Šibenik

1,000 years old and still going strong, Šibenik comes with sun-kissed promenades and gorgeous red-tiled homes, views best enjoyed from any of its medieval fortresses overlooking town. One of the unsung jewels of Dalmatia, it is often overlooked in favor of the region's other resorts: Makarska and Split to the south; Zadar to the north. That's strange, given the Gothic-Renaissance fusions of St James' Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its Medieval Mediterranean Garden that pepper its Old town, all bound together by cobbled streets and atmospheric plazas where the strains of a live Klapa performance can oft be heard. The focal point of Šibenik is at its seafront, where al fresco cafes spill out onto the flagstones and locals kick bean bags (a national pastime) before cooling off in the waves. It should also not be forgotten that the stepped waterfalls and hiking trails Krka National Park lurk just a stone's throw inland – they're typically top of the menu for Šibenik tour guides.