The charm of a European cruise is undeniable, but the limited time in each port can make planning feel intimidating. To help you maximize every minute ashore and choose wisely, I’ve curated a list of the top attractions and essential activities for five incredible cruise ports: Le Havre, Zeebrugge (Bruges), Copenhagen, Warnemünde, and Amsterdam. Get ready to explore the best of each city, without the stress of missing a thing!
Introduction
Even if you have never been on a cruise, you know that the ship stops at each port for (usually) one day, so you must plan what you want to do at each port city so you have enough time to see what you want. This can feel exciting yet overwhelming, especially since you might have never been to the cities/places where the ship is docking, and you will have to learn how to navigate and see attractions. Additionally, you have to keep in mind how much time it takes for you to get back to your ship.
Now, of course, you have the option to book excursions through your cruise line, but in my opinion, I feel like they limit the number of attractions you can see. You might also think that excursions through the cruise line are much more expensive than exploring each city/port of call on your own; I’ve felt this way, too. Whenever I’ve been on a cruise, I explore the places the ship docks on my own more often than on an excursion through the cruise line. After visiting several European cities for the first time, I have learned through experience how to best spend time at these five European cruise ports.
Le Havre, France
When cruise ships dock in northern France, Le Havre is one of the two ports they dock in. Guests usually arrange to visit Paris when docked in northern France, if they wish. However, the downside to this is that Paris is a 2-hour and 30-minute drive (without traffic) from Le Havre and is about a 2-hour and 45 train ride from Le Havre.
Booking an excursion to see Paris through the cruise line is an option that cruise lines offer, but this is often very expensive because they take you on a long drive or train ride to get to and from Paris. For example, when my brother and I went on an excursion through a cruise line to see Berlin, it was a 3-hour train ride from the cruise port and back, and cost over $300 for each of us.
This, with the fact that you are limited in the amount of time you have to explore the city because your excursion group has to get back to the bus or train with enough time to spare to get back to the cruise port, can make your plans to see Paris more stressful than fun. Don’t forget this also applies if you decide to take the train or be driven to Paris on your own and not through the cruise line.
If you do not want to be on a bus or train for almost 6 hours round-trip to visit Paris, I recommend seeing Giverny and/or Rouen instead. These two cities are much closer to Le Havre, both in the Normandy region of France, of which Rouen is the capital. Giverny is a 1-hour and 35-minute drive from Le Havre, and Rouen is a 1-hour drive from Le Havre. There is about an hour’s drive between the two cities. When the last cruise I went on stopped at Le Havre for the day in July 2024, these are the places I went to instead of going to Paris.
In Giverny, a major attraction is seeing French Impressionist artist Claude Monet’s gardens, lily pads, and house. Whether or not you are a fan of Monet, I highly recommend seeing his property because everything was beautiful! I did not go inside his house (the line was at least 45 minutes long), but seeing his gardens and lily pads was amazing.
You can buy tickets to see Monet’s gardens and house online or when you arrive there. If you are going on a cruise that stops in Le Havre in the summer, as I did, and want to visit Monet’s house and gardens, you should get your tickets online or get to the house and gardens early when it opens, so you do not have to wait in a long line. I already had tickets, so I did not have to wait in line. Visit the official website here to learn more about visiting Monet’s home and gardens.
If you are a history lover, seeing Rouen will be a highlight. Rouen is known to be where Saint Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, and in her honor, there is a tall cross placed over where there is archeological evidence of her death. Right next to the cross is the Church of St. Joan of Arc, where you can see beautiful stained glass windows.
Rouen also has several restaurants and is less crowded and “touristy” compared to Paris. There is also the historic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, which started construction in 1030, and an art museum that holds several Monet paintings (some of which are paintings of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen). If you are looking for a nice but quieter place to see France and spend time more like a local, definitely check out Rouen!
Zeebrugge, Belgium
Zeebrugge is a port city in northern Belgium, only a 25-minute drive from Bruges. The good news is that you can easily visit Bruges from Zeebrugge. Going to Brussels is also an option, and it is a 1-hour and 20-minute drive from Zeebrugge. As you know, this will cost you more money because it is farther from the port, whether you go on your own or an excursion through the cruise line. Feel free to visit Brussels if you wish! In Bruges, there is a lot to see and do, from historic architecture to lots of chocolate shops, restaurants, and canal tours.
