Day 1 Istanbul – İpsala Border Crossing
We pick up our guests from the following locations: in front of the Kadıköy Marriage Office parking lot at 9:00 PM, in front of the Ziraat Bank across from the old Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Mecidiyeköy at 9:30 PM, and at the İncirli Ömür bus stops at 10:00 PM, the Havaist bus stops at Marmara Park Shopping Mall in Beylikdüzü at 10:30 PM. We travel via Selimpaşa and Keşan to the İpsala Border Crossing; after passport and customs procedures, we continue our journey overnight.
Route: Istanbul – İpsala (257 km).
Day 2 Thessaloniki – Ioannina – Igoumenitsa (ferry)
After a complimentary breakfast in Nea Karvali, we’ll head to Thessaloniki. Our panoramic tour includes the Waterfront, the White Tower, the Rotating Tower, the Fairgrounds, Ottoman and Byzantine monuments, Greece’s largest cathedral, Agios Dimitrios, and the Statue of Alexander the Great. Afterward, we’ll visit the birthplace of the Great Leader Atatürk. During a short free time, you can have a meal or enjoy a frappe at the cafes along the waterfront.
A dinner stop in the charming lakeside town of Ioannina along the way. After completing ticket, customs, and passport formalities at the Port of Igoumenitsa, we board the ferry (estimated boarding time 11:00 PM); overnight ferry journey.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are on your own (not included in the price). Route: İpsala – Nea Karvali 186 km, Nea Karvali – Thessaloniki 163 km, Thessaloniki – Ioannina 259 km, Ioannina – Igoumenitsa 79 km (total approximately 687 km).
Day 3 Bari (Brindisi) – Taranto – (Lecce)
After arriving at the port of Bari (or Brindisi) in the morning, we’ll head to Taranto, a port city in the Puglia region. Guests who wish to do so may join the optional Lecce Tour (50 €): a walking tour of Lecce, known as the “Florence of Southern Italy” for its Baroque architecture; the Basilica of Santa Croce, the ancient city center, Duomo Square, Sant’Oronzo Square, and the Naples Gate. After free time, transfer to the hotel (estimated arrival at 9:00 PM). Overnight stay in Taranto.
Route: Bari – Taranto 92 km, Taranto – Lecce 214 km.
Day 4 Taranto – Catania
After breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and head to Catania, one of Sicily’s most important cities. During our city tour, we’ll visit the Duomo, the Elephant Fountain (Fontana dell’Elefante), Piazza della Repubblica, and Via Etna. During your free time, we recommend sampling seafood at the famous fish market. Transfer to the hotel (estimated arrival at 9:30 p.m.), overnight stay in Catania.
Route: Taranto – Catania, 481 km.
Day 5 Catania – (Taormina & Savoca) – Sicily Outlet Village – Palermo
After breakfast, guests who wish to do so can join the optional Taormina & Savoca Tour (75 €). Free time in Taormina, at the foot of Mount Tauro, to explore the city and visit the Greek-Roman theater, while also enjoying a panoramic view of Mount Etna, one of Europe’s active volcanoes. Next, we’ll visit the village of Savoca, where the Sicilian scenes from Francis Ford Coppola’s *The Godfather* films were shot: Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone asked for permission to meet Apollonia, and the Church of Santa Lucia, where the wedding scene was filmed. We recommend trying the traditional lemon granita here.
On the way to Palermo, free time for shopping at the stores of 161 brands at the Sicily Outlet Village, included in the itinerary. Arrival in Palermo and check-in at the hotel (estimated 9:30 PM).
Route: Catania – Taormina 54 km, Taormina – Savoca 22 km, Savoca – Outlet 133 km, Outlet – Palermo 148 km.
Day 6 Palermo – (Castellammare del Golfo, Erice, and Mondello)
After breakfast, a city tour of Palermo: the Palatine Chapel, St. John’s Cathedral, Politeama Square, the Norman Palace, Quattro Canti Square, Via Roma, and Via Libertà.
