Top Places to See on a Mediterranean Cruise

A Mediterranean cruise is undoubtedly, one of the best ways to experience Europe in an affordable way. Most Mediterranean cruises are divided into Eastern Mediterranean cruises (Greece, Turkey, etc) and Western Mediterranean cruises (Italy, Malta, etc), though some Mediterranean cruises do include visits to Cairo Egypt to see the pyramids.

There are dozens of ports to choose that you can add on your Mediterranean cruise itinerary, but to narrow it down we've listed some of the must see ports on a Mediterranean cruise:

Rome, Italy

Rome is without a doubt, one of the top places to see on a Mediterranean cruise as it's one of the most beautiful cities to visit in the world. There are lots of attractions in Rome to be able to see it all in day, though irrespective of how much time you have, the must sees in Rome are St Peter’s Basilica, the pantheon, the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum.

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By the way, if you do choose Rome as one of your port of calls, you’ll be stopping at Civitavecchia Port and then hopping on a bus which will take you directly to Rome (bus takes about an hour).

Valletta, Malta

Malta is located right in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, and the city of Valletta is no doubt one of the top places to see on a Mediterranean cruise for history buffs. You’ll definitely enjoy exploring some of Malta's tourist sites such as St John’s Cathedral, Grandmaster's Palace and the Hypogeum where you can tour the one of the oldest burial sites in the world.

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Besides visiting attractions, you can enjoy a nice meal on one of the many restaurants along the Valletta Waterfront, as well as a bit of souvenir shopping on Merchant and Republic streets.

Pisa & Florence, Italy

Florence and Pisa are two other destination worth adding on your itinerary of top places to see on a Mediterranean cruise as they're located not far from each other. There are lots you can see and do in Florence and Pisa, though two days should be enough time to see most the major tourist sites such as Accademia where you can see the original "David" masterpiece by Michelangelo’s; and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

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It’s worth noting that Livorno is the port of call for both Pisa and Florence. You could visit Pisa first which is just 30 minutes away from Livorno, and then catch a train to Florence which only takes 60 minutes.

Kusadasi, Turkey

Kusadasi is another of the top places to see on Mediterranean cruise as you get a chance to explore the ancient city of Ephesus, which boasts some of the best preserved Greek ruins outside of Greece.

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You can get to Ephesus independently by local bus or taxi, though if you’re looking to learn about the ruins it’s worth booking a private tour with a local company rather than using the cruise’s own tour. The local private tours are inexpensive, as well as organized and include local knowledgeable guides who know the ruins inside out.

Athens, Greece

Athens is without a doubt, one of the top places to see on a Mediterranean cruise because of renowned attractions such as the Acropolis and the National Archeological Museum, which is a real treasure-house filled with stunning Greek art and interesting Greek artifacts such as sculptures, vases, silverware and glassware.

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If you have a 1-2 day in Athens, you could also watch the changing of the guard ceremony in Syntagma Square, take a stroll in the National Gardens, visit the Temple of Poseidon, and book an excursion to Hydra Island to marvel at the beautiful architecture and orthodox monasteries.

Venice, Italy

The beautiful city of Venice is no doubt one of the top places to see on a Mediterranean cruise as there is s many great things to do in this picturesque city. One of the best things to do in Venice is hiring a gondolier, or hopping on a vaporetto for a tour ride down the Grand Canal to marvel at Venice’s historic buildings and landmarks such as Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Santa Sofia, Palazzo Dario and many more.