Central Europe's best-kept secret. I've just returned from six years living and working there. It's a great place for a holiday or just a long weekend enjoying the leisurely pace in one of the many pedestrianised areas of the beautiful old city centre ... you might take in a few galleries and museums or just enjoy great company at one of many traditional cafes, serving superlative espresso coffee and cake, or why not try some local spit-roasted lamb or fish straight from the grill with their unbelievably good local Croatian wine?

This is a lovely city, with many wide open spaces in which to sit, slow down and watch the world go by. It is now very much a modern city, but one which has never forgotten the art of socialising and talking at street cafes and bars until dark and beyond.

There is plenty of nightlife for the young set, too. The youth are very streetwise, ultra-fashion conscious and great fun ... and generally look in much better shape than we Brits, though they do tend to smoke like chimneys.

Get a Zagreb Guide (small local publication and guide) on arrival at Zagreb airport and enjoy. Take my word for it, Zagreb will be in everyone's holiday diary within five years.