Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik’s vast appeal somewhat belies its tiny size. Nestled at the Southern tip of Croatia between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, the city is a treasure trove of ancient architecture looking out to a breathtaking Dalmatian coastline. Its unique character is owed somewhat to its independence, going alone while much of the surrounding lands were conquered by Napoleon and the Romans, although it eventually became a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and Yugoslavia, before formally becoming a city of newly formed Croatia in 1991. Get to know it by walking Stari Grad — literally: old town — and hike up Mount Srd for rewarding views of the Pearl of the Adriatic from above.