Dubrovnik

Dubbed the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Dubrovnik hasn't always had it so easy. In 1991, just as the world was wising up to its charms and the tourists started pouring in, Croatia declared independence, the bombing began and the tourists poured swiftly out again.

The damage has now long been repaired and this magical medieval port which flourished in the 15th century is enjoying another golden age. This time it's as a travel destination of rich history and great beauty that's not only relatively unexploited, but affordable to boot.

Situated on the southernmost sliver of Croatia, overlooking the Adriatic Sea and overlooked by the Dinaric Alps, Dubrovnik's old city is simply phenomenal.

Walk through a gate in its thick 600-year-old walls (it's entirely pedestrianised), and you'll discover a historic wonderland dating as far back as the 7th century. Attractions include monasteries, churches, palaces, a cathedral, an ex-nunnery and a converted arsenal. To get a stunning view of everything at once, you can take a turn along the top of the walls.

When you've finished plunging into the past (and perhaps the famed crystal-clear waters, which hold a spectacular diving underworld) it's worth renting a car to discover the villages, bays, hidden beaches and sheer cliffs threaded along the Dubrovnik Riviera.

Another highlight is hopping on a ferry to one of the lush islands dotting the coast.