Known for its stunning beaches, rich culture, incredible cities and delicious food, the Mediterranean has long been a top tourist destination. Approximately each year, reports Lonely Planet.

Many come for the weather, especially in summer. “The Mediterranean has generally warm, dry summers,” says Ari Sarasalari, meteorologist for The Weather Channel. However, he says, visitors should know that it can definitely get uncomfortably hot in the summer. Winters, meanwhile, are generally cool and rainy. “I’d say the best time to visit would be early or late summer when rain is a bit less frequent and the temperatures aren’t terribly hot even though there’s a lot of sunshine,” he adds.

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Of course, the Med is most famous for its sun-kissed beaches. Italy’s southernmost island of Lampedusa offers visitors , according to Trip Advisor, while Cyprus’ Nissi Beach allows tourists to wade up to 100 meters from shore .

If you want to infuse more excitment into your beach-getaway, head to France’s star-studded towns like Cannes, home to the , or Saint-Tropez. According to Lonely Planet, itself after becoming famous in Brigitte Bardot’s 1956 film “” (...And God Created Woman). Today, it is brimming with extravagant yacht parties, and designer boutiques, writes The Telegraph.

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The Med region is also famous for its culture and history; home to several incredible Greek and Roman monuments, walled cities, Gothic cathedrals, castles and other world heritage sites. Definitely not to be missed is the medieval city of Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian Coast, which was . This stunning city survived two earthquakes and the Yugoslavia war and today, it remains a popular tourist destination. It also served as , “Game of Thrones.”

From legendary historical cities to sandy beaches, cliff-hanging towns to bustling ports, there is a reason millions flock to the shores of the Med. Here are 50 of our favorite destinations to whet your travel appetite.