Croatia, Port Gruz Cruise from Dubrovnik to Valletta — 10 Days

Dubrovnik, Croatia, Port Gruz

Spend a day inside Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, best explored on foot. Walk the city walls for close views of fortifications, roofs, and harbor. Then follow Stradun to Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan monastery. Book wall access in advance during busy months, and start early in summer. Mount Srđ offers a higher view, reached by cable car or road. Leave time for side lanes; their quieter corners reveal the city’s daily rhythm.

Mljet Island Croatia, Sobra

Mljet, one of Croatia’s most wooded islands, rewards a slower pace. Its western third is protected as Mljet National Park, where pine forests surround two saltwater lakes. Boats cross Veliko Jezero to St Mary, a small islet crowned by a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Explore on foot or by bicycle, then swim in the clear water. Pomena and Polače offer convenient access to the park.

Korcula Island Croatia, Korcula Town

Korčula rises from the Adriatic on an island famed for vineyards, clear coves and stone villages. Inside the old walls, narrow streets fan out in a fishbone pattern. Follow them past Venetian Gothic façades to St Mark’s Cathedral and the town’s small squares. Beyond the harbor, island wineries pour local Grk and Pošip, while swimming coves reward a longer stay.

Vis Island Croatia, Vis Town

Vis offers a slower pace than Croatia’s better-known island ports, with two main towns. Vis Town curves around a sheltered harbor lined with stone buildings and cafés. Explore its waterfront and discover reminders of the island’s long military importance. Vis remained a Yugoslav military base and was closed to foreign visitors until 1989. Boats to Biševo’s Blue Cave depend on sea conditions and local access rules. Allow extra time for boat trips, and keep a flexible plan if seas turn rough.

Kotor, Montenegro

At the head of Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, the old town sits beneath steep mountains. Enter through the Sea Gate and follow stone lanes to St Tryphon’s Cathedral. Venetian-era walls frame squares, churches, and cafés within a compact UNESCO-listed center. For a broader view, climb toward San Giovanni Fortress; the steps are demanding. Take water and allow time for the ascent, especially in summer heat. From the harbor, the bay’s changing light makes a memorable arrival and departure.

At Sea (At Sea)

Parga, Greece

Parga makes an immediate impression: pastel houses climb the hills above a sheltered Ionian bay. At the water’s edge, cafés and tavernas face fishing boats, while the Venetian castle crowns the headland. Climb to its walls for broad views. Nearby Valtos Beach offers a broad sweep of sand, reached on foot or by water taxi in season. Choose Parga for an easy blend of history, swimming and unhurried evenings beside the sea.

At Sea (At Sea)

Gallipoli, Italy

Gallipoli lies on Salento’s Ionian coast. Its old town fills an island joined to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge. The harbor still serves fishing boats. Narrow lanes lead to the Baroque Cathedral of Sant’Agata and palazzi that recall centuries of trade. Beyond the walls, clear water and sandy beaches offer an easy change of pace. Stay for sunset, when the Ionian Sea turns the waterfront gold.

Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Sicily 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.

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.