The Best Cruise Shore Excursions Revealed by Tourists

Visiting some incredible destinations is one of the most memorable parts of a cruise itinerary, and booking onshore excursions means you can spend your time in each location seeing some of the best and most iconic sights

Visiting some incredible destinations is one of the most memorable parts of a cruise itinerary, and booking onshore excursions means you can spend your time in each location seeing some of the best and most iconic sights.

Iglu Cruise has revealed the top five European cruise excursions, by comparing reviews from Tripadvisor. Over 30 of the most popular excursions were used in the sample, with the following five having the highest percentage of excellent reviews.

Dubrovnik City Walls

Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Tripadvisor rating score: 91.5%

As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia, Dubrovnik City Walls is a must-see when visiting the area. Dubrovnik itself is a city in southern Croatia, situated on the Adriatic Sea. A combination of stunning natural beauty, warm weather, ancient history and delicious food attracts millions of tourists every year.

Built in the 13th century, the Dubrovnik City Walls are one of the oldest defensive structures in mainland Europe. They were originally built to protect the city from attacks and border the majority of the Old Town, stretching 1,940 metres long. Today, they attract over one million visitors a year.

From the walls, you can see spectacular views of the city and also look out west to the Adriatic Sea. In recent years, the walls have also attracted a new community of visitors. The hit HBO TV show Game of Thrones used Dubrovnik, and the city walls, as a filming location for King’s Landing. You can even do a Game of Thrones Tour around the walls when you visit, seeing where some of the most iconic scenes in the show were filmed.

Acropolis of Athens

Location: Athens, Greece

Tripadvisor rating score: 77.9%

As one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens is rich in history and culture. From ancient ruins to museums, there’s plenty to see in the Greek capital. No visit is complete without visiting the Acropolis of Athens.

An Acropolis is an ancient citadel which comprises several ancient buildings, usually of great historical significance. In Greek, the term simply means a high point within a city, and many other Greek cities also had their own. But the Acropolis of Athens is by far the most famous in the world.

It was built during the 5th century BC as the home of Athena, the sacred Goddess of Wisdom of War. The Parthenon is arguably the most famous surviving ancient building that is part of the Acropolis. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations since 1987.

Today, over three million people visit the Acropolis of Athens every year and it remains a popular cruise shore excursion for those visiting the area.

Montserrat Tour

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Tripadvisor rating score: 72.7%

Montserrat is a multi-peaked rocky mountain range located just one hour away from Barcelona, making it a popular excursion for those looking to witness some of Catalonia’s stunning natural beauty.

At the top of the mountain, you’ll also find the Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery. This is one of Catalonia’s most important religious retreats, and many people make an overnight journey to the region to watch the sunrise from the peak of Montserrat, a truly spectacular experience. The highest peak in the mountain range is 1,236 metres high, offering some amazing views of Barcelona.

Formed some 45 million years ago, the unusual shape of the mountain range is famous for its many jagged peaks, which inspired its name; Mont Serrat means ‘serrated mountain’ in Catalan. The rock has also been used to build the world-famous La Sagrada Familia, also located in Barcelona. For those lucky enough to have a cruise stop in Barcelona, a tour of Montserrat is definitely worth the journey.

The Colosseum

Location: Rome, Italy

Tripadvisor rating score: 72.3%

Located in Rome, The Colosseum is arguably Italy’s most famous attraction. First constructed in 72 AD, it has become a symbol of the Italian capital and has retained that status to this day, almost 2000 years after its construction. Today, it’s included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites, and it is also one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Built of natural concrete and stone, the Colosseum is an amphitheatre found in the centre of the city, making it easily accessible for those living in Rome. It was built as an entertainment venue, famously known for hosting gladiator fights and animal hunts, and could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 people.

Any trip to Rome should include a trip to the Colosseum, and a guided tour of this famous landmark is an excellent excursion choice if your cruise stops in Rome. Most tours include many of Rome’s other treasured highlights, including St Peter in Chains and St Peter’s Basilica.

The Ruins of Pompeii

Location: Naples, Italy

Tripadvisor rating score: 69.3%

Visiting the Ruins of Pompeii is a truly unique excursion experience. Pompeii was an ancient city located near Naples. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, this city was buried under volcanic ash, which allowed the buildings and monuments of the city to be preserved to a great extent and offer an insight into Roman life.

When visiting the ruins you can walk across an entire ancient city, including endless avenues, balcony alleys, walkways, houses, squares and altars. It is thought about 10% of the population around Mount Vesuvius died because of the eruption in AD 79, and today it reminds us of how much of our humanity we shared with people such a long time ago.

Shore excursions to Pompeii are popular for those visiting Naples. A guided tour of Pompeii is advised, with experts who can provide insight into the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the haunting events that followed.

news