Great Italy & Greece & Balkans Tour by Bus 8 Days
1. DAY: DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL TO THESSALONIKI
We begin our tour at 20:00 from Kadıköy Evlendirme Dairesi, at 20:30 in front of Mecediyeköy Trump Tower, at 21:00 in front of İncirli Ömür Plaza, and at 21:30 in front of Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Havaist Stop. Departure via Tekirdağ to İpsala. After customs and passport procedures, we enter Greece. We continue our journey through Dedeağaç, Komotini, and Xanthi.
Route: İpsala – Kipi – Kavala – Thessaloniki
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 570 km
2. DAY: THESSALONIKI – IGOUMENITSA
Then we take a city tour of Thessaloniki. During our tour, we will see the Promenade, White Tower, Rotunda, Fair Square, Ottoman and Byzantine monuments, St. Demetrios Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Greece, and the Statue of Alexander the Great. At the end of our tour, we visit the house of the Great Leader Atatürk. After a short break, we take a walk along the Promenade, famous for its cafés, and taste Greece’s famous coffee, frappé. After the city tour, free time. At the time announced by our guide, we gather and head to Igoumenitsa Port. After the customs procedures, we board our reserved seats for the group and depart. Our night will be spent on the ferry.
Breakfast: Free in Thessaloniki (Not included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Thessaloniki (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free on the route (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Thessaloniki – Igoumenitsa
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 320 km
Boarding Time: Approximately 21:00, depending on arrival at the port
3. DAY: BARI – NAPLES – ROME (POMPEII)
In the morning, upon arrival at the port city of Bari/Brindisi in Italy, we depart for Rome, where we will stay overnight. Our first stop is Naples. In this warm and friendly city of Southern Italy, we will see Castel Nuovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, and Teatro di San Carlo. If our passengers agree, we have the opportunity to join the optional paid (€39) Ancient City of Pompeii tour. In this tour, we will see the remains of shops, villagers’ houses, an amphitheater, and the city square in Pompeii, one of the few ancient cities preserved in a way that best reflects its original state, located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, after the volcanic eruption turned it into ruins. Then we continue to Rome, the capital of Italy. If time permits, we take a Rome tour under the lights. In our tour, we will see the iconic symbol of Rome, the Colosseum, Navona Square, the Pantheon, and Via del Corso. Transfer to our hotel, room allocation, and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Free in Bari (Not included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Pompeii (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free in Rome (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Bari – Naples – Pompeii – Rome
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 370 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 21:30
4. DAY: VATICAN – ROME – SIENA
After breakfast, we take the Rome City Introduction Tour. Places to be seen include the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, regarded as the center of Christianity, and in this church, whose highest dome reaches 136 meters and is an architectural marvel, we see the world-famous sculpture by Michelangelo depicting the moment when Jesus, after being crucified, died in the lap of the Virgin Mary. Also included are Pieta, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trajan’s Forum, Circus Maximus race track, Venice Square where Mussolini addressed the public, Vittoriano Monument, Fountain of Love (Fontana di Trevi), and the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna). Then we head to the medieval city of Siena and arrive there. As we walk through the historical medieval streets dating back to the Etruscans, we will travel back in time. We will see Piazza del Campo, where the Palio races take place, Palazzo Pubblico, Mangia Tower, Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral (Duomo), and examples of Gothic Romanesque architecture. Then we head to the hotel where we will stay overnight, room allocation, and accommodation at our hotel.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel (Included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Rome (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free in Siena (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Rome – Siena – Hotel
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 360 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 21:30
5. DAY: FLORENCE & PISA & MILAN (OUTLET SHOPPING)
After breakfast, check-out from the rooms and departure with our private bus waiting for our group to Florence, the capital of the Renaissance, where we arrive. Upon arrival, we take the Florence City Tour. During this tour, we will see the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Uffizi Art Gallery, San Giovanni Battista Baptistery, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, and Palazzo della Signoria. After the tour, free time in the city center. Then we will visit Pisa, one of the icons of the Tuscany region and Italy. Pisa, remembered for its leaning bell tower, offers the Campo dei Miracoli (Duomo, Square of Miracles) and the cylindrical Baptistery for taking interesting photos. After visiting Pisa, if our passengers agree, an optional paid (€25) Outlet Shopping visit can be arranged. During the outlet shopping visit, you will have the chance to buy world-famous brands at very affordable prices. Then we head to Milan, where we will stay overnight, room allocation, and accommodation.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel (Included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Florence (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free in Verona (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Pisa – Florence – Milan
