The 2025 Europ Assistance Holiday Barometer reveals changing travel habits shaped by climate, politics and practicality.
Tag: Portugal
Seventeen EU countries condemn Hungary’s pride and protest ban as human rights groups launch legal challenge
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage across Europe, the Budapest police have formally banned an LGBTQIA+ march scheduled for 1 June 2025, citing its resemblance to Budapest Pride. This is the first known use of Hungary’s newly enacted ‘Anti-Pride’ law, and it has triggered an intense backlash from human rights organisations, 17 European…
RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2025 | United Kingdom, Hungary and Georgia drop dramatically on LGBTQIA+ rights ranking
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has dropped six places on this year‘s ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Rainbow Index, as Hungary and the Republic of Georgia also register steep falls following anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across…
France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st
France, Spain, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and Italy are the most visited countries in the world. Belgium ranks 41st, the Netherlands 20th. Not only the 193 member states of the United Nations are counted, but also other top level domains such as Hong Kong (17th).
BRUSSELS PRIDE 2025 | Pride Week, parade and programme highlights
The highlight of highlights for prides is the pride parade or Pride March. This year, the Brussels Pride parade is on 17 May. And 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. This year, the theme ‘Unite, time to protect our rights‘ will call for a society where everyone’s fundamental…
M HKA 2025 | Bruno Zhu – Panamarenko – ‘The Situation is Fluid’ – Today’s Place – Hugo Roelandt
On a Thursday in April 2025, I visited both FOMU, Antwerp‘s photography museum, and M HKA, the museum of contemporary art in Antwerp. They’re situated in the same neighbourhood, at the Zuidpark. And with my museumPASSmusée, it’s ‘free’. Or better: included.
SPARTACUS GAY TRAVEL INDEX 2025 | USA and Eastern Europe under observation
Iceland joins the world’s most LGBTQIA+ friendly travel destinations for the first time, according to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2025. The gay travel guide keeps a close watch on Eastern Europe and the United States of America. Belgium ranks now 12th.
Switzerland, Czechia and Belgium top railway network density in Europe
In 2023, the European Union railway network had 200,947 km of railway lines, with the highest densities being found in and around main cities and other population hubs, a Eurostat blogpost reveals.
Madrid – Lisbon night train set to return in 2025 ahead of AVE
The governments of Spain and Portugal are advancing negotiations to reactivate the Lusitânia night train, which will reconnect capitals Madrid and Lisbon before the long-awaited AVE high-speed rail.
QUESTION | Should you be scared of travelling to South Korea?
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, capital Seoul, the historic city of…