Best Cruise Destinations in Europe

From the sunny waters of the Mediterranean to whale watching off the Nordic coast line, Europe has
plenty of fantastic cruise destinations. If you love your ancient culture, for instance, Athens is a superb cruise destination,
and you can also head up towards Santorini and Rome and from there up to other Italian cities such as Florence and Pisa.
The sun splashed white city of Lisbon is another one of Europe’s amazing cruise ports, and you might also like to take to
the canals of cities such as Amsterdam and Venice for a miniature day long cruise before returning to the comfort of your hotel
or other accommodation on dry land for the night. Read on for the most popular places to go on European cruises.

River Cruise Port Hotels

Best Cities to Visit Europe

Hotels near European Airports

Best Places to Go on European Cruise Vacations

Santorini Oia white buildings with blue roof

Santorini Greece

Santorini is an island in the Aegean Sea. Its rugged landscape was caused
by a volcanic eruption and it is most recognisable for its whitewashed,
cube-shaped houses in Fira and Oia. These houses appear to almost fall
into the sea as they cling to cliffs above an underwater crater. From this vantage
point you can see the Aegean Sea, western islands and beaches coated
with lava pebbles. The city boasts many churches, ruins, hiking spots, romantic hotels,
volcanos and hot springs. Visit the Akrotiri Ruins, Therasia volcano and Nea Kameni
volcano while on a visit to Santorini. The natural coastal beauty of the area
includes many beaches including the Kamari beach with its fascinating
ruins, the Perissa Black Sand Beach and Marina beach
with its excellent sailing.

Livorno (Florence – Pisa – Siena)

This well known commercial and cruise port is located near Pisa in Italy. While the view
from your cabin is stark, the proximity to the stunning beauty of Tuscany
makes it well worth the sacrifice. The port is located just a few kilometers
from the starting point for tours to Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Cinque Terre or
the Chianti wine region, the city of Livorno itself is a seafood-lover’s paradise.
History buffs will enjoy its Renaissance-era fortifications and families can
visit the modern harbour Terrazza Mascagni, which features a promenade
with checkerboard paving stones. Famous architecture includes the
Venezia Nuova, Venezia Nuova, Monumento dei quattro mori and
Acquedotto Leopoldino

Best Hotels in Florence

Barcelona

The port of Barcelona is the capital city of Catalina in Spain.
Well known as an art hub, cultural mecca and architecture, the city
is also famous for the annual bull fighting event, although this
has now been banned in the city. The Sagrada Familia church
is one of its most famous landmarks In the city. Historical sites
blend with modern Barcelona, where you can experience
high fashion and contemporary gourmet restaurants.

Top Hotels in Barcelona

Bruges or Brugge Belgium Belfort and Canal

Zeebrugge (Bruges)

Zeebrugge is a seaside resort in Belgium. It is a port city linked to Bruges.
The Baudouin Canal forms a thoroughfare between the resort
and Bruges. It is famous for “Seafront” which is a theme park
based on fishing and seafaring cultures in the area in ancient times.
Here you can view an old Russian submarine. The area featured
strongly in WWII and in nearby Knokke-Heist, the For Freedom Museum
displays dioramas depicting war times. Nature lovers will enjoy
the De Fonteintjes wetland and dunes. Visit the Damme canal,
the Fountains and Zeebos Park for some special contact with nature.
Take a trip to the lighthouse of Heist and Visserskruis while in the port.
Like most Belgian cities there are plenty of coffee houses, bars and restaurants
where you can enjoy breakfast and waffles, coffee cake or
traditional Belgian dishes.

Best Hotels in Bruges

Saint-Petersburg

This Russian port city is found on beautiful Baltic Sea
and was the original imperial capital city. Founded by Peter the Great
in 1703 it is the cultural and historical centre of Russia. The iconic
“Bronze Horseman” statue commemorates the life and times of this icon.
Opera and ballet can be seen at the Mariinsky. The Russian Museum
showcases art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky artwork.
The Winter Palace is the former home of the Russian emperors.

Piraeus (Athens)

The port city of Piraeus is located in the Attica region on the
Saronic Gulf in Athens. It is the largest port city in Athens and is
most well known for its maritime activities and landmarks.
Piraeus is home to the port of Zea Pasalimani. In this picturesque harbour
city you can enjoy beautiful views of the gulf and the yachts
in the bay or go for a walk in the Castella neighbourhood.
There are many churches in the area and you can learn about the history
of the area at the nearby archeological museum. The Greek Cruiser
Georgios Averof also operates as a maritime museum.
At the Hellenic Maritime Museum you can learn about the naval history
of the region. At the Electric Railways Museum you can
find out about the rail history of Piraeus.

