Split, Croatia - Istanbul, Turkey 1 days trip

Croatia's second-largest city is home to several remarkable historic landmarks, rich museums, diverse architecture, and nice beaches.

This enormous 4C palace was the retirement home of the famed Roman Emperor, Diocletian, and now comprises most of Split's center.

Get to know this amazing town center, rich with history, archaeological remnants, and a well-developed coffeehouse culture.

Dedicated to the life and works of the famed 20C Croatian sculptor, this museum hosts an array of his sculptures, artwork, and design.

Croatia is home to several incredible beaches. Spend the day relaxing in the Croatian sun on one of Split's stunning white beaches.

Hire a boat to visit this beautiful sea cave, famed for the gorgeous blue illumination flooding its waters several times a day.

Venture out of the town to explore one of Croatia's most popular islands, known for great beaches, nice hiking, and charming villages.

With its dramatic scenery, a wealth of historic sites, quaint streets, and marvelous beaches, this vibrant city is a superb destination.

Stroll through the city center, rich in history and cultural relics, and enjoy the many landmarks dotting the ancient streets.

Trace the city's medieval fortifications in their circuit around the Old Town, enjoying incredible views and nearby landmarks.

Perched on a cliff jutting into the Adriatic Sea, this beautiful 11C stronghold serves as a theater during the annual Dubrovnik Festival.

Great for people-watching, this 15C ornate fountain once supplied water to the entire city and now serves a nice piece of local history.

Dating to 5C BC, this coastal town offers great beaches, a medieval fortress, and vibrant nightlife.

Once a fishing village, this islet features sandy beaches, charming ambiance, and an elegant hotel favored by the rich and famous.

A medieval fortress housing a small museum and a gallery, as well as providing great views of the area.

Spend your day catching rays on this lovely beach, known for its calm, surrounding beauty, and fine sandy shore dotted with cafes.

Enjoy the medieval charm permeating these winding cobbled streets, as you explore its citadel, churches, embrasures, and more.

Set on Montenegrin and Albanian territory surrounding Lake Skadar, this diverse park is favored by bird watchers.

An artificial islet in the Bay of Kotor, home to a 15C church with an impressive collection of art, a museum, and a gift shop.

Albania's modern capital city boasts colorful buildings, world-class museums, historic sites, and sprawling parks.

Explore Tirana's vibrant city center, admire the colorful former-Soviet buildings, and people-watch in one of the excellent cafes.

Albania's largest museum is home to a wide range of fascinating exhibits, dating from ancient Illyria up until modern times.

An excellent archaeological museum, home to an array of artifacts ranging from prehistoric and historic times up to Middle Ages.

Known as "one of the most relaxing places in the capital," kick back in the shade of the park's trees or go for a swim in the lake.

Covering over 2,000 ha of stunning nature, this wonderful park is home to the "Queen Mother" water source, known for its beauty.

Encompassing Albania's largest lagoon and the Ramsar Wetlands, this national park offers rare bird watching and great hiking trails.

Considered the birthplace of Western Civilization, Athens' 3,500 year history is alive today in politics, culture, and philosophy.

Explore this awe inspiring citadel, home to numerous historic buildings, including the Parthenon. Its myths are equally phenomenal.

Explore the ancient lanes north of the Acropolis. It wasn't until the 19C that Athens really expanded beyond his historic center.

Home to all artifacts found at the Acropolis and its environs, this archaeological museum is comprehensive and inspirational.

Built in the 5C BC, this pure Ionic temple was restored in 1834 with many of its original stones and carvings.

Situated high above the Aegean, this 5C BC temple is a great fortress to explore, as are the beach and cafes at the base of its headland.

With a a rare 12C double Byzantine church built into the rock, this fascinating cave is enveloped in rumors of paranormal activity.

Oia stunningly sits along the side of a caldera on the island of Santorini. Many consider its beauty unsurpassed.

