Opatija

Waterfront Hapsburg-era villas cast a Belle Epoque elegance over the Opatija Riviera, tucked into a hidden corner of Istria surrounded by a blanket of bay laurel woods. Begin at the abbey, or opatija in Croatian, then the Villa Angiolina, the terraced American Gardens and a string of beautiful little beaches. Walk the Lungomare, a 10-km coastal promenade, or retrace the scenic Opatija Circuit – a rival to Monaco until 1977, but longer, faster and with more elevation changes, conjuring James Bond chases and Aston Martins. Further afield, meander idyllic Croatian islands by private charter or journey just into Slovenia, for brilliant stalagmites in the subterranean spectacle of the Postojna river caves.