Italy’s tourism industry reached another historic milestone in 2025, with more than 185 million arrivals recorded across the country as international demand for Italian culture, cities, beaches and cuisine continued to grow strongly. New figures from the Italian Interior Ministry’s ‘Alloggiati Web’ system show that total arrivals increased by 7.1% compared with 2024, rising from…
Tag: Florence
New generation Nightjet carriages to debut on Amsterdam–Zurich route in December 2026
From Sunday 13 December 2026, the ÖBB Nightjet connecting Amsterdam and Zurich will operate with the latest Nightjet New Generation rolling stock (with individual pod!), SBB-CFF-FFS has confirmed. The switch marks the final step in a fleet-wide renewal programme and brings the Amsterdam–Zurich service into line with other Nightjet corridors already benefiting from the modern…
European Sleeper pushes Brussels–Cologne–Zurich–Milan night train to 9 September 2026
The Dutch–Belgian cooperative European Sleeper has postponed the launch of its new Brussels–Cologne–Zurich–Milan night train to 9 September 2026, instead of the previously announced 18 June 2026. Ticket sales will open on 17 March 2026. The company states that the delay is primarily due to extensive infrastructure works in Germany and Switzerland, combined with the…
Nicosia 1st, Leuven 4th on Best European Cultural Destinations 2026 list
Looking for the ideal European city break in 2026, where heritage, creativity and everyday local life blend seamlessly? The Best European Cultural Destinations 2026 selection celebrates ten cities where culture is not a backdrop, but a living, evolving experience shaped by history, innovation and participation.
BRUSSELS AIRPORT | 2026 brings Chengdu, Palma de Mallorca, Oviedo, Gdańsk, Pristina…
Brussels Airport in Zaventem is heading into one of its most dynamic years in recent memory. As first revealed by Thibault Lapers on his Mobilithib blog, Belgium’s main airport expects a busy 2026 summer season with more than 4,000 weekly flights, underpinned by a wave of new routes, new airlines and long-haul expansion.
DENMARK | 2.5 days in Copenhagen
I turned 44 in June. I have this tradition – when possible – of not being in Belgium for my birthday. From Sweden in 2013 to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley in 2014, Lake Orta in 2015, Rome in 2016, London in 2018, North Carolina and Virginia in 2019, England in 2022, and Rotterdam…
Osaka wins, Brussels is 42nd: 2025 Yanolja Attractiveness Index for tourism
In 2025, Osaka in Japan has claimed the top spot in the Yanolja Attractiveness Index, overtaking Kyoto, also in Japan, (#3) and surpassing long-established tourism powerhouses such as Paris in France (#2), New York in the United States (#4), and Seoul in South Korea (#5).
REVIEW | Trenitalia Intercity Notte in Superior (Excelsior) Class
March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…
Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB launch Frecciarossa EuroCity trains linking Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Naples
Starting in December 2026, Trenitalia’s sleek Frecciarossa ETR1000 trains will begin linking major cities across Italy, Austria and Germany with five new daily EuroCity services. These international high-speed routes, developed in collaboration with Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, mark a significant expansion in European cross-border rail connectivity.
CRUISE REVIEW | 7 days on NCL’s Norwegian Getaway in the East Mediterranean Sea / Aegean Sea
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…