Agadir
Long beach, rebuilt kasbah, working souk
Ships berth in the commercial harbour at the north end of the bay under the Oufella headland. Beach, marina and Souk El Had sit a short taxi or shuttle inland — the port itself is industrial and not a walking call. Come for sand, the rebuilt kasbah viewpoint and the working souk, not for a surviving historic medina.
Arrecife
Timanfaya is the island day — Charco is the spare hour
Cruise ships for Lanzarote dock at Arrecife. The island’s story is lava fields, Timanfaya and César Manrique’s public spaces — not a long capital stroll alone. A day call is one major inland landscape plus a short town pause if time remains. Trying to see Timanfaya, every Manrique site and a wine tour before all-aboard usually means a rushed coach day.
Funchal
Old town and market, then Monte or not
Funchal is the capital of Madeira — a linear Atlantic harbour city under steep green slopes. Cruise ships use the quay on the doorstep of the old town and market. Walk the zona velha first. The cable car to Monte is the altitude either/or. Leave western pools and whole-island loops for a longer stay.
Las Palmas
Vegueta stone, Triana lanes, then Canteras
Ships berth in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s large harbour. Vegueta old town, Triana streets and Las Canteras beach sit on a workable city circuit. A day call is old town and beach — not a full island tour of dunes and volcanoes. Maspalomas needs a committed transfer on a long call only.
Mindelo
Porto Grande bay, morna streets, one island ridge
Ships berth in Mindelo’s deep Porto Grande on São Vicente. The waterfront, municipal market and colonial squares sit a short walk from the cruise quays — this is Cape Verde’s cultural capital, not a beach-only stop. Monte Verde viewpoints and Laginha beach fill a half-day. Santo Antão ferry hops need a longer window than most calls allow.
Ponta Delgada
Black basalt streets, then one crater only
Ships berth at Ponta Delgada on São Miguel in the Azores. The black basalt centre is walkable from the pier. Sete Cidades or Furnas are the classic island outings — choose one crater circuit, not both, and protect the return on winding roads. Cloud on the peaks is a common reason to stay harbour-side.
Praia
Plateau capital — market, Sucupira, or Cidade Velha
Praia is Cape Verde’s capital on Santiago: the Plateau administrative grid sits above the harbour, with Sucupira market noise below and dry volcanic hills beyond. Ships use the port area; the day is Plateau-and-market walking, or a coastal run to Cidade Velha — not a full Santiago mountain circuit.
Praia da Vitoria
Sandy bay walk — or one volcanic inland hop
Ships berth on Terceira’s east-coast breakwater at Praia da Vitória. The town beach and promenade sit a flat walk from the pier; Angra do Heroísmo, Algar do Carvão and Serra do Cume need a taxi or hire. Pick the bay-and-town plan or one inland stop — not a full-island wine-and-volcano stack.
Puerto del Rosario
Corralejo dunes or one beach — not a full island loop
This reading starts from Puerto del Rosario’s berth but aims at Fuerteventura’s open landscapes: Corralejo’s dune reserve, long windward beaches and volcanic dryness. The capital harbour is only the landing. Pick one landscape for the day. Trying to collect every cove usually fails on road time.
San Sebastián de la Gomera
Island capital — harbour walk or Garajonay climb
San Sebastián de la Gomera is the island capital on the east coast, with a walkable harbour and links to Columbus history. Ships berth near town. Walk the capital harbour and streets first. Save Garajonay’s cloud forest for a clock that still includes the climb and the drive back.
Tenerife
Santa Cruz harbour — plaza, park, Auditorio
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital harbour against the city, not the southern resort strip. Ships berth near the centre. Do the plaza, García Sanabria park and the Auditorio on foot. Teide and the resorts are road trips with their own clocks.