Step by Step Grand European Tour by Bus 24 Cities 15 Days YT001

DAY 1: ISTANBUL TO SOFIA DEPARTURE (540 km) We begin our journey by meeting at 20:00 in front of Kadıköy Evlendirme Dairesi, at 20:30 in front of Mecidiyeköy Trump Tower, at 21:00 in front of İncirli Ömür Plaza, and at 21:30 in front of Beylikdüzü Marmara Park Havaist Stop. We depart for our tour. We travel via Edirne to the Kapıkule border gate. After customs and passport procedures, we continue along the Haskovo route. DAY 2: SOFIA - BELGRADE (390 km) Upon arrival in Sofia, we begin a panoramic city tour. During our visit, we will see St. Nedelya Church, Russian Church, Rotunda Church, Holy Sofia Church, Parliament, Sofia University, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Prime Ministry, and the NDK National Palace of Culture. We will also have the opportunity to see the officers’ club where the Great Leader Atatürk attended a ball wearing a janissary uniform. After the tour, we depart for Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and an important city of the former Yugoslavia, known for its significant Ottoman monuments. Upon arrival, during our panoramic city tour, we will see Kale Meydan, the Military Museum, Istanbul Gate, Clock Tower, Damat Ali Pasha Tomb, Zindan Gate, Leopold Gate, Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Fountain, Stefan Lazarevic Monument, Nebojsa Tower, Saborna Church, Republic Square, Terazije Square, and Tašmajdan. After the city tour, transfer to our hotel, room assignments, check-in, and overnight stay. DAY 3: BELGRADE – BUDAPEST (380 km) After an early breakfast, we depart for Budapest and arrive there. A panoramic city tour awaits us. Heroes’ Square, Opera House, Parliament Building, Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Gül Baba Tomb, and Gellért Hill, which offers Budapest’s most beautiful view, are among the places we will see. We then go to our hotel in Budapest and settle in. After resting, those who wish may join the Danube River boat tour (extra 30 €). Budapest is described as the pearl of Europe; one of the must-do experiences to truly believe this is taking a boat tour. With commentary heard through headsets on board, you will also learn about the city’s architecture and history. At night, the illuminated buildings create a magnificent view. While enjoying the drink served to you, you can also savor this romantic scenery. For those who wish, the Gypsy Night Tour is available at an extra cost of 55 €. When it comes to Hungary, one of the first things that comes to mind is gypsies. In this tour, the restaurant we will visit is also a wine cellar, where you can enjoy local wines, food, Hungarian dance, and music. Let us also mention that you may become part of the show. Overnight at our accommodation. DAY 4: VIENNA – PRAGUE (590 km) We start the day early with breakfast and leave the hotel by private buses. We head to Vienna, the capital of Austria. Upon arrival, during our Vienna city tour, we will see the Museum of Art, Opera House, Antique Museums, Hofburg Palace, Parliament Building, City Hall, Burg Theater, University, Votive Church, Ferris Wheel (Prater), Danube banks, and, depending on traffic, Belvedere Palace. After the tour, free time in the city. We then depart for Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, where we will stay overnight. We carry out a panoramic city tour of Prague. During our visit, we will see the Presidential Palace, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, the house of the world-famous writer Kafka, the Old Town Square, and the Astronomical Clock Tower. After free time in the city, we go to our hotel for overnight stay. DAY 5: PRAGUE – (DRESDEN) BERLIN (340 km) After breakfast in the early hours, we depart with our private bus for Germany’s capital, Berlin. If approved by our group, we will carry out the Dresden tour along our route (extra 25 €). In Dresden, the “Florence of the North,” our discovery stops will include Frauenkirche Church, Zwinger Museum, Semper Opera House, the Royal Palace, and the banks of the Elbe River. Then we continue to Berlin and arrive there. After arrival, we carry out a panoramic city tour of Berlin. During the tour, we will see the observation platform at Kollhoff Tower, the architecturally striking Daimler Chrysler and Sony Complex, embassies and ministries, the Parliament building with its glass dome, Alexanderplatz, and Berliner Dom Church, one of the important architectural examples of Protestantism in St. Peter’s. After the tour, free time will be given, and our guests will have the opportunity to explore the city more closely and shop. Transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel. DAY 6: BERLIN - AMSTERDAM (650 km) After breakfast in the early hours, we depart with our private bus for Amsterdam. Upon arrival, we will carry out our panoramic city tour of Amsterdam. During the tour, we will see