Lonely Planet Cruise Ports Mediterranean Europe

Part history tour, part beach vacation, part culinary odyssey, this region offers a veritable feast for every traveller, whether in world-class cities or zipping around tiny islands.

Sailing the Mediterranean for trade and conquest was a rite of passage for every civilisation that rose to prominence in the Mediterranean Basin, from ancient Persians and Minoans to the Greeks and Phoenicians. As you tour Maltas 5000-year-old Tarxien Temples, climb up to Athens 2500-year-old Acropolis or pretend to be a gladiator at Romes relatively young 2050-year-old Colosseum, you cant help but feel part of that antiquity.

For many holidaymakers the Mediterraneans main appeal is the promise of summer sun and long, lazy days on the beach. While not all visitors head straight for the coast, many do and with good reason. The Mediterraneans beaches are superb, ranging from idyllic Sardinian hideaways to rocky platforms on Croatias craggy Dalmatian coast.

Eating well is one of the great pleasures of everyday life on the Med, and it doesnt have to cost a bomb. Picnicking on a loaf of freshly baked bread with cheese and olives and a bottle of wine bought from the local market could well turn out to be a holiday highlight. For dedicated foodies, France and Italy are the obvious destinations, but each country has its own culinary specialities think tapas in Spain, kebaps in Turkey, souvlaki in Greece. And for wine buffs, the Mediterranean cellar is really quite something, with everything from world-famous vintages to thousands of cheerful local labels.