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Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

Istanbul, Athens & Rome

Three of the world's most fascinating cities, Istanbul, Athens and Rome, whose history, culture, religion and art have helped shape the world as we know it today, are yours to explore in one, wonderful package. Everything you need to explore these classical treasures, from convenient flights, transfers, great hotels in fabulous locations in the heart of each city, buffet breakfast daily, an included city tour to help you get oriented and a special optional touring package are part of this deal. If you are interested in tracing the roots of our western civilization, including our religious and artistic heritage which defines our modern culture, you won't find a better and more attractive opportunity anywhere.

Our Touring Program

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exciting journey to Istanbul, Turkey, begins this evening as you check in for your scheduled overnight jet flight.

Day 2: Arrive Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul, one of the greatest and most strategic cities in the world for the better part of two thousand years. You'll be met by our representative in Istanbul and then escorted to your hotel in the heart of the Old City, near many of the historical sites you will be visiting during your stay. Marmara Hotel Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul. After breakfast, board your touring coach and begin a tour of the city. Visit the Agia Sophia, once the largest church in the Christian world and one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. Continue to the Hippodrome, a massive stadium built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 A.D. to serve as a meeting place for the politicians, for chariot races, wrestling, boxing, and other athletic activities. Your morning tour concludes with a visit to the famous and fascinating Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops. It's a "must see" where carpets, gold, leather goods and other fantastic treasures are yours for the bargaining.

This afternoon, explore independently or take advantage of a half day tour that includes the Topkapi Palace, residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1465 to 1853. Continue to the Blue Mosque, one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul with its beautiful domes and semi domes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets. Later, enjoy a cruise on the Bosporus, beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia, which flows between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. (B)

Day 4: Istanbul. Enjoy another full day to explore Istanbul further. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city, within short distance of many major attractions, as well as the best shopping and dining. Spend the day strolling, shopping and wandering on your own, or take advantage of additional optional tours that our representatives will offer you. (B)

Day 5: Istanbul/Athens. Today you'll be escorted to the airport and bid farewell to Istanbul as you board your short flight to Athens, the birthplace of western civilization. You'll be met by our representatives in Athens and then escorted to your waiting touring coach to begin a tour of the city and its most important sites. Begin your tour at Constitution Square which was named after the Constitution which King Otto was forced to grant the people after a popular and military uprising in 1843. Continue to the Panathenian Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the Presidential Palace, designed by famed architect Ernst Ziller. Drive to the area of the Acropolis and visit the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in Greece, completed in 132 CE by the Emperor Hadrian and the Parthenon, built in the 5th century BC on the Acropolis of Athens. The Parthenon is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece and considered the most perfect Doric temple ever built. Continue to your centrally located hotel to check in. Grecotel Athens Imperial Hotel (B)

Day 6: Athens. Enjoy a full day to explore on your own. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city, within short distance of many major attractions, as well as the best shopping and dining. Our Athens representatives will be glad to make suggestions if you prefer to explore independently.

Or, take advantage of an optional day tour to Mycenae and Epidaurus. Begin your tour with a drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf to Mycenae, the historical setting of the epics of Homer and much other Greek mythology. Visit the remains of the ancient city including the lioness's gate, the tomb of Agamemnon and the Palace. Drive through Argos to Nauplia, a town on the Peloponnesus and the capital of the country from 1829 to 1834. This afternoon, visit Epidaurus, known for its theater. The exceptional acoustics make it possible for all of the spectators, regardless of seating, to hear what is spoken, without amplification, from the proscenium. Return to Athens late this afternoon. (B)

Day 7: Athens. Enjoy a final day to explore on your own or take an optional Saronic Gulf day cruise. Sail first to Aegina, a pine covered island with beautiful beaches, picturesque villages, important historical monuments and modern tourist facilities. Continue to Poros, a colorful and lovely small island with plenty of tavernas, picturesque fishing and mountain villages and long, sandy beaches and finally, Hydra, an island with traditional houses which built atop one another and separated only by narrow alleys. Lunch is served aboard the ship during your cruise. (B)

Day 8: Athens/Patras. Enjoy the morning at leisure in Athens. This afternoon, you'll drive via the new coastal highway, via the Corinth Canal, to Patras. Here you'll board your overnight ferry to sail through the Ioanian and Adriatic Seas to the port of Bari in Italy. Join your fellow travelers this evening for an included dinner. (B,D)

Day 9: Bari/Pompeii/Rome. After breakfast on board, disembark the ferry at Bari. Board your waiting touring coach and drive to Pompeii, the city buried by volcanic ash in the 79 AD Mt. eruption. While not entirely excavated, you will be able to see the ruins of villas, ancient temples and baths. Later this afternoon continue to Rome. Starhotel Metropole or similar. (B)

Day 10: Rome. A morning included tour of Rome begins with a panoramic drive through the Eternal City. View the Seven Hills, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument, and the Via Veneto and then take a walking tour to the Trevi Fountain, where a coin, thrown over your shoulder into the fountain while you make a wish, is sure to bring you good luck, and the fulfillment of your wish! Continue to the Spanish Steps, one of Rome's most endearing and scenic spots.

