Comfort Benelux & Paris & Alsace & Switzerland Tour - With Turkish Airlines 7 Nights, Extra Tours Included AMS-BSL

Istanbul –  Amsterdam

We will meet at Istanbul Airport in the international departures terminal to complete our ticketing and baggage procedures three hours before the flight. Our flight to Amsterdam on Turkish Airlines' scheduled service will take approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. Upon our arrival in Amsterdam, we set out to explore the city. Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities, is famous for its historical and cultural richness, canals, museums, and vibrant atmosphere, and it also stands out among other European capitals with its libertarian lifestyle. In this youthful city, many events, festivals, and concerts are held throughout the year, and it is also filled with galleries, museums, and exhibitions showcasing classical and modern works of art. During our Amsterdam tour, places we will see include Damrak, the city’s most popular square, the Royal Palace, one of the official residences of the Dutch royal family, and Oude Kerk (Old Church), the oldest church in Amsterdam. In the evening, we will head to our hotel and have free time to rest.

Amsterdam - Marken - Volendam - Brussels

After breakfast in the morning, we will leave our hotel and take our Marken & Volendam excursion, located approximately 1 hour from Amsterdam. While visiting these two fishing towns, where we can best observe the traditional lifestyle of the Netherlands, you will be deeply impressed by their nature and the colorful houses lined up one after another. The inhabitants of Marken village, who used to make their living from fishing, changed form after the island became a tourist destination and was connected to the mainland by a bridge, with the spread of handicrafts and the production of traditional clothing. The houses built on stilts to prevent flooding are still under protection today. We will reach Volendam, which is much larger than Marken, via a short journey over the bridge. Along the way, in an area with various cheese producers and a cheese tasting workshop, we will visit a cheese producer and learn about cheese production. After giving you some free time for shopping, we will head towards Volendam. In this beautiful town, where famous artists such as Picasso and Renoir stayed briefly in the 20th century, you can see many locals walking around in traditional clothing. As we tour the town, where fishing still continues in part, you will be able to see historic fishing houses, museums, and workshops and shops where handicrafts are made. We will have time for lunch in Volendam, which stands out with its traditional dishes. After visiting these two beautiful villages, we will continue our journey by heading to Brussels. After approximately three hours of travel, we will arrive in Brussels. We can describe Brussels, the capital of the European Union, as one of the centers of international diplomacy. During our city tour in Brussels, which has successfully preserved its heritage from the Middle Ages while also developing as a modern metropolis, the Royal Palace, Grand Palace (city square), St. Michael, and the Stock Exchange Building are among the places we will see. At the end of the tour, you will have free time to explore the city. In the evening, we will head to our hotel, and after the check-in procedures are completed, there will be free time.

Brussels – Bruges - Paris

After breakfast, we complete our check-out procedures at the hotel and depart for Bruges. After a journey that will take approximately one hour, we will arrive in Bruges, known as the Venice of the North. With its historic texture, well-preserved medieval architecture, narrow streets, colorful historic buildings, canals, and important structures, the city, protected by UNESCO, offers its visitors a chance to travel back in time. Bruges, steeped in history with its green parks and nature, will also captivate you with its romantic atmosphere. During our walking city tour, Grote Markt, the City Hall, which stands out with its Gothic architecture, the Belfry Bell Tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and Minnewater (Lake of Love), which has the city's most beautiful view, are among the places we will see. During the free time given to explore the city, you may spend time in its charming cafes and have your lunch in local restaurants. After our Bruges visit, we set off for Paris. Upon arrival, we begin exploring Paris, one of the world's most important metropolises, where you can see traces of its history in every corner. One of the first symbols that comes to mind when romance is mentioned, Paris owes this distinction undoubtedly to the way neoclassical architecture shapes the entire city. Adorned by Haussmann buildings from its wide avenues to its side streets, Paris welcomes its visitors as if in an open-air museum, offering a broad range of experiences from art to culture, fashion to gastronomy. Our first stop on our Paris city tour is Champs Elysées Avenue, the first place that comes to mind when shopping is mentioned. After the free time given for food and shopping, we meet at the time specified by our guide and head to our hotel for accommodation.

Paris  

After breakfast, we leave our hotel in the morning to see the most important points of Paris. Our first stop will be Montmartre (Painters’ Hill), the city’s most artistic and bohemian district, located in the north of Paris. First, with our vehicle, we will see the Pigalle district, which is also home to the world-famous cabaret show Moulin Rouge, known for its lively nightlife and colorful atmosphere. At the Sacre Coure Basilica on Painters’ Hill, which we will reach by funicular, we will be greeted by the Sacre Coure Basilica. On Painters’ Hill, once the center of religious life, the Sacre Coure Basilica, whose construction began in 1875 to symbolize France’s spiritual renewal, was only opened to worship after World War I. After its spiritual transformation, the Montmartre district became a center of art and hosted many famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Emile Zola. You will have free time to explore Painters’ Hill, where you will greatly enjoy wandering through its bohemian streets filled with art galleries, and for lunch. We will continue our city tour by seeing the Montparnasse district, known as the center of modern art and intellectual life, and also home to many entertainment venues. Afterwards, a delightful experience awaits you with a boat tour on the Seine River, where we will see Paris’s iconic landmarks. During our river tour, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, Alexandre III Bridge, Orsay Museum, and the Institut de France are just some of the places we will see panoramically. In the late afternoon, we will go up to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, where you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Paris’s magnificent scenery. Designed for the 1889 Paris World Fair, the tower has over time become a symbol of Paris and one of the most magnificent structures in the world. It is still one of the most well-known tourist attractions, welcoming millions of visitors worldwide. After our tour, we will head to the hotel where we will stay.