Dam Square, the windmill, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, the Royal Palace, the Red Light District, and the world-famous diamond factory. After the tour, we will take the extra paid canal boat tour in Amsterdam (25 €). This allows us to get a closer look at the buildings along the canals and the city’s important points. Then, if desired, we set off for the Volendam Village and Marken tour for an extra fee of 25 €. In the former fishing village area, historic houses and the harbor, and during our visit to Marken, a small island, we will see the world-famous cheese factory and have the opportunity to watch cheese-making interactively and purchase the cheeses produced. Transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel. DAY 7: PARIS - (BRUGES – BRUSSELS) (665 km) After breakfast in the early hours, we head for Paris, the romantic capital of France. If approved by our group, we will carry out the Bruges & Brussels tour along our route (extra 55 €). During the tour, with its magnificent architecture preserved unchanged from the Middle Ages to the present day, we will have the opportunity to step back centuries and witness the life of that era. After the tour, we proceed to Brussels, the capital of Europe and Belgium. Upon arrival, we carry out a panoramic city tour of Brussels. During the tour, we will see the Royal Palace, Chinese and Japanese Houses, Grand Place, the Stock Exchange Building, Atomium, and Heysel Stadium. After the tour, we depart for Paris, the dream city of France, and arrive there. We carry out the Paris by Night tour. We will see the Louvre Museum, Concorde Square, the Arc de Triomphe, Opera Square, and Champs-Élysées illuminated by the lights of Paris. Transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight at our hotel. DAY 8: PARIS We start the day early with breakfast, then carry out our panoramic Paris city tour with the private bus waiting for our group. During the tour, we will visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of architecture and the subject of fairy tales, novels, and films, with the world’s largest stained-glass windows. We also see the Opera House with its magnificent architecture along our route. St. Germain, the Louvre Museum, Concorde Square, the Arc de Triomphe, Opera Square, and Champs-Élysées are among the other places we will see. Those who wish may join the Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre (Painters’ Hill) & Seine River tour organized by our guide for an extra 45 €. The tour begins with Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The story of this unusual church, built with money collected by the sex workers who used the area as their meeting place, will surprise you. Afterwards, we visit the beautiful area known as the meeting place of painters who came to Paris from all over the world with the dream of becoming famous. You may shop in various stores and spend time in famous cafes. Our next stop will be a Seine River boat tour, where we cross the river from end to end and, from the river, see the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, the Statue of Liberty, Notre Dame Cathedral, and many other historical structures. After the river tour, we transfer to our hotel in Geneva for overnight stay. DAY 9: GENEVA (ANNECY) (590 km) After breakfast in the early hours, we check out of the rooms and then carry out our Geneva city tour. During the tour, in this impressive city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva between the Alps and Jura Mountains, we will see Lake Geneva, Mont Blanc Bridge, the Great Cathedral, Old Town Square, Bourg-de-Four district, Notre Dame Island, and the Geneva Fountain. If approved by our guests, we will visit Annecy, a historic and tourist city on our route, the pearl of the Alps (extra 25 €). In this peaceful and natural medieval French town, we will have the opportunity to admire medieval buildings, medieval castles, Lake Annecy, and the historic bridges connecting the streets divided by canals. Transfer to our Milan hotel and overnight stay. DAY 10: MILAN (VERONA & GARDA SIRMIONE) (600 km) After breakfast in the early hours, we check out of the rooms. We first arrive at the city center of Milan, the city of industry and fashion. During our Milan city tour, we walk through the city’s stylish 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 masterpieces. We complete our time in Milan with shopping at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the famous Buenos Aires Boulevard. Leaving Milan, we head to the Veneto region where we will stay overnight. If approved by our guests, we can carry out the Verona & Garda Sirmione tour along our route for an extra 35 €. We arrive in Verona, famous for its marble and for being the setting of the world’s most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet, and where Juliet’s house is also located. During the tour, we