

Royal Ontario Museum

Opened in 1914, the multidisciplinary Royal Ontario Museum is Canada's biggest natural-history museum. The permanent collection features more than six million specimens and artifacts, divided between natural history galleries and world culture galleries.

There's also a 'discovery zone' where kids can handle skulls, pelts and stuffed wild animals. Free docent-led tours are offered daily, and you can expect to learn about everything from ice-age mammals and hardwood forests to Chinese temples and religious masks.

Distillery District

Once the Gooderham and Worts distillery, the largest distillery in the British Empire, the Distillery District is now a fabulous collection of restaurants and coffee shops, art studios and galleries, performance spaces and specialty boutiques. The setting is a beautifully-preserved Victorian industrial complex – think red brick, cobblestone walkways and imposing buildings.

In summer, expect live jazz, activities, exhibitions and foodie events. In winter, a festival of lights and a Christmas market lure people out from the warmth. Year-round, the place is buzzing.

Art Gallery of Ontario

One of the country's finest museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario has a wide collection ranging from 15th-century European art to contemporary American works. The highlights are the Canadian pieces, including Inuit and other aboriginal sculptures and paintings and landscapes by Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven - a famous group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920 to 1933.

And, of course, the spectacular redesign of the building itself by renowned Canadian architect Frank Gehry is a treat by itself. There's a surcharge for special exhibits, but visits to the permanent collection on Wednesday evenings are free. Several highly recommended – and free – tours are offered throughout the week.

Kensington Market

A relatively small enclave north of downtown, Kensington Market is multicultural Toronto at its most interesting. It's not a constrained market as much as a working residential neighborhood. The antics in Bellevue Square Park tell you all you need to know about this eccentric – some say just plain weird – area. Yes, there’s a swing set, but it’s literally child’s play compared to the bongo drumming circles, tightrope walking, fire hula-hooping and occasional boomerang tossing that keep the big kids busy.

If you pop along, you’ll find flavors from around the world, pocket-size stores selling vintage books and clothing, bikers and dreadlocked urban hippies. These co-exist happily alongside residential houses, eateries and traditional shops like butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers and cheese merchants.

Read more: Toronto’s Kensington Market: a loveable hodgepodge

Biking on the Toronto Islands

For great cycling adventures, head to the serene Toronto Islands, an archipelago of 15 islands with quiet neighborhoods, pleasant beaches, vehicle-free roads and lakefront paths – an unexpected treat in a city of almost six million people.

Bike from beach to beach, explore the different islands - several are connected by bridge - and stop for a snack with a spectacular view. Bikes can be rented on-island at Toronto Islands Bicycle Rental or brought from the mainland. The islands are only accessible by ferry, and the 15-minute trip reveals some of the best skyline views in the city.

Edwards Gardens

In the district of North York, this former estate garden features annuals, wildflowers, peaceful waterfalls and extensive rockery as it sits along Toronto’s ravine system. The arboretum has been magnificently installed next to the Children's Teaching Garden, allowing toddlers and little ones to interact with the environment.

Adjacent to the park is the Toronto Botanical Gardens. More than 3.7 acres of land make up 17 unique gardens like the Pollinator Garden with Urban Bee Hives, the Kitchen & Herb Garden and the striking Carpet Beds, which hold 15,000 plants and carry on the tradition of Victorian carpet bedding.

Scarborough Bluffs

For stunning outdoor views, head to Scarborough Bluffs where lakeshore cliffs with cathedral-spire formations expose evidence of five glacial periods. Spanning 14km from Rosetta McClain Gardens to East Point Park, there are several trails that allow visitors to enjoy meadows, forests, beaches, wetlands and spectacular views across Lake Ontario.

The highest section, grassy Cathedral Bluffs Park (65m), makes a great photo op. About 6km east is Guild Park, a serene 36-hectare lakefront forest filled with architectural relics and sculptures from the 1950s to the 1970s. The bluffs also created one of the best beaches in Toronto, Bluffer’s Park Beach, which has soft sand, shallow water and a couple of good swimming spots. It's also the best place to appreciate the jutting cliffs and spires.

Read more: Top 9 beaches in Toronto

Legoland Discovery Centre

It may not be a full-fledged theme park, but Legoland Discovery Centre is loved by kids. It especially appeals to younger ones, who delight in its collection of hands-on, educational Lego-centric attractions, including an earthquake table, a 4D cinema and a Lego factory.

Located a 30-minute drive northwest from Toronto’s downtown, the attraction has two children's rides and three-million bricks – enough to keep young hands busy for the day. There's a themed café with family-friendly selections, and the locale is part of a large shopping mall, adding extra appeal for parents who might want some retail therapy after the family excursion.

High Park

Located west of downtown Toronto, High Park spans more than 398 acres. The family-friendly park has a playground, public pool, picnic areas, off-leash dog space and sports facilities, and is known for its famous cherry blossoms, which bloom in April and May.

Numerous trails and nature walks can be taken in the summer, and in winter, the park is covered in a white blanket of snow making cross-country skiing a beloved activity. The park's Grenadier Pond is a popular fishing spot and when it freezes over, it's used for skating. One popular attraction is Shakespeare in High Park, which has been produced in the park's amphitheater every summer for almost 40 years.

Go to a festival

Toronto plays host to great annual festivals, including Toronto Fringe Festival, which offers more than 150 productions over two weeks in early July. Jazz, blues and soul blaze in Toronto's streets, nightclubs and concert halls during the Toronto Jazz Festival in late June, when more than 1500 musicians entertain across the city.

