Europe
Saturday 27th December
We meet at Malta International Airport at 07:40 for flight TK1370, which departs at 09:45 and arrives in Istanbul at 14:15. Transfer by coach to the 4-star Taxim Gonen Hotel, located in Istanbul’s most popular district — Beyoglu, near Taksim Square. Check-in and room allocation. Later, we take a short walk with the tour leader to begin enjoying the vibrant and lively city centre.
Sunday 28th December
After buffet breakfast, we offer the Istanbul Historical City Tour, a fascinating excursion with a local guide. We’ll visit the old part of Istanbul, entering the Hagia Sophia (entrance included), originally built in the 16th century by architect Mehmet. We then visit the famous Blue Mosque (entrance included), named after the stunning blue tiles that adorn its interior. We continue to the Hippodrome, where we’ll see three important monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
We then break for lunch (included). Afterward, we’ll stop for photos outside the Topkapi Palace, the grand residence of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to 19th century. We also visit the Underground Cistern (entrance included), an impressive ancient water reservoir. Our final stop is the famous Grand Bazaar, before returning to the hotel.
Monday 29th December
After breakfast, we visit the romantic city of Bursa, accompanied by a local guide. We explore the city’s most notable sites, followed by lunch (included). Then, we take the cable car (ticket included) to the Uludag Ski Centre, where you’ll have free time to enjoy the snow and panoramic views. We return to Istanbul in the evening.
Tuesday 30th December
After buffet breakfast, we offer another unmissable excursion. We begin with a visit to the stunning Dolmabahçe Palace (entrance included), one of Istanbul’s architectural jewels. Afterwards, we enjoy a scenic Bosphorus Cruise (ticket included), where we’ll see the two continents — Europe and Asia — connected by this iconic strait. We’ll also view the Marmara Sea, where it joins the Black Sea. Our final stop is the famous Spice Market.
Wednesday 31st December
Buffet breakfast followed by an excursion to the Asian side of Istanbul. We’ll visit Çamlıca Hill and the Çamlıca Tower, with ticket included up to the observation deck, offering panoramic views over the entire city. We also visit the Çamlıca Mosque, the largest mosque in Turkey. We return to the hotel for more free time to enjoy Beyoglu district, full of shops and restaurants.
In the evening, those interested can attend a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner — a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the year and welcome in the new one with great food and entertainment.
Thursday 1st January – Happy New Year!
Breakfast followed by free time for personal sightseeing. At 14:00, transfer to Istanbul Airport for flight TK1371, departing at 18:00 and arriving in Malta at 18:35 (local time).