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 465 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 22:30
6. DAY: MILAN – VERONA – VENICE
After breakfast, we depart with our private bus for Milan, Italy’s industrial and fashion city. We head to Milan city center. On our Milan city tour, we walk through the elegant streets and arrive at the famous Duomo Square. In the square, we see the Duomo Cathedral, one of Italy’s most important and architecturally magnificent works. We complete our city tour by shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the famous Buenos Aires Boulevard. In the late afternoon, we head to Verona and begin our sightseeing tour. We arrive in Verona, the marble city of Italy and the setting of the world’s most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet, where Juliet’s house is located. We will have the opportunity to see the old city, the historic Arena where concerts are still held today, the Lord’s Palace, the Brave-Dante and Erbe Squares. We then head to Venice, Italy’s romantic city. Upon arrival in Venice, we reach the historic St. Mark’s Square by private vaporettos. The square and St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and Rialto Bridge are among the places to be seen with our guide. If you wish, you can join the optional paid gondola tour and experience the romantic and historical canals from the water. At the end of our city tour, free time. Transfer to our hotel, room allocation, and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel (Included in the price)
Lunch: Free on the route (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free in Venice (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Milan – Verona – Venice
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 265 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 21:00
7. DAY: VENICE – LJUBLJANA – BELGRADE
After breakfast, check-out from the rooms and departure toward Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. First, we make a stop in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Upon arrival, we begin our walking tour in this small but one of Europe’s most romantic cities. Some of the places we will see during our tour include Prešeren Square, Triple Bridge, Dragon Bridge, and the castle. Then, passing through Croatia, we arrive in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Upon arrival in Belgrade, during our walking tour, we will see Knez Mihailova Street, Kalemegdan Fortress, the Monument of Gratitude to France, Istanbul Gate, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, the panorama point, the Victor statue, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, the clock tower, and the walls, among others. After the walking tour, you may stroll through Belgrade’s lively streets, taste different ice cream flavors at the ice cream shop recommended by your guide, or enjoy a coffee while admiring the surroundings and the city.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel (Included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Ljubljana (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free in Belgrade (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Venice – Ljubljana – Belgrade
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 725 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 22:00
8. DAY: BELGRADE – SOFIA – ISTANBUL
After breakfast, check-out from the rooms and departure. Arrival in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, around midday. Upon arrival, a panoramic Sofia city tour will be held. During our tour, we will see St. Nedelya Church, the Rotunda Church, the Russian Church, St. Sophia Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Prime Ministry, Parliament, Sofia University, Banya Bashi Mosque, and the National Palace of Culture (NDK). After the bus journey, departure to Istanbul and arrival. End of our tour and services.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel (Included in the price)
Lunch: Free in Sofia (Not included in the price)
Dinner: Free on the route (Not included in the price)
Currency: Euro
Route: Belgrade – Sofia – Istanbul
Approximate Distance to be Covered: 890 km
Hotel Check-in Time: Estimated 00:30
What's Included
• Comfortable transportation service between Istanbul–Thessaloniki-Igoumenitsa-Bari-Naples-Rome-Siena-Pisa-Florence-Verona-Milan-Venice-Ljubljana-Belgrade-Sofia-Istanbul with luxury buses.
• City tours will be conducted in Rome-Naples-Florence-Siena-Pisa-Milan-Verona-Venice-Ljubljana-Thessaloniki-Belgrade-Sofia.
• Accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfast included in the specified cities.
• Ferry journey between Igoumenitsa and Bari/Brindisi.
• Professional Turkish guiding services.
Not Included
• Visa fee and service charge (Multiple Entry Schengen Visa)
• International exit tax
• Travel Health Insurance
• Lunch and Dinner
• Vaporetto fee (round trip 29 Euro and 9 Euro Venice city entry tax)
• Optional tours organized by the guide
• Entrance fees for museums, archaeological sites, etc.
• Total hotel city taxes 69€ (City tax collected per person as accommodation taxes, city entry fees, is collected by the guide at the beginning of the tour and paid to the requesting authorities)
• All personal expenses
• Optional driver tips