Enjoy your afternoon to explore Rome independently. Or, join an optional tour of Imperial Rome, including a visit to the Coliseum, that most famous of all Roman stadiums where gladiators fought to the death before audiences of thousands, the Forum, political heart of the Roman Empire and site of some of history's greatest events, and the Pantheon, originally constructed as a Roman temple and later consecrated as a Catholic Church. In addition, visit the magnificent Renaissance Piazza Navona, and the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls. (B)

Day 11: Rome. Enjoy a final day in Rome to continue your independent explorations of one of Europe's most dynamic and fascinating cities. Or, take advantage of an optional tour to the Vatican where you'll visit St. Peter's Basilica and that most famous of religious and artistic treasures, the Sistine Chapel.

This afternoon is at leisure. You'll find plenty to see and do as you stroll the picturesque and bustling streets of Rome. Shop, stroll through the Villa Borghese, enjoy a Roman pizza and a glass of wine or expresso in a sidewalk café, and savor the wonderful ambience that is found only here in the Eternal City. (B)

Day 12: Rome/USA. Today you'll be escorted to the airport and bid farewell to Rome as you board your return flight. Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive in the USA later today.

Special Optional Tours Package

To take full advantage of your visit to Istanbul, Athens & Rome, we offer a special, discounted optional tours package to other "must see" sites. These are not "seat in coach" tours that pick up passengers in various hotels. All the optional tours we offer, including those in our special package, are operated for Friendly Planet groups only and are specially priced.

The special discounted optional tours package price is available when booked and prepaid in the USA.

Optional Tours Package Includes:

• Half Day Istanbul tour including the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and a beautiful cruise on the Bosphorous
• Full day tour to Mycenae and Epidaurus (from Athens)
• Half day tour of Imperial Rome, including the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Renaissance Piazza Navonna and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

Optionals Package Price, per person: $189.

Destination FAQs

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Turkey, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Greece, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Italy, click here.

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Istanbul, Athens & Rome
Included Features

• Round trip flights from New York via SWISS International or other scheduled carriers (flight schedule)  including fuel surcharges. Other gateways are available upon request at low through fares.

• 3 nights Superior First Class hotel accommodations at the Marmara Hotel in Istanbul

• 3 nights Superior First Class hotel accommodations at the Grecotel Athens Imperial Hotel in Athens

• 3 nights Superior First Class hotel accommodations at the Starhotel Metropole or similar in Rome

• Lavish buffet breakfast daily

• All transfers

• Professional, English-speaking tour host throughout

Shop & Compare

Our tours may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our Istanbul, Athens & Rome tours. In all three cities, you'll stay in Superior First Class, centrally located hotels that are noted for their amenities and service.

Included Features:  Your transfers are all included on arrival and departure in all three cities, including the flight between Istanbul and Athens and the overnight ferry between Greece and Italy, not expensive extras as in other tours.

Credit Cards or Cash:  You asked, and we listened! Whether you pay by check, money order or your favorite major credit card, your tour price on this tour is the same. No extra cost to charge your dream vacation to Istanbul, Athens &  Rome. Credit Card Authorization Form.

Free Comprehensive Destination Guide: To help you prepare for your trip, you will receive a free, comprehensive Friendly Planet Istanbul, Athens & Rome destination guide - a Friendly Planet exclusive - filled with plenty of helpful information about the destinations themselves (including history and other fascinating facts), weather, tipping, local customs, how to dress, plus insider shopping, nightlife and restaurant suggestions, organized by cuisine and cost.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in Istanbul, Athens and Rome —is completely free of charge. Compare our tours to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find

Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees, and September 11 Security Fee $175 Visa Fee, Turkey* $26

* US citizens and citizens of some other countries require a visa for Turkey. The visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. Presently, the visa fee is $26

Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Optional Tours Package $189 Child Reduction* -$500 Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Recommended) $129 Single Supplements Single Room Supplement (All other departures) $590 Single Room Supplement (March departures) $680

* For child under the age of 12 sharing with 2 adults

Alternate Gateways: Included flights are from New York (JFK). Departures from other cities at low through fares may be available upon request. Please call us at 800-555-5765 to check availability from alternate gateways.

Important Note: If you are reserving this tour less than 60 days prior to departure, confirmation is subject to space availability. We will advise you within 48 hours if we can confirm your reservation. In the meantime, no credit cards will be debited for deposits or payments until we are able to confirm your reservations.

Waitlisting on Sold-Out Departures: If your preferred departure is sold out, you can place yourself on a waitlist by completing the online reservation form and submitting it to us. Just click on the "waitlist" button, complete the form and click "submit". In the comments box at the very bottom of the form, please write any notes regarding your request, especially any flexibility you might have in your dates of travel. This way, if your first choice doesn't clear, we can try for a second or third choice. We will make every effort to clear your space in a timely way so that you can join us on tour. You do not need to send any deposits for waitlists. When we clear your space, we'll contact you immediately by phone or email, and if you still wish to travel, we will arrange for deposits or payments at that time. We regret that we cannot accept waitlists beyond 35 days prior to departure. If you see "sold out" next to the dates you wish to reserve or waitlist, please note that this departure is now closed, including waitlist possibilities.

Flight Schedule: Click here for a full flight schedule.

Already Booked? Print and complete your Tour Registration Form (PDF).

800.555.5765 / Fax 215.572.9803

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* Some tour prices reflect an early booking discount on select dates. Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.