Some of the most spectacular cities in the world have a waterside setting. Think of Sydney, with its breathtaking harbour; or Paris, with its iconic Seine River; or the Bosphorus in Istanbul; and the list goes on. The best way to really appreciate the beauty of these cities is often from the water. Most of these cities have tourist boats to take visitors on a leisurely cruise, with guides on board to point out the sights. In many of these cities, there’s also a water transport network such as ferries and water taxis, which visitors can also utilise. Here are my favourite city cruises around the world:
Ten city cruises for stunning views
I’ve been on many city cruises and local ferries around the world and quite a few of them were absolutely worthwhile for the stunning views. However, I’ve limited myself to listing ten of my favourite city cruises. If you’re in any of the cities below, get on a boat and enjoy the views!
Cape Town, South Africa
Take the Robben Island ferry from the V&A Waterfront for spectacular views of the Cape Town skyline with its famous Table Mountain backdrop, one of the top things to do in Cape Town.
Book a champagne sunset cruise.
San Francisco, USA
San Francisco is blessed with one of the most magnificent harbours in the world. For some absolutely stunning views of the city skyline and the harbour, hop on a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to Angel Island (a gorgeous state park). An alternative is to hop on a cruise that takes you from Fisherman’s Wharf around Alcatraz island, under the Golden Gate Bridge, to the harbour entrance.
Book a catamaran sunset cruise.
New York, USA
One of the best ways to appreciate the Lower Manhattan skyline as well as Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the impressive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is to hop on the world-famous Staten Island Ferry. The best part is: it’s free!
Book a New York cruise.
Paris, France
I can’t leave Paris out of this list can I? There are numerous river cruises in Paris to choose from for a leisurely ride down the Seine past iconic monuments such as the Notré Dame and Eiffel Tower.
Book a sunset Seine River cruise.
London, England
Another European city cruise that can’t be missed is along the Thames River in London! See the mix of old and new, from the towering Shard to the elegant Tower Bridge and the impressive Houses of Parliament and Big Ben!
Book a London Eye cruise.
Sydney, Australia
The Sydney water transport network is extensive, making it a breeze to use public ferries to enjoy the wonders of Sydney Harbour. From Circular Quay, I can recommend the ferries to Manly (a popular ocean-side town) and Taronga Zoo. Both lines offer truly unforgettable vistas of the harbour and the Sydney skyline.
Book a BBQ lunch cruise.
Hong Kong, China
The ‘Manhattan of Asia’ surely lives up to its name. A great way to view Hong Kong’s stunning skyline is to take a ferry along Victoria Harbour, one of the best things to do in Hong Kong. Of all the ferry services, the Star Ferry is the most famous and plies between various points along the north shore of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. An alternative is to take the ferry to the outlying Lamma or Lantau islands, or further afield, to Macao.
Book a harbour cruise by junk boat.
Istanbul, Turkey
A cruise across the Bosphorus is an absolute must for anyone visiting this amazing city. There are many tourist cruise lines that take visitors past the gorgeous sights such as the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Golden Horn, the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques, and the many splendorous villas and palaces that dot the Bosphorus. A cheap alternative is to take the municipal ferry from Eminonu, a way to experience Istanbul like a local. The ferry route offers unrivalled panoramas of the city skyline and passes various palaces (including the Dolmabahçe) and fortresses, as well as quaint villages and smart neighbourhoods as it zigzags between the European and Asian banks of the Bosphorus.
Book a Bosphorus cruise.
Shanghai, China
Located at the mouth of the Yangtze river, Shanghai certainly has one of the most impressive skylines in the world. A great way to experience the sights and sounds of this magnificent city is the Huangpu River cruise. It takes visitors along the Bund, with its stately colonial buildings, and past the glittering skyscrapers in Pudong such as the Jin Mao Tower and the World Financial Centre. Along the way, the never-ending flow of boats that ply the river will keep you entertained if your neck starts to ache from looking up at some of the tallest buildings in the world.
