Athens, Istanbul & Cappadocia

12 days

12 DAYS

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Athens, Istanbul & Cappadocia

12 Days / 10 Nights

Delve into a world where ancient legacies meet vibrant cultures on this 12-day journey through the captivating destinations of Athens, Istanbul, and Cappadocia. Begin in Athens, where ancient landmarks like the Acropolis stand proudly over a modern city brimming with vibrant culture. Sail to the scenic islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina, each offering a taste of authentic Greek island life, from charming villages to sun-drenched coastlines. Next, venture to Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents and centuries of history. Explore the grandeur of its iconic mosques, palaces, and bustling bazaars, where the sights, sounds, and aromas of East and West blend seamlessly. Conclude your adventure in the mystical landscape of Cappadocia, where fairy chimneys, ancient cave dwellings, and centuries-old churches create an unforgettable experience.

Athens (4 nights)
Hydra
Paros
Aegina Islands
Athens
Istanbul (2 nights)
Cappadocia (2 nights)
Istanbul (2 nights)

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Itinerary at a glance

DAY 1

USA - Athens, Greece

DAY 2

Arrive in Athens

DAY 3

Athens City Tour

DAY 4

Athens -Hydra - Poros - Aegina Islands - Athens

DAY 5

Athens

DAY 6

Athens - Istanbul

DAY 7

Istanbul Old City

DAY 8

Istanbul – Nevsehir – Cappadocia

DAY 9

Cappadocia

DAY 10

Cappadocia – Nevsehir – Istanbul

DAY 11

Istanbul

DAY 12

Istanbul – USA

Full Itinerary

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DAY
1

USA - Athens, Greece: Fly to Greece

DAY
2

Arrive in Athens: Arrival & Leisure Time

DAY
3

Athens City Tour: Half Day City Tour Including the Acropolis

Enjoy breakfast before a morning sightseeing tour of Athens. Learn about Athens’ long history from your guide as you see the Parliament Building and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square, and tick through highlights including Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium, the stage for the first modern Olympics in 1896. Ascend to the UNESCO-listed Acropolis to admire its glorious temples, including the double gatehouse of the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and spectacular Parthenon. Your tour also includes a visit to the New Acropolis Museum, home to archeological treasures discovered at the Acropolis site. Admire the statues and artifacts as you learn how the Acropolis served as the hub of Greek civilization from the 5th century BC.

Included

Accommodation

Electra Palace Athens or Similar (Standard Twin)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel

DAY
4

Athens -Hydra - Poros - Aegina Islands - Athens: Full Day Saronic Islands Cruise to Hydra, Poros & Aegina

Experience Greek island life on a day cruise from Athens. Sail into the Saronic Gulf, stopping at three of the most picturesque islands within easy reach of the capital. Stroll under the red-tiled roofs of Hydra, do some shopping in Poros, and visit the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina. Enjoy the free time to explore each island and a fresh Greek barbecue lunch on board.

Included

Accommodation

Electra Palace Athens or Similar (Standard Twin)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY
5

Athens: Day at Leisure

DAY
6

Athens - Istanbul: Fly to Turkey

Transfer to the airport to board the short flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Upon arrival, meet your tour representative for a comfortable transfer to your 5-star hotel in the city center. After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax after your journey. You can take advantage of the hotel’s amenities or take a brief stroll around the surrounding area to start getting a feel for the city. Rest up for the sightseeing adventures that await you tomorrow.

Included

Accommodation

Barcelo Istanbul Hotel or similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel

DAY
7

Istanbul Old City: Old City Sightseeing Tour

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide. Begin your exploration of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district with a visit to the Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans, where you can admire its stunning courtyards and treasures. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles, and the Hagia Sophia, a marvel of Byzantine architecture filled with incredible mosaics dating back to the 6th century. Wrap up your day’s tour and transfer back to your hotel for some rest.

Included

Accommodation

Barcelo Istanbul Hotel or similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY
8

Istanbul – Nevsehir – Cappadocia: Flight to Cappadocia + Fairy Chimneys Tour

Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Nevsehir. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and check in at your hotel in Cappadocia. Spend the afternoon discovering Cappadocia’s unique fairy chimneys, impressive rock formations created by volcanic activity and erosion over thousands of years. Learn about the region’s rich Christian history, which dates back to the 1st century AD. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Included

Accommodation

Barcelo Hotel Cappadocia or Similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Dinner at hotel

DAY
9

Cappadocia: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Red Valley & Optional Dervish Show

After breakfast, depart your hotel to visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases ancient churches carved into the rock, adorned with beautiful frescoes. Explore 15 churches, 7 refectories, and various storerooms and living quarters within this incredible cave complex. Continue to Zelve and the Red Valley, known for their distinctive red rock formations, and visit two of the most fascinating churches in the area: The Church of Grapes and The Fish Church. In the afternoon, visit Pasabag (Monk's Valley), where fairy chimneys with multiple caps rise dramatically from the ground. End the day in Avanos, famous for its ancient pottery craftsmanship, and take part in a pottery demonstration, learning about techniques that date back to the Hittites. Return to your hotel for dinner. After dinner for an optional experience, you can attend a Whirling Dervishes performance at a historic 13th-century caravanserai, where the mystical Sufi dance expresses peace and compassion.

