The beautiful Italian city that's the country's 'treasured secret' with flights for under £20
An Italian city has been described as the country's 'treasured secret' with a beautiful coastline.
According to Lonely Planet, Genoa is one of the world's best cities to visit in 2025 and one of Italy 's best hidden gems.
A port metropolis on Italy's northwest coast, Genoa was the 26th most visited city in Italy in 2017 with far fewer tourists than the likes of Venice and Rome.
Lonely Planet reveals: 'Few places in Italy are "undiscovered", but Genoa feels like a treasured secret.
'With a new high-speed-train connection in the works, now is the time to seek out this stately city with superlative culinary chops, a stunning seaside and a well-earned reputation as one of Italy's most historically and culturally vibrant cities.'
Genoa has one of the world's largest medieval town centres. Within its depths, tourists will discover a labyrinth of caruggi (alleyways) packed with historic monuments.
Cathedral San Lorenzo was built in 1098 and is said to hold the ashes of Genoa's patron saint, St John the Baptist.
The city's caruggi are also packed with independent shops, some of which date as far as back as the 1600s.
Romanengo 1780 is Italy's oldest sweet shop and many of its colourful creations are still made by hand.
Tourists seeking the coast can head to tiny Boccadasse, a former fishing village, which Lonely Planet describes as having 'Cinque Terre vibes'.
Buses run to the small colourful village which is one of Genoa's prettiest places to enjoy a gelato. It also has a picturesque pebble beach with easy access to beach bars.
Children will love the Aquarium of Genoa, which is the city's best-rated attraction on Tripadvisor. It's home to dolphins, sharks and hundreds of other species.
When it comes to eating, Genoa is the home of one of the UK's most beloved pasta sauces.
Pesto originates from Genoa and is traditionally served on trofie pasta or focaccia. Genoa's indoor food court, the Mercato Orientale, is one of the best places to try the city's fresh produce.
When to go to Genoa
Genoa is warmest in July and August when temperatures can reach as high as 28 degrees. Unlike southern Italy, the city doesn't tend to suffer from heatwaves in the summer.
The city has a fairly busy cruise port and the season tends to run from April to October.
How to get to Genoa
Ryanair operates direct flights from London Stansted to Genoa, with one way fares currently available from £18.99 in August.
Alternatively, tourists could fly to Milan and then take a direct train to Genoa. easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair are among the airlines to offer direct flights to Milan.
Day trip destinations from Genoa
If you'd like to combine your trip to Genoa with a visit to destination, it takes around an hour and a half to get to the Cinque Terre from the city.
Milan is under two hours away by train while tourists can also cross the border into France and reach Nice in around three hours by rail.
Both Pisa and Lucca are also around two hours away on the train.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The clampdown 'killing' one of Turkey's most popular holiday towns: How a curfew, ban on dancing and soaring pint prices is 'ruining' Marmaris for Brits
With its picturesque cobblestoned streets and its breath-taking coast with waters a shade of blue you would never spot in the UK, the beautiful resort town of Marmaris grips you within a heartbeat. As one local put it, it is surrounded by 'beaches like Miami, waters like the Maldives and mountains like Canada '. But it is something else entirely that draws in the British en masse… the streets of Armutalan. A strip known for little to do with landscapes and more to do with neon lights, extravagant dance shows, topless barmen and sparklers. According to the 'fun pubs' up and down the main street, more than 90 per cent of their customers are British. One pub owner even went as far as suggesting, '99 per cent British!' Over the years the area became popular for British families and young couples wanting to go out, dance, and let loose on holiday while still being able to have a seated table and look after their children - with many even having dedicated kids play areas. But it also controversially became known for young barmen taking their tops off and dancing on table tops for the 'entertainment' of older women on the hunt for foreign 'boytoys'. To find out exactly what the strip is like once the sun sets, especially as a solo female traveller, I visited the renowned Armutalan at 10pm. Having been to strips across the likes of Ibiza and Malaga, I braced myself for the worst. I arrived there expecting to see drunken Brits breaking out into fist fights, creepy barmen harassing you to come in for 'free drinks' and yobs looking