Nice's sweeping blue bay still enchants visitors with sun, sea and sophistication. Elegant boulevards, grand buildings, parks and floral displays give the city timeless charm, while the Promenade des Anglais offers a spectacular seafront walk. The old town, flower market on Cours Saleya, Italian influence, Russian Orthodox church, and Colline du Château views all add to Nice's allure.

Elba, where Napoleon was exiled in 1814, is a scenic Tuscan island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its capital, Portoferraio, has a pretty harbour, pastel buildings, and sea views from Villa dei Mulini, now a museum. With mountains, cliffs, beaches, woods, vineyards, and 90 miles of coast, it's ideal for views, cable-car rides to Monte Capanne, seafood, and sweet local wine.

Porto Santo Stefano, on Monte Argentario in southern Tuscany, is a secluded seaside escape once favored by Rome's elite. Linked to the coast by two sandy strips, it has a lively waterfront, luxury yachts, beaches, wild hikes, and fresh seafood. Visit Piazza dei Rioni, note WWII damage, and see the star-shaped Spanish fort, which guards the harbor and offers terracotta-roof views. Nearby coves, olive groves, and trips to Giglio and Giannutri add to its appeal.

Sorrento's sun-faded facades spill from green hills to the Bay of Naples, making it a great base for the Amalfi Coast and Capri. Yet the town itself has rustic charm: Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, San Francesco's cloisters, and small beaches and harbours. Nearby, Vesuvius and Pompeii recall ancient destruction and the frozen casts of its victims. Finish with Neapolitan pizza, local wines like Taurasi and Lacryma Christi, and limoncello.

Sarandë, Albania's southern harbor, is a 20-minute boat ride from Corfu and enjoys 300+ sunny days a year. It offers turquoise beaches, a lively seafront boulevard lined with bars, restaurants, and shops, and great access to nearby sights: 16th-century Lekuresi Castle with views over Corfu and the sea, the Blue Eye Spring with crystal-clear water, and Butrint, a UNESCO-listed ancient Greek and Roman city with streets, a theatre, a basilica, and mosaics.

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.

Discover Monopoli with Silversea Luxury Cruises and take advantage of the lovely weather to explore Italy. This trip is made for lovers of la dolce vita!

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.

Šibenik, on the Adriatic at the mouth of the Krka, is a stone-built Dalmatian city rich in medieval charm. Nearby Krka National Park has famous waterfalls, and the old town-Croatia's oldest native town-holds UNESCO sites, including Cathedral St. James, a Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece with 71 sculptured heads and war bullet holes. St. Michael's and St. Nicholas Fortresses, plus views of the islands, add to its appeal.

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.

Slovenia's 46 km coast hides Piran, a small Adriatic gem just over 120 km from Ljubljana. Set on a rocky peninsula, it blends Mediterranean charm with strong Venetian heritage: ruled by Venice from 1283-1797, with Italian once dominant. Start in Tartini Square, then explore the old town on foot, visit churches or St. George's, and stroll the seaside promenade.

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.