Visit Piran

Slovenia's only port, a Venetian old town around Tito square on what was once an island.

Visit Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city. Explore the historic Old Town with landmarks like the Maribor Cathedral (Gothic architecture from the 13th century) and the Maribor Castle (housing the Regional Museum). Stroll along the Drava River and see the Old Vine House (home to the world's oldest producing vine, over 400 years old). Enjoy local cuisine such as prekmurska gibanica (layered pastry) and visit the Piramida Hill for panoramic views.

A church on an island in an alpine lake, a castle on the cliff and cream cake on the shore.

Slovenia's oldest town, a Roman settlement with a castle and the shaggy Kurent masks of carnival.

Visit Split, Croatia's second-largest city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian's Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site with ancient cellars and a peristyle). Walk along the Riva waterfront promenade, climb Marjan Hill for panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea, and explore the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (originally Diocletian's mausoleum, one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world).

Visit Rhodes, the largest of Greece's Dodecanese islands. Explore the medieval Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage site with the Palace of the Grand Master), see the ancient Acropolis of Lindos (cliff-top ruins with views over St Paul's Bay), relax at Anthony Quinn Bay (a scenic cove named after the actor), and visit the Valley of the Butterflies (a natural reserve with thousands of Jersey tiger moths in summer).

Visit Budva, a historic coastal town in Montenegro. Explore the Old Town (Stari Grad) with its Venetian walls and citadel, relax on Mogren Beach (two connected sandy coves beneath cliffs), and see the Sveti Stefan island-hotel (a 15th-century fortified village turned luxury resort).

Visit Larnaca, a coastal city in Cyprus. Explore the Church of Saint Lazarus (a 9th-century Byzantine church housing the reputed tomb of Lazarus), stroll along Finikoudes Beach (a palm-lined promenade with cafes and views of the Mediterranean), and see the Hala Sultan Tekke (an important Islamic shrine on the banks of the Salt Lake, known for its historical significance).