Dubrovnik

Simply put, Dubrovnik is a stunning city. Imposing city walls surround marble streets and baroque buildings that are perfect for exploring. The main pedestrian street, Placa, has a multitude of cafés and shops with narrow cobbled streets branching off up the hillside. The many churches, museums and monasteries featuring finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition.

The city became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and survived the civil war in 1991, although received heavy shelling. You can still see the scars of war in the old town - the marble streets are chipped from the shrapnel. Relatively few buildings were completely destroyed; those that were damaged have since been renovated.

Beyond the city are beautiful hotels, wooded peninsulas and the sparkling Adriatic sea strewn with lush islands.