7 nights. Turcaí, Greece

Day 1

athens (piraeus), greece

Departure: 23:00

Piraeus is a port city in the Attica region of Greece. It lies within the Athens urban area, about 8 kilometres southwest of the city centre (the municipality of Athens), along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 within its administrative boundaries, making it the fifth-largest municipality in Greece and the second-largest within the wider Athens urban area, after the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four neighbouring suburban municipalities make up the regional unit of Piraeus, sometimes referred to as Greater Piraeus, with a total population of 448,997. This regional unit forms part of the Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating back to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when the area was chosen to become the new port of classical Athens and was developed as a model harbour, concentrating all of Athens’ import and transit trade. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Long Walls were built to fortify both Athens and its port at Piraeus. As a result, Piraeus became the principal harbour of ancient Greece, but it gradually declined after the 3rd century BC, before expanding again in the 19th century, following the declaration of Athens as the capital of Greece. Today, Piraeus is a large, busy city and an integral part of Athens, home to the country’s biggest harbour and displaying all the hallmarks of a major maritime and commercial–industrial centre. The port of Piraeus is the main port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second-largest in the world, handling around 20 million passengers each year. With a throughput of about 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus ranks among the top ten European ports for container traffic and is the leading container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events during both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest universities in Greece and includes the country’s second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department specialising in finance.

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Day 3

istanbul, turkey

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:30

Istanbul owes its historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, drawn by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, rapidly growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status emphasised by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has contributed to a thriving arts and music scene, with a wealth of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

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Day 4

izmir - turkey

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 19:00

Izmir, often called the “Pearl of the Aegean,” is a vibrant coastal city that blends ancient history with a relaxed, modern lifestyle. Stroll along the Kordon, the seafront promenade lined with palm trees, cafés, and bars, where locals gather at sunset to sip tea or rakı while watching ferries glide across the bay. The city center is easy to explore on foot, with lively squares, wide boulevards, and a youthful energy thanks to its large student population. Start your visit in Konak Square, home to the elegant Izmir Clock Tower, the city’s best‑known landmark. From here, dive into Kemeraltı Bazaar, a sprawling maze of narrow streets filled with spice stalls, textile shops, jewelry, and traditional coffee houses. Take time to visit the historic Hisar Mosque nearby and sample local specialties like “boyoz” (a flaky pastry) and “kumru” (a toasted sandwich with cheese and sausage). The blend of Ottoman, Levantine, and modern influences is evident at every corner. Izmir also makes an excellent base for exploring the rich archaeological heritage of the region. The ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best‑preserved classical sites in the Mediterranean, lies about an hour away and is easily reached by bus or organized tour. Closer to town, the Agora of Smyrna offers a glimpse into the city’s Roman past right in the middle of the modern urban landscape. For a change of pace, consider day trips to the charming seaside towns of Çeşme and Alaçatı, known for their beaches, windsurfing, and whitewashed stone houses.

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Day 5

volos, greece

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 18:00

Volos is the 5th biggest city and 3rd largest port in Greece, situated in Thessaly. Its history has left its mark on the entire city in the form of splendid buildings. The present-day city has spread out along the coast, incorporating old resorts, like Agria in the east and Soros in the west. The Achilleio cinema, a place of living culture that has remained open from 1925 to the present day. Volos castle, in the present-day district of Palia, in the west of the city, is also an important tourist attraction in this city.

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Day 6

santorini, greece

Arrival: 10:00 - Departure: 20:00

Formed by the massive volcanic eruption which gave rise to the Atlantis legend, Santorini is the most striking island in the Aegean. The island is actually the outer rim of a sunken volcano, its entire eastern coast is a succession of small towns perched on high hills. Fira is the island’s dramatically situated capital. Perched on the cliffs, overlooking the sea, the town of Fira shares with the Parthenon the fame of the best known images of Greece. The narrow streets are filled with souvenir shops, lovely boutiques and a lot of jewellery shops. It has two beautiful churches, the Greek Orthodox and the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist. It also has a small local museum. Nightlife in Fira is also quite lively with good restaurants and bars, plus a few nightclubs. The city is a spectacle in itself, with a climax at sunset. Another great place to enjoy the sunset is the town of Ia, a small village clinging to the rocky point of land at the northern tip of the island, 300m above the sea. The beaches in Santorini are much different than other beaches in Greece due to their special geographical features. Red and black volcanic pebbles lay the shores of Santorini beaches and steep cliffs provide a picturesque ambience. The most famous of Santorini beaches is the Red beach, while particularly popular are Perissa, Kamari and Perivolos. Santorini is a truly wonderful destination. The siting of some of its major towns along the clifftop rim of the caldera is one of the most spectacularly lovely sights in the world. The buildings seem to defy gravity in the way they cling to the cliffs and are stacked one on top of the other like so many sugar cubes. The sandy, multicoloured beaches are simply the icing on the cake.

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Day 7

nauplion, greece

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 19:00

Nafplio is a small town in the Peloponnese, sometimes also written Nauplio, Nauplia or Nafplia. It has a lovely, romantic town centre with cosy streets, and it’s a great base for touring the Peloponnese. Nafplio was briefly the capital of Greece before the seat of power moved to Athens. It’s an historic city with Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman heritage, and it played an important role in the Greek Revolution. The centre is full of charm, with small neoclassical houses, squares and churches. At first glance Nafplio can look like an Italian town, thanks to its architecture and colourful buildings. What to see: Characteristic buildings, museums, cultural centres and castles. Enjoy the sea: Very close to the town you’ll find a quiet, sandy beach just south of Palamede Castle hill, where locals gather to swim at this Blue Flag, clean beach. Further south, reachable by local bus or car, there’s a series of marvellous beaches that are very popular in summer. Daily cruises in the Argolic Gulf: If you have time, you can take a cruise that lets you enjoy the sea and the coastal sights of the area, usually including a swim stop. Boats for Bourtzi normally depart once a day in summertime from the promenade.

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Day 8

athens (piraeus), greece

Arrival: 05:00

Piraeus is a port city in the Attica region of Greece. It lies within the Athens urban area, about 8 kilometres southwest of the city centre (the municipality of Athens), along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2011 census, Piraeus had a population of 163,688 within its administrative boundaries, making it the fifth-largest municipality in Greece and the second-largest within the wider Athens urban area, after the municipality of Athens. The municipality of Piraeus and four neighbouring suburban municipalities make up the regional unit of Piraeus, sometimes referred to as Greater Piraeus, with a total population of 448,997. This regional unit forms part of the Athens urban area. Piraeus has a long recorded history, dating back to ancient Greece. The city was founded in the early 5th century BC, when the area was chosen to become the new port of classical Athens and was developed as a model harbour, concentrating all of Athens’ import and transit trade. During the Golden Age of Athens, the Long Walls were built to fortify both Athens and its port at Piraeus. As a result, Piraeus became the principal harbour of ancient Greece, but it gradually declined after the 3rd century BC, before expanding again in the 19th century, following the declaration of Athens as the capital of Greece. Today, Piraeus is a large, busy city and an integral part of Athens, home to the country’s biggest harbour and displaying all the hallmarks of a major maritime and commercial–industrial centre. The port of Piraeus is the main port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe, and the second-largest in the world, handling around 20 million passengers each year. With a throughput of about 1.4 million TEUs, Piraeus ranks among the top ten European ports for container traffic and is the leading container port in the Eastern Mediterranean. The municipality hosted events during both the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens. The University of Piraeus is one of the largest universities in Greece and includes the country’s second-oldest business school, as well as the oldest academic department specialising in finance.

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7 nights. Turcaí, Greece

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