Known for its beautiful sunsets, relax and enjoy incredible array of colors as the sun sinks into the Mediterranean Sea.

The ruined castle was the seat of the Argyri family under the Venetians. It offers great panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Walk this charming historic center among locals as they go about their business during the day and relax at night.

Situated on the island of Santorini, this lovely village hugs the side of the caldera, affording great views, especially at sunset.

Spend the day relaxing in the sun on the shores of this stunning beach, considered to be the most beautiful on the island.

The main village on the island of Ios, this white hilltop village stands below the ruins of a Venetian castle.

Named for the famous Greek poet Odysseas Elytis, this hilltop marble amphitheater hosts most of the town's cultural events.

The main village on the island of Ios, this white hilltop village stands below the ruins of a Venetian castle.

With a collection of ancient artifacts found on the island, the museum houses artwork, burial columns and more interesting pieces.

Overlooking the town of Chora, this landmark church features a blue dome, white walls, and a lone palm tree.

Take a day trip to the birthplace of Greece. Its settlement precedes Greek myth, as seen through extensive archaeological finds.

Situated on the island of Santorini, this lovely village hugs the side of the caldera, affording great views, especially at sunset.

Mykonos is a maze of alleys, homes, and chapels, where walking the same path in the day and night offers two distinct experiences.

Wander through this historic center, where arts and crafts, architecture, windmills, and food combine for a charmed experience.

Featuring excellent tourist facilities, the beaches of Mykonos offer accommodations, bars, restaurants, and sports facilities.

This extensive and interesting archaeological museum houses exhibits dating from the Prehistoric to the Hellenistic period.

This unique maritime museum restores living historical exhibits as they were originally designed and built.

Take a day trip to the birthplace of Greece. Its settlement precedes Greek myth, as seen through extensive archaeological finds.

Spend the day relaxing in the sun on the shores of this stunning beach, considered to be the most beautiful on the island.

A seaside resort town best known for its buzzing nightlife and superb beaches, also offering great food and historic attractions.

Wander around the streets taking in the nice atmosphere, then head to the beach for an afternoon of relaxation.

Popular with travelers and locals alike, this great beach boasts beautiful water, a sandy shore, and vibrant nightlife.

This great little beach draws visitors in with its lovely scenery, clear blue waters, general lack of waves, and some watersports.

While its history reaches beyond its construction in the 15C, the monastery retains ancient holy relics and boasts fine artwork.

Cyprus' capital and its largest city boasts many historic monuments, great museums, castles, and churches.

Boasting superb historic findings, this archaeological park encompasses the ancient Greek city-state and dates to the 11C BC.

The capital of Malta rests on a lovely peninsula, boasting a well-preserved town center, many museums, and historic landmarks.

This wonderful 16C cathedral is famed for its architecture, exquisitely ornate altars, fine artworks, and an adjoining art museum.

Located on the highest tier of a 16C bastion, these beautiful gardens are strewn with statues and cultural monuments.

Take your time exploring these ancient streets, admiring the assortment of diverse architecture from the 16C onward.

Wander through the rooms or join a tour and learn about the fascinating history of this 17C palace, still retaining its lush decor.

Hire a boat to visit the gorgeous grotto with its brilliant shades of blue in the water, and take the opportunity to dive or climb.

A small northern town well known for its 17C rotunda, as well as several other cultural marks and historic monuments.

A vibrant metropolis set on the Mediterranean Sea, famed for its brilliant architecture, rich culture, and captivating history.

Recognized as the masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi, this incomplete church is an exquisite blend of Gothicism and Art Nouveau.

In the heart of the city center, this historic quarter is full of Gothic architectural gems, as well as artifacts dating to the 4C.

A marvel of landscaping by Antoni Gaudi, this park blends lush gardens with architectural curios, and is full of whimsical statues.

The center remains the heart of Barcelona, combining historic sites and cultural monuments with cafes, shops, and fun activities.