Music-lovers can safely write off 10 days in mid-June for the North by Northeast festival, where a plethora of indie bands and comedy acts perform at some of Toronto's coolest venues, including nontraditional ones such as streetcars and ferries. Then there's Luminato, an international arts festival dedicated to performance, media and visual arts. It takes place in venues across Toronto each June in a celebration of creativity that reflects the city's diversity.

Explore Toronto's food scene

Toronto has more than 7000 restaurants, representing a phenomenal range of tastes, cultures and experiences. Each neighborhood has its own trademark: the Financial and Entertainment Districts have fine dining and celebrity chefs, while Kensington Market and Chinatown are all about hole-in-the-wall eats and homegrown talent. Dining halls featuring a variety of cuisines and communal tables have popped up around town. Assembly Chef's Hall is a fine place to start.

There are two festivals that showcase Toronto's culinary scene annually - Summerlicious in July and Winterlicious in January. Over 200 top restaurants participate in these extravaganzas, offering high-end dinner and lunch options in three price categories to showcase the city's culinary diversity.

Admire architecture

Well-informed volunteers from the Royal Ontario Museum lead ROMWalks, one- to two-hour historical and architectural walking tours taking in some of the city's lesser-known but most interesting buildings and neighborhoods. Most, but not all, walks are free.

Over the fourth weekend of May, several public and private buildings of architectural and historical significance take part in the Doors Open Toronto event, allowing visitors to sneak a free peek at what's hot and what's not in other people's digs. Book ahead for walking tours and big-name buildings such as City Hall and Union Station.

Harbourfront Centre

The heart of the Waterfront district is the Harbourfront Centre, a cultural megastar made up of more than two dozen waterfront venues, including parks, outdoor stages, theaters and galleries.

An artistic powerhouse, this 4-hectare complex educates and entertains through a variety of year-round performances, events, festivals and exhibits. The main building houses the well-respected Craft & Design Studios, where the public can watch artists-in-residence at work.

Bata Shoe Museum

Shoe-lovers know that it's important in life to be well shod, which is a stance the Bata Shoe Museum takes seriously. Impressively designed by Raymond Moriyama to resemble a stylized shoebox, the museum houses a collection of 13,000 'pedi-artifacts' from around the globe spanning 4500 years; only 3% to 4% are on view at any given time.

Peruse 19th-century French chestnut-crushing clogs, Canadian indigenous polar boots or famous pairs worn by Justin Timberlake and Pablo Picasso. Some of the museum's most famous shoes are ballroom slippers worn by Queen Victoria, Elton John’s monogrammed silver and red platform boots, Elvis Presley’s white and blue patent loafers, Marilyn Monroe’s red leather stilettos, Madonna’s platform Dolce & Gabbanas and the Dalai Lama’s flip flops.

Rogers Centre

Sports fans may want to check out the Rogers Centre, one of the largest stadiums in Canada with over 53,000 seats. Technically awe-inspiring, it opened in 1989 with the world's first fully retractable dome roof primarily to serve as a baseball stadium for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tours include a brain-scrambling video wall screening footage of past sporting glories, concerts and events, and you can also check out the stadium's memorabilia museum.

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is a major public gallery devoted to collecting the art of Canada. Handcrafted buildings set amid 40 hectares of conservation trails contain works by the Group of Seven, as well as by First Nations, Inuit, Métis and other acclaimed Canadian artists.

It's a 34km drive from Toronto and totally worth the trip. A sculpture garden and the graves of gallery co-founders Robert and Signe McMichaels and six of the Group of Seven artists are also on-site. Free tours are included with admission Wednesday through Sunday.

Toronto Music Garden

Toronto Music Garden is one of the city's most magical locations on the waterfront, designed in collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The landscape expresses Bach's Suite No 1 for Unaccompanied Cello, from the Prelude – conveying the feeling of a river flowing through a stream – to the Gigue – inspired by an English dance where spirited music is interpreted as a series of giant grass steps that offer harbor views.

Design features include the arc-shaped grove of conifers, a swirling path through a wildflower meadow and an outdoor amphitheater where free classical performances are given.

Casa Loma

Toronto's only castle may never have housed royalty, but Casa Loma certainly has grandeur, lording over the Annex neighborhood from a cliff that was once the shoreline of the glacial Lake Iroquois. You may have seen it in various movies including X-Men, The Pacifier and Chicago.

The 98-room mansion – an architectural hurricane of castellations, chimneys, flagpoles, turrets and Rapunzel-esque balconies – was built between 1911 and 1914 for Sir Henry Pellatt, a wealthy financier. A self-guided audio tour will lead you through the four levels of the Edwardian mansion as well as the 800ft tunnel to the stables, and the top floor houses a military museum.

Pride Toronto

Toronto's most flamboyant event celebrates the diversity of sexuality and gender identity, with a whole month of community events, workshops and gatherings, most of which are free. There are numerous individual events, party collectives and two festival weekends, with everything based around community, education and celebration.

The festival culminates with the Trans March, Dyke March and Pride Parade events at the end of June, when the streets around Church and Wellesley heave with over a million revelers.

Canada's Wonderland

Amusement-park lovers will want to trek to Canada's Wonderland, located 25 miles north of Toronto. It features more than 200 attractions, including 17 rollercoasters, two children's areas and a 20-acre water park called Splash Works.

Wonder Mountain is the park’s centerpiece and is 150 feet high at its tallest peak, with a 60-foot high waterfall. If you have the nerve, check out Leviathan, the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Canada with a summit that reaches a height of 93.3m.

