The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Vegas is now open at MGM Grand, inviting fans to step into the world of the legendary series—this time in the city that played host to one of the show’s most memorable storylines. The highly anticipated flagship attraction welcomes fans into the world of the beloved series with re-created sets, iconic props, and behind-the-scenes content, plus Vegas-only experiences designed specially for this location.
Over the turquoise waters of the Dhaalu Atoll, a rare culinary voyage is about to unfold as The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort welcomes the celebrated Chef Surjan Singh, fondly known as Chef Jolly, for two-month pop-up residency from mid-October to mid-December 2025. This immersive celebration of Indian cuisine coincides with the festive spirit of Diwali, blending tradition with contemporary flair in a truly unforgettable island setting.
WHAT: Oslo’s Øya Festival is not your average park-bound weekend of cheap lager and trashy toilets. It’s one of Europe’s most meticulously curated, progressive utopias of music and sustainability, bathed in Scandinavian cool. Since 1999, Øya has blended leftfield discovery with world-class headliners, setting the gold standard for urban festivals across Europe.
WHERE: Tøyenparken, Oslo
WHEN: August 6th–9th, 2025
WHY:
Nestled in Oslo’s east side, just a ten-minute tram ride from the city centre, Øya’s location is no accident. Think eco-harmony meets curated chaos: gender-balanced programming, a near-zero carbon footprint, and a lineup that’s as bold as it is broad.
If you’ve been eyeing a late-summer or last-minute trip to Scandinavia, this is the week to go. And trust us: with a line-up this solid, you’ll want to arrive early, stay late, and not miss a minute. Here’s what to catch:
Charli xcx – Brat-Savvy, Club-Happy, Mainstage-Ready The queen of filthy electro-pop finally lands in Tøyenparken on her Brat Summer victory lap. Fresh from turning hyperpop into a global movement, Charli brings her Brat era in all its sweaty, strobing glory to Øya. Expect chaotic good energy, unfiltered attitude, and at least one outfit that defies physics.
Queens of the Stone Age – No-Show No More
They missed 2024 due to illness, but this year Queens of the Stone Age are back, brooding, and likely to shake the forest floor. Expect a thunderous set of sleazy riffs and Josh Homme’s trademark menace, proving that stoner rock never really went out of style—it just took a scenic detour through Oslo.
girl in red – Homegrown and Headlining
From Øya’s tiny Biblioteket stage to global alt-pop sensation, Marie Ulven (aka girl in red) comes full circle in 2025. Expect a raucous, emotionally charged set on home turf as she headlines to a crowd that’s followed her every lyric, breakup, and existential spiral since day one.
Chappell Roan – America’s Next Flaming Icon
Lady Gaga may have made a mighty comeback at Coachella earlier this year, but’s Chappell Roan that is rewriting the rulebook on queer pop superstardom. With glitter-coated anthems and performances that are more Broadway than basement, Roan’s set promises to be a glorious, camp-laced fever dream—and arguably the festival’s most anticipated performance.
Also Unmissable:
Wet Leg – Isle of Wight indie duo with hooks and deadpan for days.
Beth Gibbons – The voice of Portishead returns with spectral solo work that will haunt your sleep.
Yung Lean & Bladee – Cloud-rap’s reigning princes go b2b in a rare Swedish link-up.
Refused – One of their final ever shows. Come say goodbye to punk’s most stubborn visionaries.
And don’t skip the homegrown talents—Anna of the North’s dreamy electro-pop, Ramón’s gospel-tinged soul, or punk chaos merchants Honningbarna—because Øya’s always been as much about who’s next as who’s now.
Getting There
Øya is famously easy to access. It’s a 10-minute tram ride or 30-minute stroll from central Oslo, and 98% of attendees walk, cycle, or take public transport. Flying into Oslo Gardermoen? The train will have you in the city in 20 minutes.
Where to Stay
Oslo isn’t cheap, but comfort doesn’t have to break the bank. You can find solid hotel deals near Grünerløkka or Gamle Oslo. Want to go full Scandi? Try one of the city’s eco-conscious hostels or check into a local AirBnB for your own slice of Oslo hygge.
What You’ll Pay
Week pass? 3,999 NOK (around £284)
Under-23s? 3,499 NOK (£248)
Day tickets? 1,299 NOK (£92)
Two-day bundles and upgrades available. But with the kind of line-up that spills genius out of every slot, a full pass is the smart move.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes. A light waterproof. A reusable water bottle (Øya has refill stations). Leave the glitter at home—it’s not biodegradable. But bring your best dancing self and a camera to remember it all.
Can’t make it?
Don’t worry. The Travel Magazine will be there on the ground bringing you the sweaty highlights, the backstage glimpses, and the must-hear acts you didn’t know you loved yet. Check back after the shot for Øya dispatches straight from Oslo.
More info and tickets: www.oyafestivalen.no
And we’ll see you in the park.
There’s something profoundly transformative about walking the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route that has guided travellers to the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela for over a thousand years. Among the many paths that lead to the city’s famed cathedral, where the remains of St. James are believed to rest, the Portuguese Way (Camino Portugués) runs north from Lisbon for 610 kilometres.
Camino Portugues
Pilgrim
Camino Portugues
Camino Portugues
My time is limited so I chose to start in Spain and do the last section from Vigo to Santiago, a stretch of around 100 kilometres. It’s going to take me five days, weaving together coastal charm, forest serenity, and cultural riches, and it’s not too difficult. Even better, with Camino Ways, my baggage is going to be transported from hotel to hotel, so there’s no heavy load.
