Greece Tour by Bus 4 Nights 6 Days
Day 1 | Istanbul – Thessaloniki
We set off at 22:00 in the evening from Kadıköy marriage office, at 22:30 in front of Mecidiyeköy Square/Bambi Cafe, at 23:00 in front of İncirli Ömür Plaza, at 23:30 in front of Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Shopping Mall, and at 23:59 in front of Silivri Vega Shopping Mall. (You are required to be at the specified locations at least 15 minutes before the departure times.) After approximately 3 hours of travel, upon arriving at the İpsala border gate, we complete customs and passport procedures and then cross into Greece, heading to Thessaloniki via Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç), Komotini (Gümülcine), Xanthi (İskeçe), and Kavala.
Day 2 | Thessaloniki
Following our arrival in Thessaloniki in the morning, on our panoramic Thessaloniki city tour we visit the Church of St. Demetrios, the largest church in Greece, and the house where the great leader Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, was born and lived. We see the Church of Hagia Sophia, the Ottoman Bath, the Ottoman Mosque, the Bedesten, the White Tower, the Round Tower, and the International Fair grounds. We walk along the waterfront promenade, famous for its cafes and shops, and give free time until 14:30. After checking into our hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join the evening live music, entertaining Tavern & Sirtaki program. (70.-€ / Fixed Menu – Limited Drinks) Overnight at our hotel in Thessaloniki.
Day 3 | Thessaloniki – Athens (Meteora)
After breakfast we depart for Athens. En route, if more than half of the tour participants request it, we visit Kalambaka – Meteora as an extra. (65.€) Meteora means “suspended in the air.” You will not believe your eyes when you see these incredibly tall and steep rocks. It not only has a magnificent geology, but also expands your imagination. These mind-blowing rocks in Central Greece rise steeply from the plain north of Kalambaka and south of the Pindus Mountains. Monastic life began in the 11th century with the first monks arriving at these heavenly-looking pillars in order to retreat to a suitable place. Here we see the monasteries built on the steep rocks and visit the Vlaram Monastery together, learning about the formation of the monasteries and monastic life. (Monastery entrance fee is included in the extra tour price!) (Guests not included in the extra tour are required to wait approximately 1.5 hours at the rest facility below!) After a short lunch break, we depart for Athens. Upon our arrival in Athens, on our panoramic city tour; Piraeus Port, the Acropolis, the Agora, the Temple of Zeus, the Parliament Building, Syntagma and Omonia Squares, the Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister’s Residence, the Historic Olympic Stadium, Panepistimiou Boulevards, the National Library, and the Academy University are among the places seen panoramically from the bus. After our panoramic tour, we check in to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel in Athens.
Day 4 | Athens (to Acropolis & Monastraki Square Tour) / (Corinth Canal & Naphlion)
After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the extra Athens Acropolis & Monastraki Square Tour. (75.-€ / Entrance Tickets Included!) This tour starts with departure from the hotel at 08:00 in the morning. Athens = Acropolis, the Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky hill overlooking Athens and containing the remains of many ancient structures of great architectural and historical importance. Since the Acropolis of Athens is the most well-known of all Acropolises, when Acropolis is mentioned it is usually the first place that comes to mind worldwide. Accompanied by our local guide, after visiting the Acropolis and the Slopes, the Ancient Agora, and Hadrian’s Library, we move on to Monastraki Square, the liveliest area of Athens. In the free time we will have here, we have the opportunity for lunch and shopping in this area full of beautiful fish restaurants, taverns, kebab shops, pastry shops, cafes, and stores. At 13:00 we return to our hotel and conclude our tour. Afterwards, guests who wish may join Corinth Canal & Naphlion. (75.€) This tour starts at 13:30 with departure from the hotel. Moving along the Saronic Gulf, we arrive at the Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian and Aegean seas and whose construction began in 1887 and was opened to maritime traffic in 1893. Here we will see the bridges over the Corinth Canal and take a photo break to watch the ships passing from the bridge. Afterwards, upon arrival in Nafplio, the first capital of Greece founded in 1829 and the most beautiful and elegant city of the Peloponnese Peninsula, which also hosted Spartans, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans, we begin our panoramic tour from the vehicle by seeing Palamidi Castle, built by the Venetians in 1714 on the hill overlooking the city. Then we see Bourtzi Castle, which was built by the Venetians in 1471 for defensive purposes and is located just off the coast of the city. During the walking tour we will do next, the city’s old mosque built in 1730 and also known as the New Mosque, Vouleftiko Mosque, which became the first parliament building of the Greek state, Ağapaşa Mosque (Trianon), built at the end of the 1500s in the city’s most important square and now housing the local theater, the cathedral, and the Venetian Palace are among the places seen panoramically. We give free time for dinner and to enjoy the narrow streets of old and elegant Naphlion, one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, its well-kept colorful buildings, taverns and cafes lined up one after another, and boutique and jewelry-design shops of all sizes tucked in between. At 19:00 we leave Naphlion and return to our hotel. Our tour ends at 21:30. Overnight at our hotel in Athens.
Day 5 | Athens – Kavala – Alexandroupolis
After breakfast we depart for Kavala. Arrival in Kavala. On the Kavala panoramic city tour; the Imaret, Aqueducts, Kavala Castle, City Hall, Kavala bazaar, and the waterfront promenade are among the places seen panoramically from the bus. After free time we will give for dinner and to get to know the city more closely, we go to Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç) and check into our hotel. Overnight at our hotel in Alexandroupolis.
Day 6 | Alexandroupolis – Istanbul (Porto Lagos – Xanthi – Komotini)
We start the day with a pleasant breakfast that continues until 10:30. Guests who wish may join the WESTERN THRACE tour to be organized as an extra. (35.-€) With the guests joining the tour, after breakfast we vacate our rooms at 08:00 and, with approximately a 1-hour drive, we start the tour with the enchanting Porto Lagos, which consists of sea on one side and a lake and forest on the other. Here, after seeing the Agios Nikolas church and our photo break, we head to Xanthi (İskeçe). In İskeçe, an important settlement where Western Thrace Turks live, after a short panoramic walking tour in the old bazaar consisting of traditional old Turkish houses reminiscent of Safranbolu, we give one hour of free time to enjoy the beautiful cafes. Afterwards, we walk in the old bazaar of Komotini (Gümülcine), another city where Turks live densely. After tasting the famous Gümülcine coffees, we also move to Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç) center for our guests staying at the hotel. We give free time in the center until 17:00 to enjoy Dedeağaç. During this free time, guests who wish may join the Lidl Market & Jumbo Store Shopping tour organized as an extra. (20.-€) and then we set off towards the İpsala border gate. Shopping opportunity at the Greek freeshop during customs and passport procedures. Arrival in Istanbul via İpsala, Keşan, Tekirdağ and the end of our tour. We hope to see you on our next tour…