Atenas - Sofía - Ljubjana 9 noches

About the destination: Athens takes its name after the goddess of wisdom Athena, who is celebrated by the magnificent Acropolis, which overlooks the modern, cosmopolitan city that Athens is today. Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities and it is the birthplace of western philosophy, democracy and theater. Up to this date, the Greek capital remains a major worldwide centre of culture, with its historic centre, iconic classical sites and museums filled with ancient Greece artefacts. The Acropolis, crowned by the emblematic Parthenon, has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars were banned from the historic centre, which has become the most striking pedestrian promenade in Europe. In this archeological Park, visitors will witness the contrasting nature of this ancient metropolis being able to visit the New Acropolis Museum, a high-tech modern structure with light and airy exhibition spaces as well as the National Archaeological Museum, the largest archeological museum in Greece built in the 19th century and devoted to ancient Greek art. The Acropolis and Mount Lycavittos, the city’s highest points, are used as orientation since they are visible from most places in the Plaka, the old historical neighborhood. The Plaka is under the Acropolis and stretches almost to Syntagma, home of to the Greek Parliament. For a taste of the hedonistic Athenian lifestyle one should visit Monastiraki, where locals go to eat, drink and mingle. The night time belongs to Psirri, a vibrant neighbourhood known for its bars, live music venues and exciting nightclubs. Southeast of the city centre, a glorious stretch of coast affords dreamy views over the glistening blue Aegean Sea. Surely few European capitals can claim sandy beaches and clean water for swimming within such easy access. Athens therefore offers the best of both worlds – a fantastic city break as well as a lazy beach holiday. Athenians are surprisingly friendly and outgoing and their enthusiasm for life’s pleasurable pursuits is so infectious that even the stiffest traveler will take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed.

About the destination: Sofia is a city with a sparkling future; it’s the energetically resilient Bulgarian capital that still revels in its own idiosyncrasies as it forges towards a more cultured and urbane existence. Dramatically ringed by the Balkan Mountains to the north and the Vitosha Mountains to the south, Sofia stands on an open plain 550m above sea level in western Bulgaria. It is this duality between urban sprawl and natural wonder that makes it a fascinating place to visit, with more to arrest the attention than many other Eastern European capitals. Development is rife and roads are mercifully being improved. It boasts boutique hotels galore and the spanking new Metro lines and stations are enough to make Western visitors look on with jealousy. Of course, the Communist influence still pervades in the streets; the country’s relatively short occupation from 1945 to 1989 is still visible in its neo-Stalinist architecture. Despite this, most of Sofia’s major tourist attractions pre-date this era. Buildings like the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, the Central Sofia Synagogue and the Banya Bashi mosque are stark reminders of the country’s multicultural past, whilst the charming UNESCO-listed Boyana Church in the Vitosha Mountains is an absolute must-visit. Locals strike the balance between Russian insouciance and Mediterranean flare and continue to be proud up-keepers of the country’s hospitable heritage. The Bulgarian language and Cyrillic alphabet still prosper, resisting tourism’s penchant for English internationalism, which is not widely spoken outside of restaurants, shops and hotels.

About the destination: At first glance, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, seems almost too good to be true. Tucked up against the town’s e-topped hill, the baroque and folk-painted buildings of the old town are like something out of a fairytale. In fact, Ljubljana is very much a part of the real world; industry and the arts flourish here, and commerce is booming lively, lovely, and oh-so-easy for the foreign visitor, modern, sophisticated Ljubljana may well be one of the most pleasant city in Europe. Ljubljana has plenty of places to visit whether they be the city's castle which offers great views over the area from its hill top position, the fine museums and art galleries or taking in the local culture with good local food and drinks, especially beer. The hill with Ljubljana castle is situated in the city centre and narrow river Ljubljanica is slowly circulating around it. The old city centre is situated below this hill on the banks of Ljubljanica River. The focus of the city is Preseren square with its 3 bridges, Tromostovje. From there walk down Stritarjeva street to reach old Ljubljana and Ljubljana castle. Stroll down Copova street to reach Tivoli Park, a gorgeous park, famous for its boulevards, its flower garden and lake. Inside the park we have the International Centre of Graphic Arts. But to really enjoy Ljubljana walk along the Ljubljanica river banks in the evening, listen to the street music, sit in one of the numerous restaurants and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.