Late winter escapes: The world’s best places for an August holiday

Keen to escape Australia in August? Here are the countries and cities to visit for their summer, winter or welcoming dry season.

• by Brian Johnston

Tallinn, Estonia: How to escape its tourist-choked heart

"For us, there has not been much liberation," says our guide, with characteristic Baltic understatement.

• by Rob McFarland

Northern lights

Louise Goldsbury is bowled over by the charms of the Baltic.

Dreamy white Christmas

If you think the festive season is missing its magic, a wander through some of Europe's best Christmas markets will do wonders for your yuletide spirit, says Brian Johnston.

New beat in the Baltic

With a song in his heart, Adrian Bridge revisits Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia 20 years after independence.

Tracks winding back

A dreadnought fan from childhood, Steven Herrick takes to the city trams to explore Tallinn and Riga.

Ten towns a-trading

From Stockholm to Berlin via Budapest, Paul Ewart explores the best Christmas markets the Continent has to offer - where hand-made gifts, local delicacies and lashings of tradition are to be found.

Powered by a single voice

Tallinn's dark age has been banished, replaced by sweet sounds amid stunning surrounds, writes Richard Tulloch.