Cruise in the Mediterranean, everyone’s dream! Who wouldn’t have wanted to make one? And although not everyone likes cruise ships and prefers pleasure boats, what we will focus on in this article are the most beautiful destinations in the Mediterranean. !
Mediterranean cruise: where to stop and what to visit ?
Let us first specify which countries border the Mediterranean. In the north-west there is France, Spain (also bordering the Balearic and Alboran seas).
To the north there is Monaco, Italy (bordering the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic Seas); Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania (all four bordering the Adriatic Sea), Greece and Turkey (bordering Greece on the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea, the latter also bordering by Turkey).
In the east, there is Syria, Israel, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip. In the center there are the islands of Malta and Cyprus. To the south there are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
The most beautiful destinations will be exposed during this article. Obviously you can’t see everything and you have to make a selection. We hope you like ours! It is more focused on wild beaches than on tourist sites.
Cruise in the Mediterranean: the beaches of Spain bordering the northwest of the Mediterranean and more particularly the Balearic Sea
Which beaches in Spain should you not miss? Although Spain’s top 5 beaches include those on the Atlantic coast or on the Canary Islands, there are some very beautiful ones on the coasts overlooking the Balearic and Alboran seas..
On the mainland first and especially on the coast of the Balearic Sea, there is the Bay of Roses or Rosas, in the province of Girona, Catalonia. Beautiful beaches and creeks, mountains and natural parks, vestiges and historical monuments, tasty gastronomy and active tourism, this is what this destination offers.
For swimmers wishing to cover long distances or to discover the marine environment in complete safety, the Costa Brava has just set up a network of aquatic hiking, the Vias Bravas. 13 kilometers long, this network of 9 courses is designed mainly for sports or swimming, but also for other activities in this environment such as snorkeling or underwater photography..
Then there is the beach of Cala Canyelles in Lloret de Mar. The cove of Canyelles is the last sandy cove located in Lloret de Mar, just before entering the town of Tossa de Mar. It is an ideal beach to spend a whole day there with the family.
We go much further south of Barcelona and we can stay on the beaches and wild coves of Mazarrón. This municipality located in the region of Murcia is characterized by a microclimate because of the mountains and Gibraltar. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below 18 ° C. The water temperature throughout the year is five degrees higher than the average for the rest of the Mediterranean..
Mediterranean cruise: beaches on the Balearic Islands
If you are going to the islands, the beaches not to be missed are La Savina, Ses Illetes and Es Pujols beaches on the island of Formentera, the platja d’en Bossa on the island of Ibiza and the Magaluf, Palma de Mallorca and El’Arenal beaches on the island of Mallorca.
Mediterranean cruise: the beaches on the Spanish and Moroccan coasts of the Alboran Sea
Alboran Island is an islet in the western Mediterranean, 75 km from the Moroccan coast and 85 km from the Spanish coast. Claimed by the Moroccans but occupied by the Spaniards, this island offers you beautiful beaches.
Triangular in shape, this island has an area of only 7 Ha and rises to 17 m.
Cruise in the Mediterranean and the French coasts
What if we changed the traditional beaches on the French Riviera a bit and went to Corsica? Once there, let’s go to the west coast! You will find beautiful, wild and uncrowded beaches there that you can stay for hours! You can go to Ostriconi beach.
Do not miss the possibility of visiting the beach of Saleccia. Difficult to reach by car, access by boat is recommended. If you like crowds, stop in Calvi but be aware that the nearby beaches are crowded.
Not to mention how pretty the big towns on the island and their local beaches are, we will only tell you about one more beach that is next to Porto. This is Cupabia beach where the cows have a clear priority over you out of season.
Cruise in the Mediterranean and the Italian coasts
Like Corsica, Sardinia offers some very beautiful wild beaches that can make you think you are in the Caribbean. Most of them are on the west or south coast. Start by going there on Cala Goloritzè beach in Baunei.
Then, make the trip to Costa Rei. The beach worth stopping by is Santa Giusta beach.
Don’t we move away from Italy without stopping in Sicily and Puglia. In Sicily, you have to stop on the San Vito lo Capo but rather stay on your boat because you will not be able to sit on the sandy beach, the beach is so crowded.
Then there is the black sand beach of Stromboli. Do not leave without visiting the city of Taormina and its beautiful Lido Mazzaro beach.
The Puglia region, which sits on the “heel of the Italian boot”, has long been known for its very, very beautiful beaches. The Zagare Bay is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Puglia region.
