Short-haul city breaks where your money goes further this summer

This historic Mediterranean archipelago has played host to many a blockbuster film location. Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Troy… Its sand-coloured fortresses, paved streets and bright blue waters have been the backdrop for all of them. For a taste of the dramatic, take in the views across the grand harbour from Valletta’s Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, before stopping at Sleima’s Kalamà for some fresh street food where the €10 fried calamari is highly rated. Stay at The District Hotel and swim in the crystal clear water at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, or hop on a ferry to Gozo (from €4.75) and wind through the narrow streets lined with sandstone terraces. Find the red sand beach at Ramla Bay and Rose’s café, where fresh fish is served with a glass of cold, crisp wine. 

Start your glittering Amalfi coast break in walkable Salerno, the gateway to the glamorous southern Italian peninsula that’s positively dripping with celebrities in the summer. While Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento can get fairly rammed with tourists and holidaying Italians alike, Salerno has slightly more space outside the main summer season and cheaper options (with just as much beauty). Stay at hotel Scapolatiello and wander through the ornate mediaeval Duomo, built on the ruins of a Roman temple. Don’t miss Minerva’s Garden (entrance €3) – the botanical gardens dating back to the 14th century. Later, grab a €1.50 slice of pizza from Da Salvatore and indulge in artisanal desserts at Giallo Limone (try the eponymous lime-flavoured ice cream studded with pieces of lemon plum cake). Round off your day with a €7 spritz at bar L’Angolo for a final taste of la dolce vita. 

Athens may be soaked in intensely impressive ancient history but it’s also a bustling modern day marvel with plenty of affordable experiences. Stay by the harbour at Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port hotel, swan around a few of the Greek capital’s free independent contemporary galleries downtown before climbing the Acropolis to take in the bursting city from above. A nifty combo ticket will get you up close and personal with the Parthenon and five other incredible ancient sites for £35. Escape the crowds and stroll the quiet streets of Anafiotika, a Cycladic village under the Acropolis, get stuck into affordable and unfussy seasonal Mediterranean dishes at Lost Athens and take in yet more views at outdoor cinema Cine Thisio (open from May) once the sun goes down.

This southern Cypriot city is built on the ancient ruins of Citium (first conquered by the Mycenaeans and later by the Byzantines). Yet despite its long history and size it maintains a laid-back and local vibe. Stay at the Bohemian Gardens Hotel and visit the 9th-century church of Lazarus in the city centre before walking through its mediaeval castle. Catch the migrating flamingos on Larnaca’s vast Salt Lake or grab a parasol for a few euros at palm-lined Finikoudes beach to soak up the sun. Settle down at family-run taverna To Kazani in Aradippou, where you can get a hearty meal for around €25. The menu is full of traditional dishes like kleftiko, souvlaki, stuffed vine leaves, and halloumi and feta salads. Expect to be well looked after and to leave (very) full. 

A subtropical mountainous island in the Atlantic covered in lush vegetation and waterfalls with gloriously clement temperatures year round? Yes please. Stay at Jardim Atlântico and drive into the ancient Fanal laurisilva forest to watch the sunrise from 1,000ft elevation at the Unesco site. Whizz down the winding roads, past the banana trees and sugar cane plantations, and take a dip in the free natural swimming pools at Porto Moniz, or bake on the black sand beach at Seixal before cooling off in the sea. Try fresh limpet, prawns and octopus at the unassuming Bar O Ideal in the harbour at Paul do Mar, then sit on the terrace jutting out over the sea at Sol Poente with a €4.5 glass of Madeira wine and watch a magnificent sunset. 

Morocco’s own slice of sunshine-soaked coast sits in the foothills of the Anti-Atlas mountains, where Agadir is blessed with a 10km stretch of golden sand. Sun-seekers are promised 300 days of sunshine a year, while nearby Taghazout beach has been a haven for surfers (and hippies) for decades. Spot flamingos and gazelles on a trek through the Souss-Masa National Park then stay on the beach at Amadil Ocean Club. Wander through the huge Souk El Had, soaking in the rich colours of the spice stalls and aromas from the traditional harira and tagine dishes. Continue to the ochre-coloured old medina (destroyed by an earthquake and reconstructed using traditional Arab and Amazigh methods) for a quiet sip on a mint tea away from the bustle. Then head to one of the many beach bars for a well-deserved sundowner.