Hidden gems of Southern Europe

These hidden gem spots are what holiday dreams are made of—packed with "pinch-me" moments and WOW experiences!!

1. Montenegro

Go now, before the crowds catch up!

You think you don’t know it but you do. A Mediterranean beauty wedged between its larger Balkan brothers, it’s the realm of coastal cities and red roofed houses; tiny churches on their own private islands and cathedral spires that poke the mountainside. Scenery you already love, but perhaps couldn’t place.

Montenegro so often slips under the radar and stays, maybe purposely, well out of sight. From fjords that will render you speechless to the second deepest canyon on earth, this fascinating landscape remains under explored. And under exploited. Kotor Bay splits east and west, with flamboyant monasteries and elegant mosques enjoying a dalliance within one another’s presence.

There’s 300km of unspoilt coastline and even in summer, when the entire country is drenched in Mediterranean sunshine, there’s a distinct lack of cruise ships dropping off their sightseers.

2. Croatia

Ask to see the menu 

You’ve heard Croatia’s star attraction is Dubrovnik. A walled, cobblestone town clinging to the Dalmatian coastline. The editorials gush over its dazzling shoreline and striking medieval architecture, including its charming red-tiled roofs. They’ll tell you to explore the seashore by kayak and to take a boat to islets that litter the shoreline, and sure, you’d be a fool to ignore their advice, but many argue Croatia’s premier showpiece lies elsewhere. And that’d be in the kitchen.

From grilled sardines and jet black risotto to a mid-morning meal known as marenda (when you’ll dine on a platter of artisan meat and cheese) Croatia is a gourmand’s dream in an idyllic setting. Italian influence is rife, from the handmade fuzi pasta to a national obsession with coffee - and due to a cold northerly wind (perfect for drying meat) some of the most sought after prosciutto in the world. The views from the table are profound, but it’s what’s on your plate that will really impress.

3. Malta

Ageing Gracefully 

Malta makes you feel good. Fact. Whether it’s the 300 days of annual sunshine, a diving scene which is considered the best in Europe, or the rows of brightly painted balconies in its capital of Valletta, Malta looks as attractive in the flesh as it’s described in all the hearsay. An archipelago found just south of Sicily, sun and sea are dished out generously, but so are the stunning historic artefacts.

With a 7000-year history, temples that pre-date the Pyramids and some of the oldest stone buildings in the world, the density of historic sites is so great, that Malta almost creaks under the weight of its own antiques. The architecture is profound; crumbling to the point of no return or meticulously restored, it’s all beautiful. And that’s just what lies above.

Step into Malta’s dazzling water and discover a golden seabed scattered with shipwrecks, some of which have been sitting silently since World War II