Vis Island, Croatia

Located some 30 miles off the Croatian coast, Vis is the most westerly inhabited island in the Adriatic and the largest in the Vis archipelago — a designated UNESCO Global Geopark and biodiverse haven for bottlenose dolphins, giant devil rays, and blue-fin tuna. The Greeks first settled here in the 4th century BC, followed by the Romans; during World War II, Vis served as an Allied base and refuge for future Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. (You can visit the cave where Marshal Tito led his resistance efforts.) Only a few scattered ruins attest to the island’s former glory, although you can view Croatia’s largest collection of Hellenic artifacts at the archeological museum in Vis Town; just outside of town stands Fort George, built by the British in 1813. Closed to foreigners until 1989, Vis remains sparsely populated, much of it covered in vineyards, pine groves, and citrus orchards. Take a winery tour, relax on Rastovaca Beach, or hop on a moped and head to the tiny fishing village of Komiza; from there, catch a boat to Bisevo, an islet renowned for its mesmerizing Blue Cave.