Lovran (Croatia)

I passed through Lovran and have to say I found it charming. A little fishing town nestled on the stunning Adriatic coast, it boasts a small, central square lined with restaurants that serve fresh fish to packed tables once evening falls.

Lovran is an attractive destination, but you can still feel an erstwhile ambiance that harks back to the day when it was a favourite seaside playground for the Austro-Hungarian jet set. A succession of Rococo and Neo-Gothic hotels, spas and other grand buildings line the coast - some of them, it has to be said, are rather gaudy. Lovran has remained a swanky destination that attracts an older crowd, which may put off younger travellers or those watching their purse strings.