Italy Cruise from Rome Italy to Villefranche-sur-Mer — 15 Days

Rome City, Italy

Civitavecchia, Rome’s cruise port, lies about 50 miles northwest of the capital. From the town station, trains reach central Rome in around 70 minutes, depending on service. The Colosseum, Vatican and Baroque piazzas reward a day spent exploring. Choose your priorities before you arrive; traffic and queues can consume precious hours. Then make room for a Roman lunch.

Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy

Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Calvi, France

Calvi rewards a day ashore with a rare pairing: a fortified Genoese citadel and a broad, pale-sand beach. Climb its steep lanes to the ramparts, where the harbor and crescent-shaped bay open beneath the Corsican hills. Below, cafés and shops line the old town, while the waterfront leads towards several kilometres of sand. Come for the views, then linger over local seafood or explore Balagne’s villages and vineyards beyond town.

Livorno, Italy

Livorno rewards those who look beyond the cruise terminal. Its canals, built in the style of Venice, wind through historic Venezia Nuova. The seafront promenade leads to Terrazza Mascagni, where black-and-white paving frames the sea. At Mercato Centrale, locals shop beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. Try cacciucco, the city’s rich fish stew. Florence and Pisa are within reach, but Livorno merits time of its own.

Carrara, Italy

At Marina di Carrara, Tuscany’s marble country meets the coast. The city of Carrara sits inland beneath the Apuan Alps, where white stone has been quarried since Roman times. Visit the marble quarries, then explore the old town’s cathedral and Piazza Alberica, lined with elegant palazzi. This is a port for travelers drawn to working craft, mountain scenery and the enduring beauty of stone.

Porto Venere, Italy

Porto Venere gives the Ligurian coast a striking address, often quieter than nearby Cinque Terre. Past pastel harbor houses, climb to Doria Castle for sweeping views across the Gulf of Poets. At the headland, the striped Church of San Pietro stands above the sea beside Byron’s Grotto. The village and Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands form part of a UNESCO-listed landscape worth lingering over.

Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy

Santa Margherita Ligure pairs a working harbour with pastel façades, palm-lined promenades and the Ligurian Sea. Ferries connect the town with Portofino, while coastal paths lead toward the abbey at San Fruttuoso. Browse the shops and cafés along the waterfront, then visit the 17th-century Basilica of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia. Allow time for a seafood lunch; local menus often feature anchovies, Ligurian pesto and fresh fish.

Portofino, Italy

Portofino is a small Ligurian harbour, framed by green hills and pastel façades. On its crescent waterfront, fishing boats share the view with polished yachts. From the piazzetta, lanes climb to Castello Brown, a former fortress overlooking the harbour and coast. Walk on to the lighthouse at Punta del Capo, or take a boat to nearby Santa Margherita Ligure. A table by the water offers the best reason to linger.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo makes a striking first impression, with superyachts in Port Hercule and the Alps rising behind the coast. A short walk leads to Casino Square, where Belle Époque architecture frames the famous casino and designer boutiques. For a quieter contrast, climb to Monaco-Ville for the Prince’s Palace, cathedral and views across the harbor. The principality is compact and easy to explore on foot, though its steep streets reward comfortable shoes.

Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

Villefranche-sur-Mer makes an unusually graceful first impression: pastel houses rise above one of the Riviera’s deepest natural harbors. Wander the old town’s narrow lanes, then visit the 16th-century citadel and its museums. Jean Cocteau’s painted Chapel of Saint-Pierre adds a distinctive local detail. Nearby trains connect you with Nice; roads lead to Èze and the wider Côte d’Azur.

Marseille, France

Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.

Cannes, France

Arrive in Cannes and the Riviera’s polished glamour is immediately on show. Follow the palm-lined Croisette past Belle Époque hotels, designer boutiques and the Palais des Festivals, home of the film festival. Then climb into Le Suquet, the old quarter, for narrow lanes and views across the harbour. At Marché Forville, local produce and Provençal specialities offer a taste of everyday life. Ferries to the Lérins Islands make an easy escape to pine-scented shores.

Bonifacio, France

Bonifacio clings to limestone cliffs at Corsica’s southern tip, its old town rising above a narrow, sheltered strait. From the harbor, climb through the medieval citadel’s steep lanes for sea views reaching Sardinia on clear days. Below, boats thread the fjord-like inlet, while the famed King Aragon’s Staircase descends 187 steps toward the water. Come ashore ready for slopes, stone, and a striking sense of history.

Porto Cervo, Italy

Porto Cervo is the Costa Smeralda’s polished heart, where Sardinia’s granite coast meets the Mediterranean’s deep blue. Its marina fills with sailing boats and superyachts, while the Piazzetta gathers cafés, boutiques and evening promenades. Built from the 1960s onward under the vision of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the resort has a distinct architectural character. Visit the whitewashed Stella Maris church, then seek clear water and quieter coves along the coast.

Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy

Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.

Bastia, France

Bastia is Corsica’s northern gateway, where ferries, fishing boats and café terraces meet beneath a steeply rising old town. Begin around the old port in Terra Vecchia, then climb into Terra Nova’s citadel. Pause at Saint-Jean-Baptiste, whose twin bell towers define Bastia’s skyline. From Place Saint-Nicolas, one of France’s largest squares, watch local life unfold over a coffee. For a change of pace, drive north toward Cap Corse, where fishing villages and rugged headlands frame the coast.

Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

Villefranche-sur-Mer makes an unusually graceful first impression: pastel houses rise above one of the Riviera’s deepest natural harbors. Wander the old town’s narrow lanes, then visit the 16th-century citadel and its museums. Jean Cocteau’s painted Chapel of Saint-Pierre adds a distinctive local detail. Nearby trains connect you with Nice; roads lead to Èze and the wider Côte d’Azur.