Heritage Toronto

Heritage Toronto provides a diverse offering of fascinating historical, cultural and nature walks and bus tours. Led by museum experts, neighborhood historical-society members and emerging historians, they take visitors through parks, to well-known landmarks, and through the many neighborhoods that make up Toronto.

Tours aim to commemorate the city’s rich heritage and the diverse stories of its people, places and events. The website also offers a handful of downloadable self-guided tours.

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Germans are whizzes at moving people around the country, and its public transport network is one of the best in Europe. There are many methods of transport for traveling, but the best ways of getting around Germany are by train and by car.

Plane

Flying in Germany is only useful for longer distances. Unless you’re flying from one end of the country to the other, say Berlin to Munich or Hamburg to Munich, planes are only marginally quicker than trains once you factor in the time it takes to get to and from airports. The German government is also starting to encourage travelers to skip short-haul flights in favor of the train. Most large and many smaller German cities have their own airports, and numerous carriers operate domestic flights within Germany. Lufthansa has the densest route network.

Train

Germany has an extensive network of long-distance and regional trains with frequent departures. They are fairly expensive, but deals are often available, especially if you book in advance. Germany’s rail system is operated almost entirely by Deutsche Bahn, whose website has detailed information in English and other languages, as well as a ticket-purchasing function. Flixtrain offers low-cost journeys on a handful of routes.

Tickets for Deutsche Bahn trains may be bought using a credit card up to 10 minutes before departure at no surcharge. You will need to present a printout of your ticket, as well as the credit card used to buy it, to the conductor. Smartphone users can register with Deutsche Bahn and download the ticket via the free DB Navigator app. Tickets are also available from vending machines and agents at the Reisezentrum (travel center) in train stations. The latter charge a service fee but are useful if you need assistance with planning your itinerary.

Tickets sold on board incur a surcharge and are not available on regional trains. Agents, conductors and machines usually accept debit cards and major credit cards. With few exceptions (station unstaffed, vending machine broken), you will be fined if caught without a ticket.

Car

German roads are excellent and driving around the country can be a lot of fun. The country’s pride and joy is its 6800-mile (11,000km) network of autobahns (freeways). About every 30 miles, you’ll find elaborate service areas with gas stations, bathrooms and restaurants, and many are open 24 hours. In between are rest stops ( Rastplatz), which usually have picnic tables and bathrooms. Autobahns are supplemented by an extensive network of Bundesstrassen (secondary "B" roads, highways) and smaller Landstrassen (country roads). No tolls are charged on public roads.

If your car is not equipped with a navigational system, having a good map or road atlas is essential, especially when negotiating the tangle of country roads. Navigating in Germany is not done by the points of the compass, meaning that you’ll find no signs saying "north" or "west." Rather, you’ll see signs pointing you in the direction of a city, so make sure you have a map.

Driving in German cities can be stressful because of congestion and the expense and scarcity of parking. In city centers, parking is usually limited to parking lots and garages charging up to €2.50 ($3) per hour. Some parking lots ( Parkplatz) and parking garages ( Parkhaus) close at night and charge an overnight fee. Many have special parking spaces for women that are especially well lit and close to exits.

The 10 best road trips in Germany

Bus

Buses in Germany are cheaper and slower than trains, but the country's long-haul network is expanding. Regional bus services fill the gaps in areas not served by rail. Because the bus network has grown enormously in recent years, exploring Germany by bus has become easy, inexpensive and popular. Buses are modern, clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. Most bus companies offer snacks, beverages and free on-board wi-fi.

Fierce competition has kept prices extremely low. A trip from Berlin to Hamburg costs as little as €8 ($9.70), while the fare from Frankfurt to Munich averages €15 ($18.20). Flixbus and Eurolines are the biggest operators, but there are dozens of smaller, regional options as well. A handy site for finding out which operator goes where, when and for how much is Bus Radar.

Boat

Considering that Germany abuts two seas and its interior is filled with lakes and rivers, don’t be surprised to find yourself in a boat at some point. For basic transport, ferry boats are primarily used when traveling to or between the East Frisian Islands in Lower Saxony; the North Frisian Islands in Schleswig-Holstein; Helgoland, which also belongs to Schleswig-Holstein; and the islands of Poel, Rügen and Hiddensee in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania.

Scheduled boat services operate along sections of the Rhine, the Elbe and the Danube rivers. There are also ferry services in river sections with no or only a few bridges, as well as on major lakes such as the Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg in Bavaria and Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg.

Germany's best beaches

Bicycle

Germans love to cycle, be it for errands, commuting, fitness or pleasure. Cycling is allowed on all roads and highways but not on the autobahns (freeways). Cyclists must follow the same rules of the road as cars and motorcycles. Helmets are not compulsory (not even for children), but wearing one is common sense. Dedicated bike lanes are common in bigger cities.

Germany's best cycling routes

Public transport

Germany's cities and larger towns have efficient public transport systems. Bigger cities, such as Berlin and Munich, integrate buses, trams, U-Bahn (underground, subway) trains and S-Bahn (suburban) trains into a single network. Fares are determined by zones or time traveled, sometimes by both. A multi-ticket strip or day pass generally offer better value than a single-ride ticket. Normally, tickets must be stamped upon boarding to be valid. Fines are levied if you’re caught without a valid ticket.

Ride-sharing

An inexpensive and sometimes eco-friendly way to get around in a private car in Germany is ride-sharing. It's not the Uber-style of ride sharing common elsewhere; instead, you travel as a passenger in a private car in exchange for some gas money. Most arrangements are set up via free online ride boards, such as BlaBlaCar and Mitfahren. You can advertise a ride yourself or link up with a driver going to your destination.

