Latest news with #Tripadvisor
Time Out
2 hours ago
- Time Out
These 3 Sydney attractions ranked among the top 10 things to do in Australia
No matter how hard you try, you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Whether you're into gallery-hopping and museum-exploring, then hopping from underground bar to world-class restaurant, or you prefer to spend your days hiking and soaking in the sun, this city's got it all. But picking the absolute best thing to do? That's the hard part. Personally, I'd choose an icy swim in an ocean pool or a long hike through the mountains. Meanwhile, my mates reckon nothing beats ferrying from Sydney Harbour to Manly and snorkelling at Shelly Beach. We like to think we're the experts, but if you're looking for the most universally loved attractions, Tripadvisor's annual Travellers' Choice Awards are a great place to start. Already this year, Tripadvisor has revealed the highly-anticipated winners for the world's best beaches, hotels and destinations. And now, they've just unveiled the Top Attractions for 2025, which celebrate tourism operators that have achieved the highest volume of above-and-beyond reviews over the past 12 months. With more than 8 million listings across their site, landing a spot in the top ten is a pretty epic achievement – and four Sydney attractions made the no huge surprise that Sydney Opera House made the top 10, with our city's most famous house ranking as the third-best attraction in Australia. Keen to get involved? These are the best things to see and do at Opera House this season. The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge came in sixth place (as an attraction in itself, though the peak bridge experience comes with a climb), with Sydney Harbour itself also cracking the top 10 (coming in ninth place). According to Tripadvisor, the top attraction in Australia is the Hobart Penitentiary – one of Australia's most significant convict-era sites – has been named as the best attraction in the country for 2025. Built in 1821 as a prison barracks, this heritage-listed complex processed more than 75,000 convicts before sending them off to toil across the island. Looking for something similar here in Syd? We'd suggest catching a ferry over to Cockatoo Island for a more local stepping-back-in-time experience. These are the 10 best attractions in Australia Hobart Penitentiary, TAS Kings Park and Botanic Garden, WA Sydney Opera House, NSW Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, VIC Fremantle Prison, WA Sydney Harbour Bridge, NSW Australian War Memorial, ACT Uluru, NT Sydney Harbour, NSW Qantas Founders Museum, QLD
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a travel expert who has visited every European capital — 3 are so underwhelming'
A travel expert has visited every single European capital and while there are many cities he loves, there are three he would not be in a rush to return to There are countless beautiful European cities just a short flight or train ride away from the UK, with some destinations reachable in under an hour. While popular spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Barcelona continue to draw crowds, there are plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered — especially when you can get there for as little as £20. For those feeling adventurous or simply looking for something new, one seasoned traveller has taken on the mammoth task of visiting every European capital. As protests against overtourism continue to affect many major European destinations, you might be reconsidering your holiday plans. However, this travel expert suggests three additional places you might want to steer clear of. Dale Peterson, writing for Business Insider, revealed that after visiting every European capital in his role as a professional travel journalist, there were three cities he wouldn't rush back to as they left him feeling "underwhelmed". It's always important to do your homework before setting off on any holiday to avoid disappointment, and visiting cities during peak times can often be a less relaxing experience than travelling during quieter periods, reports the Express. With such a wealth of destinations across the continent, from wandering through Prague's ancient cobbled streets to admiring street art along the Berlin Wall or discovering historical remnants in Rome, these are the cities Dale would steer clear of. London The travel expert argued there are "so many other worthwhile destinations in the UK", particularly within the "UK's picturesque countryside", highlighting spots such as the Cotswolds or the Lake District. Nevertheless, another globe-trotting blogger behind The Bucket List Mermaid held a different opinion of London, insisting the capital was "absolutely" worth all the hype. Amsterdam Despite attracting an estimated 20 million tourists each year, the travel writer remained sceptical. "Unfortunately, though, I thought the centre of Amsterdam felt like an overpriced theme park full of souvenir shops and crowds," he observed. However, one traveller posted on Tripadvisor to praise Amsterdam's qualities, calling it a "wonderful city" with "helpful citizens". They highlighted its manageable size and walkability, excellent public transport network, and abundance of museums, fascinating districts, and numerous dining and drinking venues. Helsinki Situated in the world's happiest country, Helsinki offers an ideal base for delving into Nordic sauna culture. Last year, Condé Nast Traveller announced that the Finnish capital had been crowned the world's most sustainable travel destination. Yet Dale found the city somewhat disappointing, explaining: "There's no denying Helsinki is a clean city. But in my opinion, it feels a little too sterile, lacking in liveliness and exciting things to do." Whilst Helsinki might not appeal to everyone, Jessica from the Bon Traveller blog reckons it's the ideal destination for "slowing down, being connected to the outdoors, and of course, that incredible design scene", making a trip there "an experience to remember".
