1st Day ISTANBUL – Palermo
We start our tour by meeting our guide at Istanbul New Airport’s International Terminal at 05:30. After our ticket and luggage procedures, we take Turkish Airlines flight TK1373 at 06:50 from Istanbul to Palermo. After arriving in Palermo at 08:20 local time, we will have a panoramic city tour of Palermo, where we will see places such as Via Liberta and Via Roma streets, Quattro Canti, Shame Fountain, Norman Palace, Teatro Massimo, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, and Palermo Cathedral. After the tour, we will proceed to our hotel for check-in and accommodation.
2nd Day PALERMO | Erice & Trapani
After breakfast at our hotel, we will have a full day of free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional excursion to Erice and Trapani organized by our guide (55 Euro). Our tour begins in Erice, where you will experience a medieval atmosphere while strolling through its stone streets and enjoy the magnificent view from Venus Castle. We recommend tasting the delicious sweets in Erice, which is famous for its chocolate shops and patisseries. Afterward, we head to the fishing town of Trapani, where we will walk along the fisherman’s port and see the colorful fishing boats. During our break in Trapani, guests can enjoy seafood. After the tour, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
3rd Day PALERMO – Catania | Cefalu & Outlet
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and return our room keys to the reception. Then we will head to Catania. Guests who wish to can join an optional trip (30 Euro) organized by our guide to the fishing town of Cefalu and one of the largest outlets in Sicily, where you can find many brands at low prices. Cefalù is a historic and beautiful fishing town located on Sicily's northern coast, known for its historic streets, magnificent beaches, and the famous Cefalu Cathedral. After enjoying the city view from Rocca di Cefalu, we will descend to the historic city center and its narrow streets. We will visit the magnificent Cefalu Cathedral, which has a unique blend of Arab and Norman architecture. After taking a break at the seaside cafes, we will head to the Outlet for shopping. After our shopping break, we will transfer to Catania. Upon arrival in Catania, we will have a panoramic city tour, where we will see the Fontana dell'Elefante, Republic Square, Etna Street, and Duomo Cathedral. Accommodation will be at our hotel.
4th Day CATANIA | Etna & Savoca & Taormina
After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish to can join an optional tour organized by our guide to Mount Etna, Savoca (the filming location of the movie "The Godfather"), and Taormina (80 Euro). Our tour begins at Mount Etna, which, at 3350 meters, is the largest and highest volcano in Europe and has been active for about half a million years, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will ascend to 1900 meters at Silvestri Crater, which is covered with lava and features extinct craters. Next, we will continue to Savoca, the location of some of the most important scenes in The Godfather 2. Here, you can listen to the stories of famous mafia families while sipping local drinks at Bar Vitelli, adorned with photos of the film characters Michael and Apollonia. Afterward, we will follow a cobbled narrow road to see the San Nicolo church, where Michael and Apollonia got married in the film. Then, we will proceed to Taormina via Naxos. Naxos, with its stunning beach and nature, will enchant you. After our arrival in Taormina, we will see Chiesa di San Giuseppe, Porta Catania, and Porta Messina. We recommend trying the delicious Sicilian dishes Pasta alla Norma and Cannolo Siciliano in Taormina. After the tour, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
5th Day CATANIA – Malta | Siracusa & Noto
After breakfast at our hotel, we will complete check-out procedures. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Siracusa and Noto (50 Euro). Our tour will begin in Siracusa, the city where the famous mathematician Archimedes lived. We will cross to the Ortygia peninsula, connected by bridges, and start our tour at the main square, Duomo Meydanı, where we will see the Siracusa Cathedral built on the ruins of the Temple of Athena and the church of Santa Lucia, also known as the patron saint of the city. After visiting the Arethusa Fountain and Archimedes Square, we will wander through the narrow streets filled with cafes and shops. After some free time, we will head to Noto, one of the most important Baroque-style towns in Sicily, which was completely destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and reconstructed in the 18th century, showcasing many historical buildings and architectural wonders. Afterward, we will move to Catania and have a panoramic city tour. On this tour, we will see the Fontana dell'Elefante, Republic Square, Etna Street, and Duomo Cathedral. Following our tour, we will head to Pozzallo port, where we will board a fast ferry at 19:30 to Malta. We will arrive in Malta at 21:15 and transfer to our hotel for check-in. Overnight stay at our hotel.
6th Day MALTA | Rabat & Mdina & Valletta
After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a panoramic city tour of three cities. Sit back and discover Vittoriosa, Cospicua, and Senglea, also known as Cottonera and built and supported by the Knights of Malta. After our bus tour in Cospicua, we will walk through the mystical and mysterious narrow streets of Vittoriosa, where we will see historical churches and palaces. Finally, Senglea awaits us with its lookout tower positioned in the heart of the Grand Harbor, offering magnificent harbor views. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Rabat, Mdina, and Valletta (50 Euro). Our first stop will be Rabat with its historical narrow streets that date back to 700 B.C. After exploring Rabat, we will visit Mdina, Malta’s ancient capital, which served as the natural set for several scenes of the famous series Game of Thrones. As we stroll through this medieval city known as the Silent City, we will see the magnificent St. Paul Cathedral, the Falson Palace built by Maltese noble families in the 13th century, the Carmelite Monastery built in the 17th century in Baroque style, and the old houses of Mdina. After some free time, we will head toward Valletta and carry out our Valletta city tour. During the tour, we will have the chance to view this magnificent city surrounded by defensive walls from the outside. After the bus tour, we will explore Valletta's vibrant streets with our guide. Our first stop will be the Barracca Gardens, located on the upper section of the defensive walls that surround this magnificent city. These gardens, built by the Knights of St. John, also offer stunning views of the Grand Harbor and the three ancient cities surrounded by walls. After our break in Valletta, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
7th Day MALTA | Gozo Island
After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a full day of free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional Gozo Island Tour organized by our guide (70 Euro). We will proceed to Cirkewwa port to take a ferry to Gozo. Gozo Island is greener and seems to have a slower pace of life compared to Malta. First, we will see the Inland Sea and Mushroom Rock. Gozo Island has been a filming location for famous movies like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Troy. Next, we will visit the T’pino Church, which began as a small chapel but is now a massive sanctuary. We will also observe the historical salt pans of Marsalforn, which still produce salt naturally. For free time, we will go to Victoria Rabat. After the tour, we will return to Malta and head to our hotels for accommodation.
8th Day MALTA - Istanbul | Popeye’s Village & Sliema & Marsaxlokk
After breakfast at the hotel, we will return our room keys to the reception. The rest of the day will be free time. Guests who wish to can join an optional tour to Popeye Village, Sliema, and the fishing village of Marsaxlokk organized by our guide (65 Euro). We will first arrive at Popeye Village, where the movie "Popeye" was filmed in 1980. Here, we can explore the village and watch shows featuring Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Bluto. In Sliema, known as the new face of Malta, we will have time to stroll along the promenade and visit shopping stores. Sliema is lively and features many restaurants and cafes. After our Sliema tour, we will continue to visit the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where you shouldn’t miss the view of the small fishing boats called Luzzo, which are known for their unique colors and designs. There will also be an open market where you can enjoy some fresh fish and seafood during your free time. After the tour, we will transfer to the airport. After ticket and baggage procedures, we will depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK1372 at 19:45. We will arrive in Istanbul at 00:10 local time, marking the end of our tour.