Spain Cruise from Barcelona to Piraeus — 13 Days

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.

Ciutadella, Spain

Ciutadella, on Menorca’s western coast, is a port of pale stone, narrow lanes and a handsome old harbour. Begin in the historic centre, where Gothic palaces and the cathedral of Santa Maria frame quiet, sunlit streets. At the waterfront, cafés and fish restaurants look across the inlet, while small boats bob below the ramparts. Walk to Plaça des Born, then choose a table for Menorcan cheese, seafood and local wine.

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.

• At Sea (At Sea)

Golfo Aranci, Italy

Golfo Aranci puts northeastern Sardinia within easy reach, with Olbia about 15 kilometres inland and the Costa Smeralda farther north. Yet this working ferry town rewards a slower start: its waterfront, small harbour and clear-water beaches are close at hand. The marine reserve around Tavolara and Molara makes boat excursions a compelling choice, especially for swimmers and snorkellers. Come ashore for northern Sardinia’s pleasures, then choose a beach, a boat trip or a drive towards the coast.

Lipari Island, Italy

Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic chain off Sicily’s northern coast. The town rises around a citadel, home to the Aeolian Archaeological Museum and its collection of island finds. Walk the old lanes to Marina Corta, then choose a waterfront table for fresh seafood. Beyond town, pumice quarries and coastal viewpoints reveal a landscape shaped by fire and sea.

• 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.

At Sea (At Sea)

Corfu Island, Greece

Corfu rewards visitors who look beyond the beach resorts. Its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, bears the marks of centuries of Venetian rule. Walk the arcaded Liston, then climb to the Old Fortress for views across the rooftops and Ionian Sea. Beyond town, cypress-lined roads lead to Paleokastritsa’s coves, while the Achilleion palace recalls an imperial past. Allow time for lunch; Corfiot cooking pairs Ionian seafood with Italian and Greek influences.

Kefalonia Island, Greece

Your first view of Kefalonia may be Argostoli, a working harbor framed by hills and the Ionian Sea. From here, roads lead to traditional villages, the underground lake at Melissani, and the sweeping shore of Myrtos Beach. Argostoli merits a pause for its palm-lined waterfront, lively market, and loggerhead turtles that forage in the harbor. Choose one excursion rather than rushing the island; winding roads make distances longer than the map suggests.

Itea, Greece

At Itea, the Gulf of Corinth meets the foothills of Mount Parnassus. Delphi lies about 16 kilometres inland, on a dramatic mountainside. Its sanctuary of Apollo and ancient theatre reward the visit. Back in Itea, waterfront cafés look across the gulf. Nearby Amfissa is famed for its extensive olive groves. Choose Itea for a measured day ashore: sacred history above, sea air and an easy promenade below.

Corinth Canal, Greece

Few passages put engineering so close at hand. The 6.3-kilometre Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus, linking the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. Limestone walls rise nearly 80 metres above a channel just 24 metres wide. Opened in 1893, it shortened the voyage around the Peloponnese. Beyond the canal, explore ancient Corinth, where temples, mosaics and the Acrocorinth fortress reveal Greece’s layered past.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)

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.