Getaways to Italy often look like this: topping up your tan
while working through plates of pizza margherita chased with icy,
zesty shots of limoncello. But the appeal of Italy’s southernmost
tip goes beyond sunshine and the perfect tomato sauce. When
exploring Sicily’s romantic, rocky landscape speckled with olive
groves, sweeping sandy shores and bustling towns, it’s difficult
not to be seduced by the island’s wild beauty and local grit.
Whether you’re toying with the idea of a casual long weekend or are
craving a full-blown culinary hideaway, Sicily has you covered.

Troncones is often thought of as being simply a sleepy fishing
and farming village, but this destination has far more to offer
than its catch of the day. With eco-friendly hotels having slowly
popped up along its coastline, the tiny town (seriously, there are
only 500 full-time residents) is for those who prefer to truly lose
themselves within a local lifestyle. Surfers should make a beeline
for the waves of Manzanillo Bay, while everyone else should snag a
snorkel and paddle around its colourful reefs, keeping eyes peeled
for baby turtles.

Berlin isn’t your typical European capital. Divided until the fall of the
Berlin Wall in 1989, the sprawling (but not densely populated) city
of three-and-a-half million often exudes the impression of a
metropolis still finding itself. But the carefree energy and
relatively low rents of this cultural powerhouse have long
attracted those ahead of the curve. Home to countless galleries,
design-led boutiques and an effervescent nightlife that always
showcases the best in cutting-edge music, this is the ultimate
mid-summer city-break destination.

Sun-drenched boutique festivals are cropping up all along the
sparkling coves of the Albanian Riviera, and we’re bookmarking the
dinky town of Dhërmi as a dance destination to watch. Separated
from Italy’s heel by the Ionian Sea, the low-key Balkan town is
sending a siren call to Europe’s pleasure-seekers. Kick-start your
summer with an eclectic mix of music and wellness at Kala Festival,
return for a hedonistic September fling at the six-stage ION,
before drawing your season to a chilled-out close at Inner State,
where the itinerary includes vegan feasts, stargazing sessions and
lucid dreaming workshops. Dhërmi’s striking natural landscape
rivals its top-notch party scene, so we’d recommend extending your
stay to explore the beaches hidden under its pink-toned cliffs or
hike up the mighty Mount Çika after your long, hot summer of
fun.

June marks the beginning of prime wildlife-spotting season in
Namibia – but we wouldn’t judge if you decided to visit solely for
stargazing. An absence of light pollution means the night sky here
is a sight to behold. The majestic dunes and sprawling desert
plains set the country apart from other safari destinations. You
won’t find many tourists here, but you certainly will find the
world’s best-loved animals.

Paris is always a good idea. One of the great art repositories
of the world, the city harbours a pretty illustrious pedigree, with
Renoir, Picasso, Monet, Rodin and Manet among those to have called
the French capital home. Despite its antiquities, the cache of
modern and contemporary art found here is no less wondrous – be sure to check
out some of the smaller, independent galleries. When you get
hungry, iconic postcard views and wicker chair-lined terraces await
– from humble boulangeries to triple-Michelin-starred bistros. The
shopping is equally scintillating. Browse emerging and established
designers in sumptuous department stores, scour vintage shops and
flea markets, or scan the riverside bouquiniste book stalls for
first and rare editions.

Our newest Aegean obsession? The free-spirited Ios – a
myth-infused Cycladic isle that runs on a dawn-till-dusk party
philosophy. While it’s a world away from the chaos of Kavos, be
warned: the island’s blissed-out best spots are well hidden, and
you’ll have to avoid a fair few €1-shot spots while hunting down
true hedonistic Elysium. Join the carefree ex-Mykonos crew lounging
on kilim cushions at the glamorous Ios Club in Chora,
famed for its soft-focus sunsets. By day, take a trip to Diaseli, a
traditional, family-run cheese business, where you can join tasting
sessions featuring not only the island’s unique cheeses, but
heather honey and olive oil, too.

Reykjavík ranks as the world’s northernmost capital: in the
summer, the sun doesn’t set on the Icelandic city. With
candy-coloured buildings set against an alabaster landscape,
visitors will find themselves close to some of nature’s greatest
wonders – including the Blue Lagoon. “Reykjavík” translates as
“Smoky Bay” and, as the name suggests, the weather can be
tempestuous. Still, that doesn’t stop this tiny city drawing
crowds. Where else could spawn eccentrics such as the celebrated
musician Björk and have a bar dedicated exclusively to The Big
Lebowski?

While tourists flock to the storied Amalfi coast, those in the
know head straight to Ischia for their holiday getaway. The
volcanic islet boasts the best of Neapolitan food and secluded bays
touching the Tyrrhenian Sea. Come for the archetypal Italian slow
pace of life and a quaint village feel in the island’s tiny comuni.
Differing from its glamorous neighbour, Capri, Ischia isn’t about
plush boutiques and sophisticated bars, instead, offering an
abundance of family-run trattorias, natural thermal spas and
colourful houses stacked along cobbled passageways.

