Piran Slovenia

Perhaps given that it is sandwiched between Italy’s Adriatic coast and the islands of Croatia – thousands of golden polka dots floating on a blue, blue ocean – it’s no surprise that Slovenia’s tiny coastline is often overlooked by those seeking spring sun. Their loss is your gain. The pretty town of Piran is crammed onto a narrow peninsula which juts out into the Gulf of Trieste like a talon, a geographical quirk that has preserved its medieval charm by protecting it from overdevelopment.

As you ascend the 147 steps of the bell tower on St George’s Church, you’ll have plenty of time to ponder why you feel like you’ve seen it before. The answer is that Piran was part of the Venetian empire for more than 500 years and the tower modelled on the campanile of St Mark’s in Venice. Ornate facades, Juliet balconies and carved stone passages suspended between houses are all part of this heritage, and simply strolling around is one of Piran’s chief pleasures. On the street leading to the main square, Pri Mari primari-piran.com is a family-run restaurant decorated in the historic arte povera style. Mara’s welcome is as full of character as the classic Istrian plates her son Marco creates in the kitchen. Below the church, a stretch of pebbly beach offers lovely swimming, but if you’re after something more private, simply stroll around the town walls. There are plenty of rocky ledges and staircases leading straight into the sea to choose from, and with May temperatures in the mid-20s, you’ll be keen to cool off. The Sečovlje salt pans in the mouth of the River Dragonja have been producing fleur de sal since the 13th century. Prized for its unique mineral flavour, it is still harvested by hand in the time-honoured way. Explore the salt museum and time your visit to coincide with sunset, when the crystals on the salt lakes glow the colour of strawberry milkshake.

Ceský Krumlov Czech Republic

The epithet ‘fairy tale’ is trotted out all too frequently in travel writing, but it is hard to think of one that better describes this Unesco World Heritage Site in South Bohemia, about two hours’ drive from the capital. Nicknamed ‘the pearl of Bohemia’, it has all the medieval charm of Prague but a fraction of the crowds (and none of the tiresome stag parties). A 14th-century castle worthy of any mythical wizard towers above renaissance colour-washed houses with wonky roofs, while damselflies hover over the waters of the River Vltava, which meanders lazily through the centre of town.

If this is all sounding a little too dreamy and surreal, an adrenaline fix is never far away. A day’s rafting under the tutelage of an English-speaking local guide from Rafting Krumlov rafting-krumlov.cz is a fantastic way to explore the surrounding countryside and to get to grips with this area of bucolic Bohemia, which arrives as a land of wonderful forests, fish ponds and folk baroque villages. Back in town, ensure that you set aside several hours to explore the castle, which is one of the biggest in central Europe, and offers dramatic views from its curvaceous stone tower. During May’s balmy evenings, the lush banks of the river buzz with locals sharing Moravian wines (if you see any from the hamlet of Znojmo on a wine list, make sure you snap it up immediately) and jihočeská niva, a creamy blue cheese unique to the region which tastes like a cross between Gorgonzola and Camembert. After lunch, take a stroll towards the main square until you reach Restaurant Jakub jakubrestaurant.cz – a fine-dining fish restaurant that boasts a roomy terrace fringed with geraniums. It is a cheerful spot to try the freshwater fish of the day and pork head sweetbreads. A three- course meal costs around £15.

Łódź Poland

The third-biggest city in Poland, Łódź has had a fascinating yet troubled past and is now emerging as one of the most dynamic places for an urban break in Eastern Europe. This fierce destination has reinvented itself more times than Madonna and, like every great eccentric, bears telltale scars which only add to its intrigue. Its location in the very centre of the country made it a natural focus for trade, while the surrounding forests kept the fires burning in its brick textile factories. Today, many have been reimagined as creative hubs such as OFF Piotrkowska, a former cotton mill that now houses more than 50 small businesses including barbershops, artisan ice-cream parlours, galleries and music spaces. Others are being used as canvases by renowned street artists such as ROA from Belgium and Inti from Chile. Download a map from urbanforms.org to see them all on a self-guided walking tour. During the Second World War, the city was occupied by Nazis and lost more than half its population. A sobering stroll around the enormous Jewish cemetery will reveal tombs marked with nothing more than rusty bedsteads, as the Nazis denied victims the right to gravestones. Over the last ten years, Łódź has become the nucleus of Poland’s alternative and creative communities. A pootle down Piotrkowska Street reveals alleyways decorated in intricate tiles leading to courtyard cafés such as Café Verte 00 48 42 639 9129, which serves great homemade cakes, and progressive basement bars where creative types sip refreshing local craft brew Lacto Bacto.

