Taormina, with its hilltop location above the Ionian Sea, is easily one of Italy's most beautiful places. As it's packed with people in the summertime, recommended months to visit include April and September.

Aït Benhaddou, located in southern Morocco along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh, is one of the country’s most iconic historic sites. This fortified village, or ksar, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is admired for its striking earthen clay architecture that rises dramatically from the desert landscape.

Terre-de-Haut is an island off the coast of Guadeloupe and replete with a variety of stunning viewpoints to gaze out at the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Gijón sits on Spain’s northern coast in Asturias, shaped by its long relationship with the Cantabrian Sea. From its origins as a Roman settlement to its later growth as an industrial and port city, Gijón has balanced maritime work with civic life.

Krujë sits on a rocky hilltop above central Albania and has long been a symbol of the country’s history and independence. At Krujë Castle ancient stone walls rise above the town and offer striking views of the surrounding hills and valleys, and inside the fortress visitors find the Skanderbeg Museum, where armor, documents and displays recount the life and battles of Albania’s national hero.