BBC Travel | The SpeciaList

The SpeciaList series helps you see the world through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers in guides to the most popular and emerging destinations across the globe

The SpeciaList

Two men hold a charcuterie board while standing next to a large paella pan (Credit: Courtesy of José Andrés and Family in Spain)

José Andrés’s top tips for enjoying tapas

The Michelin-starred chef helped bring tapas culture to the US, but there’s nothing like enjoying them in Spain. Here are his tips for enjoying the beloved shared plates.

A young woman stands next to countertop with selection of perfumes at a vintage perfume shop (Credit: Hervé Lassïnce)

How to shop for perfume in Paris like a Parisian

French perfume expert Clémence Pelle lives and breathes fragrance. Here, she shares her favourite perfumeries in Paris, plus her tips on how to buy scent the French way.

Comedian Keegan-Michael Key poses in a cowboy hat with a US flag in the background (Credit: Courtesy of Keegan-Michael Key)

Keegan-Michael Key on why road trips still matter

From childhood drives to the Rockies with his family to long hauls on the college comedy circuit, road trips have shaped Keegan-Michael Key’s life.

Tulip fields Holland

Where to see spring tulips in the Netherlands

Nienke Panis-Ringersma has made a career out of following the region’s famous blooms. Here are her favourite ways to experience the season, from road trips to bulb picking.

Padma Lakshmi stands on an open road with the sunset behind her (Credit: Courtesy of Padma Lakshmi)

How Padma Lakshmi survives life on the road

Travel is a constant throughout the renowned culinary host’s career, and she has it down to a science. Here’s how she packs and relaxes – and what she avoids doing on the plane.

Colm Dalton sat in a pub (Credit: Colm Dalton)

Dublin pubs where the Guinness is perfect

Colm Dalton is on a mission to rate every Irish pub in the world. He shares the best of the best in Dublin – the birthplace of Guinness.

Actor Sam Heughan tightens his coat as he looks into the distance of the Scottish wilderness (Credit: Galloway Distillery Media)

Outlander’s star on the Scotland behind the screen

Sam Heughan invites travellers beyond the show’s famous Highland locations, to the lesser-known Lowlands that shaped him.

Angelababy in Hong Kong (Credit: Courtesy of Angelababy)

How to enjoy a weekend in Hong Kong

Model Angelababy has called Hong Kong home since she was a young girl. Here are her top picks, from fave spots to shop on Hollywood Road to where to watch fireworks at Lunar New Year.

New Orleans at night

Eight of New Orleans’ best live music venues

Singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon shares the best live music in his hometown New Orleans, from acoustic sets at The Tigermen Den to candlelit piano acts at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar.

The Northern Lights over a lighthouse (Credit: Wil Photography)

An aurora chaser’s guide to the Northern Lights

Experts say 2026 will be a peak year for aurora spotting. Photographer Wil Cheung has seen the borealis more than 400 times and offers his tips on how to witness them yourself.

Rifugio Scoiattoli in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy (Credit: Alamy)

How to spend a ski break in Cortina d’Ampezzo

As the world turns its gaze to Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo – one of the hosts of the 2026 Winter Olympics – ski champion Kristian Ghedina shares his hometown picks.

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