Paris – An all-time classic from Thessaloniki

After breakfast, we’ll start our day with a comprehensive tour of Paris’s most important sights. Our first stop is at Place d'Etoile, where we’ll take photos of the impressive Arc de Triomphe, and, continuing by bus, we will drive down the famous Champs-Élysées, with its impressive 18th- and 19th-century buildings, and Avenue Montaigne, home to the haute couture fashion houses. Then we’ll pass by the Palais de Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, the Palais Galliera, the Fashion Museum, and the Guimet National Museum of Asian Art, and we’ll stop at the Trocadéro hill to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower, one of the city’s symbols, and the Champ de Mars. Next, back on the bus, we’ll pass by the Eiffel Tower, see the Military School, the Hôtel des Invalides with the imposing Church of Saint Louis, in whose crypt the Great Napoleon is buried, the Tsar Alexander III Bridge, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde with the Obelisk, the Jardin des Tuileries, and then we will follow the right bank of the Seine. Here we will see the Louvre Palace (now a museum), the Academy of Arts and Sciences, the unique Orsay Museum, Chatelet Square, the Palais de la Cité, and we’ll stop at the City Hall Square. As we walk, we’ll cross over to the Île de la Cité, passing by the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital and the French National Police Headquarters, opposite which stands once again, unscathed, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the symbol of Paris, which, following restoration work, has reopened its doors to the public. We will admire it from the outside and continue on to the Quartier Latin, the traditional student neighborhood, where we will have free time to stroll or have a coffee. Leaving by bus from City Hall, we head toward the Sorbonne University, the Panthéon, the Luxembourg Gardens, with the beautiful Palace of Marie de’ Medici, seat of the French Senate, Rue Bonaparte with the churches of Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Germain, and the area’s famous cafés, Café de Flore and Café les Deux Magots. Continuing on, crossing the left bank of the Seine, we see the National Assembly, the ancient Church of St. Madeleine, the boulevards, Place Vendôme, one of the city’s most luxurious squares, built by Louis XIV, with the famous Ritz Hotel and the Column of Napoleon, and we end up at the unique building of the Opéra Garnier with its impressive façade and yet another famous bistro, the Café de la Paix. Here we stop for photos and to visit the Galeries Lafayette. Our day concludes with a visit to the most famous museum in the world: the Louvre. We’ll see the most important exhibits, such as the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and of course, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and works by other famous painters.

Today you have the chance to visit the magical world of Disneyland on an optional excursion that will thrill you! Immerse yourself in a world full of colors, cheerful music, and spectacular shows, where all the heroes come to life right before your eyes. At Disneyland, you’ll enjoy unique experiences, such as traveling back to the Wild West era, with riverboats and the impressive Thunder Mountain. For adventure lovers, the Indiana Jones train ride and Pirate Island with its hidden treasures will captivate you. If you’re looking for something more magical, the world of Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio, or the adventures of Peter Pan and Snow White, will transport you to a fairy-tale world. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy the Star Tour and the thrilling Space Mountain, while Mickey’s Toontown and It’s a Small World offer a more relaxed and family-friendly experience. During the day, you can enjoy your meal at one of the park’s 29 restaurants, offering a variety of flavors and options for every taste.

We are on the fourth day of our trip and have already seen quite a bit of Paris. Today you can spend your day however you like or join us on an optional excursion to Normandy, known for the historic D-Day landings of World War II, now the top tourist destination for Parisians. After passing near its capital, Rouen, we’ll head to the first town we’ll visit, Honfleur. A picturesque fishing village, straight out of a fairy tale, full of colors and flowers. Popular with Impressionist painters such as Monet and Boudin, who were inspired by the changing light and the picturesque waterfront of the harbor, the city retains a traditional beauty with public buildings, squares, streets, and houses that strongly evoke other eras, as its architecture has not changed much since the 16th century. The “Vieux Bassin” port, meaning “old basin,” "tucked away" on the south side of the Seine estuary, dates back to the 17th century, and the narrow, multi-story buildings with their wooden frames create a picturesque setting. The Musée de la Marine houses a collection of ship models and maritime works, and there are also museums dedicated to two of the city’s most famous residents, the artist Eugene Boudin and the musician and composer Erik Satie. After a stroll through narrow streets lined with centuries-old buildings and numerous galleries and studios—since we are in an artists’ town— at the small harbor, the wooden church of St. Catherine, and free time to discover its hidden secrets. Through a unique route through the region’s countryside, we will pass through Trouville, a favorite town of the Impressionists, and end up in the beautiful and cosmopolitan Deauville. A city that, sprawling lazily by the sea, was founded in the 19th century by the Duke de Morny with the aim of creating “the kingdom of elegance.” It was a favorite vacation spot for the country’s aristocracy and today stands as a cosmopolitan resort in northern France. The retro atmosphere, the impressive mansions, and the award-winning restaurants are just some of the reasons why the city is a magnet for the international jet set. The once-quiet fishing village is now a cosmopolitan seaside resort, with its 1,400-meter-long beach offering moments of relaxation and plenty of dips in the cool waters. On our tour, we will see the venues of the film festival held during the summer, the coast with its dramatic tides and currents, the casino, which opened in 1864 and was later relocated to a new building in 1912—a miniature version of its famous counterpart in Monte Carlo—and City Hall. Free time. Return to Paris in the evening. Alternatively, we recommend visiting the Musée d’Orsay, known for its vast collection of works by Impressionist painters such as Manet, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Cézanne, and others. Also, don’t miss the Pompidou Center, the National Museum of Modern Art, located in the Marais district. Also, enjoy a stroll through the Latin Quarter and, of course, don’t miss a visit to Notre-Dame de Paris. In the afternoon, round out your day with a drink on the 66th floor of the Montparnasse Tower and take in the view of Paris from 210 meters up.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll make the most of our last few hours in Paris with a final stroll through the heart of the city. We’ll start at Place de la Bastille, a site of great historical significance where the event that marked the 1789 Revolution took place. The prison that stood here was demolished by the Parisian revolutionaries and became a symbol of the end of the royal regime’s tyranny. The fall of the Bastille has been celebrated as a national holiday in France, Bastille Day, since 1880. Here we will have the opportunity to see the impressive Bastille Opera House, which seats 5,000 spectators, and the imposing monument to the 1830 Revolution, which marked the definitive expulsion of the Bourbons from the throne. We will then head to Place des Vosges, home to Victor Hugo’s former residence, now a museum. We will walk through the medieval and picturesque Marais district, the oldest inhabited area of Paris, which is filled with imposing buildings, mansions of French aristocrats, some of which house museums, such as the Carnavalet, the Lamoignon, and the famous Picasso Museum. Finally, we’ll end up in the bustling Beaubourg district with the Centre Georges Pompidou, which also houses the famous Museum of Modern Art. The area features many bistros, cafés, and restaurants catering to all tastes and ages, as well as shops for our final purchases. After enjoying our final stroll, we’ll head to the airport for our return flight.