Komani Lake and Valbona Albania

Picture the icy depths of Pogradec’s Lake Ohrid and the untapped majesty of the Ionian coast. Or Osumi Canyon’s mysterious stone creases and dense forests, where the almond eyes of the last surviving 40 Balkan lynx may be glimpsed by a lucky few. Albania’s landscape can only be described as epic, and nowhere more so than around the Accursed Mountains, the spiny range which extends from northern Albania to Kosovo. Cradled in its very heart, the Valbona Valley National Park is a lush tapestry of beech forests and Ottoman mountain villages such as Gjarpër, where the local water supply predominantly consists of melted snow harvested from a nearby cave.

Aside from its pastoral culture, the main draw of the region for visitors is 200km of spectacular hiking trails. The walking route between Valbona village and Theth, a 9.5km trek through snow-capped peaks and meadows populated by shepherds and their flocks, is particularly breathtaking. Other notable routes include the Valbona loop trail (8.5km) and Valbona to Maja Rosit (16.7km), an awe-inspiring ramble through wildflower meadows dotted with some of the country’s 196 species of butterflies. The best way to reach Valbona is the ferry through Komani Lake, a staggeringly beautiful stretch of water that is at times so narrow it scarcely seems the boat will be able pass. The boat makes frequent stops at remote hamlets, where you might spot locals loading mules with key supplies, and offers a fantastic way of meeting these normally shy country folk.

Lopud Croatia

Sure, you’ve heard of Brač and Hvar, but what about Lopud? The lush emeraldat the centre of the Elafiti Islands is just under an hour from Dubrovnik by ferry, but with an area of less than 5sq km it can accommodate a fraction of the crowds. Just 220 residents call its single village home, mostly making a living by fishing and running the handful of sleepy cafés and ice-cream shops that line the seafront promenade along the island’s northern bay. When dusk falls and the crickets begin to squeak in earnest, sun-wizened locals such as eccentric artist and author Luciano Apparuti, whose shop lies part-way along the main street, emerge from their stone cottages to sip travarica (herbal brandy) and play dominoes.

Stop at Obala restaurant obalalopud.com – which has a handful of tables right on the waterfront where you can try local delicacies such as Dalmatian prosciutto and grilled octopus. It’s Adriatic life at its most traditional, and with just a handful of hotels on the island, you’ll be one of the only visitors there. The next day, hire kayaks or pedalos from the sandy beach near the village jetty. A 25-minute walk south, Šunj Beach is one of the best in the region, with fine, powdery sand and a pair of shacks with striped awnings dispensing cold drinks. A hike across Lopud’s pine-scented interior reveals more than 35 haunting ruins that tell the story of the island’s history. Look out for the church of St Ilija, an abandoned Dominican convent and a hilltop fortress, all gradually being reclaimed by pomegranate trees and nesting storks.

Štrebské Pleso Slovakia (High Tatras)

In the 13th century, Štrebské Pleso, a vast glacial lake surrounded by the snow-dusted peaks of the High Tatra mountains, was handed over to the local peasants by the ruling Hungarian royalty, who considered it useless as it was so remote. Today, it is one of Slovakia’s most sought-after wellness destinations, a great-value alternative to the Alps for those seeking the peace of rolling pine forests and the chance to bathe in natural thermal springs beneath a cold, crisp sky studded with stars.

There are plenty of gorgeous hikes to choose from. In spring, Mlynická is carpeted with bluebells, edelweiss and primroses nourished by the Skok Waterfall, which bounces through the valley from rocky shelf to plateau, leaving a spray of greenery in its wake. The hike takes three hours, and if you’re feeling brave, there are chains in place that allow you to scale the waterfall and discover the string of pure mountain lakes at its peak. For something a little shorter, head west from Štrebské Pleso to Jamské Pleso, a crystalline lake that can be reached in an hour on a trail winding slightly uphill through the woods. Soothe aching muscles with a visit to Novyé Smokovec, a cutting-edge medical spa located 15 minutes away by taxi, which offers everything from Finnish saunasto oxygen therapy. For traditional mountain comfort food such as venison goulash with grilled dumplings, make your way to Hotel Patria hotelpatria.sk – a quirky chalet on the very edge of the lake. Their alcoholic Tatra tea is just the thing to send you into a dreamless sleep.

