Description

Languishing in a long northern winter? Summer a distant memory? A city break doesnt have to mean tiring tramping of streets: all along the coasts of the countries bordering the Mediterranean- France, Italy, Spain, Greece - and on islands such as Cyprus, Malta, Mallorca, Sicily and Sardinia, are easily accessible seaside cities whose pace is always relaxed, where balmy weather, good food and wine and outdoor cafe life are enjoyed all year round. You can also escape the city entirely with our easy day excursions and tours: follow a wine-tasting route, seek out unspoiled coves and fishing villages, see the worlds oldest megalithic structures, head for the hills, watch the sunset from a clifftop temple or just sip cocktails in the warm dusk. So pack a weekend bag and jet off for some sun.Inside you will find: 20 Mediterranean seaside cities and towns in one guideHow to get there, by air, road and rail Up-to-date, insider advice on where to stay, eat, and shopNearest beaches and best places to soak up the sunDay trips by local bus and train from each destination cityFoolproof five-day tours by car for those with more time to spareUser-friendly town and area maps to help you plan your trip One of the less-obvious advantages to many of the cheap flights available is that, even if its a bit too hot for a city break, many of the cities visitors can fly to quickly are beside wonderful Mediterranean coastlines like the French and Italian Rivieras, the Spanish costas, or islands where unspoilt coves are only half an hour away. So travelers get the best of city life--shopping and eating out in the warm dusk--combined with a real escape to the sea. There are also some surprises--in Larnaca is the house where Lazarus supposedly lived after Jesus resurrected him, and Malta has the worlds oldest megalithic structures. Athens and the surrounding area have undergone major development for the 2004 Olympics, and now that Cyprus and Malta have joined the EU, visas are no longer necessary, making these stunning destination even more accessible.

Languishing in a long northern winter? Summer a distant memory? A city break doesnt have to mean tiring tramping of streets: all along the coasts of the countries bordering the Mediterranean- France, Italy, Spain, Greece - and on islands such as Cyprus, Malta, Mallorca, Sicily and Sardinia, are easily accessible seaside cities whose pace is always relaxed, where balmy weather, good food and wine and outdoor cafe life are enjoyed all year round. You can also escape the city entirely with our easy day excursions and tours: follow a wine-tasting route, seek out unspoiled coves and fishing villages, see the...  Read More