Croatia covers all bases with sparkling white sands, the cleanest waters in the Adriatic, and over a thousand sun-bleached islands to its name. But there’s much more to this sunny Mediterranean spot; think beautiful vineyards, stellar national parks, turquoise-tinted lakes, ancient walled cities, and no less than 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s a huge draw for walkers and hikers, too, with well-maintained trails and easy-to-follow paths of varying lengths along its mountains, highlands, and flat plains.

Visit the old cities of Split and Trogir

The Dalmatian Coast gets all the love for its beaches, but its historic towns and cities are quite the crowd-pleasers. Fans of HBO show Game of Thrones may already be familiar with Split – Croatia’s characterful second city adored for its palm-dotted Riva waterfront, beautiful peninsula, and show-stealing Diocletian’s Palace which comes with a maze of underground cellars, ancient columns, and 1,700 years of history. You can also visit nearby Trogir – the UNESCO-listed town that rewards with cobbled streets, an iconic cathedral, and interesting Roman, Hungarian, French, Venetian, and Austrian design influences set within its medieval walls.