6 great Mediterranean destinations

Cyprus, say the Cypriots, has two seasons: the short-sleeve-shirt season and the long-sleeve-shirt season. Unlike much of the Med, its big bonus is that you can safely bet on wonderful Springs and Autumns in this long, hot Summer of a country.
As well as enjoying its stock of 30-something Blue Flag beaches, much of the best of the island lies inland. Take your pick from a rash of UNESCO-protected Byzantine frescoed churches and monasteries, the crusader castle of Kolossi, the Roman theatre at Kourion and the mosaics at Archaeological Park in Paphos. And for scenic treats, head to the Troodos Mountains and explore the sandy tracks of the Akamas peninsula.
Where to stay The 5-star, contemporary beachfront Amathus Beach Hotel in Limassol – a short distance from its old town, fishing harbour and castle – is one of the best on the island. It has an enormous spa with indoor and outdoor pools, 5 themed restaurants – ranging from a fish taverna to gourmet Asian cuisine – and a  children’s club.
Travel with Sovereign (sovereign.com)

Gökova Bay, on the country’s southwestern ‘Turquoise’ coast, combines the best of both worlds: a peaceful location that is within easy reach of Bodrum, nicknamed the St Tropez of Turkey. When you crave a little distraction from the beach, you can easily nip into the lively town and enjoy its huge choice of restaurants and shops, a market, quayside and immense Crusader castle, too.
Where to stay The Kempinski Hotel on Barbaros Bay has 173 luxurious rooms and suites, each with its own balcony and spectacular views of the sandy beach lapped by the Aegean. It also has a Six Senses Spa (with optional yoga, tai-chi, Nordic walking and Watsu water therapy), 4 restaurants, cooking workshops and a private boat for shore jaunts.
Travel with prestigeholidays.co.uk

The largest and lushest island in the Ionian, Corfu is defined by its magnificent spine of mountains and beaches – and also has one of the Med’s most interesting towns. The architecture of its capital, Kerkyra, given World Heritage status by UNESCO, is little changed since its long occupation by the Venetians.
Wherever you stay on Corfu, go at least once to see Kerkyra, shop and eat (particularly the seafood at Klimataria), visit the Museum of Asian Art and even watch cricket on the green while sipping ginger beer in one of the smart cafés along the Liston, a legacy of British rule in the 19th century.
Where to stay The recently renovated seafront Marbella Beach Hotel in Agios Ioannis has 265 rooms, a choice of pools, restaurants, gardens and beach bar.
Travel with Classic Collection Holidays (classic-collection.co.uk).

The billionaire’s playground of Monaco might not be the obvious choice for a Med mini-break, but for a brief burst of sun, sea and style it’s hard to beat. It’s so tiny that you can absorb all the major sights in just a day or two, including oligarchs’ yachts in the harbour, the Pink Palace – home of Prince Albert II and the ruling Grimaldi family – and the opulent casino, before heading into the hills of Provence.
Where to stay In Monaco, book a night at the legendary Hotel de Paris, home to Alain Ducasse’s 3-Michelin star Le Louis XV restaurant (where Saturday night deals can be surprisingly affordable). Then the Chateau Saint-Martin & (La Prairie) Spa overlooking the picturesque medieval town of St Paul de Vence and famous for its 2-Michelin star restaurant, Le Saint-Martin.
How to travel Easyjet has well-timed flights to nearby Nice, and a lovely treat for the return journey is to take the helicopter flight back to the airport at around €100pp. Flying high in the sky over the Mediterranean with the twinkling lights of the principality below feels as if you have – however briefly – entered another world.

Extremadura, some two hours from Madrid, is a region that has remained under the tourist radar despite its dramatic scenery, medieval and Roman towns and authentic Spanish character.
The hilltop town of Trujillo is particularly delightful, with narrow cobbled streets, a 12th-century castle, restaurants offering superb local produce and a history dating back to 600BC.
Nearby is the Monfragüe National Park, which has a remarkable variety of Mediterranean flora and fauna, including griffin vultures, Iberian lynx and eagle owls, as well as the medieval town of Cáceres and the World Heritage Listed Roman ruins at Mérida.
Where to stay In a choice of villas offered by a local company, Trujillo Villas Espana, mostly found in a cluster of restored ancient Roman buildings near the castle at the top of the town with views of the plains below. Check with British Airways (ba.com/madrid) for details on fly-drive holidays.

Summer is the season for alfresco arias, when some of the leading opera singers emerge from the shadows of La Scala to perform under the stars, often in historic settings. Opera alfresco tends to be a much more relaxed affair than in formal theatres, with the average age of the audience a decade or so younger. Prices are also generally more affordable.
Close to Italy’s lake country, Verona stages the most famous of all open-air opera festivals in its Roman arena. Illuminated by thousands of candles, the atmosphere is magical, the acoustics terrific and the whole town takes on a festive atmosphere, kicking off with the nightly passeggiata.
Other festivals include those in the medieval hilltop town of Macerata in the Marche region, staged in the neoclassical Arena Sferisterio, a sweep of colonnaded balconies, and Torre del Lago in Tuscany, a lakeside setting where Puccini’s operas are performed.
Where to stay At the Hotel Rex or Puccini, both situated in the heart of the picturesque town of Lucca, near Torre del Lago. For dates and more details, contact opera specialist JMB Travel (jmb-travel.co.uk).

Discover more to do in the Mediterranean with Summer sailing on the Med