10 ports where you don't need an excursion

Ship excursions have their place — for far-flung sights, tight connections, or the peace of mind that the ship will wait for you. But at a surprising number of ports, the best thing you can do is walk down the gangway and off into town on your own two feet, saving both money and the coach-park shuffle. These are ten ports where independent beats organised almost every time.

1. Kotor, Montenegro

You dock a two-minute walk from the walls of one of the Adriatic's most perfect old towns. Wander the marble lanes, climb as far up the fortress steps as your knees allow for the fjord view, and you've had a brilliant day without spending a cent on a tour.

2. Dubrovnik, Croatia

The excursions here mostly just drive you to the Old Town — which you can reach on a €2 public bus from the cruise port. Walk the city walls (buy the ticket on the spot), get gloriously lost, and keep your euros for a drink with a view.

3. Valletta, Malta

The ship berths right below the bastions, and a lift whisks you up into the honey-coloured capital. It's a compact, walkable open-air museum — no coach required.

4. Barcelona, Spain

A shuttle drops you at the foot of La Rambla and the whole city opens up on foot and by an easy metro. Gaudí, the Gothic Quarter, the market at La Boqueria — all far better tackled at your own pace than from a bus window.

5. Bergen, Norway

Norway's fjord capital is small and made for walking: the Bryggen wharf, the fish market, and a funicular up the mountain, all within a few minutes of the ship. Fjord boat trips leave from the harbour if you want water time, no full-day tour needed.

6. Nice / Villefranche, France

Tender into Villefranche and hop the scenic local train along the Riviera to Nice or Monaco for a few euros. It's one of the great cheap DIY days in the Mediterranean.

7. Mykonos, Greece

The old town is a short walk or free shuttle from the port, and getting pleasantly lost in its whitewashed maze is the attraction. Buses to the beaches are frequent and cheap.

8. Ketchikan, Alaska

You step off practically into town. Creek Street, the totem poles, and a rainforest trail are all walkable — save the floatplane splurge for somewhere you can't reach on foot.

9. Corfu, Greece

A pleasant walk or quick bus into the Venetian old town, where two fortresses, arcaded streets and a cricket pitch (really) fill a day handsomely without a guide.

10. Katakolon, Greece

The port is a one-street village, but ancient Olympia is a short, well-signed local train or cheap taxi away. Independent travellers routinely do it for a fraction of the excursion price.

A fair word of caution

"You don't need an excursion" isn't the same as "never book one." If a port's highlight is two hours inland, if the connections are unreliable, or if missing the ship would be a disaster, the organised tour buys you a guarantee the ship will wait. Independence is freedom, not recklessness — check each port's guide for how far the sights really are, and how tight the timing gets.