Whether it’s day or night, the resort town of Sliema thrums with activity. Historic cathedrals, watchtowers, and forts spatter the area, while along the waterfront locals shop, dine, bar hop, or stroll along the promenade for views of the shimmering Mediterranean.

One of the three principal islands of the Maltese archipelago, the island of Malta is the largest of the chain. Its capital Valletta, a lively, bustling city with many buildings dating back to the 16th century, teems with cathedrals, palaces and forts. The impressive Grand Harbour offers a dramatic arrival. The top archaeological attraction is the UNESCO-designated Hypogeum temple ruins, a macabre, 5400-square-foot underground necropolis and the world's only underground prehistoric temple.

Perched on a hilltop in northern Malta, laid-back Mellieħa has a more local feel than many of the island's more developed southern resort towns. You'll find Malta's longest beach here, the white-sand Mellieħa (or Għadira) Bay.

A laid-back resort town on Majorca's eastern shores, Cala Millor offers sun, sea, and scenery on par with its west-coast sisters—but without the bacchanalian behaviour. Instead, a vast beach, rocky coves, and relaxed bars cater to families in search of a stress-free sojourn.

Costa Teguise in the Canary Islands doesn’t have a long history behind it—the resort area was developed as a tourist area in the 1980s. The sandy beaches are the town’s main attraction, but for a change of pace, visit the Fundacion Cesar Manrique, where you can see Manrique’s artwork and learn about this world-renowned local artist.