Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage city, rises from a lagoon on more than 100 small islands linked by canals. A gondola ride passes under the Rialto Bridge and along the Grand Canal. At Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace reflect Venetian power. Art highlights include the Gallerie dell'Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Nearby Murano is known for glassblowers, and Burano for colorful shops and lace makers.

Trieste's elegant port cityscape is full of Neoclassical buildings, boulevards, and piazzas. Start with coffee-its Belle Époque cafés are said to serve Italy's finest. Then stroll the Canal Grande or visit decadent Miramare Castle, built for Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg. End at Piazza Unità d'Italia, Italy's largest sea-facing square, for an aperitivo; at night, its lights reflecting on the water are magical.

Piran, on Slovenia's narrow coast, is the gem of the Slovene Riviera. Venetian rule shaped its architecture: narrow cobblestoned streets, colorful houses with terracotta roofs, olive groves, and pebble beaches. In Tartini Square, enjoy coffee and views of the Venetian house, Teatre Piran, and harbor. Walk the medieval walls or climb the bell tower for a 360-degree view of Piran, Istria, Italy, and Croatia. Nearby Koper also offers beautiful views and the 15th-century Praetorian Palace.

Zadar, one of Croatia's oldest cities, charms with its cultural heritage, spectacular sunsets, and nightlife. Its walled Old Town sits on a tiny peninsula with a waterfront promenade. Inside Venetian fortifications are narrow streets and landmarks like a Roman Forum, a Byzantine church, and a 12th-century Romanesque cathedral. A bridge links it to the mainland, but you can still cross between the sea gate and marina by rowboat. End the day with a drink or dinner while watching its famous sunset.

Hvar is a glamorous island escape with super yachts, lively bars, lavender fields, vineyards, sunshine, and nonstop nightlife. But it also has deep culture and history: a Benedictine convent where nuns make lace in a 150-year-old UNESCO-recognized tradition, the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, unchanged since Greek colonization in the 4th century BC, and a beautifully preserved capital with an ancient fortress worth climbing for the views.

Dubrovnik, dubbed by Lord Byron the pearl of the Adriatic and by George Bernard Shaw a place to seek paradise on earth, is a UNESCO World Heritage city of red-tiled roofs, green hills, and the blue Adriatic. Its thick medieval walls encircle Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains. It also featured prominently in Game of Thrones. Its ancient ramparts, surviving centuries of sieges, remain deeply inspiring.

Kotor is unforgettable: the fjord-like Bay of Kotor winds through forested mountains to a sparkling sea, with the coral-roofed UNESCO Old Town tucked into the innermost cove. Venetian ramparts enclose landmarks like the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Tryphon and the Maritime Museum. Fit visitors can climb 1,350 steps to St. John's Fortress for sweeping views; others can take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks or visit medieval Budva.

This port on Italy's southern coast overlooking the Bay of Naples is a popular starting point for the Amalfi Coast, but Sorrento itself is worth seeing. Perched on cliffs above the marinas and port, it features the 8th-century Cloisters of San Francesco, the Sorrento Cathedral (begun in the 15th century), and lively Piazza Tasso. From here, you can also visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

Rome is a vivid blend of sound, movement, history, and art. Church bells and traffic echo off ancient stone as workers, tourists, and café crowds move through the city. From the Colosseum and Roman Forum to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome's monuments are world-famous. Its sculptures, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, and Bernini's fountains make its art and architecture unsurpassed. Rome belongs not only to Italy, but to the world.