2024 Travel Guide to the Mediterranean

16.01.2024 - 20:45 / travelpulse.com / Lacey Pfalz

The Mediterranean has long been a region of ancient history, incredible cultures and delicious cuisines. The countries surrounding the sea from which the region gets its name offers diverse opportunities for exploration, for every type of travel style. 

No two destinations are alike: from Tunisia’s Roman ruins to France’s star-studded French Riviera to Barcelona’s medieval city center, the Mediterranean presents a multicultural selection of destinations all bearing an interconnected history with one another, but somehow still remain completely unique to themselves. 

When planning a trip to the Mediterranean, the hardest question will not be where to visit: it’ll be where not to visit. The region, home to Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece (the time-honored heavyweight champions of the region’s tourism industry), is one of the most bucket-listed regions of the world, and for good reason. 

Yet there are also some lesser-known gems along the Mediterranean: coastal destinations in Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Türkiye are becoming more popular among travelers wanting to shy away from crowds of tourists or just visit a new side of the wine-dark sea. On the northern side of the sea, countries like Montenegro and Albania are hidden gems for American travelers, as are many of the lesser-known Mediterranean isles. 

For travelers who find it hard to choose just one, cruising makes for a great first-time trip to the region. They can visit several ports in numerous destinations on a single cruise, and make a list of their favorites to visit the next time they visit. 

Why do travelers love visiting the Mediterranean? It’s often considered the birthplace of Western civilization, home to ancient Greece and Rome, and travelers flock to Athens’ Parthenon and Rome’s Colosseum in droves to see that history firsthand. From Spain to France and all the way to Türkiye and Tunisia, the evidence of these cultures remains for us to view.

Ruins of the Roman Forum (Photo Credit: ALG Vacations)

Other attractions include France’s glittering French Riviera, Spain and Italy’s gastronomic delights and Greece’s glittering isles, to name only a few. Many travelers love the Mediterranean climate, often warmer and milder than northern Europe, and enjoy spending at least a day or two on the beach during their trip. 

The Mediterranean world saw the first Olympics held in ancient Greece, and today, we can enjoy the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, held in Paris and across greater France this summer. It’s the world’s most highly anticipated sporting event of the year. 

There’s also no lack of cultural and religious festivals held across the Mediterranean countries all year long, from numerous Easter celebrations, like Barcelona’s Semana