Dive deep into the wonders of the Mediterranean

Arvia’s summer 2023 holidays take you to the heart of the Mediterranean. With eight exciting ports of call in the line-up, get ready for some serious sunshine, a wealth of cultural treasures and days of discovery off the beaten track.

Visit the best of the Mediterranean on Arvia

Arvia is the perfect ship for sun-kissed exploring

For her summer 2023 season, Arvia sets sail for the Mediterranean with holidays that take you to the heart of 11 stellar cities in Spain, France and Italy. With her retractable SkyDome roof, light-filled spaces, swim-up bar and infinity pools, she’s designed for alfresco relaxation between adventures on shore discovering sun-kissed ports of call.

Discover top things to do in the Mediterranean

Each of the ports visited on your holiday has its own personality and charm, with a wealth of activities and attractions for every type of traveller, in port and beyond. Arvia’s itineraries cover: Alicante, Barcelona, La Coruña, Palma de Mallorca, Seville from Cádiz, and Valencia (Spain); Marseille (France) and Florence and Pisa, from La Spezia (Italy).

Discover unique cultural treasures, beautiful cities, postcard-worthy beaches, delicious local treats and more – all the while soaking up the glorious Mediterranean sunshine. People-watch over coffee in a square in Seville; paddle board along Mallorca’s glittering coastline; climb to a hilltop basilica in Marseille before sipping a chilled rosé apéro at a marina-side bar.

Maximise your time on shore

Selected off-peak itineraries include an overnight in Barcelona (where you’ve plenty of time to revisit favourite Gaudí sights or head out of town to experience a winery tour or a hillside monastery before an evening of tapas bar hopping in the Gothic Quarter) and a late call in Cádiz. Off-peak itineraries also call at La Spezia, giving you the option to potter around Pisa or fall madly and deeply for Florence once more. If you travel in peak season, enjoy the delights of Alicante, a beachside city with a colourful food market, a hilltop fortress and bags of old-world charm.

Days of sun-kissed discovery start here

If you think you know the Mediterranean, it’s time to take a closer look. Arvia’s 2023 summer holidays are full of cultural wonders, glittering coastlines and surprising adventures. With eight exciting ports of call in the line-up, get ready to delve a little deeper.

Sparkling La Coruña

On a narrow peninsula in the northwest corner of Spain, La Coruña is a lesser-known gem. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a city surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic, the sea features strongly here, from the world’s oldest working lighthouse to some of the region’s best seafood.

Pretty Palma

As capital cities go Palma de Mallorca may be small, but it’s pretty perfectly formed, offering a taste of Spain’s vibrant history, culture and cuisine in one chic and sunny island destination. Overlooking the Bay of Palma on the southwest of the island, the city is dominated by the sublime La Seu Cathedral, which stretches over almost 7,000 square metres and took more than 500 years to build.

Merveilleux Marseille

Founded by Greek settlers as a port around 600BC, multicultural Marseille has a colourful history, but in recent years it has shaken off its less-than-glamorous reputation to emerge as one of the Med’s must-visits. Its vibrant heart is the Vieux Port, where fishing boats and luxury yachts jostle in the harbour, and bustling bars, restaurants and cafés line the promenades. It’s one of the best spots to watch the sun set, a glass of pastis in hand.

Romantic Florence (from La Spezia)

The Tuscan capital is quite simply enchanting. A Renaissance masterpiece, thanks in large part to the legacy of the powerful Medici family, there is wonderment at every turn. Medici wealth is the source of many of Florence’s most famous sights (and it’s pretty much impossible to visit the city without hearing the name): over the course of 300 years, the dynasty owned, created or ommissioned some of the world’s finest art and architecture.

Enchanting Pisa (from La Spezia)

Pisa is of course known around the world for one thing – but venture beyond the Piazza dei Miracoli and you’ll discover a lively and charming university city. The Square of Miracles is the obvious place to start, though, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a handful of awe-inspiring architectural treasures.

Buzzing Barcelona

Beautiful beaches, amazing architecture and fabulous food: Barcelona has it all. One of the best ways to discover the Catalan capital’s many delights is with a paseo – a leisurely stroll through the city streets. And what better place to start than its historic and cultural heart, the Gothic Quarter. It’s easy to get lost wandering the narrow, winding alleys – and that’s part of its charm – but be sure to find your way to the handsome Barcelona Cathedral, and the bustling Plaça Reial.

Sultry Seville (from Cádiz)

Like much of southern Spain, Seville is shaped by its Islamic and Christian heritage – and the two cultures collide here to spectacular effect. From Moorish palaces to Gothic cathedrals, and steamy flamenco bars to shady landscaped parks, the Andalusian capital is a seductive delight.

Vibrant Valencia

Spain’s third-largest city does so many things beautifully – architecture and beaches, museums and markets, parks and paella – that it’s hard to know where to begin. For starters, though, it boasts 300 days of sunshine a year and a delightful stretch of golden sand in its three connected beaches – Playa de las Arenas, Playa de la Malvarrosa and Playa Patacona – which are spacious, clean and just a few kilometres from the city centre.

Elegant Alicante

It may be on the Costa Blanca, but Alicante is no brash resort: it’s an altogether classier corner, with old world charm and an easygoing outlook. The city is dominated by Monte Benacantil and its hilltop fortress, Castell de Santa Bárbara. Sweeping views over the city, sea and marina are your reward for the hike up the 166m-high hill, or there’s a lift from the Playa del Postiguet.