Top 10 Cruise Ports In Italy
Italy can be split into a number of different types of locations including the mountains and lakes of the far north, the large cities in the north and central regions and the beautiful seaside resort of the south including the Amalfi coast.
Tourism in the country is all about its authentic history, food, and culture which whilst many have tried to replicate, few have even come close to matching.
For this list we have taken into account the number of ships and lines using a port, the variety of itineraries, what is available to visitors and also our own personal views.
Our Top 10 Cruise Ports In Italy
Civitavecchia, Rome
If somebody mentioned that they were going on a cruise to Civitavecchia, your reply maybe along the lines of where’s that?
Those who have visited or who have done their research will know that it is the leading cruise port in terms of ship and passenger numbers in the country and it is also the main port of Rome.
The Italian capital city is one of the world’s leading tourist destination thanks the incredible history and culture found throughout, with landmark after landmark easily visited on your own or on a tour.
The port is also the busiest for starting or ending your cruise in the country, with lots of options to explore the Western Med, Adriatic and the Greek Islands whilst also enjoying a few days ashore to take in the eternal city.
Naples
No matter if you know the city as Naples or Napoli, the largest city in the Campania region is not just a great place to visit on a cruise but is a great place to explore the wider region from.
Naples itself has lots to offer including many historic sights of interest and some of the best food and wine anywhere in Italy.
Amongst the most popular excursions on offer are the nearby ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii for lovers of history or the beautiful Amalfi coast resorts of Sorrento, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.
The port is one of the busiest for cruise ships to call into in the region which means that there will likely be the right cruise ship from a cruise line that interest you stopping off there.
Genoa
Port Genoa has a long maritime history and is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and in the modern era, it remains the 2nd largest seaport in the Med.
It will come as little surprise therefore thar it is also one of the busiest cruise ports Italy as both a port of call and as a turnaround port.
The history of the city and the natural beauty of the Ligurian Apennines mountains that surround it add to your day onshore, although many visitors will head to the nearby cities of Milan and Turin which are both amongst the most popular cities in Italy for tourists.
Livorno
Livorno is one of Italy’s biggest and busiest ports thanks to hosting container ships, cargo ships, ferries and also a wide range of cruise ships.
As the largest port in the Tuscany region of Italy, Livorno is popular with those wanting to visit the many wineries found in the region and whilst it is a great place to walk around and take in the history of the city, whilst many visitors will head to Pisa and Florence.
Messina (Sicily)
Messina maybe the 3rd largest city on the island of Sicily but as the closest port to the mainland of Italy, it is one of the most popular for cruise lines.
If you look out to sea from the coast of Messina, you will have views of one of the busiest sea routes in Europe, the Strait of Messina, and you will also have views of the Reggio Calabria region of south west Italy but it is what is behind you that attracts most visitors to the island.
Just a short drive away and easily reached on an excursion is the famous Mount Etna volcano that is as destructive as it is awe inspiring.
La Spezia
La Spezia’s huge natural harbour made it an easy choice as one of the Italian navy’s biggest and most important port and it is for many of the same reasons that cruise line solve to use it as well.
The cruise port has undergone lots of improvements over the last decade or so and now a number of lines use it as a turnaround port, with even more offering it as a port of call.
The city itself has lots to offer visitors but it is for its closeness to Florence, Cinque Terre and Pisa that makes it so popular with lines and cruisers alike.
Palermo (Sicily)
Palermo is the largest city on the island of Sicily and it is also one of the most popular cruise ports on the island from a cruise line and passenger point of view.
The city is full of history and culture and it is easy to simply walk around the streets and take it all in on your own, although many will opt for an excursion to see Mount Etna.
Ravenna
Ravenna is a major cruise port in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and is a popular port of call on Adriatic Sea cruises.
The port is around 20 minutes from the city centre but it has become one of the chosen ports that a number of lines have replaced Venice with, although many still call it Venice on their itineraries despite been a couple of hours away.
Cagliari (Sardinia)
Cagliari is the capital city of Sardinia and offers lots of interesting sights for visitors including a beautiful cathedral, impressive fortifications, and a number of Roman ruins.
There are a number of stunning beaches available for those wanting a lazy day relaxing whilst it is easy to explore the whole of Sardinia on an excursion for those wanting to more of the historic island.
Trieste
Trieste is a large port in the north-east of Italy on the Adriatic Sea coast that is often used by cruise lines offering trips to the nearby Venice.
There is lots to see in the city itself including Roman ruins, a castle and historic Cathedral and thanks to its closeness to both Slovenia and Croatia, it offers a unique culture when compared to other historic Italian cities.