Book a private tour and evening cruise.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
And of course, my hometown, Amsterdam! A cruise along the Amsterdam canals is definitely a must-do, especially for first-time visitors to Amsterdam. There are many canal cruise companies which offer a variety of cruises, from the standard sightseeing cruise to candlelit dinner cruises. An Amsterdam canal cruise is a fantastic way to see this beautiful city and learn about its history.
Book an Amsterdam canal cruise.
Instead of regular tourist-oriented and more expensive bay cruises, take a boat operated by government run Golden Gate Ferry, a great “on-the-cheap” alternative in San Francisco. These can be used in conjunction with Golden Gate Transit once you are “across the bridge” in Marin County.
The most popular run takes you to Sausalito for fine views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Oakland Bay Bridge, and the skyline of San Francisco.
Golden Gate ferries leave from the Ferry Building at the east end of Market Street, within easy walking distance of most hostels and hotels. Or, you can take the historic “F” streetcar line from anywhere along Market Street or from the Fisherman’s Wharf area to the Ferry Building.
http://www.goldengateferry.org/
http://www.goldengatetransit.org/
travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/california/sausalito/overview.html
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Thank for your informations
Oh I love the view of Rio! What a wild view!! Awesome. One of my best was a ferry between north and south island of New Zealand. It was stunning weather, and the view! All nature green.
Great list!
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
[…] Ten unforgettable city cruises […]
I’ve only tried the Hong Kong and Shanghai one before so far. Look forward to trying the rest in future!
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Thanks for your comment and tip Sophie! The Oslo cruise is indeed beautiful. The Stockholm harbour cruise is another gorgeous trip.
Cheers,
Keith
Since you only have one harbour cruise in Europe, I’ll suggest adding Oslo, taking in moutains, forests, fjords, islands, a medieval castle/fortress and the fabulous new Oslo Opera House, rivalling Sydney’s 🙂
Hop-on hop-off minicruises operate several times daily in Oslo harbour and you can get off/on at City Hall, the Bygdøy Maritime Museums and the Opera House. For more info, see http://www.nileguide.com/destination/oslo/things-to-do/minicruise-on-the-oslo-fjord-hop-on-hop-off/731188
Hehe, I’m saving places like London, Paris & Amsterdam for another post (on river cruises)! 🙂 This post deals specifically with harbour cruises. Watch this space! 🙂
Cheers,
Keith
I’m partial to Paris also. he he. I know, I know, so touristy…but it’s also sooooo romantic!! Hey, why is Amsterdam not on this list? hehehe….
Thanks for your comment Anil. Yup, the ferries are indeed a great way to see Istanbul for a pittance. If I remember correctly, I think the ferry in Istanbul costs 50 euro cents.
Cheers,
Keith
The ferries in Istanbul are a great way to get around or just see the sights at fairly low prices.
Thanks for your comment. That’s a great idea – the sunset cruise in Cape Town.
Hi Nico,
Thanks for the idea. I once walked the length of the Golden Gate to the park on the other side (can’t remember the name), then walked back across the bridge. A bicycle-ferry combination would’ve been a better idea. Haha!
Cheers,
Keith
for cape town, they have a nice catamaran sunset ride starting from 6:30 PM to 8 PM that is worth a try
The San Francisco Bay is pretty gorgeous, you’re right, with some of the world’s most famous landmarks visible from the water.
A fun thing to do is rent a bike and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a little town on the Marin County side of the bridge and take the ferry back to the Ferry Terminal. It’s super popular and it costs $8 for the ferry and about $30 for the bike for the full day.
I also once did a harbor cruise in Hamburg, Germany. Saw the 2nd largest container ship in the world (at the time)! It was pretty thrilling for teenager.
Great list! I’d love to cruise the Bosphorus one day.
Having just returned from there, I’d add a Lake Como cruise to my favourites. The views were stunning!
Nice to see my hometown Sydney featured in your list 🙂