Balchik Bulgaria

‘Balchik is a place of silence and restfulness where I go to refresh my soul and body.’ So wrote Queen Marie, granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the last monarch of Romania, whose palace still towers above this pretty fishing village in Dobruja, on the border of Bulgaria and Romania. A basketful of whitewashed buildings nestling at the foot of chalky cliffs, it is a breath of fresh air on a stretch of the Black Sea coast that is characterised by concrete resorts where package holidays are churned out as clinically as products in a Soviet factory. Although it does have an art gallery and museum, the main pleasure offered by this sleepy town is pottering.

Balchik Beach is a pebble cove in front of the Helios Hotel, which is always buzzing in summer with bronzed locals sipping Kamenitza beer. A little quieter, Ikantlaka Beach, or St George, as it's also known, is a neat swathe of sand studded with parasols overlooking a lagoon that’s as still as glass. Retreat from the May temperatures, which hover in the mid-20s, in the shade of Balchik Botanical Gardens’ rare trees, and don’t miss a sunrise stroll around the yachting marina to see a fleet of fishermen trying their luck at jack mackerel fishing. In front of the gardens and with views over the water, Restaurant Korona’s 00 359 57 976 847 large terrace is the perfect place in which to enjoy fresh seafood and aubergine salad, alongside a glass of refreshing Feteascǎ Neagrǎ wine, which is unique to the region.

Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina

Although it fits neatly into the green hollow between Hum Hill and the foot of Velež mountain, any visit to Mostar inevitably ends up being a tale of two cities. Despite the fact that the civil war ended in 1995, the city is unofficially divided by an invisible line to this day, with the remains of bombed-out houses serving as a poignant reminder that history is a living, breathing organism here. The Croat Catholic part of town is on the west bank of the Neretva, one of the most beautiful rivers in the Balkans.

More modern and European than its eastern counterpart, its skyline is pierced by church spires and a haunting sniper tower now scrawled with messages of peace. Cross the Stari Most, an iconic bridge in the shape of a crescent moon, to the Muslim Bosniak, on the eastern side of the river, to hear the sound of the imam calling people to prayer and smell the spices wafting out of Ottoman-era bazaars. The old town is on this bank and its cobbled streets feature an exotic combination of pre-Ottoman, Eastern Ottoman and Mediterranean architecture styles. A wander down Coppersmith Street is a must. Its red and cream buildings now bustle with locals pedalling silk scarves and kitsch war memorabilia. Nearby Bišćević House, with its pretty courtyard and original furnishings, is a 16th-century gem. Exploring its atmospheric rooms, it’s easy to picture copper merchants reclining on the silken cushions, sipping grainy Turkish coffee and eating dates. Take a 15-minute taxi ride to the petite village of Blagaj, where you can feast on river trout with lemon at Restoran Vrelo restoranvrelo.com which overlooks a monastery that dips its toes into a photogenic azure rock pool.

Sibiu Romania

Since being named European Capital of Culture in 2007, this graceful city in southern Transylvania has kept a fairly low profile – until now. This year, it is the European Region of Gastronomy, an award which recognises sustainable gastronomic innovation at a local level. The food scene is a delectable scramble of the Romanian, Saxon, Hungarian, Armenian, Hebrew and Roma cultures who have all called Sibiu home, while the huge number of organic farms in the region reflects the fact that Romania only ceased to be a Communist state 30 years ago.

Head to Cibin Market to sample sheep’s cheese from the verdant slopes of the Southern Carpathians, Crama Sibiul Vechi for smoked meats, Urban Brewery for craft beer and Syndicat Gourmet syndicatgourmet.ro to try traditional recipes reimagined with contemporary flair. Beef tongue drizzled in cherry and rosehip sauce is our recommendation. The town itself is equally eclectic. The Upper Town was traditionally wealthier and holds most of the important cultural attractions. Start in the Piata Mica, where you can explore the Brukenthal Museum, Pharmacy Museum and the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, before soaking up views of the pastel-painted Lower Town from the Bridge of Liars. If you’re confused about the fact that the houses appear to be looking back at you and are blaming the wild pear brandy you enjoyed at lunch, don’t fret. The distinctive eye-shaped windows were built back in the 1700s to help improve the buildings’ ventilation.