Athens, Turkish Coast, and Classical Greece 11 days

Upon your arrival in the mythical city of Athens, you will be greeted with a seamless transfer to your hotel in one of our vehicles, where your professional and friendly English-speaking driver will ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the journey.

Later in the afternoon, at an agreed time, our representative will meet you at the hotel to provide all the essential details of your trip. They will also offer a captivating presentation of the city, sharing insights into its everyday way of life. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions and have any doubts dispelled, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout the rest of your trip.

You will have the remainder of the day free to relax and explore Athens at your own pace, taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

In the evening you will join our walking tour, where you will see Athens from a different perspective and have the chance to familiarize yourself with the most charming neighborhoods, such as Anafiotika, Thiseio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Greca Tip: Extend your stay by adding nights during Step 1 of 3 of your reservation!

In the morning, your assistant will escort you, in one of our vehicles, to the port of Lavrion, where you will embark on your cruise ship.

During the cruise, you will enjoy the brilliance of the sun, and the deep blue of the Aegean and take part in the activities and services offered on board. In this package, Greca includes three meals and a package of non-alcoholic drinks during food service hours.  This way you can concentrate on having a great time!

Your cruise ship will first dock at the famous island of Mykonos. Mykonos is the meeting point of the international "jet set" and is famous for its wonderful beaches, boutique shops, and vibrant nightlife.

From 18:00 until 23:00 hours you will have plenty of time to roam the maze-like streets of Mykonos Town, shop in Chora, and stroll along the edge of the Old Port and Little Venice before continuing your voyage around the wonderful Greek islands.

Only a short distance away from Mykonos there is the island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis according to Greek mythology. This small island, inhabited since 3000 BC, was one of the most significant cultural centers of Antiquity.

Finally, you will have the opportunity to pre-book other excursions organized by the cruise company and make the most of your cruise by visiting more fascinating places.

At 7:00 hours, after a peaceful and comfortable night's cruising, you will awaken on the Turkish coast and at the port of Kusadasi. The first stop of your shore excursion will be the ancient city of Ephesus once visited by Saint Paul, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra, among others.  Ephesus was one of the twelve Ionian cities and flourished as an important cultural, religious, and commercial center.

At noon, the cruise will leave port and sail, this time towards the island of Patmos, where Saint John wrote the Apocalypse and where Jesus Christ appeared to him in the Grotto of the Apocalypse or Book of Revelation.

From 16:30 to 21:30 hours, you will have free time to visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, and stroll in the port of this small but so important island.

Tip Greca: You can buy a souvenir from the quaint little shops at the port of Skala and Xerotigana, a deep-fried kind of pastry with abundant use of honey and cinnamon.

After a peaceful night's sailing, you will arrive at the famous island of Rhodes, which was once home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, "the Colossus of Rhodes", a statue of Helios.

From about 7:00 until your departure at 18:00 hours, you will have free time to explore the renowned medieval town of Rhodes, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Acropolis of Lindos or simply lay back and enjoy the natural beauty of the largest island in the Dodecanese island complex.

Greca Tip: You can also visit the Valley of the Butterflies, a habitat of unique value and incomparable beauty with lush vegetation and streams along cleverly laid paths.

On this day, your cruise ship will drop anchor at the largest Greek island: Crete.

After a generous breakfast, you will start your day in Heraklion, the capital of the island and home to King Minos and the ferocious Minotaur. This city was the most significant center of the Minoan civilization, with the oldest palatial complex in Europe, the Palace of Knossos.

You will enjoy free time in the morning. Around noon, you will depart for the amazing and picturesque island of Santorini. As your cruise ship approaches the island, you will be filled with admiration and awe. It is the perfect moment to capture with your camera the beauty of the capital city of Fira and its white houses perched on the cliffside, from across the volcano.

From 16:30 to 21:30 hours, you will have free time to wander through its winding cobbled alleys and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Greca Tip: Anywhere you face the caldera, from the main squares to cafes, bars, restaurants, and streets, the view will not disappoint you!

We will be arriving at the port of Lavrio at around 06:00 AM, and as pointed out by our assistant, one of our vehicles will pick us up at 09:15 AM and transfer us to our hotel in Athens.

After checking in, we will move to the meeting point, where our guide will be waiting for us at 10:00 AM to start the panoramic visit. This visit will completely change our way of seeing the city from the historical, architectural, or artistic points of view, without forgetting about modern Athens.

The tour will start at the indicated place, and we will appreciate the most beautiful neoclassical buildings on Panepistimiou Avenue, among which are the Numismatic Museum, the National Archaeological Building, the Catholic Church of Dionysius the Areopagite, the Ophthalmological Hospital of Athens, the building of the Central Bank of Greece, and course, the three temples for learning: The Academy of Fine Arts of Athens, the University and the National Library, which are known as the architectural "trilogy".

Our tour will continue to Syntagma Square, passing through Voukiristiou Street where the most chic shops in the city are. In Syntagma we will find the headquarters of the Hellenic parliament, and we will have time to contemplate the changing of the guard with its traditional soldiers.

After the changing of the guard, we will enter the National Gardens, an oasis located in the center of the city and created by the order of Queen Amalía in 1839. The gardens host more than 500 different types of plants and trees, a small pond for numerous aquatic birds, a botanical garden, remains of some ancient monuments, and even a small zoo with local fauna.

