VALLETTA, MALTA
Less than a fifth the size of Greater London, Malta is one of the world’s smallest countries but it’s crammed with diversions for a short break. This month – the start of the festival season and warm weather, but without the peak crowds and prices of summer – is an ideal time to visit the country’s historic citadels. A short ferry ride from the capital Valletta, with views of its timeless skyline back across the harbour, the Three Cities (as Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua are known) are a good place to lose yourself for a day or two. Eat alfresco at their waterfront restaurants, get lost down narrow backstreets bedecked with flowers, and explore crusader heritage at the Inquisitor’s Palace and Fort St Angelo.