Day 1-2
You will spend 2 nights in Hotel Grande Bretagne Athens. Here. refined timeless elegance meets modern facilities in this landmark hotel located in Athen’s city centre. Breathtaking views of the magnificent Acropolis set the scene for historical exploration and the hotel’s premier location close to exclusive shopping areas and museums is ideal for discovering the city on foot. Accommodation is classically opulent and the hotel’s dining venues are equally sophisticated, with award-winning cuisine in its rooftop restaurant and a renowned afternoon tea just a few of the options to indulge in.
Day 3
Piraeus is the gateway to the ancient city of Athens, known as the “Cradle of Western Civilization” because of its immense impact on cultural and political achievements throughout the world. Due mainly to tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites in Athens. A historian’s delight, Athens is home to such magnificent wonders as: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the atmospheric winding streets of the Plaka, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum with the world’s finest collection of ancient artifacts.
Day 4
If Santorini and Mykonos are the superstars of the Cyclade Islands, Syros is its bastion of authentic Greek life. Founded during the Greek Revolution in the 1820s, the capital city of Ermoupoli is a dreamscape of pastel-colored neoclassical buildings and grand churches. Savor the ‘Duchess of the Aegean’ with visits to Plateia Miaouli, Ermoupoli’s marble-paved square; St George’s Cathedral atop the medieval hilltop settlement of Ano Syros; and Vaporia, the city’s most picturesque quarter, brimming with architectural splendor, ornate mansions and the church of Saint Nikolas, the patron saint of Ermoupolis.
Day 5
With dramatic views of classic whitewashed houses clinging perilously to the side of the caldera and stunning beaches of white and red sand or black pebbles, it’s no wonder this may be the most photographed scenery in the world. Visit Ancient Akrotiri, the archeological site of a town frozen in time by ash from an eruption 3,600 years ago. Also worth a day trip is the Volcano of Santorini Palea (old) Kameni and Nea (new) Kameni , two small islands of black lava positioned in the centre of the basin of Santorini.
Day 6
Discover the small, yet significant town of Patmos with its walled monastery and precariously perched whitewashed houses. Explore the tiny winding alleyways leading up to the imposing Monastery of St. John the Divine. Enter through the cave where he had his revelation in 95 AD. Have a look around the convent next door. Enjoy spectacular vistas of the pristine Aegean sparkling as far as the eye can see. Cool off at one of the many public beaches or discover your own private cove. Shop for sacred icons, exquisite jewelry, high quality leather goods, fine ceramics and original artwork. Enjoy a glass of local wine or tour a local olive grove.
Day 7
You won’t find bare, rugged hills on this most popular of the Sporades Islands. Be prepared instead for pine-forested mountains sloping down to some of the most dazzling, white-sand beaches in the Aegean. Skiathos Town is the heart of the island, a cosmopolitan capital of narrow whitewashed alleys, restaurants and quaint tavernas. North of the town on a rocky headland stands the remains of the island’s medieval capital of Kastro, abandoned since 1830 but once a pirate-proof village. Visit the 18th-century Monastery of Panagia Evangelistria for a glimpse of Greek revolutionary history – it was here in 1807 that several heroes of the War of Independence took the Oath of Freedom.
Day 8
The tiny island of Bozcaada floats peacefully off the western coast of Turkey in the Dardanelles Strait that connects the Marmara to the Aegean. This charming port boasts untouched bays with a rich marine life, delightful local culture, significant historical heritage, and world-class wine.
Day 8-10
Once serving as the capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, Istanbul today offers impressive architecture, historic sites, dining, shopping, nightlife and exotic atmosphere. Spend time in the Old City to explore renowned places, like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.
Day 11-12
You will finish your journey by spending 2 nights in Shangri-La Bosphorous, Istanbul, Anchored on the European shores of the Bosphorus strait in a historical building from the 1930’s, the hotel sits in the Beşiktaş district and is only a 15 minute walk from the iconic Dolmabahçe Palace.