Day 1 Vigo to Arcade 23km
Vigo
Vigo
Vigo
Vigo, Galicia’s largest city and a dynamic maritime hub, is more than just a starting point – it’s a destination in its own right. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, I get time to explore the old town’s winding alleys and sample freshly caught oysters in the Mercado da Pedra before setting off on the Camino.
Vigo
Senda da Auga
Camino Sign
Vigo Estuary
The hardest part is finding my way out of the city but I’m soon in the lush Galician countryside. The route follows the Senda da Auga, painted waves representing the water channel that carries water to Vigo. There are terrific views over the Atlantic before I descend steeply into Redondela, known for its two towering railway viaducts
I pause in the central square, dominated by the 16th century
Redondela
Redondela
Redondela
before climbing again with occasional views of the Vigo estuary. A short distance ahead lies Arcade, famed across Galicia for its oysters and my destination for today
Redondela
Vigo Estuary
Arcade
Arcade
Day 2 Arcade to Pontevedra 12km
Arcade
Arcade
Arcade
Ponte Sampaio
This is a short day today so I can afford to take it easy. Just outside Arcade is the medieval stone Ponte Sampaio, over the Verdugo River, where Napoleon’s army suffered one of its greatest defeats in Galicia. There’s steep uphill on the original Roman road which eventually leads to the town of Santa Marta with its tiny chapel dating back to 1617.
Ponte Sampio
Horreo
Cross
Capella da Santa Marta
From here I leave the road and follow a delightful river walk cutting through the forest, crossing wooden bridges. This leads right into the centre of Pontevedra, one of the region’s most historic cities. The Santuario da Peregrina is a scallop-shaped church dedicated to the Virgin of the Pilgrims, and next to it is the Basilica of Santa María completed in 1559. Narrow streets lead to charming squares, such as Praza da Ferrería and Praza da Leña.
River Path
River Path
River Path
Pontevedra
Day 3 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 22km
Pontevedra
Pontevedra
Pontevedra
Pontevedra
I leave Pontevedra, crossing the River Lérez over the scallop shell-adorned Ponte do Burgo. The landscape begins to shift with more vineyards, chestnut groves and pine and eucalyptus woods. Dotted along the way are traditional Galician stone houses and hórreos – the elevated grain stores that are iconic in this region. I pass under strings of vines, heavy with Galicia’s famous Albariño grapes, supported by sturdy granite poles.
Horreo
Vineyards
Vines
Vines
The village of Ponte Cabras, is home to the Igreza of Santa María de Alba, dating back to the Middle Ages, and on a bench, there’s a statue of an elderly pilgrim. The timeless rural hamlets of Tivo, Barro and San Amaro, eventual lead to Caldas de Reis, a thermal spa-town at the confluence of the Umia and Bermaña rivers, Here, weary feet find reprieve in public hot springs, either by soaking them in the warm waters near the Roman bridge or booking a stay at one of the town’s spa hotels.
Santa Maria de Alba
Stone Pilgrim
Calda de Reis
Calda de Reis
Day 4 Caldas de Reis to Padron 18km
Calda de Reis
Calda de Reis
San Miguel de Valda
I cross the River Bermaña and pass the 16th-century Capela de San Roque before leaving the road and entering the forest. The path gradually climbs to the village of Carracedo and then descends through the forest to reach the tiny village of San Miguel de Valga, with its huge church.
Camino Portugues
Camino Portugues
Busker
Camino Portugues
From here, quiet lanes and trails bring me to the Pontecesures Bridge crossing the River Ulla and into the old town of Padrón, one of the most spiritually significant stops on the Camino. According to legend, it was here that the boat carrying St. James’ body arrived from Jerusalem. A stone, known as the “Pedrón,” lies beneath the altar of the Church of Santiago, marking the Apostle’s first Galician landing.
Pontecesures Bridge
Padron
Padron
Padron
Aside from its religious significance, Padrón is also famous for its pimientos de Padrón, the small green peppers that have become one of Galicia’s most iconic tapas. Some are spicy, most are not — a game of culinary roulette that adds a touch of fun to dinner.
Padron
Padron
Padron
Day 5 Padron to Santiago 25km
This is it, the final 25km and it’s raining. The trail is a mix of forest paths and suburban roads. It passes through small hamlet and woodland and criss-crosses the railway during the day. Gradual uphill, the trail reaches the 15th century stone cross of Cruceiro de Francos, one of the oldest in Galicia.
Camino Portugues
Busker
Camino Signs
It gets steeper to reach O Milladoiro and the Chapel of Santa María Magdalena. Here there should be the first view of the Santiago Cathedral but the clouds are too low. Now I drop down to an underpass with a brave busker, urging the pilgrims on then climb uphill to the outskirts of the Santiago. The final approach is on cobbled streets, through ancient archways, and finally, the grand Praza do Obradoiro.
Cross
Busker
Camino Portugues
O Milladoiro
There it is: The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Majestic and powerful, it rises from the square like a vision. Pilgrims drop their packs, some cry, others embrace. Some stand in silence. Regardless of motivation – religious, personal, or adventurous – the feeling of arrival is universal. Next day, I make it to noon mass but am heavily disappointed they don’t swing the censer, the huge suspended incense holder. That means I have to come back.
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Factfile
GO:Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted to Vigo and Santiago de Compostela.
The Stansted Express is the fastest way to the airport from central London.
INFO:Camino Ways offers a self-guided six-night itinerary for the last 100km starting from €514.