for the perfect opportunity to rob your phone in the busy crowds. But I was taken aback when all I witnessed was a warm welcome at 'fun pubs' where music was booming, families were dancing to British classics, and no-one was coercing you into stepping in. In a refreshing change, I did not find myself constantly looking over my shoulder to check if my drink had been spiked or if I was in any danger. What I did witness, however, was a dying street that was until recently mobbed with people. Venues that would by now in the holiday season be rammed with dancing Brits stood close to empty, with most barmen 'too scared' to dance or encourage customers to get up out their seats for a boogie. The drastic change in atmosphere came after 14 pubs were closed down a few weeks ago over floating restrictions which include a new curfew on music and lights being turned off at the stroke of midnight and bars entirely closed by 12.30am. It adds to bans which came into place following Covid on bar staff dancing topless with customers on tabletops and the use of sparklers, even on birthday cakes. The 'boring' measures came after some locals felt the 'dirty dancing' and 'loud music' was inappropriate, arguing that it made the resort town look 'sleazy' and 'cheap'. But Brits - who flocked to see the dance shows - say the 12am curfew may see them 'never return' to the beloved resort, as pub owners say it is 'killing' the tourism industry. A Brit I met at the street's Parkhead pub, said she had visited just five weeks ago and it had been busy 'as normal', but in the space of a few weeks had 'completely died out'. The street itself was empty of sound and soul, bar the neon lights and music reflecting from inside the pubs. Turkish authorities say the curfew was brought into effect to avoid causing trouble for nearby locals having to listen to booming music into the early hours of the night. There have also, for a few years now, been restrictions on music only being played until 1am for pubs and bars situated along the popular beachfront on Marmaris' Long Beach. But police are cracking down. Venues found to be breaking rules risk being shut for periods of three to ten days, or even permanently as in the case of two venues very recently. As the clocks hit 12.30am, you could see hyped young people flood onto the beach after the music blasting in the beachfront bars was brought to an abrupt end. Critics say the changes are 'fair' as those wanting to party later into the night can still go to Bar Street, the resort's nightclub strip. But the appeal is not there. Those flocking to Armutalan Street are on the lookout for a family-friendly night out that isn't overrun by hormone-filled teens on their first party holiday. And the infamous Bar Street is not known to be the safest of places. Every pub owner along Armutalan Street and the Long Beach beachfront warned against venturing there alone. And Brits who have visited the resort for 20+ years and call Marmaris their second-home told me to steer well clear, telling me that spiking and harassment is all too common there. Just days before I arrived, one person was shot dead in an 'armed conflict' which broke out between two groups on the Bar Street strip. Mahoney, the owner of Parkhead bar, Mahoney said to me: 'They tell you if you want to go out, go to Bar Street, but the English people's culture is pubs. 'They don't want clubs, only the young people want to go to clubs. Most people that come to this street doesn't want to go to Bar Street. They are older people with families. 'Bar Street is quiet now, people don't go there. It's expensive and it's too much trouble. 'Three or four days ago, someone was shot and killed there. It's so much more dangerous. 'And if I sell a drink here for 150 lira (£2.74), on Bar Street it is three times more expensive. 'But 90 per cent of the people here are British. In this area, on this street, it's mostly British. 'We were the first many years ago to start having kids play area. 'In Marmaris you can ask any tourists about the pubs and the restaurants, everyone loves us. Most our customers they come here over 10 years, 15 years. We are like family with them. 'But now after 12am they close the lights and tell customers "go home". Which is really bad. 'If we ignore it the police come and give big fines, last year I had two fines which cost 400,000 lira (£7,300) each. 'Some of the dance maybe it was too much, dirty things, but the things we done was because they like it, it was not sexual, it was just for a laugh. 'We did it because that's what they like. But okay, we said "okay no dance, no fireworks, no hassle". We accepted it. But why a curfew? 