Explore Venice's ancient palaces, galleries, and modern exhibits; walk among masterpieces, catch an opera, admire medieval buildings, and blow Murano glass. Drift the Grand Canal by gondola past churches, convents, and campi, cross hump-backed bridges, and reach Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, and the Doge's Palace. From palazzos to perfumeries and the Bridge of Sighs, beauty is always moments away in this liquid-gold city.

Squeezed onto a tiny yin-yang island of terracotta roofs and green gardens, pretty Rovinj is Croatia's belle. Pastel houses spill over the clear Adriatic and climb to St. Euphemia's bell tower, a reminder of its Venetian roots. Explore narrow streets, galleries and museums with wooden balconies and Italianate shutters. Circle the city by batana boat or kayak, roam pine-forested islets, and sample local wines, honey, and Istrian flavours in waterfront cafés.

Explore Zadar: historic walls and city gates, a treasure of architecture and natural beauty. Hike, ride, or climb through national parks; cruise pine-lined rivers, swim beneath cascades, and spot dragonflies over emerald pools. Walk the Monument to the Sun, follow paths to turquoise shallows, and hear the Sea Organ. See Venetian towers, old wells, and the Romanesque Cathedral, or climb the bell tower for wide views. Sunlit, Venetian, and famed for a glorious sunset, Zadar is a true cultural gem.

Marvel at this chic walled city of palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter Pile Gate to wander alleys, squares, museums and baroque churches. Kayak around the ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in Konavle, and visit Cavtat and Mostar. Escape to cacti-clad Lokrum for yoga and walks, or dine on the rocks. No wonder the glitterati flock to this charming medieval Dalmatian marvel.

Brindisi's historic center has layered monuments and finds from Spartacus's time. Nearby are Ostuni and Cisternino, Lecce's Baroque splendor, and Alberobello's trulli. "Florence of the South," Lecce, is rich in art, history, and culture. For quiet, visit Torre Guaceto's nature reserve and empty beaches or Polignano's sea caves. Try orecchiette, squid-ink gnocchi, and Puglia's olive oil from its 60 million olive trees. Brindisi showcases the best of Puglia.

This horseshoe-shaped Cycladic island, where the Venus de Milo was found in 1820, blends major history with striking landscapes. See the Hellenistic marble amphitheatre and 1st-century catacombs, or explore hot springs, mines, volcanoes, and hillsides in russet, pink, and orange. Of 78 beaches, Sarakiniko's wind-carved white rocks feel lunar; others offer volcanic sand, sea caves, arches, and clear water. End with sunset from Plaka's castle ruins.

Athens doesn't live in the past. Glamorous and forward-looking, it blends galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques, and museums with the wonders of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Wander lively streets and markets, dance at bouzoukia, sing in tavernas, then head to the harbour for dimly lit bars and cold beer. With salty air and fishing boats setting out at dawn, Athens feels both ancient and progressive.