Taxi

Taxis are expensive and, given the excellent public transport systems, not recommended unless you’re in a real hurry. Taxis can actually be slower than trains or trams if you’re stuck in traffic. Cabs are metered and charged at a base rate (flagfall) plus a per-kilometer fee. These charges are fixed but vary from city to city. Some drivers charge extra for bulky luggage or night-time rides. Smartphone owners can order a taxi via the Mytaxi app (downloadable for free via iTunes or Google Play) in more than 30 German cities.

Uber is not widely used in Germany after a court ruled in 2019 that it did not have the necessary licenses. While the case is taken to a higher court, Uber continues to operate in seven German cities – Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart – but unlike in some other countries, Uber contracts with German taxi firms to provide its rides.

Accessible transportation in Germany

Germany is fairly progressive when it comes to barrier-free travel. Access ramps and elevators are available in many public buildings, including train stations, museums, concert halls and movie theaters. In historical towns, though, cobblestone streets make getting around difficult. Newer hotels have elevators and rooms with extra-wide doors and spacious bathrooms.

Trains, trams, underground subways and buses are increasingly accessible. Some stations also have grooved platform borders to assist blind passengers in navigating. Seeing-eye dogs are allowed on all forms of public transport. For the hearing impaired, upcoming station names are often displayed electronically on public transport.

Some car rental agencies offer hand-controlled vehicles and vans with wheelchair lifts at no charge, but you must reserve them well in advance. In parking lots and garages, look for designated spots marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Click here to download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guide.

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While the Italian dining scene has become increasingly sophisticated over the last few decades, incorporating new food trends such as food trucks and raw bars, the family run trattoria is still the country’s most popular eatery. Traditional dining habits also remain strong, and different venues retain clearly defined roles. One thing to remember: don’t judge a place by its decor. Fantastic food can be served anywhere in Italy. But how do you know an enoteca from a tavola calda, and which one is right for you?

Lonely Planet's new book Eat Italy is the complete companion to Italy’s cuisine and food culture, covering everything from regional specialities to restaurant etiquette and essential phrases, helping visitors get the most out of their gastronomic experience. From the frenetic energy of pizzerias to warm third-generation-run trattorias, from chic bars laden with apertivi banquets to modern osterie restaurants, this extract from Eat Italy will help you pick your dining experience according to your mood and your pocket.

Agriturismo

An agriturismo is a working farm offering accommodations, as well as food made with farm-grown produce (some serve meals for lodgers only). They are generally very reasonably priced and rustic, serving typical local food that the farmer’s family has been cooking for years. Most are open only for dinner and weekend lunches.

Bar/caffè

The Italian bar/caffè is a wonderful institution, open all day long (usually from 7:30am to 10pm), serving breakfast pastries, lunchtime sandwiches, spuntini (snacks) and aperitivi alongside coffee, soft drinks, basic cocktails and wine. When ordering at a busy bar, do so at the till ( cassa), then take your receipt and repeat your order to the bartender. If the bar is quiet and/or you are known there, the bartender make take your order and you pay at the end. There is no hard and fast rule on this – just watch what the locals do.

Birreria

Usually seen in the north of the country, a birreria is a bar that specializes in selling beer (usually local labels) alongside the usual café offerings. In the far north, don’t be surprised to see someone leaning on the bar and drinking a beer for breakfast.

Braceria and rosticceria

A braceria serves a meat-focused menu, often with a counter displaying different cuts of meat. The selected portion is then cooked to order on an open grill. In the south, many bracerie adjoin the local butcher's shop. A rosticceria (roastery) is a similar concept, but serves roasted meat instead and also offers the ubiquitous roast-chicken takeaway.

Enoteca

Italians rarely drink without eating, and you can eat well at many enoteche, wine bars that usually serve snacks such as bruschette (grilled bread topped with tomatoes), crostini (toasts with toppings) and platters of cheeses or cold meats, salads, and a few simple hot dishes.

Gelateria

Eating gelato is as much a part of Italian life as morning coffee – in Sicily, ice cream in a brioche bun is a favorite breakfast snack. In artisanal gelaterie, flavors are strictly seasonal and ingredients sourced from the best locations (pistachios from Bronte, chocolate from Turin etc). In summer, sorbetti (sorbet) and grattachecca (literally "scratched ice" topped with fruit and syrup) also hit the menu. Most gelaterie open from noon to 1am.

Osteria

In the past, osterie were family run places specializing in one dish and a vino della casa (house wine). Similar to a trattoria, their focus is on well-priced, traditional cooking. Modern osterie can be quite trendy, and usually sport short dinner-only menus featuring deceptively simple dishes based on regional ingredients.

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Paninoteca

With a rough translation as a bread roll ( panino) place ( -teca), this is a specialist sandwich shop. Even the simplest of fillings, for example prosciutto and pecorino, can be a joy to eat. Most paninoteche are open during normal daytime hours.

Pasticceria

Italian sweets and pastries have many influences. Pastry-making was a traditional pastime of nuns, who would sell their wares on festive occasions. The Sicilian sweet tooth is influenced by Middle Eastern flavors, while chocolate was brought to Sicily and Naples by the Spaniards. In the north, pasticcerie are modelled on French patisserie parlors and Austrian cake shops. Pasticcerie also double as cafés, with sweet and savory pastry. Most open from 7am to 7pm.