'Now our regular customers say if it is like this we won't come back.' And the threat of losing decades-long loyal customers is very real. In fact, it is clear it has already started to happen from the emptiness on the main street. And bar owners say they have had 'too many' regular British visitors message them to say they will be holidaying elsewhere this year due to the curfew. Speaking to me in the noisy Chuckle Brothers bar Bedirhan Saritac told me: 'It's not fair. Let's be honest, it's not fair. 'By midnight people are just starting to get drunk, start enjoying it, and bang it's all closed. 'What are they supposed to do? Go and buy a bottle and go to their room? That's not what they came here for. 'It's only British people that come here, this street our customers are all from the UK. 90 per cent. 'The Brits are mad about it. Most our customers are like our friends now because they come every year, some come four or five times a year. So we are like family with them now. 'It's already stopping people from coming. 'People have already texted us saying they cancelled their flights. 'We're losing customers. They say they are going to Greece now. 'They're killing Marmaris.' Admitting the topless dancing may have been 'over the top', he said: 'Look, yes we have some fault. On some things we're wrong too as bars, we accept that. 'Some people may not like the taking tops off. We done it but that worked, but we see the point and we're not doing that no more. 'But the thing is this was one of the busiest bars in Marmaris, busy every night, if I was doing something wrong why would I be busy all the time? 'People come because they like that. I'm not doing it for myself, people like it. 'But some people don't, so we see the point, we don't allow it anymore. 'We say "we're sorry, we won't do it again". I don't know what the problem is with sparklers, but they say "don't do it" and we say "fine". 'But why are you closing the bar at 12, why are you turning the music off at 12, it's not fair. We weren't taking our tops off after 12, it was happening before.' Bedirhan Saritac continued to tell me how the effects have already been seen in the few weeks since the clampdown. He reckons he loses £2,000 a day (110,000 lira) during peak season due to the new measures. At the next pub down, staff member Adar from Mad Boys repeats the same as Mr Saritac: 'Our tourism season only six months, that has to last us the year. 'After seeing some boys' dances at some bars, like some dirty dances, the government say Turkish people are not this and want to stop it. 'We were very angry but then we saw some of the videos of kids dancing on the tables and it's not good at all. 'But it's not all, just a few doing that. 'Now they don't allow even normal dance, normal cha cha dance, the customers want to dance but they don't allow it. 'We are really hoping it gets better and they change it to at least 1am. 'All customers are saying "if we have to go to the hotel at 12am why we are on holiday? We might as well stay at home." 'All our customers, 99 per cent are British. We don't have any others tourist, just British in this area.' As it hit 11pm, I had expected the strip may become busier. But still it was a stretch to say it was even 'dotted' with people. Some bars were busier than others, but none of them looked how they should coming to the end of June. Speaking to one Scottish family at Chuckle Brothers through the loud music, Claire Quinn, 43, Fiona Muir, 41 and Shannon Luff, 25 said: 'The energy is down, it's a lot quieter than normal. It's terrible to see. 'When you come on holiday you don't want to go home at 12am. 'That's not what I came here for to be told to go home. 'In other destinations you have to go to clubs. The difference is when you come to Turkey and you can sit out here and it still take in the entertainment. 'The tourism has heavily gone down. 'When you've little kids or even teens, when you've got sparklers it keeps them entertained because they can't go out. 'It couldn't have been more family orientated. 'It's put a big damper on it. This is the quieter than I've seen it.' Ms Muir added: 'I've been coming here for 27, 28 years. My kids have been coming since really small. We've all been really shocked. It's a real shame.' Meanwhile, Ms Quinn said this may be her last visit. She said: 'I will not be back. If it stays this way. We come here for the atmosphere and the family entertainment and it's gone. 'I've been coming here twice a year for five years, but this will be my last time here unless it changes. 'You used to get the men dancing on the tables with sparklers, all that entertainment, but you don't get any of it anymore. 'Just look around outside too, it's completely empty. 'It's terrible, really terrible.' Further down the strip Lee Potter, 33, was visiting the bars with his family, Harriet Walker 29, Janine Potter 29, and kids Thomas and Tallulah. He said: 'The first year we came here it was absolutely booming. It was mental. 