Best Places To Cruise In Italy

Few countries can match Italy’s tourist appeal. Visitors can experience spectacular cities, lovely towns, a series of picture-perfect coastlines, delectable cuisine, and a fascinating history.

While skiing, city breaks, and trips to Italian lakes all have their advantages, there is a way to sample several different sections of the nation in a single whirlwind vacation.

Cruises around the Bel Paese allow guests to experience all of Italy’s highlights. You might begin with the romance of Venice and work your way around to the rough island beauties of Sicily and Sardinia, or you can begin in the stark coastal beauty of the Cinque Terre and end in bustling, characterful Naples, via the lovely city of Rome.

1. Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast has a little of everything that has made Italy famous: stunning coastlines, golden sands, picturesque villages, ancient historic buildings, and a generous helping of la dolce vita.

The main cities along this coast are Amalfi, Sorrento, and Positano, which are known for providing a taste of the highlife in frequently lavish surroundings, such as laid-back beaches or enormous hotels. Pompeii is adjacent to these villages and provides a fantastic look into a famous piece of world history, while traveling down the Amalfi Coast’s meandering roads is the perfect way to enjoy beautiful vistas while seeing some delightful towns.

How to do it

See both Sicily and the Amalfi Coast with the ‘Amalfi & Sicily’ seven-night package offered by Star Clippers. It starts in Civitavecchia, taking you to Amalfi and Sorrento before moving on to Messina and circling back to Rome.

2. Rome

The capital is a lovely combination of ancient and current Italian culture, from Monti’s sophisticated cuisine and nightlife to the old buildings and trattorias of Trastevere and Parione.

The Eternal City is also Europe’s most historic attraction, with Roman ruins and 18th-century fountains. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon are undeniable attractions, as are the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. The Vatican City is also part of Rome, and you shouldn’t miss the Sistine Chapel or St. Peter’s Basilica.

Most cruises to this section of the nation dock in nearby Civitavecchia, about an hour from the city. Rome is also a popular starting place for cruises, as travelers can travel north to the Cinque Terre, east to Sardinia, and south to Naples and Sicily.

How to do it

The Italian Treasures cruise offered by Atlas Ocean Voyages begins in Valletta, the historic Maltese capital, but after departing very much focuses on the eastern Italian coast. It stops for a night in both Syracuse and Giardini Naxos (on Sicily), before departing to the Amalfi Coast and Capri and then finishing in the capital, where you can explore at your leisure before flying home.

3. Venice

Venice is undoubtedly the most beautiful of all Italian cities, built on a huge lagoon and crisscrossed by dozens of bridges that span its canals. Its rivers are bordered with the colorful facades of centuries-old buildings, many of which have a Venetian style that is exclusive to the city, creating an eclectic cityscape.

For many visiting the city for the first time, a gondola ride, a stroll around St Mark’s Square, a walk across the Ponte Rialto, and a visit to the Doge’s Palace are usual, but for many, the main draw is getting lost in the sea of maze alleys and medieval bridges.

Many cruises begin and conclude in Venice, but due to its location at the top of the Adriatic, it can take some time to get down to other famous destinations such as Bari, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast. If you’re visiting on a cruise, it’ll most likely be longer, including stops in northern Croatia, Dubrovnik, or northern Greece.

How to do it

Azmara Cruises’ ‘Italy Intensive Voyage’ takes passengers all the way from Rome to Venice. It begins by going north to Florence, then turning back on itself and going south to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. After a brief stop in Kotor, Montenegro, you’ll finish in Venice, with the opportunity to explore at your leisure before flying home.

4. Sicily

Sicily is another well-known Italian island that shares a Mediterranean coastline with neighboring Sardinia. It is as charming as Sardinia, with equally enticing towns, a diverse range of natural landscapes, and some of the best culture and history the country has to offer.

Tradition is vital here, as evidenced by a proud local population. It can also be seen in towns and cities such as Palermo, the timeless beauty of Syracuse, and the olive fields and vineyards that line Mount Etna’s slopes. It makes Sicily an excellent destination for those looking to experience modern-day Italian living mixed with outdoor adventure in locations like the Parco dell’Etna, as well as ancient charm (such as that found in Syracuse).

