A quick guide to some of the places we think will be influential and important for leisure travellers in 2026

Switzerland's Christmas markets are among Europe's most atmospheric, from snowy Geneva and magical Bern to the spectacular market in Basel. Discover Swiss Christmas traditions, festive food, Glühwein, fondue and more.

Switzerland is famous for its mountains, lakes and immaculate towns, but it also has a remarkable collection of historic hotels. On a journey through the country I discovered some wonderfully atmospheric places to stay, from grand lakeside hotels to remote mountain retreats. These are the Swiss Historic Hotels that took me back into another era of travel.

Explore St Moritz and the higher Engadine in Switzerland, from the famous 1864 wager that created its winter reputation to its Alpine scenery, skiing, sunshine and White Turf horse racing.

A visit to Bern's historic Old Town reveals two fascinating landmarks: the medieval Zytglogge Clock Tower and the modest apartment where Albert Einstein lived during his remarkable years in Switzerland.

Discover the fascinating history of Emmental cheese in Switzerland, visit the Emmentaler Visitor Centre and learn how the famous holes are created and how this traditional cheese is made.

Basel's remarkable Rhine ferries cross the river without engines, using nothing but the current and a steel cable. Martin Hesp takes a memorable winter journey across the Rhine.

An epic travel novel that begins in the wild hills of Exmoor before sweeping through Greece, northern Italy and Switzerland in a compelling story of love, mystery and redemption.

A winter journey through Lucerne and the Swiss mountains, taking in the Lilu Festival, Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne, Vitznau, Weggis and spectacular Alpine scenery.

What happens when devoted Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts gather in the Swiss Alps? Join me on an unforgettable literary pilgrimage to Meiringen and the Reichenbach Falls, where fiction, history and spectacular mountain scenery come together in one remarkable adventure.

What happens when a lifelong non-skier tries to learn at Laax in Switzerland? Martin Hesp discovers beginner slopes, spectacular Alpine scenery, snow walks, sledging and the joys of the Swiss mountains.

A poetic recollection of Vitznau on Lake Lucerne, inspired by Mark Twain and Martin Hesp's own memories of dining beside the lake beneath the Swiss Alps.