Included

Accommodation

Barcelo Hotel Cappadocia or Similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Dinner at hotel

Optional Tours & Extras

Whirling Dervishes Performance

$60 per person

DAY
10

Cappadocia – Nevsehir – Istanbul: Flight to Istanbul + Grand Bazaar Visit

After breakfast, transfer to Nevsehir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, visit the famous Grand Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks and one of the largest covered markets in the world. Explore its maze of shops selling everything from Turkish carpets to jewelry and spices. Enjoy dinner back at your hotel in the Old Town.

Included

Accommodation

Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City or Similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY
11

Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise, Spice Bazaar & Hippodrome

After breakfast, meet your guide for a scenic Bosphorus cruise, where you’ll sail through the strait that separates Europe and Asia. Take in stunning views of Istanbul's skyline, with palaces and mansions lining the shores, as well as key landmarks like the Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli Fortress. After the cruise, explore the lively Old Spice Market, where you can experience the rich colors and fragrances of local spices, herbs, and Turkish delicacies. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your tour with a visit to the Hippodrome, which once hosted chariot races and political events in ancient Byzantium. The day concludes with a visit to the majestic Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya Mosque), a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture with an enormous dome and intricate mosaics, showcasing the city’s diverse history. Return to your hotel for some rest and relaxation.

Included

Accommodation

Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City or Similar (Standard Room)

★ ★ ★ ★

Meals

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY
12

Istanbul – USA: Depart from Istanbul

Inclusions

Tour Guide

English speaking local guide in each city

Air

Turkey domestic flights Istanbul - Nevsehır - Istanbul on economy class

Transfer

Private use vehicle with driver in each city

Tour Inclusions

Sightseeing in each city as per itinerary

Important Notes

Not include:
International air ticket USA-ATHENS-ISTANBUL, ISTANBUL -USA
Entry visa if applicable
Travel insurance
Meals not listed
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Greece hotel city tax Euro 10 per room per night pay to the hotel upon arrival

Meals

Daily breakfast at hotel

3 lunches and 3 dinners at hotel or at local restaurant

Where you could stay

Athens

Electra Palace Athens or Similar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“ELECTRA PALACE HOTEL ATHENS” is located in Plaka, in the heart of the old town of Athens, only a few minutes away from the Acropolis and the Parthenon (the temple dedicated to Athena, patron goddess of Athens), the new Museum of Acropolis, the representative ancient theatre of Dionysus, Herodion Theatre (hosting significant artistic events every summer) and from a number of important sights of the city. The hotel’s location is particularly privileged compared to other hotels in Athens for another reason: As it is located inside the commercial and business district, one can have a walk for shopping, coffee or entertainment, any time of the day.

Istanbul

Barcelo Istanbul Hotel or similar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The completely renovated Barceló Istanbul***** (5-star) Hotel is located in the heart of the city, next to one of the most elegant districts in Istanbul, in the emblematic Taksim Square. Surrounded by a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and businesses, its location allows guests to be absorbed by the vibrant streets found in the country’s historical, cultural, and financial capital.

Cappadocia

Barcelo Hotel Cappadocia or Similar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Barceló Cappadocia 5 star hotel is a unique refuge where history and modernity converge perfectly in one of the most beautiful enclaves in the world: Cappadocia. Its privileged location in the picturesque village of Ortahisar makes this hotel in Turkey an exceptional base from which to get to know the charms of the Turkish region and live all kinds of experiences, from getting to know its impressive valleys, contemplating the capricious and characteristic rock formations that dominate its landscapes, visiting its museums or delighting in the artisan traditions and its gastronomy.

Istanbul

Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City or Similar

★ ★ ★ ★

Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City is a trademark under IHG Group in historical peninsula of Istanbul. Besides the synthesis of historical lines deriving from Ottoman Empire-Seljuk Ages and its modern design. The magnificence of the building is reflected on the interior courts. The structure of the building owns an architectural work of art related to this area which has a historical past of thousands of years and cultural traces. The connection among the buildings is provided by ray of lights, and atriums were built with an existent historical art by utilizing the visual feature of yards. We will be very proud to welcome you at Crowne Plaza Istanbul Old City which targets the highest quality of service with IHG Group.

Why not check out the optional excursions available on your tour and pre-book? Booking them in advance will save you money and hassle. Optional tours must be purchased 7 days prior to departure.

Special exchange rate: When you pre-book optional excursions in US Dollars you enjoy a discounted exchange rate, saving you money. Online prices are in USD for our European tours; on-site prices will be in Euros (EUR) or British Pounds (GBP) in the UK.

Easy budgeting: Pre-booking your excursions makes budgeting for your vacation easy. You’ll find it easier to plan your spending money and you’ll need less cash during your vacation.

Online Purchase Window closes 7 days prior to departure