Pizzeria

Every Italian’s favorite casual (and cheap) meal is a gloriously simple pizza with a bubbling topping. Most Italians precede their pizza with a starter of bruschette (grilled bread topped with vegetables, usually tomatoes) or fritti (mixed fried foods), and wash it down with beer. Pizzerias often only open in the evening, as their wood-fired ovens take a while to get going. For a snack on the run, pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) places are open daily.

Ristorante

For Italians, restaurants represent fine dining venues with dressed tables, smart waiter service, sophisticated menus, comprehensive wine lists and correspondingly higher prices. Italians usually reserve restaurant dining for dates or special occasions rather than everyday meals.

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Spaghetteria

Spaghetterie are simple places that originated in the street-stalls of Naples, where punters could buy simple bowls of spaghetti with a choice of sauces. The name implies no-frills but generally delicious pasta and secondi, with correspondingly low prices. Spaghetterie are found predominantly in the south, but are less common these days.

Tavola calda

The old-school fast food venue, a tavola calda (literally "hot table") serves inexpensive pre-prepared pasta, meat and vegetable dishes which you line up for, usually with a tray, cafeteria style. Most are open all day from about 11am.

Trattoria

Traditionally, trattorias are family run places that offer a basic, affordable local menu. The food is homemade and hearty and the service down-to-earth and amiable. Quality can vary in major tourist cities, but outside of these hot spots the cooking is usually reliably good. Trattorias generally open for both lunch and dinner.

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Eat Italy: learn about Italian food culture with Lonely Planet's new book

Dallas isn't usually hailed for its ties to nature (unless you mean the grass on the Dallas Cowboys ' home field), but this glittering city on the plains is home to a variety of parks, greenways, urban trails, and even the largest urban bottomland forest on earth. In fact, there are over 400 parks in the city's system, running the gamut from fairgrounds to lakes to jogging trails.

In coming years, Dallas will also be home to the massive 200 acre Harold Simmons Park, which will be centered around the Trinity River and designed to absorb floods as well as provide a place for Dallasites to play  – though that's still under construction. Until then, there's lots to see and do outdoors, from historic plazas and places to meditate to gathering places for yoga and golf to places perfect for a picnic or a photo op. If you're looking for a park in Dallas, Texas, these are our favorites.

1. Klyde Warren Park

It's a little like Dallas' version of New York's High Line – this fun park is perched over where the buried Woodall Rodgers Freeway runs underground. Its 5 acres get packed easily, both with Dallasites looking for a place to let the kids get their wiggles out and with activities ranging from chess and croquet to yoga classes, tai chi, salsa lessons, bootcamp fitness classes, and a bevy of food trucks.

There's a dog park with a fenced space for off-leash play, a children's park, and a stage for performances like Shakespeare in the park. Close to the Dallas Arts District, it's easy to reach Klyde Warren on the M-line streetcar, or walk over from nearby attractions like the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Collection of Asian Art.

2. Trinity Overlook Park

The Trinity Overlook is a pocket park that provides access to the floodway and offers views of the Margaret McDermott and Margaret Hunt Hill Bridges just next to the Commerce Bridge. It offers great views of the Dallas Floodway and shade from the sun thanks to a permanent, architectural sail. It's a good place to cool down after a walk or run on the 4.6 mile Trinity Skyline Trail that runs from the Overlook to Trammell Crow Park. It's also the lovely vantage point for sunrises and sunsets – and on the rare occasions when it really snows, you can sled down the sides of the levee.

3. Fair Park

Fair Park was originally built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, and its gorgeous art deco aesthetic reflects its nearly century-old history.  Today, Fair Park is home to seven museums, including the African American Museum, Children's Aquarium, Hall of State, the Discovery Gardens, and Perot Museum of Nature & Science at Fair Park.

Don't miss saying hello to Big Tex, a statue who also happens to be the tallest cowboy on earth. Every half hour, there's a water show set to music at the Esplanade Fountain, while at the Leonhardt Lagoon you can paddle around on a classic swan boat. The Texas Skyway and Texas Star are classic fairground attractions – a gondola ride and ferris wheel respectively, where you can get a bird's eye view of this pretty park. Fair Park is also host to happenings large and small on the Dallas events calendar, from the epic annual State Fair to bike races, sustainability symposia, and even special visiting experiences like the NERF Challenge.

Fair Park can be reached on the DART Rail Green Line, the Trinity Railway Express, or the Denton County A-train. There are 14,000 parking spaces in lots around the park suitable not only for cars but also buses and RVs. Bike racks are situated at the Dos Equis Pavilion and at the DART stations. Keep in mind that public transit to Fair Park during a major event like the State Fair can get packed quickly.

4. Lakeside Park

Every picnic is a teddy bear picnic at Lakeside in the tony Highland Park neighborhood – this whimsical wooded space is filled with statues of enormous teddies that flip the usual size differential you have to your favorite stuffies. It's understandably popular for family portraits and Instagram snaps, but there are also 14 acres laced with walking trails, azaleas and a picturesque bridge across Turtle Creek. If you get really ambitious, the Turtle Creek Greenbelt Trail connects here and will take you nearly two miles, including through nearby Reverchon Park.

5. Stevens Park Golf Course and the North Oak Cliff Greenspace

Nestled in a tony corner of Oak Cliff, the Stevens Park Golf Course is one of the city's oldest public courses, founded by Jackie Burke Senior in the 1920s. Despite its PGA pedigree and affluent setting, it's remained popular for its affordable green fees, easy access from downtown, and pretty views. In 2012, the North Oak Cliff Greenspace was added, connecting Stevens Park with the Coombs Creek Trail, as well as several neighborhoods. The NOCG features fitness stations and art installations and plenty of lawn for spreading out with a blanket. Upkeep is sponsored in part through an annual golf tournament on the Stevens Park links.

