Good evening.

Summer may be fading fast in the UK, but for those not quite ready to embrace autumn, our writers have chosen their favourite European seaside cities for late season sunshine.

Rachel Dixon plumps for palace-rich Genoa in Italy (more than 100 of them still stand - 42 of which are Unesco-listed). But far from being stuck in the past, it’s the buzzy working port vibe that charms her, with an old town that’s full of locals rather than tourists. Eating fried fish and chickpea fritters on the waterfront and strolling the promenade to Boccadasse, a former fishing village with a small beach, are among her top tips.

Alicante, on Spain’s Costa Blanca, is having a moment, says Jessica Vincent, who grew up in the province. Many talented chefs have returned to their home city, infusing traditional dishes with a new creativity and boosting the culinary scene, while a sprinkling of new hotels and scrubbed-up old town are helping the underrated city to get noticed. In Croatia’s Zadar, writer Mary Novacovich loves wandering the maze of alleyways in search of the best seafood restaurants but says “two of the best sights are the daily food market and the humdrum-sounding but utterly fascinating Museum of Ancient Glass.” Who knew!

Elsewhere we take a look at Montpellier, a city in the throes of reinvention, with new cultural venues, reintroduced trams, and vibrant vintage scene. As one local resident, Fiona Joyce, says: “Right now there’s this youthful, entrepreneurial spirit in the city – you stumble across music and dance events everywhere, and pop-up shops and new restaurants. There’s also forward-thinking going on at a higher level, with more green spaces, tramlines and bike lanes.” And with the summer heat abated but the sea still warm, now is a perfect time to visit.