Mediterranean cruise: the island of Malta
The island of Malta has two very beautiful beaches on the side of the road to the island of Gozo. One is too small and always crowded. The other is also very busy but there is a kind of balance between the fact that this beach is everyone’s favorite and the magnificent scenery and sunset that vacationers have. !
Mediterranean cruise: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania
We will not stop in Slovenia because the coastline is only 46 km and because Croatia is nearby. Croatia is a pleasant destination not to be missed. The beautiful beaches in Croatia are not found on the mainland but on the islands. Some wonderful islands are waiting to be visited! One of the beaches to visit is Porat beach on the island of Bisevo or Bishèvo, as it is pronounced.
Before leaving Croatia, be sure to visit the islands of Vis, Rab, Hvar, Palmizana and Brac. These are the islands of Dalmatia. Below you see the bay of Palmizana, facing the town of Hvar.
And here is a small beach on the island of Vis. You can dock your pleasure boat and spend a pleasant afternoon there.
As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the coastline is very short but right next to it you have the coast of Monténegro. This country is still more famous for these picturesque villages than for its beaches. And yet some beaches assure you of peace. Drobni Pijesak beach (fine sand) is an emerald oasis.
As for Albania, this country offers two seaside landscapes. Two types of beaches await lovers of the littoral coast. The beaches of the Adriatic Sea are of fine sand. Small pebbles and rocks cover the beaches of the Ionian Sea. If you are more “Adriatic”, go towards Gjiri i Lalzit (bay of Lalzit). If you want to go south (Ionian Sea), the villages of Jale will welcome you.
Cruise in the Mediterranean, direction for eternal Greece
What are the most beautiful destinations in Greece? There are several beautiful destinations in Greece, all of them wild and offering tranquility. You have to start with the island of Celaphony. One of the most beautiful beaches is Foki, near the village of Fiskardo.
Then you have to stop on the island of Elafonissos in the south of the Peloponnese. Simos beach is the most famous there.
Third destination in Greece: the island of Samos, located in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea. This island is separated from Turkey by the 1.6 km wide Mycale Strait. Pythagoras and Epicurus were born there! Samos Island is green and trees and shrubs provide shade on many of the beaches. One of the beaches to stop at is Tsamadou Beach, next to Kokkari village. She’s half grass, half pebbles.
Another beach to visit is Potami Beach not far from Karlovassi village. This is a green and picturesque jewel whose greenery slopes down to the beach.
Before leaving Greece and its paradise islands, take a tour of Kalymnos Island and do some exercise. The island has few known beaches. On the other hand, in an effort to boost its tourism in recent years, it has become a popular destination for climbers from all over the world. You can go rock climbing because there are a lot of mountains and caves. The most popular cave used for rock climbing is Sykati which is located to the north of the island, facing Leros Island..
Cruise in the Mediterranean, direction Bodrum, Marmaris, Dalyan, Turkey
We will devote a large part of our article to the beaches of Turkey because those which have not fallen in the crosshairs of tourist agents are more hidden and therefore less known. They may interest you if you are looking for them. Let’s start with the Bodrum peninsula. Akbuk and Ilgin are two quiet beaches where one can spend pleasant time. Here is the photo of Akbuk bay beach in Gokova near Bodrum.
In Marmaris, Turkey’s jewel, the beaches are packed. But we manage to find more tranquility on beaches that are not in the sights of tourists. Hisaronu cove offers this sought-after serenity.
Near Dalyan Town, you’ll love Iztuzu Beach. It is better known as the turtle beach. Huge, beautiful, not crowded !
Cruise in the Mediterranean, direction to Fetiye, Kas, Kemer and Antalya in Turkey
In the Kelebekler Valley (Valley of the Butterflies), near Fetiye, a few beaches can attract attention with their beauty and authenticity..
The Cennet valley, still near Fatye, hides magnificent beaches. But the same can be said for the beaches near Kas. Kaputas and Patara are two extraordinary beach resorts. Kaputas looks a lot like Egremni beach on Lefkada Island which almost disappeared after the October 2016 earthquake. Patara is the one you see in the photo below.
On the Kemer side, you can stay on Olympos beach for a long time. It is right next to a famous beach called Cirali. Olympos beach is our favorite.
If you are in Antalya and find the crowds tiring you, you can walk away and find peace on Adrasan Beach.
Mediterranean cruise: Cyprus
Cyprus has always been a popular seaside destination. There are beaches for all tastes. For those who like lively corners, there are such, those who prefer not to be disturbed, small coves with crystal clear water offer pure happiness. There are also deserted expanses of white sand that can satisfy the desire for a change of scenery. Let’s start our guided tour from the southwest.
