Day-by-day itinerary
IMPORTANT — confirmation required: The daily itinerary gives 23–27.12.2026, while the departures table gives 24–28.12.2026. Exact dates and price are on request.
Day 1 – 23.12.2026
Departure from Sofia, Serdika Bus Station, at 7:00; OMV on Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard, Mladost 1, at 07:10; Ihtiman Motel at 07:30; Shell Pazardzhik at 08:00; and Plovdiv, OMV in front of St Petersburg Hotel, at 09:00. Travel via Sofia – Plovdiv – Kapitan Andreevo/Kapıkule. Afternoon arrival in Edirne for a short break and a walk through the historic centre, including Selimiye Mosque. Evening arrival in Istanbul and check-in at Hotel Buyuk Sahinler 4* or similar. Optional Bosphorus night cruise with dinner, entertainment and return hotel–port transfers. Dinner comprises traditional Turkish meze, seasonal salad, grilled fish or chicken, fruit or a sweet dessert, and unlimited local alcoholic and soft drinks. Overnight stay.
Day 2 – 24.12.2026
Breakfast. Optional visit to the Bulgarian Iron Church of St Stephen and panoramic Bosphorus cruise, passing Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace (a former sultan's residence converted into one of the world's most prestigious hotels), Ortaköy (popular with Istanbul's young people and artists), Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı fortresses, Beylerbeyi summer palace and the Maiden's Tower. Return to the hotel by coach or, if preferred, on foot, visiting the Spice Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar along the way.
Free time. Optional dinner with entertainment at Gar Gazino restaurant, including salad starters, a hot starter, a choice of chicken, fish or beef as main course, fruit and unlimited drinks; free for children up to 6. Overnight stay.
Day 3 – 25.12.2026
Breakfast. Free time or optional visit to the Sapphire skyscraper, described as Europe's tallest residential building and Turkey's first environmentally friendly building. Besides homes, the complex has a shopping centre, golf course, fitness centre, spa with swimming pool and public areas. Its top floor has a panoramic terrace, restaurant and 4D cinema offering a virtual tour of the sights of this cosmopolitan city.
Optional evening “Istanbul by Night” panoramic coach tour through the old European quarter: Sultanahmet Square; Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn with views of Galata Tower; a photo stop at Dolmabahçe Palace with a view of the first suspension bridge across the Bosphorus, illuminated by Philips in 2007; Taksim Square, popular with Turkish young people and intellectuals, in the new European quarter; and Atatürk Bridge over the Golden Horn. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 4 – 26.12.2026
Breakfast. Optional excursion to İstiklal shopping street, Galata Tower and Taksim. Ascend to the start of İstiklal by the historic underground funicular, the oldest in continental Europe, opened in 1875. Visit the medieval stone Galata Tower. Walk through Pera, known for historic buildings now housing fine restaurants and lively bars. Free time or optional visit to Madame Tussauds Museum. The excursion ends in Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul. Organised return to the hotel by metro.
Towards evening, optional visit to Istanbul Outlet Park for an additional charge.
Day 5 – 27.12.2026
Breakfast. Visit to the Turkuazoo aquarium at Aqua Florya Istanbul (transport included, admission excluded). Discover more than 20 thousand species of marine creatures, including 5 tiger sharks. Departure for Bulgaria. Late-evening arrival in Sofia.