Guests who wish to do so may join the optional Castellammare del Golfo – Erice – Mondello Tour (70 €). In Castellammare del Golfo, known for its beaches and scenery, see the castle and harbor that give the town its name, and enjoy free time to sample seafood; followed by a walking tour in Erice, perched on a 750-meter-high cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea: the Erice Duomo, Porta Trapani, Torretta Pepoli, and the Church of San Martino. The final stop is a swimming break in the crystal-clear waters at Spiaggia di Mondello. Return to the hotel in Palermo (estimated arrival at 8:00 PM).
Route: Palermo – Castellammare 67 km, Castellammare – Erice 37 km, Erice – Mondello 95 km.
Day 7 Palermo – (Cefalù) – Messina – Salerno
After breakfast, we set off for Salerno. Along the way, guests who wish to do so can join the optional Cefalù Tour (35 €) (those who do not participate will rest at a facility along the route): In Cefalù, a fishing village on the Tyrrhenian Sea, we’ll see the 12th-century cathedral, the Fishermen’s Gate, and the charming streets. After enjoying a panoramic view of Messina, we’ll cross the Strait of Messina and arrive in Salerno (estimated arrival at 10:30 p.m.).
Route: Palermo – Cefalù 67 km, Cefalù – Messina 159 km, Messina – Salerno 438 km.
Day 8 Salerno – (Positano & Amalfi Coast)
After breakfast, the day is free. Guests who wish to do so can join the optional Amalfi Coast Tour (95 €). We’ll take a boat to Positano along Italy’s most beautiful coastline, featuring rugged cliffs, colorful villages overlooking the sea, and turquoise waters. In Positano—the setting for the film “The Talented Mr. Ripley”—you’ll find narrow streets, lemon groves, and colorful houses clinging to the hillside; enjoy free time for shopping, lemon sorbet, or a dip in the sea.
Next, we head to the town of Amalfi, which gives the coast its name: a panoramic walk through the “Val di Mulino,” a visit to the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, Piazza dei Dogi, and the De Cape ‘e Ciucci fountain. Shopping for ceramics and lemon products; free time to sample squid, shrimp, and fish (coppa di Amalfi) served in paper cones. Return to Salerno by boat; overnight stay in Salerno.
Day 9 Salerno – (Alberobello) – Bari/Brindisi (ferry)
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel. On a panoramic tour of Salerno—considered one of Europe’s most beautiful coastal cities—we’ll see medieval churches, boutiques, and the tree-lined waterfront.
Guests who wish to do so can take part in an optional Alberobello Tour (35 €) along the way (those who do not participate will rest at a facility along the route). Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its cone-roofed “trullo” houses, which date back to the 16th century and are said to have been built to avoid heavy taxes. After some free time, we’ll head to the port of Bari (or Brindisi); following check-in procedures, we’ll board the ferry in the evening and spend the night on board.
Route: Salerno – Alberobello 294 km, Alberobello – Bari 57 km (total approximately 351 km; 374 km from Brindisi).
Day 10 Igoumenitsa – (Kalambaka/Meteora) – Kavala – Istanbul
After arriving at the port in the morning, we’ll head to Kavala. Guests who wish to do so can join the optional Kalambaka (Meteora) Tour (35 €); those who do not will rest at a facility along the way: We explore the Meteora monasteries—still active today atop rocks 200 meters above the ground—often referred to as “the Cappadocia of Greece,” and witness the daily lives of the monks.
After a scenic drive through Kavala and a dinner stop, we arrive at the İpsala Border Crossing. Following passport and customs procedures, we return to Istanbul via Tekirdağ and drop off our guests at their pickup locations.
Route: Igoumenitsa – Kalambaka 168 km, Kalambaka – Kavala 378 km, Kavala – İpsala 192 km, İpsala – Istanbul 292 km (total approximately 1,030 km).
