Venice is a timeless floating city of canals, bridges and masks, where a lagoon of 100+ islands invites you to travel through history. Drift by gondola or vaporetto past the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, then slip into quiet side streets away from the crowds. In Piazza San Marco, see St Mark's Basilica, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace, linked by the Bridge of Sighs. Take island trips to Murano for glass, Torcello for cathedrals, and Burano for lace and bright painted houses.

Hvar, a jewel of the Adriatic, offers hidden coves, electric-blue water, sunny beaches, and quiet port towns. It's also known for nightlife in Hvar Town and luxury yachts, but you can easily escape the hedonism to bike coastal paths, boat from pretty harbors, and walk through lavender fields. Historic Stari Grad, said to be Croatia's oldest town, dates to 384 BC; nearby Jelsa is postcard-perfect and peaceful. From Hvar you can also ferry to Brač's stunning Golden Horn beach.

Dubrovnik, Croatia's walled "Pearl of the Adriatic," is a striking medieval fortress city rising from the sea. Its thick stone walls, old town, baroque churches, fountains and Stradun street have made it a filming location for Star Wars, Robin Hood and Game of Thrones. Once a maritime republic and still scarred by the 1991 siege, it now offers wall walks, Lovrijenac and Srđ views, beaches like Banje, great seafood, and trips to Lokrum.

Gallipoli, whose name means "beautiful city," is a stunning Ionian gem of sea, history, and Baroque charm. Linked to the mainland by a 16th-century bridge and ringed by 14th-century walls, its old town holds the Castello Angioino, the Basilica Cattedrale di Sant'Agata, busy harbours, narrow streets, and fish markets. Puglia also shines in Lecce and Otranto.

Giardini Naxos, on a sweeping Sicilian bay, is a scenic base for sun, sea, and history. It was Sicily's first Greek settlement, with nearby Taormina's hillside town, Roman and Greek ruins, and the famous Greek theatre overlooking the sea and Mount Etna. Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, rises over vineyards, lava fields, cacti, and citrus groves. Enjoy the beach, the views, and a glass of local wine.

Valletta, on Malta's Sciberras Peninsula, is a compact Baroque capital ringed by massive defensive walls. Built by the Knights of St John, it holds grand palaces, churches, and the flower-filled Upper Barrakka Gardens, where noon cannon fire echoes across the harbor. St John's Cathedral hides a lavish gold interior and a Caravaggio. Nearby are Mdina's car-free medieval streets, the Hypogeum and Tarxien, and Fort St Elmo. Malta gained independence in 1964 but still shows strong British ties.

Monte Carlo offers old-world glitz and modern luxury in tiny Monaco: superyachts, champagne bars, high-end shops, casinos, opera, and palatial hotels. Famous for low taxes and the Formula One Grand Prix through its tight streets, it's a playground of the rich and famous. Don't miss the Royal Palace, the cathedral where Grace Kelly married in 1956, the old town, and the historic fortress.