Best Hotels in Athens

Civitavecchia (Rome)

Civitavecchia is a sea port city in Rome. It is located on the Tyrrhenian sea.
Rome is the capital city of Italy and offers immense numbers of
churches, landmarks, historical places and museums to visit.
It is most well known for the Colosseum and Forum.
The Vatican City houses St Peter’s Basilica which is home to
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel artworks. Civitavecchia is a coastal town
famous for the Roman Dock, the Michelangelo Fort, Archeological Musuem
with its ceramic and bronze artifacts. In Civitavecchia you can visit
the Monti Della Tolfa nature reserve and the Aquafelix waterpark
is a treat for families with children. The Terme Taurine or Trajan
is a fascinating archeological site which is well worth visiting.
The city receives thousands of visitors daily

Best Hotels in Rome

Kotor

Kotor is located in a bay on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast near Mt. Lovcen.
The limestone cliffs are a popular tourist attraction. This quaint town
is dotted with winding streets and squares. In the old town visitors
marvel at the Romanesque churches and the world famous
Kotor Cathedral. Tourists can learn about its seafaring history
at the Maritime Museum. Sveti Đorđe is a tiny island off
the town of Perast.

Amsterdam

Probably most famous for its canals and Red Light District,
the port city of Amsterdam is also home to the Anne Frank House
and Rijksmuseum, the van Gogh museum and Dam square.
Often noticed first by visitors is the cities cycling culture – with numerous
paths devoted to getting into and around the city by bicycle.
You can buy Dutch tulips at the flower markets and enjoy
traditional foods from Holland at one of the many late night eateries.

Best Hotels in Amsterdam

Portofino

This fishing village is located on the Italian Riviera to the southeast of Genoa.
Its pastel-coloured houses are famous and frequently photographed.
The village also contains its share of sleek boutiques and seafood restaurants.
The Piazzetta is a small cobbled square which has a fantastic view
of the harbour. The area is a playground for the rich and famous
and large yachts dot the harbour. Castello Brown is a 16th-century fortress
and here visitors can find a museum, art exhibitions and striking views
of the Ligurian Sea. Divers can visit Christ of the Abyss which is an
underwater statue depicting Christ. In the Marine Protected Area
there are numerous SCUBA diving sites and fishing spots.

Lisbon

The port of Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal. The area is notable
for its beaches, hilly terrain and breath taking views from
São Jorge Castle. From here visitors can see pastel-coloured homes
and shops, the Tagus Estuary and Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge.
History lovers can see the ceramic tiles that the area is famous
for at the National Azulejo Museum displays 5 centuries of
decorative ceramic tiles. Hundreds of tourists enjoy visiting the
Belem Tower and Sao Jorge Castle. Praca do Comercio is a magnificent
plaza facing the river. Rossio Square is a common meeting place
and the city’s contemporary culture is thriving. Warm summers and a bustling
shopping culture and art scene make Lisbon a popular tourist haunt.

Best Hotels in Lisbon

Amalfi Coast (Naples, Salerno, Sorrento)

Spanning 50km, the gorgeous Amalfi Coast is located in Campania
along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula.
Its rugged coastline and sheer cliffs are dotted with tiny beaches
and the fishing villages are a notable attraction.
Between the port city of Salerno and Sorrento on the cliff tops
you will find grand villas, terraced vineyards and lemon groves.

Dubrovnik

Located in southern Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik
is famous for stone wall encircled Old Town. These walls dated as far back
at the 16th century. The region is famous for Baroque architecture
like St. Blaise Church and Renaissance buildings like the
Sponza Palace. There are also many Gothic buildings like the
Rector’s Palace, which also houses a history museum. Paved with limestone,
The Stradun is a pedestrian area where you can find good shopping
and restaurants serving Croatian delicacies.

Venice

Well known for is gondolas and annual masked ball, Venice is the capital
city of the Veneto region. This port city has no road system and
all travelling is done using the canals. This romantic city is built
on an island system in the Adriatic Sea. The Grand Canal is dotted
with Renaissance and Gothic palaces and Piazza san Marco
is the central square where you can visit St Marks Basilica
and see the red roofs of the city’s homes and buildings.

Best Hotels in Venice

Geirangerfjord

Geiranger Fjord in Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county,
Norway is located in Stranda. This 15 km fjord is a pristine area for
photography and breath taking vistas. It is a beautiful site protected
under UNESCO and surrounded by snowy mountain peaks and
vegetation and waterfalls. It is one of the most popular landmarks in Norway
and attracts thousands of visitors each year, many of which cruise
the fjord and enjoy it’s unique scenery.