6. Pioneer Plaza and Cemetery

Pioneer Plaza is home to a herd of 40 bronze longhorns sculpted to honor the cattle drives that once defined Dallas and Fortworth, and they're a fun sight to see. Nearby is the final resting place of many early Dallas settlers, with gravestones from the 1850s through the 1920s. The Pioneer Cemetery makes for a shady, evocative place amidst the city's roar. You'll find locals walking their dogs amongst the scattered tombstones, which harken back to four cemeteries that originally sat here, including graveyards for members of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges, as well as Dallas' original Jewish cemetery.

7. White Rock Lake Park

Dallas has a bit of a love-hate relationship with water, which seems to come either too much in the wrong places (like the Trinity River Floodplain) or not enough where and when it's needed, as was the case in the early 20th century when Dallas damed White Rock Creek to create a reservoir. By the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps helped the city of Dallas turn the shores of the man-made lake into the city's back yard.

By day there are almost 10 miles of trails for hiking and biking, picnic facilities for rent, the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, an Audubon Society bird-watching area, dog park, boat ramps, piers, and a kayak, SUP and canoe rental kiosk. There's a weekend Farmers Market and all sorts of events hosted throughout the year from charity walks and marathons to concerts. The Corinthian Sailing Club and White Rock Boat Club are located here, too – fishing is popular.

After dark, generations of kids have been scared silly by White Rock Lake's own resident ghost story. Legend has it the Lady of the Lake, clad all in white, haunts the shore asking motorists for a ride back home or knocking on nearby residents doors – only to disappear, leaving behind a damp puddle and an eerie chill.

8. Dealey Plaza and the Grassy Knoll

Dealey Plaza was originally built in 1935 to commemorate the original settlement of Dallas, which was centered around this plot. But it's infamous as the site of the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy, and the tangle of conspiracy theories that have made the adjacent Grassy Knoll a synonym for intrigue and paranoia. Grab a blanket and a good book on Texas history or Cold War-era politics and post up on the Grassy Knoll for a place to chill in the midst of the city.

9. Dragon Park

Tucked away in Oaklawn at Cedar Springs and Hood Street, Dragon Park is a curious magnet for photographers full of statues of lions, angels and, yes, dragons. There is a beautiful ironwork gazebo amidst the gravel walkways and ornamental trees. Just keep in mind that this pretty garden is technically private property, so be extra respectful.

10. Thanks-Giving Square

Cue up your favorite Insight Timer flow or mindfullness podcast – this Philip Johnson-designed downtown pocket park is intended as a 'place where people can use gratitude as a basis for dialogue, mutual understanding and healing.' There's a meditation garden, an interdenominational chapel you might recognize from the 2011 film The Tree Of Life, a museum on themes of gratitude, and even a Wall of Praise which features a mosaic take on Norman Rockwell's "Golden Rule" painting.

11. Bark Park Central

Under the US75 overpass in colorful Deep Ellum is Bark Park Central, 1.2 acres of furry fun where dogs can play off-leash and humans can enjoy the shade. Like the rest of the neighborhood, Bark Park is decorated with murals, particularly those with a canine theme. There are dog showers, drinking facilities, and a pet waste station available to keep Fido feeling fresh. You can get a sipper or snack for yourself at nearby Trinity Cider or the pizza joint Cane Rosso, both of which are pet-friendly  – in fact, Cane Rosso's owners also run a pet rescue.

12. Dallas Heritage Village

Dallas Heritage Village is especially fun for families and history buffs  – you can see an Indigenous tipi, a farmhouse that dates back to the Civil War, the Victorian Blum house, a general store, and preserved dwellings where enslaved people once lived. The 38 structures here were rescued from various places around the metroplex, from Plano to the site of the DFW airport, and are grouped in the historic Old City Park to give a sense of life in 19th century Texas. Field trips are common here when school is in session, and kids love the demonstrations of blacksmithing and other frontier skills. Surrounding the old train depots and schoolhouses are rolling acres of park and farmland where you can stretch your legs.

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France offers world-class art and architecture, Renaissance châteaux, and iconic landmarks alongside phenomenal cuisine, a vast coastline, and Alpine glaciers. So how do you decide where to go on your visit to France? To help you plan your trip, here are the country's highlights.

Paris

The city of Paris is awash with world-class landmarks that need no introduction, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe and Sacré-Cœur among them, along with a trove of smaller specialist museums and galleries. More than six million people visit the Eiffel Tower annually – and from an evening ascent amid twinkling lights over a flute of Champagne to a lazy lunch in one of its restaurants, every visit is magical.

But a just-as-integral part of Paris' attraction is simply flânerie – city strolling without any particular destination in mind. You'll discover lesser-known sights, from innovative parks and hidden squares to vibrant street art, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Mont St-Michel, Normandy

The dramatic play of tides on this abbey-island in Normandy is magical and mysterious. Said by Celtic mythology to be a sea tomb to which souls of the dead were sent, Mont St-Michel is rich in legend and history, keenly felt as you make your way across the bridge – or barefoot across rippled sand – to this stunning architectural ensemble.

When the tide is out, you can walk all the way around Mont St-Michel, a distance of about 0.6 miles (1km), with a guide (doing so on your own is very risky). The Mont’s one main street, the Grande Rue, leads up the slope – past souvenir stores and places to eat – to the abbey. Be prepared for lots of steps, some of them spiral – it’s one of the least accessible sites in France.

