Cruising from Barcelona to Copenhagen

Posted by admin on June 3, 2022 under Travel Tips | Be the First to Comment

For cruise lovers, as I’m, nothing tops a good 10 days cruise from the Mediterranean sea to the Baltic sea, visiting no less than 7 ports along the way: Barcelona, Spain; Cádiz, Spain: Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo Spain; Southampton, UK; Kiel, Germany and last but not least Copenhagen, Denmark.

Barcelona, Spain is a city with a rich history, culture and architecture. It has many points of interest that are popular among tourists, some of the most famous include: La Sagrada Familia: This is an iconic and unfinished basilica designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi, it’s one of the most visited places in the city. Park Guell, a public park designed by Gaudi, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers stunning views over the city and houses some of Gaudi’s most famous works. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, two residential buildings designed by Gaudi, they are considered masterpieces of modernism and are open to the public for tours. Montjuic Castle, a fortress located on a hill overlooking the city, that offers great views and is home to a military museum. The Gothic Quarter, the old town of Barcelona, a maze of narrow streets lined with medieval buildings, it’s a great place to explore the history and culture of the city. La Rambla, the famous avenue that runs through the center of the city, it’s a popular spot for shopping, dining, and people-watching with the non least famous, the La Boqueria Market, known for its delicious Mediterranean cuisine, which features fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables. A must visit for all food lovers.

Departing Barcelona port, we sailed the Mediterranean sea waters, around the cost of the eastern Iberian Peninsula to our next port, Cádiz. The most exiting moment is undoubtedly passing by the Gibraltar cliffs, the most narrow passage between the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean. This is the point where the European and Africa continents almost meet. Cádiz is a coastal city in southern Spain, located in the Andalusia region. It is known for its rich history, beautiful beaches, and lively atmosphere. Some popular points of interest in Cádiz include:
The Cathedral of Cádiz, a beautiful 18th-century cathedral located in the heart of the city and known for its impressive architecture and beautiful views of the surrounding area. The Castle of San Sebastián, a 16th-century castle that offers great views of the city, it is a popular spot for both tourists and locals. The Alcazar of Jerez, a beautiful palace that dates back to the Moorish period, it is now home to a museum that showcases the history and culture of the region.

Next port of call was Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal, known for its historic architecture, picturesque streets, and vibrant culture. Some popular tourist attractions in Lisbon include: Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortified tower located on the banks of the Tagus River, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the city.
Jerónimos Monastery, a 16th-century monastery also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of Manueline architecture. São Jorge Castle, a medieval castle located on a hilltop in the center of the city, it offers great views over Lisbon and is a popular spot for photography. Rossio Square, a historic square located in the heart of the city, it’s a popular spot for people-watching and is surrounded by impressive buildings. Elevador de Santa Justa, the 19th-century elevator that connects the lower parts of the city to the higher ones and offers great views over the city. Bairro Alto, charming neighborhood known for its nightlife, a great place to explore the local culture and try traditional Portuguese food and drinks.

Vigo, our next port, is a coastal city located in the northwest of Spain, known for its rich culture, history, and beautiful surroundings. Some point of interest are Vigo’s old town, a charming area with narrow streets and historic buildings, it’s a great place to explore the local culture and history. The Castle of San Sebastián, a 16th-century castle located on a hill overlooking the city and offers great views. It’s a popular spot for photography and history buffs. The Fish Market: Vigo is known for its seafood and the Fish Market is a great place to sample local dishes and try fresh seafood. The Vigo Bay and the Cies Islands: The city is located on the Vigo bay, which offers great views and is a perfect spot for a walk or a run. We used the free time to take an inland 5 hours bus tour to the area north of the city and enjoyed a beautiful scenery of green hills, blue fjords stretching deep into the land, and the wild Atlantic coastline. The highlight of that tour was a wine tasting in one of the known winery in the area.

The following port of call was way up north, the city of Southampton, a port city located in the south of England, known for its maritime history, vibrant culture, and beautiful surroundings. Some of it’s popular tourist attractions include: The Mayflower Memorial, statue commemorates the departure of the famous ship Mayflower from Southampton in 1620. the SeaCity Museum which tells the story of Southampton’s rich maritime history, including the Titanic and the Mayflower. The Guildhall, a medieval building is a popular spot for photography and offers great views of the city. The Southampton Common, a large park located in the city center and the St. Michael’s Church, a beautiful 12th-century church that is located in the heart of the city, a great place to visit to learn about the history and culture of Southampton.

Departing Southampton the ship headed further north, to the German port city Kiel, known for its maritime history, beautiful beaches and its location on the Baltic Sea. The city has few popular tourist attractions such as the Kiel Canal, a man-made waterway connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, and it’s one of the busiest artificial waterways in the world. The Kieler Förde, a long fjord that runs through the city, the St. Nikolai Church, a beautiful medieval church that is located in the heart of the city, and is a great place to visit to learn about the history and culture of Kiel.

Copenhagen, the cruise last destination port, is the capital and largest city of Denmark, known for its historic architecture, picturesque canals, and vibrant culture. Some of the famous tourist attractions in Copenhagen include: The Little Mermaid, an iconic statue located on the waterfront and is a symbol of the city. The Tivoli Gardens a historic amusement park that features a variety of rides, gardens, and entertainment options. The Rosenborg Castle, a 17th-century castle is home to the crown jewels and is a popular spot for history buffs. The Nyhavn: This is a picturesque canal lined with colorful houses and boats, it’s a popular spot for photography and dining. The Amalienborg Palace, the residence of the Danish royal family and is open to the public for tours. The Round Tower, a 17th-century tower offers great views over th e city and is a popular spot for photography. The Christiania: This is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood that is known for its counterculture and alternative lifestyle. It’s a great place to explore a different side of the city and see street art.

It is very worthy to spend few days in the city itself, strolling the streets and enjoying what it can offer, however don’t miss a day trip to the Neighborhood area, especially visiting few of the several castles located near Copenhagen, that are popular tourist attractions. Some of the most notable include: Frederiksborg Palace, a beautiful Renaissance palace located in Hillerød, about 40km north of Copenhagen. It’s known for its beautiful gardens, art collection and its historical significance as it was the royal residence in the 17th century. Kronborg Castle a 16th-century castle located in Elsinore, about 40km north of Copenhagen. It’s known for being the setting of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Egeskov Castle, a beautiful Renaissance castle located on the island of Funen, about 130km west of Copenhagen. It’s known for its beautiful gardens, art collection, and its history as a family-owned castle. Dragsholm Castle a 13th-century castle located in Odsherred, about 110km west of Copenhagen. It’s known for its beautiful setting, art collection and its history as a prison and noble residence. Ledreborg Palace, an 18th-century palace located in Lejre, about 40km west of Copenhagen. It’s known for its beautiful gardens, art collection, and its history as a noble residence. These are just a few examples of the many castles located near Copenhagen, Denmark. All of them are open to the public for tours and offer a glimpse into the history and culture of the region.