Latest from Europe

One night in Vienna's museums
A ramble through the many museums of Vienna reveals an enthralling peep show of curiosities for Jenna Hand.

Bad cabs: Taken for a ride?
Tourists are being taken for a ride by bad cabbies throughout Europe, writes Simon Calder.

Timberlake, Biel debut wedding rings
Newlyweds Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are snapped sporting their wedding rings after their hush-hush wedding.

Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel to wed this week?
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are set to tie the knot this weekend, according to reports.

Twelve Questions with Greg McGee
Greg McGee is the author of The Open Side, the biography of All Black captain Richie McCaw. He is also a literary gender bender: McGee

Germany: Not just the beer
Oktoberfest draws millions of visitors to Bavaria each year, but there's much more to this quirky German state.

France: Sleep deprived Parisians want less noise
A battle is raging on Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Denis, a shabby Paris street where hip bars are sprouting like mushrooms, and it's part of a wider war in the city pitching sleep-starved residents against nocturnal revellers.

1920s Downton daughters
The new season of Downton Abbey sees the Grantham sisters moving with the times.

Switzerland: Turn over a new leaf this autumn
While leaf-peeping in the Upper Engadine valley, Kate Simon welcomes the changing of the seasons.

England: Cornwall, as the adventure Butler saw it
From ballet on the beach to harvesting a hedgerow, a new company shows Kate Simon how to get the most from a UK holiday.

Postojna Caves, southern Slovenia
Cave landforms of Postojna, southern Slovenia. Photo / Jill Worrall

Slovenia: Lake Bled on two wheels
I'm hoping that cycling twice around Lake Bled in Slovenia will in some way offset the effects of eating one of the regional specialties - a custard slice that will absolutely never get a 'pick the tick' logo.

Italy: Splendid solitude fit for a monk
Brian Winer checks into the Castel Monastero in the Tuscan countryside near Sienabusy to reintegrate his mind, body and spirit.

Escaping Syria's civil war
Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

Spain: Welcome to low-key Menorca
Much smaller than Mallorca and less noisy than Ibiza, low-key Menorca is the Balearic island that can easily slip under the holiday radar.

Ship continues Sir Peter Blake's ocean work
A two-and-a-half year expedition by the ship on which Sir Peter Blake was murdered continues his work under the oceans.

Russia: Hijacked on the Prospekt
St Petersburg's main street is one long, fabulous distraction, writes Susan Buckland.

Venice: Eating gnocchi the Italian way
Gnocchi should be feather-light and smothered in a rich sauce, Peta McCartney discovers during a visit to a Venetian restaurant.