9 new flydubai destinations to visit

Take advantage of the new routes announced by flydubai to plan your summer break

1. Tivat, Montenegro
Flight time from Dubai: 6 hours
Best for: Beach holidays
Best bit: Located in the South Adriatic, this former military naval base has transformed itself into a beach destination. It boasts sunny weather, a sparkling marina, a riviera with 17 beaches and is a gateway to the villages of the Vrmac and Luštica Peninsulas with their olive groves and hiking trails.

2. Krakow, Poland
Flight time from Dubai: 6 hours
Best for: Sightseeing and culture
Best bit: Inspite of its cool temperatures, we predict Krakow will be a hot destination this spring/summer. It’s been recently named the cheapest destination in Europe. On April 22, it will host the Cracovian Maraton, where runners follow a course passing a number of significant historical monuments. From May 15 to 20, the city’s students will lead Juwenalia, the festival of culture, music and entertainment led by the city’s students. From May 18 to 19, visitors will be welcomed into places such as the Rynek Underground museum free of charge from 8pm until 3am.

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Flight time from Dubai: 6 hours
Best for: Sightseeing and culture
Best bit: The old town of Dubrovnik is a must-visit for any Game of Thrones fan, as many of the scenes in the King’s landing have been shot here. The long walk atop the Old town’s castle walls is a treat, with its panoramic views of the well-preserved old buildings and the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.

4. Catania, Italy
Flight time from Dubai: 6 hours
Best for: Sightseeing and food
Best bit: Located in Sicily, Catania offers a range of delights – from its medieval piazzas fringed by baroque structures, to an active street-food culture with its La Pecheria market and its active volcano Mount Etna with its smoking crater.

5. Qabala, Azerbaijan
Flight time from Dubai: 3 hours
Best for: Sightseeing and skiing
Best bit: Part of the greater Caucasus range, this is Azerbaijan’s holiday centre, where the forested hills and ancient ruins of 4th century capital of Caucasian Albania attract tourists. It is home to the popular Tufandag Ski Complex resort.

6. Kutaisi, Georgia
Flight time from Dubai: 4 hours
Best for: Culture
Best bit: From being capital of more than one ancient kingdom within Georgia, Kutaisi has now become the legislative capital, and the parliament relocated here in 2012. It’s home to several historic structures such as the ruined Bagrati catherdral, the Gelati monastery and Motsameta church. Don’t miss visiting the nearby Sataplia caves with their preserved dinosaur footprints.

7. Thessaloniki, Greece
Flight time from Dubai: 5 hours and 30 minutes
Best for: Culture and beach holidays
Best bit: A wonderful mixture of old and new, Thessaloniki was the second most important city in the Byzantine empire after Constantinople. It has old monuments like the fourth century Arch Galerius as well as a waterfront packed with lively restaurants and bars.

8. Aqaba, Jordan
Flight time from Dubai: 5 hours
Best for: Beach holidays
Best bit: Jordan’s sole coastal city located on Red Sea has the relaxed air of a small beach town. Its proximity to Petra and Wadi Rum makes it a great base to explore these places, as well as diving and snorkelling spots in the coral reefs of Aqaba Marine Park. Summers are hot but the sea breeze makes the temperature bearable. Make like a local and indulge in long afternoon siestas.

9. Batumi, Georgia
Flight time from Dubai: 4 hours
Best for: Beach holidays and sightseeing
Best bit: Located on the coast of the Black Sea, Batumi is a popular tourist destination. It first became a fashionable resort a century ago, then went into a decline in the Soviet period. But in the recent years, the seaside boulevard and the old town have been tastefully renovated and the belle-epoque charm of Batumi has been revived. If you’re a fan of Ali and Nino, you can find a sculpture dedicated to them here.