'We've been coming for four went to Jacob's they were dancing on the tables. 'It was also so cheap. You could get a pint for 80p, now it's about the same as London prices.' On the dancing they said: 'It is was a bit like entertainment, but it was a bit crude. It's not for when your with family. But before you couldn't walk down this street. Now it's dead.' Diane Harvey was here just five weeks ago. She told me: 'Everything was normal. Now it's dead. 'I've been coming to Marmaris for 20 years, it was never any trouble, any problem. 'It was mobbed five weeks ago with tourists, families with babies. 'The boys were all dancing, no trouble, no nothing. 'I came back here on Saturday, and I'll tell you it's the worst I've seen it. 'They can't come up to dance with customers anymore. I would normally be up there dancing with all these boys. 'I'm coming back here in October with friends and it's not going to be the same. They've ruined it, ruined Marmaris. 'Next year I'm not coming here, I'll be going to morocco. 'On all the Marmaris groups on Facebook, they're all boycotting it. They're going to Spain, Portugal. 'I don't know if I'll come here next year, I'm going to Morocco next June instead. Further down by the beachfront, where music has to be turned off by 12.30am, Lauren Bennington, 31, Lea Binns, 24 and Keeley Whitehurst, 20, told me 'it's not the same'. The trio, who had all met back here on the beach many years ago, said: 'We would usually be here till like 5am but now it's half 12 and everyone floods onto the beach. 'We've been coming for eight years. It was packed even last year but now it's so much quieter. 'And the problem is you don't want to go to Bar Street because it's quite rowdy there. 'They used to do the sparklers and the dance shows and the guys dancing, and they say it's bad cos they're doing it in a sexual way but they're not. 'They're just entertaining. And the thing is the sparklers and stuff, the kids love it too it keeps them entertained It's definitely not the same.' Nearby Emma Boriss, 46, and Emily Boden, 24, from Blackpool, warned me against going to Bar Street. They said: 'This beachfront, it's a home away from home. 'But Bar Street, it's dinghy, it's like a back street. 'Someone was shot there a few days ago. 'We've been once with a chap from the Manchester bar before, but we wouldn't ever go back. It's dangerous. 'It's a shame that they've ruined these bits. We'll probably still come, but not if it weren't for the people we know well now. 'I could see how first time goers wouldn't come. They'd go somewhere like Portugal instead.' Almost everyone I encountered walking down the strips at Armutalan Street and the beachfront had been regular visitors who had made Marmaris their yearly trip over years. And the new curfews risked changing this for them. For James Roberts, 28, and Jade Bingham, 27, Jamie Bone, 20, and Dylan Cox, 21, it was their first time visiting. They said: To be fair it's out of respect for the hotels and locals isn't it. 'But we have to say it is a bit of a let down for tourists.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tammy Hembrow shows Matt Zukowski what he's missing as she flaunts her incredible figure on holiday with her kids in New Zealand after split
Tammy Hembrow is showing Matt Zukowski what he's missing after their headline-making split. The fitness influencer, 31, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a clip of herself scantily clad as she enjoyed a relaxing vacation in New Zealand with her three kids Wolf, nine, daughter Saskia, seven, and toddler Posy, three. In the video, Tammy bared all as she donned a skimpy purple and yellow striped bikini while posing for a mirror selfie in the bathroom. The busty blonde narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction as she poured out of her bra-shaped top, revealing her toned abs and arms as she worked her angles. She wore her hair slicked back in a messy bun for the Instagram story, accessorising with a simple pair of gold hoop earrings and showing off her signature tattoos. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The fitness influencer took to Instagram on Sunday to share a clip of herself scantily clad as she enjoyed a relaxing vacation in New Zealand with her three kids Tammy has been actively documenting her trip to New Zealand after news broke of her split from husband Matt. The pair are headed for divorce after just seven months of marriage, and the social media star jetted off to the South Island to rest and recuperate in the wake of the announcement. Despite her heartache, Tammy has very much been in doting mother mode as she enjoys the idyllic getaway with her children. On Saturday, she posted a series of images and clips showing her and her three children living it up in Queenstown. The family foursome were getting into the festive spirit early, celebrating a whimsical Christmas in July. Tammy, rugged up in a fleecy jumper, with her midriff exposed, posed happily with her brood in front of a wintry scene dotted with festive candy canes and large, illuminated Christmas presents. Another photo showed the influencer posing in front of the same scene, hugging her three children tight. There was also time for some sweet shopping too, with another shot showing her youngsters staring in wonderment through a local Queenstown candy shop window. It wouldn't be a winter escape without some skiing, and Tammy also shared a short clip of her flaunting her style on the slopes. 