The Estonian capital is also the country’s largest city and,
with a blend of Scandinavian, Russian and European influences, its
streetscape makes for a vibrant crossroads of cultures. Start by
making tracks to the 14th-century Old Town, where you’ll find Town
Hall Square – you’ll probably recognise it because of its Christmas
markets, which pop up on Pinterest every winter. From there, we’d
suggest joining one of the free walking tours to best get a feel
for the city, picking up a bucket-load of fun trivia facts as you
go. Insider tip: trying the traditional bread soup, leivasupp, is a
must.

Utter the name of this Ulster County town and it conjures images
of hippy types dancing and singing to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and
Janis Joplin. Held in 1969, when the US was preoccupied with the
Vietnam War and civil rights protests, Woodstock festival had a
huge impact not only on the music industry, but on ideas around the
freedom of expression, too. The “three days of peace and music”
actually took place about an hour-and-a-half’s drive away, in
Bethel, but that hasn’t stopped Woodstock town from becoming the
beacon of eclecticism and magnet for free spirits that it is today.
Just two hours’ north of New York City, its streets are lined with
local-owned restaurants and cafés, boutiques and small galleries.
It’s also the starting point for one of the best hiking routes in
the Catskills.

With medieval towers, a walled old town and charming trattorias
surrounded by rolling vineyards, San Gimignano is the epitome of
Italian chic. Travel south from Florence through verdant fields to
reach the town’s crumbling 13th-century ramparts, beyond which
you’ll find honey-hued buildings and family-run eateries dating
back generations. Spend mornings brunching in Piazza della
Cisterna, where locals gather for a gossip and nonnas wave from
doorways, before navigating the cobbled alleyways to a generous
handful of churches and museums. Summer is no doubt a popular
season for holidaying in Tuscany, but scorching weather (and
crowds) can be quickly remedied with a large glass of chilled
pinot.

Situated between Europe and Asia, within close proximity to the ancient
Silk Road trade route, Tbilisi’s advantageous
position has not only defined much of its turbulent past, but
created a distinct cultural blend that has influenced the city’s
religion, language, arts, cuisine and architecture. A hodgepodge of
crumbling balconied buildings, stern Soviet structures, grand
European piles and Moorish architecture comprises the charming setting
for a slew of design-led hotels, high-fashion boutiques and buzzing
restaurants and bars loved by the city’s liberal elite. Throw in
the dramatic mountains nearby, delicious food and warm Georgian
hospitality, and you have a city that’s worth visiting over and
over again.

Located just a 90-minute drive east of Barcelona, the small Catalonian town of Pals
feels worlds away from the party-fuelled city crowds. Flanked by
stretches of dense vineyards, rolling rice fields and the dazzling
Bay of Empordà, these streets look as though they should be crammed
with horse-drawn carts and an elderly population, but that couldn’t
be further from the truth. A town that is best explored on foot
(and borderline impossible to discover by car, thanks to its narrow
passageways), Pals is the place to dance between independent
galleries and walk-in workshops, discovering the creative energy
that rules these sun-scorched streets.

North of Tunisia and south of Corsica, the sultry island of Sardinia ranks as
the Med’s second-largest isle. One of the quieter Italian destinations in terms of tourist
footfall, what this place lacks in swarms of selfie sticks, it more
than makes up for with its therapeutic landscape. Owing to the
variety of its ecosystems – think dramatic mountains, wild woodland
areas, rock-strewn coastlines and stretches of sun-kissed sand –
the island is often referred to as being a microcontinent. Though
it may be sparsely populated, there are plenty of vibrant pockets
to explore. Head to the free-spirited city of Olbia, partly for its
flavour-packed foodie scene, but largely for its dusty hiking trails
– the River Park Padrongianus is our favourite adventure
playground.

Sandwiched between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, the small Balkan country of Montenegro
(meaning “Black Mountain”) is sprinkled with flower-strewn meadows,
medieval towns and picture-perfect beaches, making it a great call
for those seeking a go-slow European escape. Head to the Bay of
Kotor, aka the Boka, and make the tiny town of Tivat your
playground. Home to hillside villas, a forested coastline and long
stretches of golden sand, this place has recently undergone a major
regeneration project, welcoming the glitzy and glamorous Porto
Montenegro. Lined by a harbour where some of the world’s most
sought-after superyachts are moored, the town flaunts an impressive
roster of trendy boutiques. Exclusive, sexy and rich in culture,
we’re pegging this as the next Monaco.

Azerbaijan is slotted between Georgia, Armenia and Turkey, at
the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and bound by the
Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains. We suggest making the
historical and dazzling capital of Baku your base. An ancient
walled city dating back to the seventh century, Baku’s cutting-edge
architecture is a honeypot for design lovers and creatives. Throw
in its diverse culinary offering and myriad shopping opportunities,
and you’re looking at a destination that offers a real feast for
the senses.