Time Out
6 hours ago
- Time Out
Revealed: The ten best things to do in Australia for 2025, according to Tripadvisor
You'll simply never run out of incredible things to do in Australia. Whether you're into gallery-hopping and museum-exploring, beach-lazing and bar-hopping, or hiking and even hurling yourself out of a plane, this country's got it all. But picking the absolute best thing to do? That's the hard part. Personally, I'd vote for cycling around Rottnest Island and swimming with whale sharks off the Ningaloo. Meanwhile, my mates reckon nothing beats ferrying from Sydney Harbour to Manly and hiking the Great Ocean Walk. However, if you're looking for the most universally loved attractions, Tripadvisor's annual Travellers' Choice Awards are a great place to start. Already this year, Tripadvisor has revealed the highly-anticipated winners for the world's best beaches, hotels and destinations. And now, they've just unveiled the Top Attractions for 2025, which celebrate tourism operators that have achieved the highest volume of above-and-beyond reviews over the past 12 months. With more than 8 million listings across their site, landing a spot in the top ten is a pretty epic achievement. In a twisted turn of events, the Hobart Penitentiary – one of Australia's most significant convict-era sites – has been named as the best attraction in the country for 2025. Built in 1821 as a prison barracks, this heritage-listed complex processed more than 75,000 convicts before sending them off to toil across the island. Over the next century, it served as a chapel, execution site and even a Supreme Court – today standing as a chilling time capsule of Tasmania's grim convict past. The Hobart Penitentiary boasts an impressive 4.7-star rating from more than 1,650 reviews on Tripadvisor, with travellers raving about the immersive guided tours. Led by passionate volunteers, these spine-chilling tours take you inside the historic courtrooms, subterranean tunnels, solitary confinement cells and the original gallows, where echoes of the past still linger. Last year's winner, Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, came second this time around, boasting a stellar 4.8-star rating from more than 12,500 Tripadvisor reviews. While that's a touch higher than the Hobart Penitentiary, the convict site received more top-rated reviews over the past 12 months. It wasn't the only nature reserve to make the cut too, with Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria taking out fourth place. Iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House (third), Sydney Harbour Bridge (sixth), Uluru (eighth) and Sydney Harbour itself (ninth) also cracked the top ten. Meanwhile, other significant historic sites like Fremantle Prison (fifth), the Australian War Memorial (seventh) and the Qantas Founders Museum (tenth) rounded out the rankings. These are the 10 best attractions in Australia Hobart Penitentiary, TAS Kings Park and Botanic Garden, WA Sydney Opera House, NSW Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, VIC Fremantle Prison, WA Sydney Harbour Bridge, NSW Australian War Memorial, ACT Uluru, NT Sydney Harbour, NSW Qantas Founders Museum, NSW ⭐️ A surprising regional gem just claimed the title of Australia's best hotel for 2025
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The two UK towns getting new train stations for the first time in over 60 years for £45million
YOU'LL soon be able to visit two idyllic Westcountry towns by rail thanks to a £45million plan to bring back their train stations. Both Cullompton in Devon and Wellington in Somerset lost their stations in the 1960s, but they are set to reopen as early as next year. Advertisement 5 Cullompton is a town in Devon that is set to be connected to Exeter via train once again Credit: Alamy 5 Wellington in Somerset is another town that will be connected by rail Credit: Alamy The two countryside towns in south west England did once have train stations that were built in the 1880s. But as a result of the Beeching cuts, which saw huge changes to train services as a result of the nationalisation of the railway, they were both closed in 1964. However, there are now fresh plans to revive both stations with services expected to start running as early as 2026. Both will reopen at an estimated cost of £45million. Advertisement Read More on UK Breaks The stations will connect to Exeter, a major transport hub with direct services to London Paddington, Plymouth, Bristol and the Cornish mainline too. Details are yet to be confirmed, but