La Coruna Cruise Holidays

La Coruna, Spain

The Galician city of La Coruna, known locally as A Coruna, is one of the most populated cities in the region of Galicia and was historically the provincial capital city but despite the port city having such a long and important history, it is also a thriving modern 21st century city.

The city sits on the sheltered waters of a promontory in the Golfo Artabro which offers stunning views as you enter the Gulf before docking and it also helps to calm the often choppy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The city has played an important role in many civilisations throughout history including the Celts, the Romans, the Normans, the Vikings and in more modern times, the cities port is perhaps most well-known on these shores as been the port of departure for the Spanish Armada in 1588.

For modern day visitors, it is the historical buildings that can be found throughout the city as well as the natural beauty of the city and surrounding area that is the major attraction and when coupled with its position close to the Bay of Biscay, it is no surprise that La Coruna is a popular port of call for cruises from the United and from the major Med ports.

Our Visit

We were lucky enough to visit the cruise port of La Coruna in October 2023 when we were sailing between Southampton to Barcelona onboard the Norwegian Prima cruise ship.

We would only have a few hours in the port as what was set to be a short visit anyway was cut further by the poor organisation of the ships staff and the ports authority.

The port wasn’t ready for us and then we would have to que for over an hour to get off the ship but once on shore, we still had a good time and enjoyed our visit to La Coruña.

We would walk from the cruise gate, after getting off a shuttle that most won’t need to take and then to the massive promenade of the Riazor beach.

We then strolled to the cities football stadium, but sadly it was now closed for siesta. After walking along the prom, we walked back through the town centre and towards our ship.

Cruises To La Coruna

La Coruna Cruise Guide

This guide is based on our own experience of visiting the cruise port of La Coruna as well as the research we did before going there.

If you have booked a cruise itinerary that features a stop in the port and are looking for a guide of what there is to do, see and enjoy whilst on shore, you are in the right place as our guide features all of the information that you need to make the most of your day in the ashore.

Similarly, if you are at the research stage before your next cruise and you are trying to decide whether a stop in A Coruna is right for you, then our guide makes making that decision much simpler.

Type of Cruises Available

When it comes to choosing a cruise holiday to the city, there are lots of choices for those based in the United Kingdom.

The port is a popular stopping off port on cruises from the UK to the Canary Islands and also to the Western Mediterranean and as two of the most popular destinations from the United Kingdom, that means you get a wide range of cruise lines, cruise ships and itineraries to suit all.

The port also features on No Fly itineraries of the Iberian Peninsula and also one heading to France and Spain.

If you want to spend more time cruising the region, it is possible to enjoy a day in La Coruna on a repositioning cruise from the UK to the Med (or vice versa) and also a number of transatlantic itineraries to the Caribbean or southern Florida often choose to stop there.

La Coruna Cruise Port Location

The Terminal de Cruceiros, or cruise terminal, in the city of La Coruna is perfectly located just a short walk from the town centre and from the beautiful beaches that many head for.

The port is also well sheltered as you sail through the Artabro gulf which helps to make sure that cruise ships can dock easily and safely even when the Atlantic waters are choppy.

La Coruna Attractions

There are many attractions awaiting visitors to the city with one of the most famous and iconic been the Roman Tower of Hercules, a lighthouses that is thought to have been in use since the 2nd Century CE which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The old town still features large stretches of its historic city walls and it is in the Ciudud Vieja district that many of the cities sites of interest are found including a beautiful fortress.

If taking in the sea views whilst on holiday is your thing, the city is a great choice for you as its Paseo Maritimo stands at 5.6 miles in length and takes in many of the more modern attractions of the city including its Aquarium and the cities Estadio Riazor (football stadium for the cities Deportivo La Coruna).

As one of the important cities in the region historically, you will not be surprised that many of its maniple buildings are simply stunning with its City Hall amongst the most photogenic.

La Coruna Shorex

With so much to see and do in the city, a lot of the shore excursions offered by cruise lines are tours around the city to easily take in the sites on offer.

For those wanting to further afield, the nearby historic city of Santiago De Compostela is easily reached and constantly proves a popular day out for those wanting to take in some of the royal history of northern Spain.

Best Time To Visit

As a popular stopping off port of call to both summer and winter destinations, A Coruna can be visited all year around but with many of its attractions been outside and with the best way to get around been on foot, it is perhaps best to visit in the early summer months of May/June or in September as you want it to be warm and dry but not too hot, which can be the case in July and August.

Transport

Getting around the city is best on foot as it is relatively compact and offers a central cruise ship terminal but there are many local bus services for those wanting to explore the surrounding districts away from the city centre.

La Coruna Cruises From UK

If you prefer not to fly on holiday or just want to take advantage of the ease of cruising from the UK, you are in look as there is lots of choice when it comes to visiting the port from these shores.

From cruises to the Canaries or to the Western Mediterranean and from Transatlantic crossing to the Caribbean to cruises of the Iberian Peninsula, there are lots of choices for itineraries stopping off in the port on a cruise directly from the UK.

La Coruna Cruise From Southampton

The port of Southampton offers the widest range of itineraries, lines, and ships for those wanting to cruise to La Coruna directly from the UK.