#31 Malta

Malta surprised me. The only people I'd spoken to who had visited, described it as a haven for boorish British visitors on cheap package holidays. Sure, there is that element to the place, but there's so much more. There is a strong history about the place. As a fortress in the middle of the Mediterranean, it has seen its fair share of conquerers and visitors. All this is reflected in the country.

It's a mad, crazy kind of place, but there's a layer of Britishness on top, which was surprising. The beaches were surprisingly good and there's a wealth of historic sites. Avoid the package tour areas and Malta will surprise you too.