On a jetty alongside the town beach a loud phone call disturbs the peace of a handful of Spetses residents lying in the sun before taking their daily swim - one free pleasure still available to all.

Fashion business World's co-founder is a stranger to diplomacy, talks loudly and very fast and is never short of an opinion

Christopher Hirst discovers a strong appetite for street food as locals exercise their culinary creativity on Helsinki Restaurant Day.

The tiny Greek island of Symi remains steeped in tradition, discovers Lois Green.

Jason Burt finds much to love about the writer's favourite holiday villa.

The Independent's Simon Calder finds beautiful Mediterranean views are going begging as tourists avoid Greece during its summer of discontent.

Simon Winter finds you don't have to spend a fortune to take in the majesty of Switzerland's mountains.

This canton in the southwest of Switzerland is home to some of the country's most famous landmarks, including the Matterhorn and the Aletsch Glacier.

Jill Worrall heads across choppy waters to visit a former monastic site on a rocky Irish outcrop.

These two rocky outcrops off the coast of County Kerry support large gannet and puffin colonies. The larger of the two islands, Great Skellig, was also once home to a remote Christian monastery and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Belgrade's two rivers offer sunny strolls and lively waterside activity, writes Mary Novakovich.

Will Hawkes spends 48 hours in the city of Mozart's birth and finds there's more to it than music and marzipan.

The threat of volcanic eruption has done wonders for tourism in Iceland.

St Petersburg is full of treasure amassed by royalty, finds Susan Buckland.

This 'barn' getaway is design-fabulous and about as un-rustic as a cottage in mid-Wales can be. Light floods into the colossal living room upstairs through substantial glass panels cut into the sides and the gable end - but instead of delivering a Manhattan-style skyline, the panorama serves as an ever present reminder of rural bliss.

For further information see redkitebarn.co.uk.

Can accommodation be all things to all people? Samuel Muston checks in to find out.

Flip Byrnes mixes a guided tour of Italy's highlights with free-range sightseeing.

Hotel chains in the rowdy Mallorcan resort town are aiming to attract a more upmarket clientele as Spain's financial crisis bites.

A week in Denmark reveals best of island landscapes, writes Petra Reinken.