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Brian Johnston

Brian Johnston

Travel writer

Brian Johnston seemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.

Spain offers the most opportunity to get off tramped trails … Albarracin in east-central Spain.

Europe’s 25 new must-do highlights

The second-smallest continent is not just about castles, cathedrals and baroque palaces. It’s time to discover the other hidden Europe.

  • Brian Johnston
Crowds at a section of the Great Wall of China during Golden Week.

Ten things travellers will never understand about China

Everyone holidays at the same time, there’s an obsession with giant, bizarre buildings, and it’s very different to how it’s portrayed in the Western media.

  • Brian Johnston
Zagreb’s main square and cathedral.

Europe’s most underrated capital has everything, except crowds

Here you can feel absorbed into the fabric of a growing, rapidly changing city that goes about its own business, rather than a place that feels like Disneyland.

  • Brian Johnston
Silversea in Antarctica.

There’s only one way to get to the ultimate bucket-list destination

Unless you’re a research scientist, you’ll only ever be able to land in Antarctica off a small expedition cruise ship.

  • Brian Johnston
Lisbon, Portugal… no end of sights and good things to eat and drink.

Port guide: Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is an Atlantic city but, thanks to a sparkling climate, orange trees and penchant for pastel paint and strong coffee, feels Mediterranean in its charms.

  • Brian Johnston
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The mesmerising prettiness of the Rhine.

How rivers can take you to some of the greatest places on Earth

These historical trade arteries connect cities and castles, palaces and pagodas and they provide easy transport routes through gorges and across deserts.

  • Brian Johnston
The Elbe and its sandstone massif.

Beyond the Rhine and the Danube: Alternative European rivers to cruise

Think you’ve done river cruising in Europe? It’s time to look beyond mainstream rivers at the marvellous range of alternative cruise destinations.

  • Brian Johnston
Gantheaume Point, Broome.

Port guide: Broome, Australia

This isolated West Australian town and gateway to the Kimberley has quirky character, multicultural history and a spectacular beach.

  • Brian Johnston
Madrid, Spain - 05 February, 2023: People walking in the Calle de Latoneros street. The public street is located in the animated city center, near the Puerta del Sol to Plaza. trav-europe-customs-202503062 cover story Europe Customs ; text by Brian Johnston

Ten parts of European culture we should embrace (and five we don’t want)

Ireland’s craic, Denmark’s hygge and Spain’s sobremesa are just a few of the local customs that should be embraced by travellers, no matter where they are.

  • Brian Johnston
P&O’s exclusive Byron Beach Club retreat will remain a fixture.

Beloved cruise line ends as Australian-based ships are reborn

Those lamenting the demise of iconic cruise brand P&O will find two of its ships sailing onwards and retaining some – but not all – of the familiar features.

  • Brian Johnston

Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/traveller/by/brian-johnston-hvf4e