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.

Trieste is a treasure on a historic frontier of cultures, nestled on the Slovenian border and returned to Italy in 1954. Wealth from trade shaped its grand piazzas and striking architecture, and the Bora wind blows fiercely in winter. Visit Piazza Unità d'Italia, the central square by the sea, sip coffee in Italy's coffee capital, stroll the Canale Grande, see Neptune's fountain at Piazza della Borsa, and don't miss Miramare Castle, Trieste Cathedral, and the old town below.

Rovinj, Croatia's "Little Venice," blends strong Italian charm with a romantic old town, seafront promenades, waterside cafés, and working fishing boats. Wander cobbled lanes past colourful houses, shops, bars, and restaurants serving Istrian truffles, then climb the Venetian bell tower of St Eufemia for sea views. Nearby are islands, beaches, olive groves, vineyards, and Pula's Roman amphitheatre.

Kotor, Montenegro, is a fortified old town set between Lovćen mountain and the Adriatic at the end of the Bay of Kotor, Europe's southernmost fjord. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it has Venetian-era stone streets, terracotta roofs, cathedral towers, and thick walls. Quieter and often more authentic than Dubrovnik, it's known for cats, the maritime museum, cafés, and the 1,350-step climb to St John's Fortress for sweeping bay views.

Bari, Puglia's historic port and Adriatic gateway, offers a glimpse of everyday life in Italy's unpretentious south. Stroll Bari Vecchia's crooked lanes, past pasta-making doorways and old men playing cards, then see the Cattedrale di San Sabino and the seafront Lungomare. Eat focaccia, orecchiette, olive oil and ricotta. Use Bari as a base for Lecce, Alberobello's trulli, Salento's beaches, Matera's caves, and Polignano a Mare's dramatic 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.

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.

Zadar, Croatia's "Capital of Cool," blends Roman, Venetian, Austrian, French and Italian influences with a lively festival scene and easy access to beaches and waterfalls. Explore the old town's stone gates and marble streets, St Donatus Church, and Zadar Cathedral, then shop the market or walk to Kolovare Beach. Nearby day trips include Kornati National Park and Plitvice Lakes. Don't miss the Sea Organ and the Sun Salutation, best at sunset.

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.