The island nation of Malta represents a cultural, geographic, and historic crossroads of the Mediterranean region. Wedged between Sicily, Tunisia, and Libya, the archipelago sits on the African tectonic plate, with a culture and history shaped by the great powers of Western Europe and a Semitic language descended from Arabic. The islands offer a mix of unique history and great natural beauty that serve as a sort of microcosm of the Mediterranean world.

Venice isn’t the only group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon. North of the city, the islands of Murano and Burano make for an excellent day trip, easily reachable by vaporetto (ferry) and offering a breath of fresh air (and a scenic trip) from the tourist crush of Venice.

Located along Croatia’s scenic Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik’s beautiful old city is one of the gems of the Adriatic. With a history spanning millennia, the city has seen many rulers as well as its fair share of destruction over the centuries, sustaining significant damage from an earthquake in 1667 as well as the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. But the city’s great beauty endures, thanks to the spirit of its people and the preservation efforts of local and national g

Athens, the birthplace of Western civilization, is a city that is steeped in history. It is home to an enviable collection of ancient monuments that are among the most important in world history, which are also easily accessible for tourists. Read on for a guide to some of the most important sites to visit during your stay in the Greek capital.

Situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, which form the border between Poland and Slovakia, Zakopane is a charming alpine town that epitomizes the culture of the Gorals, Poland’s highlanders. Known as the winter sports capital of Poland, the town attracts plenty of skiers in the winter as well as hikers and climbers in the summer. Even if you aren’t so intrepid, there’s plenty to enjoy in Zakopane, from its unique and charming architectural style to its hearty cuisine and

Though it lost its status as the national capital at the end of the 16th century, Kraków has remained Poland’s preeminent city in culture, academia, and the arts to this day. Its Old Town is often regarded as one of the most beautiful historic centers in Europe; for this reason, it was one of the twelve sites included on the inaugural UNESCO World Heritage list.

Lake Como is widely known in popular culture as a vacation destination for the rich and famous, but this stunning glacial lake can actually be visited easily and cheaply as a day trip from Milan.

São Paulo is one of the world’s great football cities, but it’s also a great place to stock up on vintage football shirts. With a wide selection at great prices, make sure you leave extra room in your suitcase, as you’ll surely be leaving with several extra shirts. These stores all deal with authentic shirts—no fakes—and have a wide range of teams from around Brazil, Europe, South America, national teams, and the rest of the world.

Thanks to Chile’s unique thin shape, Santiago has easy access to the mountains, the coast, and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for a day at the beach, a hike in the mountains, or a wine tasting at a vineyard, a fantastic day trip is within easy reach of the capital city.

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Danube,’ the Hungarian capital offers visitors a rich mix of architectural beauty, diverse history, and an active food and nightlife scene. Formed by the 19th-century unification of the independent cities of Buda and Pest, located on the west and east sides of the river, respectively, the city has seen many of Europe’s great powers come and go, from the Romans and the Ottomans to the Austro-Hungarians and the Iron Curtain.

Of all the cities in Spain, Granada is the one where you can most feel the legacy of the Muslims who ruled Iberia for nearly eight centuries. After all, this was the last city on the Iberian peninsula to be reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs Fernando and Isabel, with their 1492 siege of the capital of the Emirate of Granada representing the final nail in the coffin for Al-Andalus.

With a number of centuries-old establishments serving up prized regional dishes, Seville’s food scene is among the best in Spain.

Often cited as one of Italy’s premier food cities, Bologna is rich with culinary tradition in past and present. The city is nicknamed la grassa (“the fat”) for its emphasis on meat and dairy products, which come from the fertile Po River Valley nearby. Bologna has produced a number of Italy’s most famous dishes—not just the bolognese.

Madrid has no shortage of things to do, but the area around the Spanish capital is full of places to explore, too.

Montevideo’s Ciudad Vieja is, as its name indicates, the oldest part of the city. The area was originally a fortified citadel built by the Spanish to solidify their claim to the eastern side of the Río de la Plata against the Portuguese, who sought to extend the borders of their colony Brazil to the south. Today, the neighborhood is the heart of the city, full of historic buildings dedicated to commerce as well as culture.

The area around Plaza Ñuñoa has long been one of Santiago’s premier destinations for nightlife, culture, and entertainment. The plaza is synonymous with outdoor terraces where groups of friends enjoy relaxed evenings over beers, as well as a number of live music venues and restaurants.

Barrio Italia is arguably Santiago’s most charming neighborhood, full of independent businesses, artisan shops, and gourmet restaurants and cafes. Centered around Avenida Italia, the neighborhood is made up of one-story houses called cités, with long, central hallways that formerly served as homes and workshops but now hold all manner of shops and cafes. With its colorful facades and wide array of businesses to explore, this is a fantastic area for a sunny afternoon of shoppi

Lisbon has become one of Europe’s hottest tourist destinations, and the city has undergone something of a transformation in recent years, with a litany of new restaurants and cafes popping up catering to the growing population of tourists and digital nomads. But the Portuguese capital remains rooted in tradition—if you know where to look.

Leblon is Rio’s swankiest neighborhood, home to some of the priciest real estate in the city. But this isn’t a stuffy neighborhood reserved for the rich—far from it. Leblon is home to some of the city’s best nightlife, as well as a beautiful stretch of beach and a number of classic botecos where you can sit back and take in carioca life.

Athens, one of the world’s oldest cities, is famous as the birthplace of Western civilization, with a recorded history spanning some three and a half millennia. But the Greek capital is also home to a vibrant culture, spoiled for choice with food, nightlife, and cultural activities. Most tourists come here for the ancient, but it would be a shame not to explore the modern as well.