Benelux, Paris and Germany Tour

We will meet at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport three hours before the flight to complete our ticketing and baggage procedures. Our scheduled flight to Paris with Pegasus Airlines will take approximately 3 hours 40 minutes. Upon arrival, we will begin our Paris city tour. Neoclassical architecture and Haussmann buildings stand out along streets that reflect the city’s history. Alongside these buildings, which line broad avenues and side streets, Paris offers a range of experiences in art, culture, fashion and gastronomy. Our first stop will be Champs Elysees, an avenue known for its shopping options. There will be free time for dining and shopping. We will then meet at the time specified by our guide and head to the hotel where we will be staying. Upon arrival at the hotel, there will be free time to rest.

After breakfast, we join the Eiffel Tower - Seine River tour in Paris. During our boat trip on the Seine River, we enjoy panoramic views of Paris’s well-known landmarks. These include the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Alexandre III Bridge, Orsay Museum and Institut de France. The river trip offers a chance to see the city from a different perspective. After the boat tour, we go up to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower for a bird’s-eye view of Paris. Designed for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, the tower has become a symbol of Paris over time. As one of the world’s well-known tourist landmarks, it welcomes millions of visitors every year. After our visit, we head towards the hotel where we will be staying. Following the tour, we visit a shop to try and buy tax-free, reasonably priced, quality perfumes. As part of our scheduled Champ Elysees visit, we have free time for shopping and dinner on Champs Elysees. We then continue to our hotel. Free time to rest.

After breakfast, we begin our tour of Montmartre (Painters’ Hill), Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg Garden and the Louvre area. Our first stop will be Montmartre (Painters’ Hill), located in northern Paris and known for its art scene and bohemian character. First, we will drive through the Pigalle area, known for its nightlife and home to the world-famous Moulin Rouge cabaret show. We will then take the funicular up to Painters’ Hill to see Sacre Coure Basilica. Construction of Sacre Coure Basilica on Painters’ Hill, once a centre of religious life, began in 1875 to symbolise France’s spiritual renewal. The basilica opened for worship only after World War I. Following its spiritual transformation, Montmartre became a centre for art and was home to artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Emile Zola. We will allow free time to explore the streets lined with art galleries, discover Painters’ Hill and have lunch. We will continue our tour with Notre Dame Cathedral. This Gothic cathedral stands on the banks of the Seine River in the historic centre of Paris. The building is known for its stained-glass windows, detailed carvings and bell towers.

After breakfast, we will check out early, leave the hotel and set off from Paris towards Luxembourg. Our first stop will be Metz. One of the oldest cities in France, Metz has changed hands many times throughout history due to wars between France and Germany. Traces of both cultures can be seen in the city. The Moselle and Seille Rivers and the lakes form the natural surroundings of Metz, one of the greenest cities in France. Its notable landmarks include the medieval Germans’ Gate, built by German workers on the Moselle River, the Gothic Saint-Etienne Cathedral, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Place d’Armes Square and Metz Covered Market. Metz is also home to the opera and theatre building, one of the oldest buildings in France. Upon arrival in Luxembourg, we will begin our city tour. Strategically located in the centre of Europe, Luxembourg is among the world’s most economically developed countries. Founded in 963, the city stands at a crossroads of Roman and Germanic cultures and bears the influence of both civilisations. The country, which acquired its present borders after the Treaty of London, is officially named the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

After breakfast, we depart from Luxemburg for Brussels. Our first stop along the way is Trier. Located on the banks of the Rhine River in southwestern Germany, Trier is one of the country's oldest cities. Known as Augusta Treverorum during the Roman Empire, the city is known for its historic buildings and architecture. Trier dates back to Roman times and was built by the Romans in the 16th century BC. Many structures and ruins from ancient Roman times can still be visited today. These include Porta Nigra (Black Gate), Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths) and the Roman Bridge (Römerbrücke), which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After our visit to Trier, we continue our journey and arrive in Brussels. Brussels, also the capital of the European Union, is a centre of international diplomacy. The city continues to develop as a modern metropolis while preserving its medieval heritage. Our city tour includes views of the Royal Palace, Grand Palace (the city square), St. Michael, the Stock Exchange Building and the Mannequin Pis Statue (the statue of a urinating baby), which has become a symbol of Brussels. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the city.

After breakfast in Brussels, we check out of our hotel and set off towards Amsterdam city centre. Before our Amsterdam tour, we visit Brugge. After the journey, we arrive in Brugge, known as the Venice of the North. Protected by UNESCO, the city is known for its preserved medieval architecture, narrow streets, historic buildings with colourful facades, canals and notable landmarks. Its parks and natural areas also form part of its historic setting. Our walking tour includes Grote Markt, the Town Hall with its Gothic architecture, Belfort Bell Tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Minnewater (Lake of Love), where you can enjoy views of the city. During the free time provided to explore the city, you can visit cafés or have lunch at local restaurants. We then meet at the time specified by our guide and depart for Amsterdam. Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we begin our city tour. Known for its history and culture, canals, museums and lively urban life, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s cosmopolitan cities. Also known for its liberal way of life, the city hosts events, festivals and concerts throughout the year.

After breakfast on our Amsterdam, Marken & Volendam and Zaanse Schans itinerary, we begin our tour of Marken & Volendam. In Marken and Volendam, we see the natural surroundings and rows of colourful houses while observing traditional life in the Netherlands. The residents of Marken village once made their living from fishing, but their occupations changed as the island was connected to the mainland by a bridge and tourism developed. Handicrafts and traditional clothing production became widespread. The houses, built on stilts to protect against flooding, remain protected today. We take a short journey across the bridge to reach Volendam, which is larger than Marken. Along the way, we visit a cheese producer in an area with several cheese producers and a cheese-tasting workshop to learn about cheese making. After some brief free time for shopping, we continue towards Volendam. In this town, where artists such as Picasso and Renoir stayed briefly in the 20th century, you may see local people walking around in traditional clothing. In Volendam, where fishing still continues to some extent, we visit historic fishermen’s houses, museums, handicraft workshops and shops.

After an early breakfast, we check out of the hotel and travel directly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. After completing check-in and baggage procedures, we fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on a scheduled Pegasus Airlines flight. Our Benelux tour ends upon arrival in Istanbul. We hope to see you again on another trip.