'Christmas in July because who doesn't love a lil winter Christmas magic?' Tammy captioned the sweet snaps. 'When I tell you my soul NEEDED thissss. Forever my favourite holiday. 'A reminder of warmth, family, the magic of slowing down & the joy that lives in the littlest moments. The cosiest first night in NZ w my babies!!' Tammy announced her shock split from Matt a week ago in an emotional video. The Love Island Australia star also revealed the couple's separation in a sombre Instagram Story, telling fans the decision was not taken lightly. 'It's with a heavy heart I share that Tammy and I have decided to separate,' Matt began. 'Both of us have struggled with making this decision; however we need to do what is right for ourselves and her three children. 'This wasn't a decision we took lightly. Our time together will always be cherished and never forgotten,' he added, before thanking fans for their support. Despite their short-lived marriage, both parties have asked for privacy as they adjust to life post-breakup.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I can fit 2 weeks' worth of clothes for a long-haul holiday in just a carry-on suitcase with clever packing hack
AS the holiday season draws near, many of us find ourselves grappling with the intimidating task of packing for our travels. Whether it's a weekend escape or a two-week adventure abroad, the challenge of fitting everything into a carry-on bag can often seem impossible. 3 3 However, one TikToker, known as ' arabellastokes ', has taken the internet by storm with her ingenious packing hack that promises to transform the way we travel. For many, packing for even a weekend in a carry-on bag feels like an impossible mission. The endless debates over which outfits to take, the struggle to cram toiletries into a small space, and the constant worry of forgetting something essential can make the process overwhelming. But TikToker Arabella shared how she successfully packed for a two-week trip to Japan - a country renowned for its diverse climates and unique fashion culture - all in the same compact suitcase. What she packed: Two jackets Eight tops One dress Five pairs of trousers Two pairs of trainers Socks Underwear Makeup Curling iron Toiletries Passport Headphones Laptop Arabella's packing tips combine clever folding techniques with the use of packing cubes, which can be purchased in a set of eight from Primark for just £8. Packing cubes have become increasingly popular among travellers due to their ability to maximise space, minimise wrinkles, and provide easier access to belongings while on the move. They help separate and compress clothing and other items, simplifying the packing and unpacking process, and may even save you from incurring carry-on luggage fees. Her video, shared on 16 April, garnered 2.1 million views and 628 comments. One viewer wrote: 'How to be you? Haha. I will stay for only 11 days but I brought almost a month of clothes.' I tried 5 viral packing hacks to see which was best at fitting EVERYTHING into a carry-on case & the best was free Another commented: 'My toxic trait is thinking I can do this too.' A third added: 'My toxic trait is thinking I could do this but then ending up with a checked luggage half of my husband's checked luggage, a carry-on and personal item full.' Meanwhile, someone else remarked: 'That was really impressive… trying to convince myself that I can limit myself to a carry-on for Italy!' Others were quick to point how heavy the carry on would be with all those items in. A TikTok comment read: "This is 100% more than 7kg and you won't be able to use this as cabin carry on though, no?" She replied: "It depends on your airline! I've personally never had to weigh a carry-on." 3 Each airline has it's own policy and guidelines regarding the weight of a carry-on item. Passengers are required to check before they travel. People were also keen to find out what suitcase she had as it was aesthetically gorgeous. But unlike her cheap packing cubes, the carry-on came with a heft price tag. She had the Beis Small Carry-On Roller in Beige, which retails at £223. Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