it's likely that when the railway stations reopen, they will join the Great Western Main Line that runs from London Paddington to Cullompton sits on the doorstep of the For any families heading south, the town is right next to Advertisement Most read in News Travel You'll also find local farm shops and many pubs like The Weary Traveller, Merry Harriers, The Ashill Inn and Half Moon Inn. Over the border in Somerset is the town of Wellington. Visit Diggerland UK to enjoy an exciting staycation in the beautiful Devonshire countryside 5 Cullompton is very close to Devon's Diggerland Credit: Alamy 5 Both are en route to the coast where you'll find towns like Sidmouth Credit: Alamy Advertisement Wellington has become known as a "food town" thanks to its reputation for quality food and drink. Top restaurants and pubs on Tripadvisor include The Martlet Inn which specialises in game and fish dishes. Another popular food spot is Valla Verde Italian Restaurant where you can sample delightful pasta dishes and antipasti. For keen explorers, it's a route to the Quantock Hills and Advertisement From there, it's a short trip up to the larger town of Taunton known for cider production and having its own Cullompton and Wellington are just a 24 minute drive away from one another. But using public transport, the neighbouring towns can only reach each other by bus. Here's another Advertisement And the 5 Two countryside towns will get new railway stations next year
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The two UK towns getting new train stations for the first time in over 60 years for £45million
One of the town's is near a very popular adventure theme park ALL SYSTEMS GO The two UK towns getting new train stations for the first time in over 60 years for £45million YOU'LL soon be able to visit two idyllic Westcountry towns by rail thanks to a £45million plan to bring back their train stations. Both Cullompton in Devon and Wellington in Somerset lost their stations in the 1960s, but they are set to reopen as early as next year. 5 Cullompton is a town in Devon that is set to be connected to Exeter via train once again Credit: Alamy 5 Wellington in Somerset is another town that will be connected by rail Credit: Alamy The two countryside towns in south west England did once have train stations that were built in the 1880s. But as a result of the Beeching cuts, which saw huge changes to train services as a result of the nationalisation of the railway, they were both closed in 1964. However, there are now fresh plans to revive both stations with services expected to start running as early as 2026. Both will reopen at an estimated cost of £45million. The stations will connect to Exeter, a major transport hub with direct services to London Paddington, Plymouth, Bristol and the Cornish mainline too. Details are yet to be confirmed, but it's likely that when the railway stations reopen, they will join the Great Western Main Line that runs from London Paddington to Penzance. Cullompton sits on the doorstep of the Blackdown Hills on the Somerset-Devon border. For any families heading south, the town is right next to Diggerland Devon where children can operate diggers and hunt for buried treasure. You'll also find local farm shops and many pubs like The Weary Traveller, Merry Harriers, The Ashill Inn and Half Moon Inn. Over the border in Somerset is the town of Wellington. Visit Diggerland UK to enjoy an exciting staycation in the beautiful Devonshire countryside 5 Cullompton is very close to Devon's Diggerland Credit: Alamy 5 Both are en route to the coast where you'll find towns like Sidmouth Credit: Alamy Wellington has become known as a "food town" thanks to its reputation for quality food and drink. Top restaurants and pubs on Tripadvisor include The Martlet Inn which specialises in game and fish dishes. Another popular food spot is Valla Verde Italian Restaurant where you can sample delightful pasta dishes and antipasti. For keen explorers, it's a route to the Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park. From there, it's a short trip up to the larger town of Taunton known for cider production and having its own castle. Cullompton and Wellington are just a 24 minute drive away from one another. But using public transport, the neighbouring towns can only reach each other by bus. Here's another direct train line that's set to connect the UK to a European city for the first time. And the 7 stunning European cities that Brits could take direct trains to as London station plans huge expansion.