Dating to the 11C, this cliffside monastery boasts Romanesque features and is surrounded by the breathtaking nature of the Cingles de Berti.

A beautiful mountaintop abbey that offers breathtaking views over the whole of Catalonia, and houses a famed image of Black Madonna.

Madrid is where ancient and old meet modern and cosmopolitan, where sightseeing, dancing, and shopping go hand in hand.

Spectacular enough to rival the Louvre, this museum is well-known for its revered art collection including best national artists.

Old Madrid offers a range of exploration from small charming residences, to elaborate mansions, to a number of churches.

This must-see museum provides a comprehensive journey of prehistoric, Iberian, Visigothic, Muslim, and Christian cultures.

Housed in an old hospital, this museum holds a most excellent collection of art by 20C Spanish artists.

This magnificent monasterial complex boasts a palace, a church, an ancient library, royal apartments, and many more historic gems.

A memorial dedicated to those who fell during the Spanish Civil War, covering over 3,360 acres of beautiful woodland.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a lively city filled with restaurants, shops, buzzing nightlife, and historical sites.

A 16C architectural gem of Manueline art, the UNESCO World Heritage Site monastery features an ornate facade and a peaceful courtyard.

Wander through the lively streets of Lisbon and discover beautiful architecture, historical sites, and stunning viewpoints.

An art museum displaying a vast collection of ancient Oriental and Classical art, as well as 11C-20C European art.

A 17C palace, formerly used as hunting pavilion, it boasts a 16C chapel and beautiful artwork decorating the different rooms.

Its structures melt into the wild natural surroundings, this 16C convent embodies the spirit of the minimalism its order practiced.

A majestic 19C Romanticist hilltop palace, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Full of history and unassuming charm, Georgia's capital boasts diverse architecture, several museums, and amazing Georgian cuisine.

Georgia's largest church features nine different chapels, a wealth of ornamental details, an adjacent monastery, and a bell-tower.

Explore the cobbled streets of the Old Town, admiring historic buildings, visiting local cafes, or simply enjoying people-watching.

Book in advance not to miss the unique experience of this fantastic puppet theater, well-known for its remarkable performances.

With a history stretching to the 4C, this fortress overlooks Tbilisi and houses frescoes depicting biblical and historical scenes.

Recognized as one of Georgia's earliest settlements, this ancient town is carved into the rock, featuring tunnels and chambers.

With its uncommon architectural layout, fine decorative reliefs, and amazing views, this 6C church is worth the hike up a hill.

Azerbaijan's capital is rapidly evolving, with old-world European gems, Soviet architectural remnants, and a new modern charm.

Get to know Azerbaijan's capital, strolling the streets, and taking in the fabulous sites and diverse architecture.

Known as one of Azerbaijan's most important museums, it features an extensive collection of Azerbaijani literary artifacts.

Try to catch a performance, or just go see the magnificent 20C building that holds the Azerbaijani Opera and Ballet.

Azerbaijan's largest art museum features over 15,000 works of art from throughout history and all over the world.

This complex of museums is made up of three museums, the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, Castle Museum, and the Museum of Antiques.

This park is home to over 6,000 rock carvings dating back over 40,000 years and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

East meets West in a vibrant crescendo of history, culture, and cuisine, making Istanbul an unmissable destination.

Sitting on the European bank of the mighty Bosphorus, this 19C palace is an extravagant mix of styles and lavish decor.

One of Istanbul's top sights, the magnificent interior of this former basilica is laden with fine Byzantine mosaics and designs.

A fairy tale in the middle of a modern city, this stunning castle is enveloped in legend and history, and took 500 years to build.

Still in use today, this majestic 17C mosque is known for its sea of grand domes, six slender minarets and beautiful interior.

Escape Istanbul's busy streets on these idyllic islands, dotted with picturesque villas, historic buildings, and lovely beaches.

A great national park located in Western Anatolia, boasting a wide diversity of flora and fauna species, as well as a rich habitat.