Velvet Escape

The Sanssouci Palaces and Parks in Potsdam, Germany, represent one of Europe’s finest royal landscapes. Often described as the “Prussian Versailles”, this UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses magnificent palaces, terraced vineyards, ornamental gardens, fountains, temples and picturesque pathways spread across nearly 300 hectares. Located on...

There’s something magical about arriving in Erfurt. Perhaps it’s the sight of church spires rising above a sea of terracotta rooftops, or the way narrow cobbled lanes wind through centuries-old merchant quarters. Unlike many German cities that were heavily damaged during WWII, Erfurt emerged largely intact, leaving behind one of the most beautifully preserved medieval city ce...

The Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur is, at 678.9m (2,227ft), the world’s second-tallest building in the world, after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. At that height, it towers over the city’s iconic Petronas Twin Towers (452m) and stands as a beacon on the city’s skyline. As I regularly visit Kuala Lumpur, I got to see its progress with every trip, right until its com...

Northern Germany is one of my favourite regions of the country to explore. While Hamburg and Bremen tend to steal the spotlight, there is so much more waiting to be discovered; from picturesque medieval towns and charming fishing villages to lush nature parks and long stretches of sandy coastline. Years ago, I made the journey from Hamburg to Berlin by car, b...