Charity De Souza

Europe has a lot to offer for weekend warriors, with its top city breaks ranging from bustling capital cities to small-town charms. Whether you’re looking for culture, food, adventure or all three, these top weekend getaways in Europe offer a trip of a lifetime and suit all types of tastes.

Australia offers a wide range of adventures for couples, boasting anything from postcard-worthy white sand beaches and charming coastal towns to scenic hiking trails. These romantic destinations in Australia will sweep you off your feet, whether you prefer the natural beauty of the Whitsundays, a winery tour in Hunter Valley or a road trip through Tasmania.

The Caribbean conjures up postcard-perfect images of white sand beaches, emerald waters and palm-studded islands. However, many of the top destinations also include a hoard of tourists.

Dia de los Muertos, is a multi-day holiday celebrated to honour the cycle of life and death with colourful costumes, parades and parties. Ancient festival traditions date back to the time of the Aztecs, and in 2008 it was even added to the UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Central America offers travellers a chance to explore the rich history of the Mayas, which is considered one of the greatest ancient civilisations in the world. While there are hundreds of historic sites to choose from, we’ve created a comprehensive guide highlighting the best Maya sites to visit and some of our favourites.

The Scottish Highlands have the perfect ingredients for an epic road trip – gorgeous scenery, charming towns and villages and friendly locals. A Scottish Highlands road trip can vary in length depending how much time you’ve got and what you want to see, from dramatic mountain scenery and Nessie’s home to former battlefields and majestic castles.

Vienna is a fairytale capital city bursting at the seams with culture, known as a centre for music, art and cuisine. However, there are several exciting road trips from Vienna that travellers should also add to their itinerary, offering access to some of Austria’s most charming towns and picture-perfect landscapes.

Alaska is truly the Last Frontier, offering access to picture-perfect mountains, fjords, glaciers and wildlife viewing, from grizzly bears to whale watching. Intrepid travellers can see the best of Alaska and its natural scenery while hiking, fishing, skiing or visiting one of its national parks or plan carefully for the chance to see the Northern Lights.

While London, Paris and Rome are exciting cities to explore, there’s something magical about a small, picture-perfect European town that lures in even the most seasoned traveller. When the world opens up again, skip the big city tourist crowds and instead take a detour down the cobbled streets of one of these small-town gems in Europe.