Italy Cruise from Naples to Piraeus — 13 Days

Naples, Italy

Naples puts its history within reach: the port opens onto a compact city framed by Mount Vesuvius and the bay. UNESCO-listed streets lead to churches, palaces and the everyday theatre of southern Italian life. At the National Archaeological Museum, mosaics and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum bring the Roman world sharply into focus. Stay close for Neapolitan pizza, or use Naples as a springboard to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri.

Capri Island, Italy

Capri rises from the Bay of Naples in cliffs, pale houses and terraces of lemon trees. Come ashore for the Piazzetta, then follow lanes to the Gardens of Augustus and views over the Faraglioni. Boats reach the Blue Grotto when sea conditions permit; Anacapri offers quieter streets and Villa San Michele. Allow time for steep paths, crowded summer ferries and a long lunch featuring the island’s local dishes.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Zakynthos Island, Greece

Zakynthos rewards a day beyond the quay. On this Ionian island, Venetian traces meet neoclassical arcades, lively cafés and the waterfront of Zakynthos Town. Visit the Byzantine Museum on Solomos Square, then climb to Bohali for views across town and harbor. Further afield, boat trips reveal the Blue Caves, while protected Laganas Bay shelters loggerhead turtles. Plan excursions carefully: winding roads make the island’s coves and viewpoints farther apart than they appear.

• At Sea (At Sea)

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.

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.