Mediterranean Sea Tours & Trips

Best Time to Travel to the Mediterranean

Thankfully, with the Mediterranean’s location, you can visit the Med any time of the year. If you stick to the coast, you will be met with mild and wet winters and warm summers. Some of the countries that touch the Med do get snow farther inland. 

The high season for all of the Mediterranean are the summer months. This is when the cities, especially in the European countries, will be the busiest with vacationers and cruise ships in port. If you want to avoid the crowds, but still want to go when it’s warm, book your trip during the shoulder seasons. 

Fall and spring are the best times to visit the Mediterranean, in particular, May and September. Both of these months are still warm, but cooler than July and August when you can see temperatures around 98 degrees in Morocco and 90 in Athens. Also, most children are back in school and families aren’t taking vacations during these times, so there will be smaller crowds in the cities and at the top attractions. 

Common Mediterreanean Sea Cruise Routes

One of the best ways to see as many places as possible in the Mediterranean is a via a cruise. Many of the cruises to the Mediterranean cover two, three, or four countries. In the amount of time allotted for cruises, and the distance you have to cover in the Mediterranean, you will be limited to only being able to see a few countries in a certain region of the Med.  

There are a wide variety of cruise routes, but most of them do center around three countries: Greece, Italy, and Spain. All of these countries have major port cities that cruise ships are able to stop at and you are able to get out and explore. Most of these cruises are at least 11 days long, but some are as few as 6, depending on the theme and destinations.

Greece Cruises

Greece is one of the top destinations for cruises in the Mediterranean. Cruises that are only of Greece start in Athens and make their way through the Cyclades Islands that include Mykonos, Ios, and Santorini.

Greece is typically the starting point for cruises of the eastern part of the Mediterranean. These cruises begin in Athens then make their way to the countries in the Balkans with stops in Dubrovnik and the Croatian Islands, Kotor, and Albania. 

Italy Cruises

Mediterranean Sea cruise routes that start in Italy usually follow the coastline of Italy and into the French Riviera. These cruises make stops at the major Italian coastal regions like Naples, Sicily, and Corsica.

Many Mediterranean Sea voyages combine France and Italy into the same cruise. With the beautiful French Riviera being so close to Italy, it’s often times included at the end of these cruises after you visit the Italian Riviera. 

Spain Cruises

Mediterranean Sea cruises of the western part of the sea typically begin in Spain. Most tours start in Barcelona and make their way down the coast of Spain hitting major Southern Spain cities of Granada and Seville before wrapping around the Strait of Gibraltar and visiting sites in Portugal. These cruises also often include stops in Morocco, Ibiza, and Cardiz as Spain and North Africa were once ruled by the Moorish Empire. 

Packing List for a Mediterranean Cruise

Your packing list for a Mediterranean cruise won’t be as extensive or bulky as a trip to Germany or the U.S. The weather in the European portion of the Med is pretty consistent. In the Asian and African countries on the Med it will be warmer and drier throughout the year. 

During the warmer months, you won’t need to carry any heavy clothes. The Mediterranean gets very warm and you will mostly be wearing dresses, shorts, tank tops, and skirts. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat as the sky in the Med during the summer can be crystal clear and without clouds. 

If you are traveling during the shoulder months, make sure to bring layers. Light jackets and sweaters are ideal as the nights will be cooler than in July and August. Also, bring rain jackets as both of these times of the year you will see rain. If you are on a Mediterranean Sea cruise during the winter, make sure to pack pants. Winter nights can be very cool and you will see more rain during this time. 

There are many religious sites included on cruise itineraries. If you are visiting a church, mosque, or temple you will have to be covered up. Consider packing scarves, long dresses, pants, and light jackets if you know you want to visit a religious site. 

Luxury Mediterrean Tours

The Med can be visited on any type of budget. However, if you are looking for luxury or premium tours of the Mediterranean, there are plenty of tour operators out there. Many of these tours include stays in boutique hotels that are on the coast or in the heart of each of the cities. 

The luxury tours often include personal tours of attractions and private performances or dinners with locals. These tours are typically longer and allow for longer stays in each of the destinations.

Transportation on these tours is also on the premium level. Whether it’s a luxury cruise ship, private bus, or small catamaran, you’ll be treated to the most comfortable rides around. 

Budget Mediterranean Tours

The Mediterranean is a great place to visit on a budget. Many of the tour operators provide tours on a “shoestring” that include taking local transportation like the train and city buses. You’ll also be staying in 2-star hotels, hostels, or shared rooms to save money.

There are even some budget tours where you can sleep on the small boats as you sail through the night to your next destination. 

Since you would be visiting on a budget, these tours are shorter. They are usually only 7 or 8 days long and move quite fast so you can see as much as possible. But if you want to see as much as you can, while keeping to a set budget, looking into budget Mediterranean tours is the way to go.