Greece Cruise from Piraeus to Valletta — 21 Days

Piraeus-Athens, Greece

Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Mykonos Island, Greece

Mykonos rewards an early start: whitewashed lanes, blue-domed churches and waterfront cafés are quieter before the cruise crowds arrive. In Little Venice, old captains’ houses lean over the Aegean, while the island’s windmills stand above the harbor. Beyond town, beaches range from lively Psarou to the broad sands of Elia. Take a short boat ride to Delos, where ancient sanctuaries and marble streets mark one of Greece’s great archaeological sites.

Skiathos Island, Greece

Skiathos is the lively gateway to Greece’s Northern Sporades, where pine forests reach down to bright, clear water. Its harbour and whitewashed old town invite an easy wander, past cafés and the house museum of novelist Alexandros Papadiamantis. Beyond town, more than 60 beaches range from well-served Koukounaries to quieter coves. Come ashore ready for a swim, a long lunch and an island afternoon.

Skopelos Island, Greece

Skopelos arrives in layers: fishing boats at the harbour, whitewashed houses climbing the hillside, and pine-covered slopes beyond. On this Sporades island, the old town’s lanes lead to small churches, courtyards and views across the Aegean. Beyond the port, beaches and coves reward a drive; Agios Ioannis Kastri rises above the sea on a rocky headland.

Chios Island, Greece

Chios lies in the eastern Aegean, a short crossing from Turkey, yet it feels distinctly its own. Its chief distinction is mastic, the aromatic resin harvested in southern villages and prized since antiquity. In Pyrgi, geometric black-and-white façades turn ordinary streets into an open-air gallery. Visit the 11th-century Nea Moni, a UNESCO-listed monastery, and study its Byzantine mosaics. Back in Chios Town, stroll the waterfront and sample local mastic liqueur.

Kusadasi, Turkey

Kuşadası puts the Aegean within reach, with a lively waterfront and one of Turkey’s most celebrated ancient cities nearby. Ephesus lies about 20 kilometres inland, where marble avenues lead to the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre. Back in town, browse the bazaar, then follow the causeway to Pigeon Island and its historic fortress. The harbour-facing promenade offers an easy place to linger over the Aegean light.

Samos Island, Greece

On Samos, one of Greece’s easternmost Aegean islands, ancient history sits close to the sea. From the port, reach Pythagoreion, the birthplace of Pythagoras and a UNESCO-listed harbor town with a long trading history. Nearby, the monumental Heraion recalls the island’s importance in the ancient Greek world. Taste fragrant Samos Muscat, browse Vathy’s waterfront, or follow coastal roads to pebble coves and villages beneath Mount Kerkis.

Patmos Island, Greece

Patmos, a small Dodecanese island, pairs a quiet harbour with a remarkable religious history. From Skala, a winding road climbs to Chora, where whitewashed lanes lead to the Monastery of Saint John. Nearby, the Cave of the Apocalypse recalls the tradition that John received the visions behind Revelation. These UNESCO-listed sites reward a visit; beaches and waterfront tavernas offer a gentler counterpoint.

Paros Island, Greece

Your first glimpse of Paros is its whitewashed capital, Parikia, gathered around a sheltered harbour in the Cyclades. Walk to Panagia Ekatontapiliani, one of Greece’s most important early Christian monuments. Then choose your pleasure: Naoussa’s fishing harbour and lanes, or a swim at an island beach. Paros is also known for the fine marble prized by sculptors across the ancient world.

Hydra Island, Greece

Hydra is a Greek island in the Saronic Gulf, reached by ferry from Piraeus. Its horseshoe harbor is framed by stone mansions, cafés and fishing boats, with hills rising sharply behind. Cars are forbidden, so the lanes belong to pedestrians, pack animals and water taxis. Walk uphill for quiet courtyards and broad sea views, then return to the waterfront as the harbor lights come on.

Piraeus-Athens, Greece

Piraeus is Athens’ working harbour, not a resort port—and that is its appeal. From here, the capital’s ancient landmarks are within reach, while the waterfront keeps its own busy, distinctly Greek character. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, then linger over grilled fish in Mikrolimano, a small harbour lined with tavernas. Metro connections make central Athens straightforward. Or stay near the water and watch ferries depart for the islands.

Nafplio, Greece

Nafplion is the Peloponnese at its most inviting: a seafront town shaped by Venetian, Ottoman and Greek histories. In the old quarter, cobbled lanes lead to Syntagma Square, lined with historic façades and cafés. Above the rooftops, Palamidi Fortress commands the view; offshore, Bourtzi guards the harbor. Come ashore for a compact, walkable city, then linger over lunch beside the water.

Souda-Chania, Greece

Souda Bay places you within easy reach of Chania, one of Crete’s most compelling historic towns. A short drive leads to Chania’s Venetian harbour, with its lighthouse, waterfront cafés and narrow lanes. On the Akrotiri peninsula, monasteries and coastal views share the landscape with the Allied war cemetery overlooking Souda Bay. Make time for Cretan cooking, distinguished by fine olive oil, local cheeses and wild herbs.

Gythion, Greece

Gythion gives you a gentler gateway to the southern Peloponnese, where the Mani begins in stone and sea. Once Sparta’s seaport, this harbor town faces the water with neoclassical houses, fishing boats, and café-lined quays. Walk to Marathonisi, the islet linked by a causeway, or follow the coast to Mavrovouni’s long beach. From here, the Mani’s tower villages and the caves of Diros make rewarding excursions. Choose Gythion for an unhurried introduction to a rugged, less-traveled corner of Greece.

At Sea (At Sea)

Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Italy

Giardini Naxos sits on Sicily’s Ionian coast, beneath Mount Etna and a short drive from Taormina. Its waterfront pairs pebble beaches with cafés, gelaterie and views across the bay. Sicily’s first Greek colony was founded here in 734 BC. A nearby archaeological park preserves traces of its ancient streets and walls. Come for a seaside day, or use the port as a gateway to Taormina. There, the Greek Theatre commands sweeping views of Etna and the coast.

Siracusa, Italy

Siracusa rewards visitors who look beyond its handsome waterfront. On Ortigia, the old island heart, Greek temples, Baroque palaces and lively markets sit within an easy walk. Across the channel, Neapolis Archaeological Park preserves a Greek theatre, Roman amphitheatre and the famed Ear of Dionysius. Pause for granita or fresh seafood, then watch the light soften over the Ionian Sea.

Gozo Island, Malta

Gozo is Malta’s quieter sister island, reached by a short ferry crossing from Ċirkewwa. From Mġarr Harbour, roads lead to Victoria’s fortified Citadel, village squares and terraced fields. At Ġgantija, massive Neolithic temples predate Egypt’s pyramids and reveal the island’s deep history. Hire a driver or guide to cover Gozo’s compact distances; lanes are narrow, and buses take longer.

Porto Empedocle, Italy

Porto Empedocle is a working Sicilian port with an unusually distinguished neighbour: Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. Just a short drive inland, this UNESCO-listed site preserves some of the finest Greek temples outside Greece. Closer to shore, the pale cliffs of Scala dei Turchi rise above the water near Realmonte. Come for ancient history, then linger over Sicilian seafood and the unhurried rhythms of a port town.

Valletta, Malta

Valletta makes a powerful first impression, its honey-coloured walls rising above Grand Harbour. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, Malta’s compact capital rewards exploration on foot. Enter St John’s Co-Cathedral for Caravaggio’s monumental paintings, then follow Republic Street to cafés, palaces and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From the terraces, watch ferries cross the harbour and look towards the Three Cities. Allow time for steep lanes and quiet side streets.