Greece Tour by Bus 4 Nights 6 Days

Day 1 | Istanbul – Thessaloniki

We depart at 22:00 from the Kadıköy marriage office, at 22:30 from in front of Mecidiyeköy Square/Bambi Cafe, at 23:00 from in front of İncirli Ömür Plaza, at 23:30 from in front of Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Shopping Mall, and at 23:59 from in front of Silivri Vega Shopping Mall. (You are required to be at the specified locations at least 15 minutes before departure time.) After approximately 3 hours of travel, upon arrival at the İpsala border gate, we complete customs and passport procedures and then cross into Greece, traveling to Thessaloniki via Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç), Komotini (Gümülcine), Xanthi (İskeçe), and Kavala.

Day 2 | Thessaloniki

After arriving in Thessaloniki in the morning, we begin our panoramic city tour of Thessaloniki, during which we visit the Church of St. Demetrios, the largest church in Greece, and the house where Atatürk, the founder and great leader of the Republic of Turkey, was born and lived. We also 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 take a walk along the seafront 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, fun 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 is not only an impressive geological formation, but it also expands your imagination. These mind-blowing rocks in Central Greece rise steeply above the plain north of Kalambaka and south of the Pindus Mountains. Monastic life began here in the 11th century with the first monks who came to these heavenly pillars seeking seclusion in the right place. Here we see the monasteries built on the steep rocks and visit the Vlaram Monastery together, receiving information about the formation of the monasteries and monastic life. (Monastery entrance fee is included in the extra tour fee!) (Guests not joining the extra tour are required to wait at the rest area below for approximately 1.5 hours!) After a short lunch break, we depart for Athens. Upon arrival in Athens, on our panoramic city tour we will see, from the bus, places such as 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. After our panoramic tour, we check into our hotel. Overnight at our hotel in Athens.

Day 4 | Athens (Acropolis & Monastraki Square Tour) / (Corinth Canal & Nafplion)

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, containing the remains of many ancient structures of great architectural and historical importance. Since the Acropolis of Athens is the best known of all acropolises, when Acropolis is mentioned, it is generally the first place that comes to mind worldwide. Accompanied by our local guide, after touring the Acropolis and its Slopes, the Ancient Agora, and Hadrian’s Library, we move on to Monastiraki Square, the most lively area of Athens. In the free time we will spend here, we have the opportunity for lunch and shopping in this area full of beautiful fish restaurants, taverns, kebab shops, patisseries, cafes, and stores. At 13:00 we return to our hotel and conclude our tour. Afterwards, guests who wish may join the Corinth Canal & Nafplion tour. (75.€) This tour starts at 13:30 with departure from the hotel. We proceed along the Saronic Gulf and 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 ships passing from the bridge. Afterwards, upon arrival in Nafplion, the first capital of Greece founded in 1829 and the most beautiful and elegant city of the Peloponnese, which also hosted the Spartans, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans, we begin our panoramic bus tour by seeing Palamidi Castle, built by the Venetians in 1714 and perched on the hill behind the city. Then we see Bourtzi Castle, built by the Venetians in 1471 for defensive purposes on the outskirts of the city. During the walking tour that follows, the old mosque of the city built in 1730 and also known as the New Mosque, the Vouleftiko Mosque, which was the first parliament building of the Greek state, the Aga Pasha Mosque (Trianon), built in the late 1500s in the city’s main square and now hosting the local theater, the cathedral, and the Venetian Palace are among the places to be seen panoramically. We give free time for dinner and to enjoy the narrow streets, well-kept colorful buildings, taverns and cafes lined up one after another, and the small and large boutique and jewelry/design shops tucked among them in old and elegant Nafplion, one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. At 19:00 we leave Nafplion 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 our panoramic city tour of Kavala, the Imaret, Aqueducts, Kavala Castle, City Hall, Kavala Bazaar, and the promenade are among the places to be seen panoramically from the bus. After dinner and free time 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 delightful breakfast that continues until 10:30. Guests who wish may join the WESTERN THRACE tour, which will be organized as an extra. (35.-€) After breakfast, guests joining the tour vacate their rooms at 08:00 and, after about a 1-hour drive, we begin the tour with the enchanting Porto Lagos, which consists of the sea on one side and a lake and forest on the other. Here we see the Church of Agios Nikolas and, after 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 made up of traditional old Turkish houses reminiscent of Safranbolu, we give one free hour of free time to enjoy the beautiful cafes. Afterwards, we walk in the old bazaar of Komotini (Gümülcine), another city with a large Turkish population. After tasting the famous Komotini coffees, we also go to the center of Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç) for our guests staying at the hotel. We give free time in the city center until 17:00 to enjoy Dedeağaç. During this free time, guests who wish may join the extra Lidl Market & Jumbo Store Shopping Tour. (20.-€) and then we set off toward the İpsala border gate. Shopping opportunity at the Greek free shop during customs and passport procedures. Arrival in Istanbul via İpsala, Keşan, and Tekirdağ, and the end of our tour. Until we meet again on our next tour…