Scandinavia and South America dominate the world’s best restaurant rankings

In this week’s travel news: discover the top restaurants of 2022, the most powerful passports globally, and the airports facing major delays and cancellations this summer.

Travel inspiration

South Africa is one of the few nations where Covid cases have significantly dropped, leading to a reduced risk level on the US CDC’s travel advisory list. In 2013, Anthony Bourdain explored Johannesburg through the eyes of a local taxi driver, delving into the city’s culture and cuisine. Tune in to the 'Parts Unknown' podcast for more.

Starting August 8, Anguilla in the Caribbean will no longer require pre-arrival Covid testing. You can even reach the island on the world’s shortest international flight, just a 10-minute journey.

If only air travel were always this fast. At one North American airport, over half of flights this summer have been delayed. Here’s a look at the airports worldwide where delays and cancellations are currently the worst.

Intense heat waves have been sweeping across Europe and the U.S., with high temperatures also expected in China this August. In London, an airport runway was even damaged by the heat. If you’re longing for cooler destinations, check out our guides to refreshing travel spots and tips for planning an Antarctica cruise.

Dining news

A Copenhagen-based restaurant has claimed the title of the world’s best: it’s located in a soccer stadium, doesn’t serve meat, and operates only four days a week. Discover more about the dining establishments honored in this year’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.

The top 50 restaurants each have their own unique charm, but only one boasts a stamp of approval from a dinosaur: 100-million-year-old sauropod footprints were recently uncovered at a restaurant in China’s Sichuan province.

In London, renowned Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko is preparing to open a new restaurant in the upscale Chelsea area, staffed by Ukrainian refugees. The bistro, named Mriya (which means 'dream' in Ukrainian), is named after the Antonov An-225, the world’s largest cargo plane, which was tragically destroyed during the invasion of Ukraine.

Top hikes

From the snow-covered summits of New Zealand’s Cascade Saddle to the lush and untamed Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, we’ve compiled a list of the world’s most perilous hiking trails — but the rewards are worth every challenge.

For those seeking coastal trails, stunning beaches, and fiery sunsets, we recommend Sardinia’s 100 Towers Path, one of the most picturesque seaside hikes in Italy.

In San Francisco, a new 14-acre federal park has been built atop a busy highway tunnel. The Presidio Tunnel Tops park was designed by the same team responsible for New York City’s iconic High Line.

Our animal companions

Dubai launched its first-ever camel-riding school last year, and surprisingly, it’s become particularly popular among women in a field traditionally dominated by men.

In Kyrgyzstan, fermented horse milk, known as kumis, is a local specialty. It’s a beloved drink in this former Soviet republic, but newcomers should be prepared: milking a mare is much more challenging than milking a cow.

In South Africa’s wine industry, some of the most valuable workers have feathers and webbed feet. At Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate near Cape Town, a flock of 1,600 marching ducks is employed to naturally control pests in the vineyard.

A delectable secret

Lemon farmers in Italy’s rugged Amalfi Coast are known for ‘flying’ through the treetops. One farmer, whose family has cultivated lemons here since the 1800s, proudly declares, 'Not blood, but lemon juice runs through my veins.' Learn more about the challenges threatening this traditional way of life.

In case you missed it

Three Asian nations top the list of the world’s most powerful passports for 2022, with one now taking the lead.

The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, is making a return. Now, it’s also being used to test an experimental open fan engine.

A tourist was robbed of his watch at gunpoint, only for the thieves to return it after realizing it was a fake. They say that in Naples, hospitality is truly unparalleled.

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