With its unbelievably clear blue waters and sun-bleached rocky coast blanketed in pine forests, Kas is a true jewel of the Mediterranean’s yachting playgrounds. From kayaking atop the sunken ruins of Simena to hiking a portion of the coastal Lycian Way and scuba diving with caretta sea turtles, this seaside town on Turkey’s southwestern coast is an exciting destination for active explorers. One of the best ways to experience Kas is by chartering a sailboat to swim in coves along the Turquoise Coast.

With Catania’s lovely collection of 18th century baroque architecture at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano, this striking port city on Sicily’s west coast is set against the dazzling Ionian Sea. Begin your exploration in Piazza del Duomo, an elegant and spacious square where the whimsical Fontana dell’Elefante, made of black lava rock, sits at its center. Here, you’ll also find the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata with its domed basilica, graceful frescoes and columned facade, originally built in the 1000s with a fascinating history that spans the centuries.

On the eastern coast of Crete lies the island’s capital and largest urban center, Heraklion. A lively port city on the surface, millennia of history lie beneath its modern facade. Turkish fountains lie within the modern bustling city center and Venetian buildings and Minoan fortresses transport visitors back in time. See Minoan art and artifacts at the Heraklion Archeological Museum and explore the impressive Koules fortress for a view of Heraklion’s past before roaming the city’s plazas.

Situated on the heel of Italy’s boot overlooking the glittering Adriatic Sea, Brindisi is a natural port carved into a region known for its whitewashed marble and peaceful beaches. There’s much to explore along the picturesque harbor, from the rudder-shaped Monument to Italian Sailors, which you can scale for panoramic views, to the red stone Castello Alfonsino at the tip of a small island overlooking the channel.

Set along the scenic Turkish Riviera, Alanya is a resort town on the central Mediterranean coast with long stretches of powdery beaches, the most famous of which is named for the Egyptian queen who reputedly swam there. The white sands of Cleopatra Beach slope gently down into crystal blue waters where you could easily spend an entire day, although there is much more to Alanya than its shoreline. The ancient walls of Alanya Castle stretch for miles along a high promontory offering exceptional views of the modern city of Alanya below.