Algarve, Portugal

Portugal’s Algarve region is a land of superlatives.

These 100 miles of coast offer 3,300 hours of sunshine each year, as well as some of the best beaches in Europe and the best golf courses in the world.

Annecy, France

The big attraction in Annecy, the pearl of the French Alps, is the ski slopes in winter. But this lakeside city is an appealing place to be year-round.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

The old world capital city, Ljubljana, is the heart of the country, with easy access to both beaches and ski resorts.

Cascais, Portugal

A mile-long stretch of sheltered coves, sandy dunes, and rocky outcroppings, the coast of Cascais, Portugal, offers some of the best beaches in Europe.

Volterra, Italy

It’s hard to choose between Tuscany’s medieval hilltop towns, and most tourists plan to visit more than one. But Volterra is not visited as often as San Gimignano and some of the others, so it’s a better place to savor local life and see its attractions.

Citta Sant’Angelo, Italy

Perched on a hilltop with views of Gran Sasso Mountain, the Adriatic, vineyards, and olive groves sit ninth-century Città Sant’Angelo. In the heart of Italy’s Abruzzo, this is one of the greenest parts of Europe, with more than a dozen ski resorts in one direction and 80 miles of coastline in the other.

Paris, France

Paris provides the best of city living, from bookstores, antique shops, champagne cellars, parks, and gardens to museums, theaters, galleries, five-star restaurants, and luxury shopping.

Popoli, Italy

Nestled in the valley of three Apennine mountains, Popoli, Italy, with a population of 5,000, is a complete escape from the troubles of the modern world.

Valletta, Malta

From its weather and food to its culture, Malta is not only the best of the Mediterranean but also one affordable option for embracing a European lifestyle.

Kotor, Montenegro

This seaside country of a half-million people dispersed over an area smaller than the state of Connecticut is nestled between Croatia and Albania. Bayside Kotor, surrounded by towering mountains on one side and the dazzling Adriatic on the other, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and perhaps the best-preserved medieval town in the Mediterranean.