Chamonix

Mountains loom large almost everywhere you look in Chamonix, the iconic ski resort in the French Alps. This is the birthplace of mountaineering and winter playground to the rich, famous and not-so-famous. Snow-sports fiends fly down slopes on skis or boards in order to savor the breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains. But there's absolutely no obligation to do so: nonskiers can hop aboard the Aiguille du Midi cable car – and onwards to Italy aboard the Télécabine Panoramique Mont Blanc – for the ride of a lifetime above 3800m. In summer months, enjoy hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

D-Day Beaches

A trip to the peaceful D-Day Beaches, broad stretches of fine sand and breeze-blown bluffs, is one of France's most emotional journeys. On June 6, 1944, beaches here became a cacophony of gunfire and explosions in what was the largest seaborne invasion in history, the bodies of Allied soldiers lying in the sand as their comrades-in-arms charged inland.

Just up the hill from Omaha Beach, the long rows of symmetrical gravestones at the Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial bear solemn, silent testimony to the profound price paid for France's liberation from Nazi tyranny. Caen ’s Le Mémorial and Bayeux ’ Musée Mémorial provide comprehensive overviews of the events of D-Day. Dozens of villages near the landing beaches also have museums focusing on local events.

Carcassonne

Perched on a rocky hilltop and bristling with zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne in the Languedoc looks like something out of a children’s storybook when seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it’s most people’s idea of the perfect medieval castle – that first glimpse of it is enough to make your hair stand on end.

To properly savor this fairy-tale walled city, linger at dusk after the crowds have left, when the old town belongs to its 100 or so inhabitants and the few visitors staying at the handful of lovely hotels within its ramparts. Don't forget to look back when you leave to view the old city, beautifully illuminated, glowing in the warm night.

Champagne

Known-brand Champagne houses in the main towns of Reims and Épernay are famed the world over. But much of Champagne 's finest liquid gold is created by passionate, small-scale vignerons (winegrowers) in drop-dead-gorgeous villages, rendering the region's scenic driving routes the loveliest way of tasting fine bubbly amid rolling vineyards.

Cellar visits reveal the magical processes – governed by the strictest of rules – that transform the world’s most pampered pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grapes into this Unesco World Heritage–listed region’s most fabled wines. Explore the region’s best Champagne museum, the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin, in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, followed by a tasting and lunch in the village at Le Mesnil.

The Loire Valley

If it's aristocratic pomp and architectural splendor you're after, the regal Loire Valley is the place to linger. The valley is riddled with beautiful châteaux sporting glittering turrets and ballrooms, lavish cupolas and chapels. To be dazzled by architecture, you can’t top the big three: François I’s country extravaganza Chambord; Renaissance-era, river-spanning Chenonceau; and the supremely graceful – and superbly furnished – Cheverny. Unsurprisingly, these are also the valley's most visited châteaux.

If you're a hopeless romantic seeking the perfect fairy-tale castle, head for moat-ringed Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry and its gardens, and less-visited Château de Beauregard. Flowing for more than 620 miles (1000km) into the Atlantic Ocean, the Loire is one of France's last fleuves sauvages (untamed rivers) and its banks provide a 1000-year snapshot of French high society.

Nice and the Three Corniches

With its mix of real-city grit, old-world opulence, year-round sunshine, vibrant street life and stunning seaside location, Nice is extraordinary. Officially there are 25 named beaches strung out along the Baie des Anges, some of which are free, others of which are for paying clientele. One of the best ways to appreciate the coastline though is outside the city on the roads between Nice and Monaco.

The Three Corniches is a dramatic trio of coastal roads, each one higher and with more hairpin bends than the next. It's impossible to drive this route without conjuring up cinematic images of Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock, the glitz of Riviera high life, and the glamour of the Monaco royal family – all while absorbing views of the sweeping blue sea fringing Europe's most mythical coastline. To make a perfect day out of it, shop for a picnic at the cours Saleya morning market before leaving Nice.

france’s -10-most-stunning- road - trips -link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-road-trips-france">France’s 10 most stunning road trips

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Lyon

Outstanding museums, a dynamic cultural life, busy clubbing and drinking scenes, a thriving university and fantastic shopping lend Lyon a distinctly sophisticated air. Lyon is also said to be the gastronomic capital of France. Here, adventurous gourmands can indulge in their wildest foodie fantasies, and won't want to leave the city without sampling some Lyonnais specialities in a bouchon (small bistros). Local cuisine together with quaint culinary customs, such as totting up the bill on the paper tablecloth, or serving wine in a glass bottle wrapped with an elastic band to stop drips, make Lyon's bouchons unique.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes

Southern France has no shortage of superb Roman sites, but nothing can top the Unesco World Heritage-listed Pont du Gard, which lies about one mile (2km) south of the village of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. One of the most impressive surviving Roman ruins in Europe, this exceptionally well-preserved aqueduct is a definite highlight in any trip to France. Thirty-five arches straddle the Roman aqueduct's 275m-long upper tier, containing a watercourse that was designed to carry 20,000 cubic meters of water per day.

At the visitors center on the left, northern bank, there's an impressive, high-tech museum featuring the bridge, the aqueduct and the role of water in Roman society. View the bridge from afloat a canoe on the River Gard and take your swimming gear for some daredevil diving and high jumping from the rocks nearby. Pont du Gard is an easy day trip from towns such as Nîmes, Uzès and Avignon, but there are also a couple of places to stay within walking distance.