We will also take a panoramic view of the Kalimarmaro Stadium ("good marble"), which hosted the first edition of the Modern Olympic Games, the only stadium in the world built entirely in white marble!

The Zappeion was the first building constructed for the modern Olympic Games and today, it is used for both official and private ceremonies and meetings.

Approaching the end of our tour, we will pass through the Temple of Olympian Zeus, where the Roman emperor Hadrian had a statue of himself housed next to the 13-meter-high statue of Zeus inlaid with gold and ivory, similar to the one sculpted by Phidias.

We will conclude our walk at the Acropolis Metro Station, next to the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian street, and from here we will marvel at the impressive view of the Acropolis, crowned by the Parthenon, as we dream that we travel back in time to classical Greece.

After the visit, we can choose to continue our cultural sightseeing by visiting the Acropolis and its museum, or continue the adventure on our own losing ourselves through the streets of Plaka, having lunch in one of the many taverns with its exquisite cuisine, or if we wish to buy some typical gifts in the countless shops in the neighborhood.

In the evening, also included, we will enjoy a night walking tour of the most captivating areas of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thissio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Greca Tip: It is suggested to bring a hat, a bottle of water and comfortable shoes.

Today you will head towards the Corinth Canal, where you will stop briefly to marvel at this famous channel that connects the Aegean with the Ionian Sea and take some photos. Corinth Canal is an impressive engineering feat because ships do not have to sail more than 400 kilometers around the Peloponnese peninsula to reach the Ionian Sea any longer.

Past hills and mountains, you will reach Epidaurus, where you will be immersed in the culture of the 4th century BC. Its world-famous Theater is the best-preserved ancient theater in Greece. Its construction was not planned as a separate site but was part of the therapeutic and healing process, achieved through the theatrical performances. 

Known for its acoustics, the theater has a capacity of about 16,000 spectators and is still in use, especially during the summer, when notable performances are staged by native and international artists.

Then, you will briefly stop at the first capital of Greece, Nauplion, and continuing your journey back in time, you will visit the Acropolis of Mycenae, the center of the Mycenaean civilization. 

In the enclosure, you will see its cyclopean walls, the Lions Gate, various tombs of ancient kings, the Palace, the Cistern and its 99 steps underground, the Tomb of Egisto and the tomb of Clytemnestre, while next to the Acropolis you will see the Tomb, attributed to the King Agamemnon.

In the afternoon you will travel through central Peloponnese and arrive in the city of Olympia in the early evening. You will check in at your hotel, have dinner and rest.

Greca Tip: You can pamper yourself with the hotel's amenities or take a stroll in the beautiful surrounding nature.

In the morning you will visit the site of the Olympic stadium, where the first games were held at around 776 BC. The importance of these games was widely accepted, given the extensive participation of the Greek cities, which suspended hostilities throughout the celebrations. The Olympiad was recognized as the only chronological event in Greece, which, represented four years between two consecutive events.

Olympia was also the most important sanctuary of Ancient Greece, a place to worship Zeus, the first among the gods. A gigantic sculpture in gold and ivory was crafted by Phidias and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. After you visit the Museum of Olympia, you will continue your journey to Delphi going across a modern engineering wonder, the suspension bridge of Rio-Antirion.

Upon your arrival at Delphi, you will have dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Greca Tip: In the evening you can go in search of the traditional character of nearby Arachova and enjoy a drink in a stylish café or a local kafeneio (coffee shop).

In the morning and after a solid breakfast you will visit the archaeological site of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the center or navel of the ancient world.  It was here where the renowned Oracle of Delphi, a counselor of kings and pilgrims, was to be found. Make sure you visit the Museum, which houses the "bronze charioteer", a masterpiece of Greek sculpture.

At the end of your Delphi tour, you will leave the slopes of Mount Parnassus and head towards the plains of Thessaly, where the city of Kalambaka is located.               

You will arrive in Kalambaka, have dinner and enjoy a good rest.

Greca Tip: The nearby village of Arachova is ideal for shopping for local products, such as traditional woven carpets, honey, and the local formaela cheese.

Early in the morning, you will visit Meteora, also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1988. In this mysterious landscape, the natural beauty is combined with the compelling presence of the eternal monasteries suspended or "Meteora" on top of the huge rocks. Currently, there are only six in use, five for the male and one for the female monastic community.  

On the way back to Athens, you will briefly stop at Thermopylae, where you can see the statue of the Spartan King Leonidas I, famous for leading the battle against the Persians in 480 BC. You are scheduled to arrive in Athens in the late afternoon. We will drop you off at your hotel, have dinner and rest.

Dress code in the monasteries: Sleeveless shirts and shorts above the knee are not allowed. Garments, such as skirts, shawls, and trousers are available at the entrance of the monasteries for those visitors, who do not have appropriate clothing to cover themselves with.

Greca Tip: Take a stroll in Kalambaka's old town and look for handmade wood-carved objects and religious icons as well as home-made sausages, honey, fruit sweets and jams, and the regional pudding (“spatoula”) or “halva” for a sweet aftertaste.

At the appointed time, a member of our staff will drive you to Athens International Airport, where you will check in your luggage and benefit from any tax returns on your last-minute "tax-free" shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly and after spending some fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you soon to create new and emotional moments that will never leave your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say, "Kalo taksidi!"

Greca Tip: As a going-away gift you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers, and Greek honey or olive oil.