How to do it

Windstar Cruises’ ‘Sicilian Spendours’ cruise begins and ends in the Italian capital, but as the name suggests, this trip very much focuses on the largest island in the Mediterranean. It begins by heading to the Amalfi Coast, but then moves on to three Sicilian towns – Trapani, Porto Empedocle and Catania, via Gozo and Malta.

5. Sardinia

Sardinia, located off the eastern coast and approximately six hours by ferry from Civitavecchia, is one of Italy’s most popular summer getaways. It is a popular destination for both visitors and Italians, with a plethora of fantastic beaches, including Cala Goloritzé and the Costa Smerelda, making it an excellent choice for days spent alternating between water activities and sunbathing.

Though it’s reasonable that you want to spend the majority of your time here on the dunes, you’d be remiss not to see some of the pastel-hued cities and verdant national parks that dot the hinterland and coastline. Alghero, Bosa, and San Teodoro have a lot of history in their cobblestone streets, while Asinara and Gennargentu are two of the most picturesque natural areas.

Sardinia’s southerly location means that cruises that stop here often carry on to Sicily and Malta, and may go further on to the Balearics, Greek islands or even Tunisia

How to do it

The ‘Enchanting Italian Coastlines’ tour from Emerald Cruises covers both Sardinia and the eastern coast over a period of seven nights. It begins in the capital, moving first to Sorrento and Amalfi and then crossing the Mediterranean to Sardinia and Corsica before looping back.

6. Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre competes with the Amalfi Coast for the title of Italy’s most famous coastal area, but the Italian Riviera offers a different kind of beauty in its emerald waters and pastel-coloured towns. The region is part of Liguria, and consists of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Each one has an abundance of old Italian charm, from the faded colours that come alive at sunset to the mazes of alleys leading up from tiny harbours. Only Monterosso has a proper beach, but this village quintet isn’t the place for solely a beach holiday, despite the coastlines. Instead, wander aimlessly through the villages, enjoy a laid-back meal or take to any of the surrounding hiking paths.

These once isolated villages are now tourist hotspots in their own right, with the Cinque Terre Express one of the best ways to get between them. Most cruises dock at La Spezia, the province’s main city, which lies just 20 minutes from the nearest Cinque Terre village, Riomaggiore.

How to do it

The Cinque Terre is a less frequented destination on longer cruises, so the best bet is to visit as part of a multi-country cruise. Celebrity Cruises offers one such option with their ‘Italian Riviera & France’ package, which departs from Rome and initially heads south to Naples before circling around to La Spezia and Santa Margherita. After some time spent enjoying the Italian Riviera, you move on to the French one, seeing Cannes and Marseille before finishing in Barcelona.

7. Naples

Naples is a fascinating city, buoyed by a vibrant and chaotic energy and blessed with beautiful surroundings – including Mount Vesuvius and an azure bay – and an eclectic blend of architecture.

The city itself has a wealth of culture and history, from the recent and immaterial – such as its devotion to pizza or its football club – to the ancient and pertinent, including the Duomo cathedral and a large collection of Greco-Roman artefacts at the National Archaeological Museum. Be sure to talk a walk around the Spanish Quarter, Centro Storico and Spaccanapoli (the city’s main thoroughfare) to get a real sense of how life is lived in this hectic city.

Naples is the closest major city to the Amalfi Coast, and as such many trips here are combined with a visit to towns like Sorrento or Positano.

How to do it

You’re spoilt for choice when including Naples in a cruise itinerary, and many cruises that stop here also include visits to parts of Greece and Croatia. A seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Norwegian Cruise Line takes advantage of these stops, taking guests from Rome to Venice via Valletta, Split and Corfu. Nevertheless, the focus is still on Italy, taking in the historic capital, the romantic canals of Venice and all of Naples’ characterful chaos (with an added stop in Messina, Sicily).