Dune du Pilat, Pyla-sur-Mer

It is for one reason alone that most people venture as far as pretty Pyla-sur-Mer : to excitedly scamper up, and frolic on, the curvaceous sands of Europe's largest sand dune. The Dune du Pilat is a "mountain" that has to be climbed – and gleefully romped down at speed. Not only is the coastal panorama from the top a stunner – ogle at the Banc d'Arguin bird reserve and Cap Ferret across the bay – but nearby beaches have some of the Atlantic Coast's best surf. Cycle here from Arcachon and feast afterwards on locally farmed oysters and crepinettes (local sausages) at a 1930s hunting lodge, aka the-place-to-be-seen La Co(o)rniche.

Route des Vins d'Alsace is packed with places to sample the region's wines © Esperanza33 / Getty Images" data-embed-button="images" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"","image_link":""}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="6c782e70-ffe2-4228-a7e9-cf3cc4a92a81" data-langcode="en" title="Vineyards of Alsace in France">

Alsatian Wine Route

The Route des Vins d'Alsace is one of France's most popular drives – and for good reason. Motoring in this far northeast corner of France takes you through a kaleidoscope of lush green vines, perched castles and gentle mist-covered mountains. The only pit stops en route are half-timbered villages and roadside wine cellars, where fruity Alsace vintages can be swirled, tasted and bought. To be truly wooed, drive the Route in autumn, when vines are heavy with grapes waiting to be harvested and colors are at their vibrant best.

Carnac's megaliths

Spreading out across the plains inland from the Baie de Quiberon is one of the great wonders of the ancient world – a huge complex of ancient stone alignments, 3000 menhirs constructed by Neolithic people between 5000 BCE and 3500 BCE. The best way to appreciate the stones' sheer numbers is to walk or bike between the Ménec and Kerlescan groups. Pedaling past open fields dotted with these mysterious megaliths gives a poignant reminder of Brittany 's ancient human inhabitants.

No one knows for sure what inspired these gigantic structures to be built. A sun god? Some phallic fertility cult? Afterwards, try to unravel the mystery from the soft-sand comfort of La Grande Plage, Carnac ’s longest and most popular beach, with a 2km-long stretch of pearly white sand.

Southern France's hilltop villages

Impossibly perched on a rocky peak above the Mediterranean, gloriously lost in back country, fortified or château-topped… Southern France's portfolio of villages perchés is vast and impressive, and calls for go-slow touring – on foot, by bicycle or car. Most villages are medieval, built from golden stone and riddled with cobbled lanes, flower-filled alleys and hidden squares silent but for the glug of a fountain. You'll find spellbinding views of the Med and windy pebbled lanes in magical Èze near Nice. Gordes is arguably the most dramatic of all the Luberon's hillside villages. Combine a village visit with lunch alfresco – Restaurant Dan B near Aix-en-Provence is one such dreamy address that you'll never want to leave.

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Article first published in June 2012, and last updated in June 2021.

14 of the best places to visit in France

Summer travel is underway in Europe as nine countries have already begun to issue the European Union's (EU) digital COVID-19 certificates ahead of schedule.

What is the EU digital COVID-19 cert?

The certificate tracks EU citizens' COVID-19 status; indicating if the holder has been vaccinated or has tested negative for the virus, or has recovered from infection. Individual countries will issue their own certificates. Each hospital, testing center or health authority has its own digital signature, and all of these signatures are stored in a secure database in each country and verified across the bloc in a technical system, or "gateway" that went live last week.

How does it work?

The digital certificate is stored on a mobile device, and citizens can also request a paper version. Both will have a QR code that contains essential information, as well as a digital seal to ensure the certificate is authentic. Once they hold the certificate, every EU citizen or third-country national legally staying or residing in the EU should be exempt from free movement restrictions, including quarantine and additional testing "unless they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard public health".

Read more: What countries can I travel to if I’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine?

Is it free?

Yes, the cert is free of charge.

What countries are issuing it?

The system is currently being tested for citizens and visitors in Spain, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and Poland before its formal launch in July, when it's expected to be taken up by the rest of the EU member states. These countries have up to six weeks to implement the digital cert after the regulation governing it comes into effect on July 1. The certificate also applies to non-EU members of the European Schengen zone, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

What vaccinations are approved?

EU countries will accept vaccination certificates for vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), including the Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. However, member states may decide to accept travelers who have received another vaccine, such as those listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use.

Can children get a cert?

The EMA has approved the use of the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15. Non-vaccinated children may need to present a negative PCR result to travel to certain countries but generally children can present a negative test result or recovery certificate. The EU commission has ruled that children under the age of six are exempt from any testing requirements.

Can I use the digital COVID-19 cert if I'm traveling to Europe from outside the EU?

As the digital COVID-19 certificate gets underway, the EU is also working to open the bloc to vaccinated citizens from third countries, including the US, for non-essential travel this summer. It will also permit citizens from low-risk countries to enter and will publish a list of these accepted countries in the coming days. Currently there are only eight countries on the safe list, including Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

Ultimately member states have the last say on their border controls and will decide whether they will accept proof of vaccination to waive travel restrictions for third-country citizens, though some countries such as France are already welcoming vaccinated American tourists.

Meanwhile, the UK has launched its own digital certificate. As it is no longer part of the EU, the UK is not included within the plans for the European digital health certificate. Its National Health Service (NHS) app—originally devised to book medical appointments and order repeat prescriptions—has been expanded to display the holder's testing and vaccination status. The EU is currently in talks with the UK about expanding its COVID certificate to cover its residents but for now restrictions apply due to concerns over the spread of the Delta variant throughout the UK.

This article was originally published on March 18, 2021 and updated on June 11, 2021.

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