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.

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.

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.

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.

The charming city of A Coruña, in Spain’s far northwest, is one of the major cities of Galicia, which existed as an independent kingdom with its own language and culture for nearly a thousand years. Although it has long since been incorporated into the Spanish nation, Galicia still maintains a distinct identity, which can be felt strongly here.

The city of Vigo is the gateway to exploring the Illas Cíes, the jewel of the national park comprising an archipelago of Atlantic islands off Galicia’s western coast. These pristine islands, reachable from the city by ferry, boast untouched nature as well as some of the best beaches in all of Spain.

As the endpoint of Europe’s most famous pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela occupies a central role in the history of Christianity. Since the early 9th century, when a shepherd noticed a bright light shining over an abandoned Roman tomb in the forest and subsequently discovered the remains of the apostle Saint James the Great buried within, pilgrims have flocked to the city along the network of trails known as the Camino de Santiago (‘The Way of Saint James’) that stretch acro

With a history spanning nearly three thousand years, Rome has something remarkable around every corner. Its sights—the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon—are known the world over. But Rome is more than just ancient monuments. There is another city here, hiding in plain sight, that is often overlooked by the tourists who come for the ticketed attractions. This local’s guide will help you to, as the saying goes, do as the (modern) Romans do.

Renowned as a destination for art and architecture, the Basque capital is also a paradise for food lovers, offering a wide array of options from classic tabernas to Michelin-starred experiences.

While its neighbors Mallorca and Ibiza suffer from the ill effects of overtourism, Menorca exists in relaxed juxtaposition, offering visitors a Mediterranean island experience with similar natural and cultural beauty but at a much more pleasant, calm pace.