Affairs
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Beat the retreat
Our ideal retreat avoids stuffy ceremony. Instead, it offers guests a happy mix of gym classes, nutritious food, and the simple pleasures of an Old Town’s cobbled streets and card players.
Expo: Best-kept secret
Spread across a picturesque peninsula, Athens offers its residents a choice of beaches to enjoy away from the daily city grind. The views aren’t too shabby either, offering a perfect local escape.
Urban growth
Urban spaces are becoming wilder thanks to innovative greening schemes. We visit projects from Bangkok to Geneva, where private initiatives are creating public parks and improving quality of life for all.
Public realm
Residents and visitors to South Tyrol’s Puster Valley are reaping the rewards of an inspired approach to public architecture, from sleek fire stations and light-filled libraries to smart-looking bus shelters.
Take the lead
Every city needs a leader, but some roles are harder to fill than others. Here are five figures who aren't afraid of diving into sewers, catching snakes or working through the night.
Sprinting press
Most running magazines focus on gear and tips. In Japan, runner Yuito Ueda set out to change that with ‘Hashiruhito’, a periodical paced for the thoughtful pavement pounder, focusing on long-form journalism.
Observation
A missed flight, a Munich detour and a café terrace conjure the kind of image that lodges in memory — proof that unplanned moments often outshine the destination itself.
Here to help
From a farmer-friendly fruit-and-veg seller in Oslo to a modern concierge in Paris and a grocery store in Hong Kong, these ventures are creating careers, cohesion and community spirit in their cities.
Europe
Málaga's makeover, Poland's first openly gay mayor and Berlin's co-housing conundrum.
Urban renewal
What makes a busy city tick along? Here we outline some simple improvements we’d like to see shaping our metropolises into more inclusive places to live, from winding roads to rotating benches.