When you get off of your cruise ship when you dock in Zeebrugge, there will probably be a bus that takes people from the port to Bruges and back for 25€ per person. This is what my family did when we got to Zeebrugge. It was very straightforward getting to and from Bruges, and the driver told us when the last bus takes everyone back to Zeebrugge to get back on the port.
Canal tours in Bruges are not very long, so there is more than enough time for you to take a canal tour and then walk around. The Belfry of Bruges, Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the Market Square are popular attractions to see in Bruges and are worth a visit! If you want to explore Bruges for yourself on your next cruise, go to Viator to schedule a drive from the port to Bruges to make sure you get a spot!
Food Tip: When in Bruges, eat at Manhattn’s Burgers!
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, is a beautiful city, only a 45-minute drive from Sweden. The Copenhagen cruise port is only a 20-minute drive from the city, so you will have plenty of time to explore as much of the city as you like when you are there. It is very easy to navigate their (electric) subway system as well. My attraction/landmark suggestions are: Rosenborg Castle, walking through the Østre Anlæg park, visiting Nyhavn, and a canal tour through the city.
Rosenborg Castle is a beautiful, well-preserved Renaissance castle where several members of the Danish Royal Family lived. Most of the rooms in the castle are almost the same way they were when the castle was built in the 1600s. The Østre Anlæg park features lakes and sculptures where you will see plenty of locals hanging out and relaxing.
Nyhavn is a famous harbor in Copenhagen, which you might already recognize from photos, as it’s one of Copenhagen’s most photographed areas. Here, you will see tons of locals and tourists shopping and eating. The canal tour I went on when in Copenhagen was an hour long, and there were amazing views of the city and landmarks, especially of the Opera House and the Royal Library.
Food Tip: When in Nyhavn, I recommend you try gelato at Elis.
Warnemunde, Germany
Warnemunde is a town on the Baltic Sea in Germany. Feel free to go to the beach after you leave your ship; it is very close to where your ship will be docked. When I was in Warnemunde, there were a bunch of food trucks along the walkway near the beach. If you want to see Berlin, the train or car ride will be long (as I mentioned earlier), but look on Viator or GetYourGuide to find numerous tours that take you from Warnemunde cruise port to Berlin for a lot less than what your cruise line is probably charging.
Conveniently, there is a Warnemunde train station, so you will not have to walk far to get to the station to go to Berlin, whether you are going on your own or through the cruise line. Your cruise might dock at the Rostock cruise port instead of Warnemunde (this originally happened with my cruise). If your cruise docks at the Rostock cruise port instead of Warnemunde, you can easily get to the Rostock train station from the ship to travel to Berlin as well!
Amsterdam, Netherlands
When your cruise ship docks in Amsterdam, it will (likely) dock at Amsterdam Cruise Port, not far from the Amsterdam Centraal train station.
When you get off the ship, you will probably see taxis waiting outside the port offering to drive you into the city. They are quite expensive, so I recommend you take the 15 to 20-minute walk to the city instead. Luckily, Amsterdam has a nice subway system, which is what my family used to get around the city. I highly recommend taking the subway to get to your attractions, unless an attraction is not close to a station (take an Uber instead). The attractions I recommend seeing in Amsterdam include the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, and a canal tour.
I mention all of these attractions in more detail in my 3-day itinerary for visiting Amsterdam. Of course, if you are visiting Amsterdam on a cruise, you can’t see all of these attractions in one day. Therefore, I would recommend either the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum, and going on a canal tour so you can see a lot of the city.
If you are very interested in seeing the Anne Frank House, you have to research when to purchase tickets online so you get them in time before they sell out for the day you will be in Amsterdam. You might have to get up very early, depending on the time zone you live in, to purchase tickets before they sell out (this is what my family had to do to get tickets). Read more about how to ensure you get tickets to the Anne Frank House in my Amsterdam itinerary.
Even though you might decide to do a canal tour if you visit Bruges, I think you’ll also enjoy a canal tour in Amsterdam, seeing how all of the canals run through the city. I remember walking through the city and seeing a canal at every turn!
Conclusions
Planning your time in each cruise port can feel overwhelming, but with these curated lists, you’re ready to explore with confidence. Use this guide to make the most of your time in Le Havre, Zeebrugge, Copenhagen, Warnemünde, and Amsterdam to prepare for an unforgettable European adventure!