5 Must-Visit Places Along the Mediterranean

The coastal region of the prestigious Mediterranean widely known as the “cradle of civilization,” gave rise to a great number of the world’s oldest societies. It connect the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia with its sultry glistening waters. Its terrain which is home to over 500 million people and several countries - prides itself of bucket-list mystifying summery destinations worth considering.

Alexandria, Egypt

Are you up for an adventure-themed, exploratory trip? Then you should consider visiting this magnificent city where the Nile meets the Mediterranean. Despite the fact that the ancient lighthouse and library of Alexandria are long gone, travelers and adventurers could spend time reading in the modern library, built in 2002 as a tribute to the knowledge lost when the original library was destroyed.

Want some toasty outdoor experience? Alexandria has variegated gardens and parks to enjoy. The extensive Montazah Palace gardens widely known among locals and tourist, are perched on the edge of the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar, United Kingdom

Gibraltar marks the orifice of the Mediterranean and the start of the Atlantic Ocean. In primordial times, Gibraltar was known as one of the two “Pillars of Hercules,” and in this modern age as “The Rock”— a reference to its conspicuous geology. Gibraltar is also the home to Europe’s only population of wild monkeys, Barbary macaques. Be careful while around these critters because they are known for stealing food from unwitting tourist!

Need a little tranquility? You should take advantage of Gibraltar numerous laid-back beaches where you can also experience luxurious yacht cruises sipping on Spanish sangria and enjoying the good ol’ British fish and chips.

Pompeii, Italy

When you think of Pompeii, what comes to mind? Probably the 2014 Action/Adventure movie starring actors; Kit Harrington and Emily Browning in romantic embrace as they await an unfortunate end. Although the movie is fictional, it did humanize a disaster from long ago.

Situated on the beautiful bay of Naples, Pompeii was once a city which was tragically covered by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. This archaeological wonder has increasingly expanded the human knowledge of what everyday life was like in the Roman Empire, thanks to the layers of ash which actually helped to preserve Pompeii for 17 centuries. There’s even evidence of loaves of bread being baked before the molten magma of the volcano which is quite dormant since 1944, engulfed this ill-fated city.

Athens, Greece

Aside from the exuberant Acropolis and other ancient sites, Athens boasts reverberating markets and insouciant kafeneio (traditional coffee shops) that exude character. Did you know that frappé, the wildly popular iced coffee was invented by accident in Greece? Well, if you’d enjoy that, be sure to indulge in some here plus the earthly Ottoman-style grounds, which are the two kinds of coffee drank by the Greeks.

Nothing could be more Greek than sipping on invigorating coffee at the peak of one of Athens’ seven hills overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona diffuses an aura of creativity. From the eccentric and vibrant Park Güell, which overlooks the city, to Sagrada Familia - the iconic cathedral that has so far taken almost 140 years to build and won’t be completed anytime soon until 2026. If you love art, you can explore the city’s unique architectures with plenty of cultural delights to make your stay at Barcelona magical.