Latest from Europe

Europe: It's the little things that matter

A family holiday in Italy and France avoids the big towns and bright lights and finds the pleasures of rural living and small communities.

Brighton: Recharge by the seaside

Pebble beaches, promenades and cobblestone streets filled with quirky shops and pubs make Brighton endearing, finds Greg Bowker.

Ireland: Battle returns to the green fields

Ancient tombs, historic homes that played backdrop to combat - Ireland boasts loads of history to relish away from the paddock, writes Brendan Manning.

Cruising: Stories of real heroes

Thousands of graves stretching to the horizon remind Penny Lewis of the sacrifice made by so many.

Spain: Walking in the footsteps of the pilgrims

Between hailstorms and blisters, Sue Cocking finds the time to admire centuries-old cathedrals - and a genuine wine fountain.

Scotland: The heights of the Highlands

Paul Davies stands atop Bidean nam Bian pleased to bag a Munro and learn four new words to describe rain.

Confessions of a tour guide

On an escorted tour, travellers are treated to the best of Singapore, Spain, Italy and France, writes Carol Smith.

Europe: Top 5 Christmas markets

Europe's Christmas markets usher in a world of magical toys, local delicacies, beautiful decorations and bags of good cheer. These are the best Christmas markets, as chosen by users of booking.com.

Is VW the only one 'gaming' the system?

For Germans, VW is a huge part of their national identity and place brand, writes Mike Lee. It would be like a Kiwi finding out that Fonterra, purposely lied about the safety or nutritional value of its milk products.

EU's newest states put up the 'stay out' signs

While eastern Europe's new European Union member states are being asked to absorb the fewest, they are putting up the fiercest resistance to plans to spread the refugees more evenly across the 28-nation bloc.

Bar/fly: De Groote Witte Arend, Antwerp

You will be pleased to learn that beer can be paired with almost any dish, writes Charlotte McDonald-Gibson.

Paris: DIY maison

Andrew Alderson experiences the epicurean delights of the French capital from his fifth-floor house exchange.

Ageing Europe needs young immigrants

Europe, with its ageing population, needs to increase its younger population by several million to avoid a situation where pension systems grow unsustainable.

Panasonic to enter European solar power market

Battery frenemies Telsa, Panasonic poised for Solar power fight in Europe.

'This problem concerns all of Europe'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told fellow leaders that Europe has a duty to shelter refugees, rebuffing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Brian Fallow: Bad to worse - the Euro-future

Brian Fallow speaks to a New Zealand-based analyst who sees the EU sliding into paralysis and inevitable decay.

Bar/fly: Venice Film Festival

Venice's water cabbies steer Kevin Pilley to some of their favourite watering holes.

Cruising: Peace in the valley

The most scenic stretch of the Danube River is a haven for epicureans, writes Paul Rush.