Paris  –  Metz –  Luxembourg

After breakfast, we will check out of our rooms early in the morning and leave our hotel. After approximately a 3.5-hour journey, our first stop will be Metz, one of the oldest cities in France. Metz, which has changed hands frequently throughout history due to wars between France and Germany, will impress you greatly with its atmosphere steeped in history, where you can see reflections of both cultures, as well as its magnificent nature. One of the greenest cities in France, Metz has a fascinating natural setting with the Moselle and Seille Rivers and their lakes. Among the places we will see are the “German Gate,” a medieval structure built by German workers on the Moselle River, the dazzling Saint-Etienne Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Place d’Armes Square, the famous Metz Covered Market, and one of France’s oldest buildings, the opera and

theater building. After our visit here, we will head to Luxembourg. After an enjoyable one-hour journey, we will immediately begin our city tour. Located in the heart of Europe with its strategic position, Luxembourg is among the world’s most developed countries economically. Founded in 963, the city lies at the crossroads of Roman and Germanic cultures and has been influenced by both civilizations. The country, which took its present borders after the Treaty of London and whose official name is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, shares the same name as its capital. In Luxembourg, which impresses visitors not only with its natural beauty but also with its historical texture, the places we will see include the old town Casemates du Bock, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and contains historic

walls and underground tunnels, Place Guillaume, one of the city’s main squares, and Chemin de la Corniche, built in the 17th century and described as Europe’s most beautiful balcony. During the free time we will have in the old town, you will have time for dinner. In the evening, we will leave the city and head to our hotel. After checking into our rooms, free time to rest.

Luksemburg – Strasbourg – Colmar - Alsace

After breakfast, we will leave our hotel early in the morning and head to Strasbourg. Throughout its history, the city, which could not be shared by Germany and France and changed hands many times, was returned to France again with the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. Known as a place representing European peace, Strasbourg hosts many international institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights. In addition to its historical and cultural richness, Strasbourg is surrounded by many canals and waterways. Built on the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine, the city also hosts Notre Dame Cathedral, once among the largest structures in the world. Le Petite France (Little France), the picturesque medieval town that is the historical center of the city and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is one of the most memorable places in Strasbourg. After our tour of Strasbourg, we will continue our journey by visiting Colmar, the pearl of the Alsace Region. While exploring Colmar, which reflects the historical fabric of the region in the most vivid way, you will find yourself in an atmosphere where time seems to stand still. Le Petit Venice (Little Venice), with its colorful half-timbered houses, flower-adorned balconies, and canal network, is among Colmar's most enchanting spots. In the evening, we will leave the city and head to our hotel. After settling into our rooms, free time to rest.

Freiburg – Lucerne – Basel - Alsace

After breakfast in the morning, we leave our hotel and head to Freiburg. Freiburg, a German city, is located next to the Black Forest. Undoubtedly, when Freiburg is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is that the city center is paved with miniature water channels called “Bachle.” These channels, built in the 13th century, were designed to prevent fires in the city. Today, we can say they are the historical remains that attract the most attention from Freiburg visitors and children. The Gothic Freiburg Minster Cathedral, rising from the middle of the city, is another striking structure. After our Freiburg visit, we continue to Lucerne. Located on the shores of Lake Lucerne, the city, with its unique view among the mountains, half-timbered houses, narrow streets, and flower-decorated balconies, will leave romantic traces in your memories. The eye-catching Reuss River, flowing through the center of the city, is one of its symbols. During our Lucerne tour, which bears traces of Gothic architecture, the Chapel Bridge connecting the city, the Lion Monument built in memory of the Swiss guards who lost their lives while protecting the Tuileries Palace during the French Revolution, and the Musegg Wall and Nine Towers, part of the fortifications built in the 14th century to protect the city, are among the historical structures we will see. After our visit, we set off toward Basel. Basel, where trade has been intense throughout its history, has gradually become a center of culture and industry. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes began to establish dominance in Basel and the surrounding areas, and from the 5th century onward, the Germanic tribes fully influenced the region around the Rhine River. Today, in addition to being Switzerland’s third-largest city, it also hosts many museums and exhibitions. During our city tour on foot, we will see the city hall with its striking deep red color and the Basel Cathedral, which was built as a Catholic church in 1091 and rebuilt after the great earthquake in 1356. The church, which currently serves as a Protestant church, is on the Swiss National Heritage list. Afterwards, we will visit Marktplatz, the old town square and market place. Hosting many festivals, this square is one of the liveliest places in the city. In the evening, we will leave the city and head to our hotel. After checking into our rooms, free time to rest.

Basel  –  İstanbul

After breakfast, we will complete our check-out from the rooms and leave the hotel. After the free time given by our guide, we will head to the airport at the specified time. After completing our ticket and baggage procedures, our flight with Turkish Airlines to Istanbul Airport. With our arrival at local time, the end of our Benelux tour. 

We hope to come together again on another trip where you will collect unforgettable memories…