9 Days Istanbul Athens Cruise Vacation

Day 1: Istanbul

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day at leisure.

🏚️ Hotel Option: The Peak or similar.

Day 2: Istanbul – Full Day City Tour

After breakfast full-day visit to Istanbul. We begin our tour from the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul at Agia Sophia. Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD this church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Its massive dome dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses (closed on Mondays).
Next, we visit the Blue Mosque, which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Dating from the 17th century, it is the only imperial Mosque with six minarets. The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100.000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire.
The Grand Bazaar was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4.000 shops are full of treasures – including carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods (Closed on Sundays).
Lunch in a local restaurant and continuation of our tour. Our afternoon will begin at Topkapi Palace which, from the 15th to 19th century, was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans (closed on Tuesdays).
Little Agia Sophia Mosque is known as one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul dating back to the 6th century. It is an early domed-basilica architectural plan of the famous Agia Sophia which was applied here for the first time in history.

🏚️ Hotel Option: The Peak or similar.

Day 3: Istanbul – Half Day Bosphorus Cruise

Half-day cruise through Bosporus, the majestic strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia. From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest, and Rumeli Hisari, a massive fortress built by Mehmet the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy on this tour are the 19th-century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultans’ fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges  Disembarkation at the European part of Turkey and transfer to your hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option: The Peak or similar.

Day 4: Istanbul – Half Day Two Continents

Early departure for the intercontinental bridge of Bosporus, to continue to the Camlica hill at the Asiatic part of Turkey which affords panoramic views of Istanbul, Marmara Sea, Princes’ Islands, and magnificent Istanbul. Then visit the Beylerbeyi Palace on the shore of the Bosphorus,  one of the most elegant of the late Ottoman palaces and boasts six sumptuously furnished reception halls. and a typical fish village along the coast of Bosporus with time at leisure for shopping.

🏚️ Hotel Option: The Peak or similar.

Day 5: Istanbul – Athens

According to the departure flight, we will transfer you to Istanbul airport for the flight to Athens. Arrive in Athens and transfer to your selected hotel. The balance of the day at leisure.

🏚️ Hotel Option: President or Polis Grand or similar.

✈️ Flight ticket from Istanbul to Athens NOT included.

Day 6: Athens – Half Day City Tour

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (shortstop).
Continue and pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, theNational Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts an order in the mind”, the Parthenon.
Tour will end by visiting the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum, “State of the art” in museum construction and very rich in content.
Afternoon free to visit Plaka (The old Athens city) with lots of souvenir shops, restaurants, and taverns.

🏚️ Hotel Option: President or Polis Grand or similar.

Day 7: Athens – Full Day Delphi Tour

Full-day excursion to the Archaeological site of Delphi, once known as the center of Earth. This tour will show you the ruins of ancient Delphi and also a big part of mainland Greece full of green places and beautiful villages. Ancient Greece was full of religious places like Delphi, also connected with athletics and medical services.
Delphi was the center of the Ancient World – the “Omphalos” (Navel of Earth) – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios.
Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, and the Museum containing such masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. You will have your lunch at a local restaurant and will return to Athens in the evening.

🏚️ Hotel Option: President or Polis Grand or similar.

Day 8: Athens

Free day in Athens to stroll around the city and know better the sites and the people. Good opportunity to visit one of the famous museums like the  National Archaeological Museum or the Benaki Museum.
Use the metro not only for your transportation but also to visit the different stations to admire pieces of ancient and modern art. Not to miss the visit to Plaka (The old Athens city) with lots of souvenir shops, restaurants, and taverns.

🏚️ Hotel Option: President or Polis Grand or similar.

Day 9: Athens – Airport

According to your departure flight, you will be transferred to the airport.