will have the opportunity to see the old town, the historic arena where concerts are still held today, the Signoria Palace, and the Dante and Erbe squares. Leaving Verona, we visit Sirmione on Lake Garda, famous for its natural beauty and a destination tourists from many countries never miss. We admire the old town and the castle. Transfer to our hotel, room distribution, and overnight stay. DAY 11: VENICE After breakfast in the early hours, we check out of the rooms. We travel to Venice, the romantic city of Italy. Upon arrival, we reach the historic St. Mark’s Square by private vaporetto. The square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Rialto Bridge will be seen with our guide. By joining the gondola tour (extra 25 €), we have the chance to explore the romantic and historic canals in greater detail from the water. If there are enough participants, a Murano & Burano tour will be organized by private vaporetto (extra 30 €). Burano Island, where the world-famous lace handicrafts are produced and where you can see the workshops and shop, and Murano Islands, where world-famous glassware and crystal items are produced, are the places we will enjoy visiting. Afterwards, we head to the Florence region for overnight accommodation. DAY 12: FLORENCE (PISA & SIENA) (270 km) After breakfast, we carry out our Florence city tour with the private bus waiting for our group. 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 the Palazzo della Signoria. Free time in the city; those who wish may join the Siena & Pisa tour for an extra 55 €. First, we visit Siena. During the tour, as we walk through the historic medieval streets dating back to the Etruscans in the Tuscany region, we will experience a journey from the present into the past. We will see Siena Square and examples of Gothic Romanesque architecture. Then, in Pisa, we will see the Campo dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), one of Italy’s iconic symbols, and the cylindrical Baptistery, along with the leaning bell tower that the Etruscans left in our memories. After the tour, we head to the Rome region for overnight stay. Transfer to our hotel, room distribution, and overnight stay. DAY 13: ROME (90 km) After breakfast, we carry out our Rome city introduction tour with the private bus waiting for our group. Among the places we will see are the Vatican and St. Peter’s Cathedral, considered the center of Christianity. In this church, whose highest dome reaches 136 meters and which is an architectural marvel, we see Michelangelo’s famous sculpture depicting the moment after Jesus was crucified, when he gave his last breath in the arms of the Virgin Mary. We also see Pietà, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trajan Forum, Circus Maximus race track, Venice Square where Mussolini addressed the public, Vittoriano Monument, the Fountain of Love (Fontana di Trevi), and the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna), Via del Corso, and Piazza del Popolo. Transfer to our Naples hotel for overnight stay. DAY 14: NAPLES – BARI (POMPEII & OUTLET) (460 km) After breakfast, we carry out our Naples city tour with the private bus waiting for our group. In this city famous for the warm and friendly people of southern Italy, we will see Castel Nuovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, and Teatro di San Carlo. Then we head to Bari, a port city in Italy. If our guests accept, we will have the opportunity to carry out the ancient city of Pompeii tour (40 €) or the outlet shopping tour (25 €) along our route. In this tour, in Pompeii, the ancient city built at the foot of Mount Vesuvius and preserved in the best way among the few ancient cities that reflect their original state to the present day, we will see the ruins of shops and houses where the locals lived, the amphitheater, and the city square after the volcanic eruption. Afterwards, at Italy’s largest and most preferred outlet designer center, you will have the chance to buy world-famous brands at discounted prices. We proceed to Bari port and, after customs procedures, board the ferries reserved for our group and depart for Igoumenitsa, Greece. We spend the night on the ferry. DAY 15: IGOUMENITSA - THESSALONIKI - ISTANBUL (890 km) In the morning, we arrive at Igoumenitsa Port at 06:00 and begin our journey back to Istanbul by bus. In the afternoon, we stop briefly in Thessaloniki, one of Greece’s beautiful cities. During our city tour, we will see the waterfront promenade, White Tower, Leaning Tower, Exhibition Square, Ottoman and Byzantine works, Aya Dimitros Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Greece, and the statue of Alexander the Great, all panoramically. At the end of the tour, we will have the opportunity to see the house where the Great Leader Atatürk was born and raised. We depart for the İpsala border gate, complete customs procedures, and continue to Istanbul.