Easiest Africa & Middle East cruise ports to explore on your own

Ranked: easiest first

1. Tangier Morocco Easy
   The Medina and Kasbah are about 0.5 km, roughly 5 minutes' walk.
2. Ponta Delgada (Azores) Portugal (Azores) Easy
   The historic centre is a flat 3–10 minute walk.
3. Muscat Oman Easy
   Mutrah Souq and the Corniche are a flat 10–15 minute walk.
4. Tenerife (Santa Cruz) Spain (Canary Islands) Easy
   Plaza de España and the centre are a 5–15 minute flat walk.
5. Funchal (Madeira) Portugal (Madeira) Easy
   Town is a 10–20 minute flat walk along the waterfront.
6. Cape Town South Africa Easy
   The terminal is at the V&A Waterfront; shops, restaurants and the Robben Island ferry are walkable.
7. Doha Qatar Easy
   Mina District's cafés are by the terminal.
8. Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) Spain (Canary Islands) Easy
   Playa de las Canteras is about 20 minutes' walk; old Vegueta is 15–20 minutes by bus or taxi.
9. Durban South Africa Moderate
   The Golden Mile beachfront and uShaka Marine World are about 15 minutes' walk; the city centre needs transport.
10. Casablanca Morocco Moderate
    Hassan II Mosque is 2–2.5 km west (about 10 minutes by petit taxi, 30 on foot).
11. Dubai United Arab Emirates Moderate
    Not walkable: Al Ghubaiba metro is about 3 km from Mina Rashid.
12. Lanzarote (Arrecife) Spain (Canary Islands) Moderate
    From Mármoles (about 3 km) use the shuttle or a taxi.
13. Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Moderate
    The port is not pedestrian-accessible.
14. Aqaba Jordan Book a tour
    Petra is about 125 km (2 hours each way); Wadi Rum about 60 km (1 hour).
15. Walvis Bay Namibia Book a tour
    Town is small.
16. Safaga (for Luxor) Egypt Book a tour
    Luxor is about 220 km west, 3–4 hours each way.

How we rank

Ports are grouped by our rating (Easy, then Moderate, then Book a tour). Within each group, the shortest walk to town or the main sights that our guide states comes first, then the shortest stated distance. The quote under each port comes from its guide; check your pier, because some ports have more than one. How we rate ports.