DAY 1 |
Arrival in Istanbul. Guided tour of the historical centre of the city - Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Mosque which was Episcopal Church of the Byzantine capital, Hippodrome, old Sultan Top Kapi Palace. Accommodation. Optional Boat cruise along the Bosphorus strait. Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 |
Breakfast. Departure for Bulgaria. Lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Arrival in Plovdiv and accommodation. Sightseeing tour in the Old Town, including a visit to the Roman Ancient Theatre, the Ethnographic Museum, Roman Stadium, St. Constantine and Helena Church, etc. Dinner. Overnight in Plovdiv.
DAY 3 |
Breakfast. Departure for Sofia. Guided sightseeing tour of the city centre, including visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral - one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in Europe, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and a primary tourist attraction; St. George Rotunda, St. Sophia Church, National Theatre, Presidency, etc. Lunch at a local restaurant. Free time in the city centre. Dinner. Overnight in Sofia.
DAY 4 |
Breakfast. Departure for Rila Monastery - the most exquisite example of the monastery art and architecture in Bulgaria. Sightseeing tour of the complex – the church Nativity of the Virgin, the monastery museum. Lunch at a local restaurant in the valley of Rilska river. Drive to Melnik - the smallest town in Bulgaria. The town is famous for its wine cellars producing the best red wine in the country. Accommodation and dinner. Overnight in Melnik area.
DAY 5 |
Breakfast. Visit to Rupite, best known as the place where the Bulgarian medium Baba Vanga lived and was buried. Departure for North Macedonia. Lunch in Stobi Winery. Arrival in Skopje in the afternoon. Sightseeing tour in Skopje - Macedonia Square, Memorial House of Mother Teresa, the Stone Bridge - symbol of Skopje; the church of St. Spas (Holy Salvation), Skopje Fortress, etc. Dinner. Overnight in Skopje.
DAY 6 |
Breakfast. Departure for Nish. Sightseeing of the town: Nish fortress built by the Turks in the 18th century, the Tower of Skulls (Chele Kula), Villa Mediana – archaeological reserve, Roman villa-rustica from the 3rd century, probable birthplace of the Roman Emperor – Constantine the Great. Lunch at a local restaurant. Arrival in Belgrade in the late afternoon. Accommodation and dinner. Overnight in Belgrade.
DAY 7 |
Breakfast. Walking tour in Belgrade from the Republic Square along the main pedestrian street to Kalemegdan Park and the Belgrade Fortress with its picturesque panorama to the confluence of Sava and Danube rivers. Lunch. In the afternoon optional tour to Sremski Karlovci and Novi Sad. Return to Belgrade. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Belgrade.
DAY 8 |
Breakfast. Transfer to Belgrade Airport and departure.