Flying from East Midlands in October

A palm-lined seafront, the church of Saint Lazarus, and pink flamingos on the salt lake in winter.

• Winter sun
• Beach
• History

A Roman-walled old harbour town backed by the Taurus Mountains, with long beaches either side of the city.

• Beach
• Old town
• All-inclusive

Black lava fields and red volcanic cones in Timanfaya National Park, with low whitewashed villages in between.

• Winter sun
• Volcanic landscapes
• Beaches

Roman mosaics, the Tombs of the Kings, and Aphrodite's Rock along the coast road. One of the warmest places on this list.

• History
• Winter sun
• Beaches

The airport for Turkey's Lycian coast: Dalyan's rock tombs, Ölüdeniz lagoon and the marinas of Fethiye and Göcek.

• Beaches
• Boat trips
• All-inclusive

The biggest Canary Island, with Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, above the resorts of the sunny south coast.

• Winter sun
• Volcano
• Whale watching

Long, empty beaches and the sand dunes of Corralejo. Quieter and windier than its Canary neighbours.

• Beaches
• Dunes
• Windsurfing

A crusader castle above a busy marina, white houses on the hills and boat trips around the peninsula.

• Beaches
• Nightlife
• Boat trips

The Maspalomas sand dunes in the south, mountain villages in the middle and year-round warmth.

• Winter sun
• Dunes
• Hiking

The airport for the Mar Menor lagoon and the Costa Cálida, with plenty of golf resorts nearby.

• Beaches
• Golf
• Families

A long sandy bay with year-round sun, a rebuilt kasbah on the hill and the Souk El Had market.

• Winter sun
• Beach
• Surfing

Flat and easy for cycling, with the Asklepion ruins, long beaches and boats to nearby islands.

• Beaches
• Cycling
• Greek island

A medieval walled old town, one of the best preserved in Europe, and the clifftop village of Lindos with its acropolis.

• History
• Beaches
• Old town

Valletta's honey-coloured fortress city, prehistoric temples and clear water for diving and boat trips to Gozo and Comino.

• History
• Diving
• Island hopping

Funchal's flower markets, levada walks along old irrigation channels and dramatic sea cliffs.

• Hiking
• Gardens
• Mild all year

A palm-lined seafront under the hilltop Santa Bárbara castle, with long city beaches and an old quarter of narrow streets.

• Beach
• Old town
• Mild winters

The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the home of paella, and city beaches along the Mediterranean.

• City break
• Food
• Beach

Turkey's third city, close to the ancient city of Ephesus and the beach resorts of Çeşme.

• History
• Beaches
• City break

Picasso's home town: a Moorish fortress above the port, tapas bars below, and a city beach a short walk from the centre.

• City break
• Tapas
• Museums
• Mild winters

The largest Balearic island: Palma's Gothic cathedral, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains and hundreds of coves.

• Beaches
• Mountains
• Palma city break

Famous for its clubs, but also a UNESCO-listed old town, Dalt Vila, and quiet coves in the north.

• Nightlife
• Beaches
• Old town

A Venetian harbour and lighthouse, the Samaria Gorge walk, and the pink-sand beach at Elafonisi.

• Old town
• Hiking
• Beaches

A walled old town beside the Ria Formosa lagoon, and the gateway to the Algarve's cliffs and coves.

• Algarve coast
• Old town
• Golf

Venetian-built Corfu Town, olive-covered hills and turquoise bays on the north-west coast.

• Beaches
• Old town
• Greek island

Crete's capital, five kilometres from the Minoan palace of Knossos, with beaches east and west.

• History
• Beaches
• Greek island

Navagio Bay's shipwreck beach and loggerhead turtles nesting on the south coast.

• Beaches
• Boat trips
• Nightlife

The home of pizza, with Pompeii, Vesuvius and boats to Capri all within reach.

• Food
• History
• Islands

The airport for the Costa Dorada: the beaches of Salou, PortAventura theme park and Roman Tarragona.

• Beaches
• Theme park
• Families

The Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican City and trattorias down every side street.

• History
• Food
• City break

Quieter than its Balearic neighbours, with a coast of small coves and a whole island that's a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

• Coves
• Families
• Quiet

A medieval old town with a Jewish quarter and riverside houses, and the airport for the Costa Brava's beaches.

• Old town
• Costa Brava
• Food

Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter's lanes and a city beach at Barceloneta.

• City break
• Architecture
• Beach

Walk the full circuit of the medieval city walls above the Adriatic, then take a boat to Lokrum island.

• Old town
• City walls
• Coast

A small canal town and the second airport for Venice, about 30km from the city.

• Venice by bus
• Prosecco
• Old town

A walled hilltop old town reached by funicular, close to Lake Como and Lake Iseo. Many fly here for Milan.

• Old town
• Lakes
• City break

Steaming outdoor thermal baths, the Parliament on the Danube, and ruin bars in old courtyards.

• Thermal baths
• City break
• Nightlife

One of Europe's grandest market squares, and hundreds of small bronze dwarf statues hidden around the old town.

• Market square
• Dwarf statues
• City break

Georgian squares, the bridges over the Liffey, Trinity College and a pub on nearly every corner.

• Pubs
• Live music
• City break

Wawel Castle above the Vistula, one of Europe's largest medieval market squares, and the Wieliczka salt mine nearby.

• Old town
• History
• Salt mine

The Brandenburg Gate, the remaining stretches of the Wall, Museum Island and a famous club scene.

• History
• Nightlife
• City break

An Edwardian city hall, the shipyard where Titanic was built, and the pubs and live music of the Cathedral Quarter.

• City break
• History
• Short hop

Ireland West Airport opens up Mayo: Westport, Clew Bay and the climb up Croagh Patrick.

• West of Ireland
• Walking
• Coast

A medieval old town and whole streets of Art Nouveau buildings, often dusted with snow in winter.

• Snow
• Art Nouveau
• Old town