A hidden coastal gem located in a popular European country has been named the “best” to visit this summer. Zadar, located on the northern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, is a perfect mix of Roman-era foundations and cutting-edge art installations. Named the best place to visit by Outlook Traveller, the city experiences warm weather during summer. 

The 3,000-year-old ancient city is known for its extraordinary musical waterfront and Adriatic sunsets, which once captivated Alfred Hitchcock. One of the most popular tourist spots in Croatia is the Sea Organ, an experimental music instrument. The architectural sound object plays music through sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps.

Travellers can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stato de Terra, which comprises six bastion forts built by the Republic of Venice on its mainland domains and its Domains of the Sea. The Church of St. Donatus is another must-visit site in this lesser-known European city.

Additionally, there are many other things to explore, such as museums, national parks, the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, and the city market. June to August is the peak tourist season with the warmest weather, averaging around 25 degrees Celsius. The sea is ideal for swimming, reaching an average of 23 degrees Celsius.

Zadar’s central square resembles an open-air museum, featuring historic landmarks such as the 11th-century Church of St. Lawrence and the 16th-century Clock Tower.

On the southern side of the square, the City Loggia, originally a courthouse and council chamber, now hosts exhibitions showcasing works by international photographers and modern Croatian artists.

A traveller wrote on TripAdvisor Forum: “After seeing Ryanair flights to Zadar, I looked at TripAdvisor to find out more about the area. Zadar city is an ancient walled city packed full of history and religious art, with Roman churches everywhere. We booked an apartment in Bori,k 10 min from the city center, but on the bus route. Apartment Miodrag, the owner, will pick you up at the airport, but I suggest you hire a car as there are lots of small towns up and down the coast that are beautiful.

“The Sea Organ and the Solar Lights on the sea front are a big attraction the kids loved them also it being a port, ferries came and went all day to the islands and Italy.

“Lots of small cafes/bars everywhere, no English/Irish rip-off bars, eating places are mostly pizza, pasta, and grills,fish dishes were the most expensive but cheaper than Spain/Italy. Driving in Zadar/Borik is a one-way system, outwards to Diklo and inwards to Zadar. A great place and not too expensive, we will be back.

A second traveller commented: “Zadar is a small town settled in Dalmatia, Croatia, on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea.

“It has lovely beaches, very good nightlife for summer festivals, a lot of sea and water sports available. It is also surrounded by a circle of five national parks, covering 200 km. 

“It also has ancient history, which is 3000 years old, and lot of monumental buildings, churches, and temples. Restaurants are a common thing, mostly Dalmatian and Italian cooking.

“Accommodation is possible in family houses or hotels. Houses are the better option because of their peaceful and hospitable owners, especially in the Borik area.”

If you’re heading to Benidorm this year for a slice of summer and a bit of sunshine, then you may want to be aware of several things you should not do there – or you could risk a fine.

If you don’t want to leave the destination with your pocket feeling a whole lot lighter, you may want to listen to Frank the Stagman’s warning.

He said that people selling cocktails on the beach were given fines, and if you buy a cocktail from one of these suppliers, you could be in trouble too.

Frank said that these cocktails are “illegal” and you could be “fined very heavily” for consuming these drinks.

“Another thing that I’ve noticed the police fining people for is smoking, vaping, and drinking on the beach,” he divulged.

He said that if you bring drinks onto Benidorm beach, “you’re banging trouble with the police here,” but especially if they’re from an illegal suppliers.

“And you’ve got it in a cup, it’s not like you can pretend you’re not drinking,” he continued, so if you get caught, you’re likely to get a fine.

“Smoking and vaping are the same, doesn’t matter if it’s smoke, vape, makes no difference,” Frank said.

Frank then said it’s better to know “that the police have been enforcing it”. “Whether they’re gonna keep on top of it the way they have been already, which seems to be quite hectic down here, is another thing,” he said.

In the comments, people were confused and had questions about the things people were getting fined for.

One person said: “Read every comment and still don’t know if you can be fined for a non alcoholic drink”. Frank replied, saying you can, and he said it was “unbelievable”.

Someone in Benidorm at the moment penned: “Haven’t seen any police at all on the beach in the old town, also didn’t know the people selling the cocktails were illegal, good job I never wanted one”.

Another fumed: “Best to go somewhere else people getting mugged people getting fined and pickpockets I don’t know why people go there”.

Another angry tourist penned: “My advice is don’t go to Benidorm because you can’t enjoy yourself on the beach, stay away”.

“Why have the police not stopped the illegal sale of cocktails on the beach?” someone asked. A TikTok user replied: “They are stopping it by fining people for buying it. This is how the sale of contraband cigarettes was stopped in Italy.”

Smoking on the beach can incur a fine of up to €2,000 (£1,700). Drinking alcohol can land you a penalty of £650.

Britain’s villages are famous for their picturesque facades and quaint, winding streets. But one in particular has consistently been named among the prettiest in England and beyond.

Castle Combe is a gorgeous Cotswolds village, located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, leading many news outlets and bloggers alike to name it among the prettiest villages in the world. Respected travel publication Condé Nast Traveller described it as “quintessentially” English, also thanks to its historic buildings. The village has a population of just 356, according to the 2021 census, and is around 10 miles from Bath. Its beauty has seen it featured in films such as The Wolf Man, Stardust and Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse, as well as the original Dr Doolittle movie.

As is typical for a village in the area, the houses are mostly built using Cotswold stone, giving the facades their distinct, warm colour.

Castle Combe boasts a couple of attractions dating from the 13th century, including Market Cross and St Andrews Church, which itself houses a faceless clock said to be one of the oldest working clocks in the country.

There are also a number of pubs and a luxury hotel and golf course within the village.

As well as being an immensely picturesque spot, the village also boasts the Castle Combe circuit on its boundary, where drivers can test different vehicles or try out their own on the rally course.

The track hosts a number of events throughout the year including race days for cars and motorbikes.

As summer turns to autumn, visitors can also watch the leaves turn electric shades of gold and crimson, a sight that will explain to tourists why it was chosen for productions as prestigious as Downton Abbey.

Of the village, Condé Nast Traveller previously wrote: “13th-century attractions show how enduring Castle Combe’s charm is, and, beside the market cross, it’s easy to imagine stallholders selling their fare on a sunny medieval day.

“On a 21st-century summer’s day, you’re more likely to stumble across smart staycationers walking off big breakfasts from The Castle Inn before embarking on some of the region’s prettiest walks, stocked up with treats from a local café.”