Greece

Vacation Packages

Experience an interesting mix of cultures on this attractive Eastern European vacation. Start your trip in Athens, Greece. Greek history comes alive when visiting the Acropolis in Athens and with Mount Olympus in the background on your way to Thessalonika. After a beautiful drive through Spartacus’ mountainous homeland and a spectacular trip to visit Rila Monastery, you reach Sofia in Bulgaria, where you admire its medieval icons. Cross the Danube River at Ruse, an important port since Roman times, and arrive in Bucharest, Romania, where the highlight of your sightseeing tour is the open-air Village Museum. A real treat is the included visit to Count Dracula’s 14th-century Bran Castle, home of the Romanian vampires, on your way to Brasov. In Brasov, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour before driving through the legendary heart of Transylvania to the fortified town of Sighisoara. In Sighisoara, visit the Castle Chapel, where legend says Dracula was born and baptized. Then head to Hungary. In Budapest, Hungary’s largest city, enjoy a sightseeing tour with a Local Guide, featuring all the major sights of this splendid city. Next stop is composer Haydn’s hometown Eisenstadt, where you visit Esterhazy Palace on your way to impressive Vienna, once the capital of the mighty Habsburg empire. Your two-night stay in Vienna, Austria’s capital, includes a guided sightseeing tour with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. An entire day at leisure in Vienna allows the possibility to join an optional excursion to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. What a perfect way to end your vacation to Eastern Europe.

Day 1
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Athens, Greece
Time to rest or explore the Hellenic capital. At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions at a welcome drink hosted by your Tour Director.

Day 3 Athens
Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the Parthenon ’s crowning beauty atop the ACROPOLIS, the Erechtheum with its Porch of Maidens, the beautifully preserved Theseum, the Roman Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the Agora where Socrates taught. Vistas of the Royal Palace, government buildings, and elegant homes in the modern city provide a striking contrast to the remains of a glorious past. Balance of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 4 Athens–Thessalonika
Along the coastline of the Aegean Sea towards Thermopylae, where heroic Greek resistance under King Leonidas wrote the worthiest pages of Europe’s war history in 480 BC. Blue waters of the Thermaic Bay and dramatic background of Mount Olympus provide a breathtaking setting on your way to Macedonia’s capital, Thessalonika, where an orientation drive shows you the sights. (B,D)

Day 5 Thessalonika–Sofia, Bulgaria
Cross the Bulgarian border and head north through the Struma Valley, Spartacus’ mountainous homeland. Reach the village of Kocerinovo, where a scenic side trip takes you high up towards the RILA MONASTERY, a beacon of the Bulgarian nation during half a millennium of Ottoman rule. Overnight in Sofia. (B,D)

Day 6 Sofia
During morning sightseeing with a Local Guide, spot sections of the Roman wall and visit the ancient CHURCH OF ST. GEORGI, the golden-domed ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL with its marvelous collection of medieval icons, and the Turkish Bashi Mosque. Tonight’s optional dinner outing includes a specialty meal and folklore performance. (B)

Day 7 Sofia–Bucharest, Romania
Cross the low Stara Planina (Old Mountains) chain on the way to the wide and fertile Danube Valley. After completing border formalities, cross the Danube at Ruse and reach Bucharest, the “Paris of the Balkans.” (B,D)

Day 8 Bucharest
Flower-festooned parks, gardens, and wide boulevards shaded by century-old trees contribute to Bucharest’s beauty. The highlight of your sightseeing tour with a Local Guide is a visit to the OPEN-AIR VILLAGE MUSEUM, a unique collection of traditional farmhouses, cottages, windmills and watermills, and artisans’ workshops from all parts of the country. An afternoon optional visit to the former Royal Cotroceni Palace and its award-winning museum is available. Tonight, taste typical Romanian fare and excellent local wine, and enjoy the songs and dances performed by a skilled ensemble in colorful costumes. (B,D)

Day 9 Bucharest–Brasov
Morning drive through the oil fields of Ploesti before reaching Romania’s most elegant mountain resort of Sinaia. Then, on to BRAN CASTLE, built in the 14th century and ever since assumed to be home of the Romanian vampires. Tonight, do not miss the optional Transylvanian dinner at a medieval fortress and the music performance by members of the Brasov Philarmonic Orchestra. (B)

Day 10 Brasov–Sighisoara–Cluj
Your guided tour features the Black Church, the Old Town Hall, the Merchants’ Hall, and the 15th-century MONASTERY AND SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS. Drive through the legendary heart of Transylvania to the fortified town of Sighisoara. Visit the CASTLE CHAPEL, where legend says Dracula was born and baptized. Your Local Guide will explain the origin of the gory legends. Continue to Cluj and enjoy a pleasant stroll through the center of this multi-ethnic Transylvanian city. (B,D)

Day 11 Cluj–Budapest, Hungary
From the gentle rolling hills of the Western Carpathians into the fertile fields of eastern Hungary. Why not join an optional Hungarian folklore performance this evening? (B,D)

Day 12 Budapest
Your Local Guide takes your through Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan city. See elegant Andrassy Avenue, the Thermal Baths, and the world’s second-largest Jewish synagogue. From the lacy lookout towers of Fishermen’s Bastion, enjoy a panoramic view of the sprawling city. Then, visit the 13th-century MATTHIAS CORONATION CHURCH and Heroes’ Square. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, a delectable optional Hungarian specialty dinner can be arranged. (B)

Day 13 Budapest–Vienna, Austria
Drive through the Hungarian plains to Vienna, once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire. Meet your Local Guide and start your sightseeing with vistas of Prater Park with its giant Ferris wheel, and the United Nations City on the banks of the Danube River. Then, drive along Ring Boulevard, pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and visit awesome ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL.  (B)

Day 14 At Leisure in Vienna
A whole day at leisure gives you the opportunity to join optional excursions to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, Vienna Woods, historical Schönbrunn Palace, or to just explore this magnificent city on your own. An optional farewell dinner may be the perfect way to celebrate the success of your vacation! (B)

Day 15
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

Greece Vacations

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