You will love Cape Greco and its Konnos Bay where you can swim in translucent waters while contemplating a dream view. In addition, you can explore the Cavo Greco caves which are just waiting to be explored.
On the western flank of Cape Greco there is another beach that attracts with its vast expanse and beauty, Limnara Beach. This beach offers relaxation and peace.
In Lara Bay, in the western part of the island, you can meet turtles. The place is wild and your transportation has to be up to it. This detour is worth it if you are willing to stay sunbathed on the beach without disturbing the wildlife and its nesting. Deckchairs and parasols are therefore prohibited..
If you like the contrast, you have the option of going to the Gouverneurs beach, about 30 km from Limassol where the sand is black and the cliffs are white. All around you have other wild coves that you can explore.
In the extreme northeast of the island, the Karpas peninsula offers you wild beaches, each more beautiful than the next. The beach of Agios Filon located on the northern slope, offers, with a rocky barrier, the possibility for your children to spend hours swimming in a small natural swimming pool..
Mediterranean cruise: discover the beaches of Lebanon
In Lebanon, the beaches are charged and very lively. If you don’t like bustling and often luxury beaches, these beaches are not for you. In addition, the Lebanese complain by mass of pollution on their coast and in the water. Themselves, they leave to seek happiness in Cyprus.
There are all the same public beaches, sometimes of fine sand. The Lebanese advise you to go south of the coastal strip to the beaches of Tire if you are looking for sandy beaches and Naqoura if you like cliffs. From us, we liked the most Kfar Aabida, south of Batroun, on the north coast of the country.
Mediterranean Cruise: Israel
On the Mediterranean coast, Palmachim Beach, south of Tel Aviv, is the last pristine stretch of coast in Israel. As for nice coves like the Greek dream coves, you can find some south of Haifa (about thirty km away) and north of Dor.
Cruise in the Mediterranean and the beaches of Egypt on the Mediterranean coast
You cannot not visit Egypt at least once in your life. Apart from the eternal cities of Cairo and Alexandria, tourists can spend time on the magnificent beaches found especially on the Mediterranean coast. Around Marsa Matrouh, the famous port, excellent white sand beaches amaze and offer a quiet getaway !
Ageeba Beach is recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and not just in Egypt. A natural barrier protects the coasts from breaking Mediterranean waves.
Cruise in the Mediterranean and the unique beaches of Tunisia
The beach of Kélibia is rare of its kind because of its very fine and ultra white sands. It is classified as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The beaches located near the village of El Haouaria less than an hour from Tunis, on Cap Bon, are still intact and wild. The water is crystal clear, the sand is golden. On a backdrop of green hills, the beaches will offer you a heavenly setting between land and sea.
There are a few others, such as those near Nabeul, still on Cap Bon, or on Kuriat Island in Monastir, or Sidi Yati beach in Djerba, or Ghar El Melh in Rafraf to the south-east of Bizerte.
Cruise in the Mediterranean: the beaches of Algeria
Last year, in an article in Courrier international, Algerian women recounted the obstacle course to reach the beach in Algiers. It was even harder for the women who were harassed. The article also reported on how the women of Annaba organized collective swims, asserting their freedom to choose what to wear.
According to this article, it seems that the beaches of Béjaïa remain the place of reference for the moment.
If not, there are very beautiful beaches in the east of Algiers: those in Skikda, Jijel, but also in the west of Algiers: on Cap Ténès, Oran or Honain.
Mediterranean cruise: Morocco
Unfortunately, there is very little to see on the Mediterranean coast as the best beaches are facing the Atlantic Ocean. However, we will try to find pretty places to contemplate the blue beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. The first beach in northern Morocco is hidden away and surrounded by high, steep mountains next to the village of Belyounech, a fishing village. Belyounech is located 16 km from Fnideq and 7 km west of the Spanish enclave.
Jebha is a Moroccan port city. Jebha means “front” because the city is surrounded by mountains and it forms the front..
The Cap des Trois Fourches, which juts out some twenty kilometers into the Mediterranean Sea, is among the most beautiful Moroccan sites. Located 25km from the city of Nador, the Cap des Trois Fourches is a place renowned for its sublime landscapes, its paradisiacal beaches, such as Tcharanna and Tibouda, the crystal blue sea and its panoramic view which is just exceptional.
Cala Iris is a village 50 km west of Al Hoceïma, on the Mediterranean coast. It is known for its paradisiacal beach with its small islets including Cala Iris Island.
Finally, Dalia in Tangier is a paradise between the sea, the mountains and the forest. A magnificent beach of fine sand overlooks the Detroit. With Dalia, we put an end to our Mediterranean cruise trip.
