Roses, Spain

With it's tranquil blue waters, 28 miles of beaches and some nine miles of coves, the Bay of Roses has been ranked one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Tempted by this harbor, the Greeks came in the 5th century BC to set up a commercial village. Various settlement remains can still be seen, including the monastery of Santa Maria. Other top sights include the 16th-century Castell de la Trinitat and the Dolmen de la Creu d’en Cobertella, the largest megalithic monument in Catalonia. Roses stands apart from other Costa Brava ports with its western-facing beaches that provide stunning sunsets. Restaurants put their own spin on suquet de peix, a Catalan fish stew made with the day's catch and potatoes, which pairs perfectly with a regional Empordà wine. Despite the delights of Roses, art lovers will be drawn to the nearby Salvador Dalí museums in Port Lligat and Figueres.