Day 1: Thessaloniki - New York
Meeting at the airport, final instructions and we start with our flight to the dream New York with the top airlines selected by our office.The tall skyscrapers are the first to welcome us to the "Big Apple". The Christmas atmosphere is pervasive everywhere. A unique journey is just beginning and promises to be unforgettable. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to the hotel which is located in the heart of Manhattan. Time to settle in. Shortly afterwards, depending on the time of arrival, we will embark on a walking tour with our guide for a first introduction to the city.
Day 2: New York City - North Manhattan tour - Central Park - Columbia University - Lincoln Center - Harlem - Rockefeller Center
Today takes place the first of two guided tours of the sights for which the city is famous. We will see the statue of the 1st most important explorer, Christopher Columbus with his caravels, which today is the measuring point for all distances from New York City. We will then pass by the Lincoln Center which is home to the Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera, an ideal venue for classical music lovers and beyond. We will then make a short stop in Central Park at the site of John Lennon's house and from there we will enter the park. Central Park is one of the most popular parks in the world where New Yorkers relax and make the most of their free time. A park full of picturesque lakes, lovely fountains, the famous whispering bench, Shakespeare's garden and the small but very popular zoo. We continue with the famous Columbia University of Theoretical Sciences in New York, whose entrance makes reference to ancient Greek philosophers. Next is the neighborhood of Harlem, formerly known as the Mecca of New York's African-Americans, where the Apollo theater is located, on whose stage all the demigods of jazz and Michael Jackson have performed. The tour ends with 5th Avenue with its famous fashion houses and Rockefeller Center, one of the largest private complexes in the world owned by the family of the same name, a city landmark, which is home to the "Top of the Rock" observatory. We will end up in Times Square, the busiest and most photographed square in the world, where millions of visitors are dazzled by the illuminated skyscrapers with colorful "neon" signs that truly make the night a day. Nearby is the wondrous Broadway, an entertainment industry hub where one can enjoy the world's most spectacular shows, and the public library, a beautiful building both inside and out, dominated by marble, murals and woodwork. Remarkably, the public library is one of the most important research libraries in the United States. For the evening, we recommend attending one of the famous musical performances at the Broadway theatres, completing your day in New York in the best possible way. Don't forget to purchase your tickets from Greece in order to take advantage of our agency's special low prices, saving you time in queues!
Day 3: New York City - South Manhattan tour, United Nations, Chelsea Market and the new eccentric Hudson Yards district, cruise to the Statue of Liberty - Grand Central station
Gather in the hotel lobby for the second part of the city tour in which we will head alongside the East River passing the East Manhattan piers with views of the Brooklyn Suspension Bridge. Our first stop will be at the United Nations House, the headquarters of the organization whose purpose is to preserve world peace, study international economic trends, human rights issues, natural resources, etc. Then we will visit the Grand Central Station, gateway and symbol of the city, where at least 750,000 people pass through the magnificent main hall every day. We then head to the Flatiron Building, a pioneering skyscraper of great architectural significance. We move on to Greenwich Village which is beloved by artists and writers, the landmark being Washington Square and New York University (N.Y.lJ). Next is East Village, Soho which is filled with famous fashion houses, Little Italy and Chinatown, two of the city's most vibrant districts where New York's multicultural identity is felt. We head to Wall Street, the centre of the global economy with a stop at the Charging Bull bronze sculpture. Immediately afterwards we come across Ground Zero, where a memorial has been created to remind everyone of 9/11, and next to it is the new Financial Center called the One Word Trade Center. In the same area is the new much-discussed station, built by Kalatrava, known as Oculus, a building of particular architecture with a dominant white colour, which impresses both inside and outside and is even considered to be the most expensive station in the world, with a cost of 4 billion dollars. We continue to Battery Park where we will see the Statue of Liberty from afar, enter the famous indoor market Chelsea Market, home of famous New York gourmet restaurants, where there will be free time to buy local produce and taste famous delicacies. We then tour the Highline, a lovely park on the old railroad line, which allows us to walk above the city, filled with images of Manhattan neighborhoods. Our tour continues with a cruise around Manhattan Island, where we can see historic Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty that dominates the entrance to the city, Staten Island and the great Verenzano Bridge. Of course, we will pass under the various smaller and larger old and newer bridges and over the many tunnels that connect Manhattan to the surrounding area and the adjacent state of New Jersey. This will now give us a great opportunity to photograph the impressive Manhattan skyscrapers from a distance. After the cruise, we will visit Hudson Yards, the newly built neighborhood of Manhattan that came out of a science fiction movie! Spread over 14 acres it includes dozens of shops, gardens, groves, upscale stores, celebrity chef restaurants and the impressive climbing project The Vessel which resembles a giant beehive. We then return to our hotel and have time to get ready for our evening out. We have almost limitless options in the not coincidentally named "city that never sleeps": at a special cocktail bar or restaurant in the Meatpacking District, at a bar at the top of the Meatpacking District, at a bar in the or in nearby Soho, Little Italy, Tribecca, West & East Village, all areas with a rich nightlife. Among New Yorkers relaxing with a drink or food after a long day, New York is ready to show you its nightlife face. If we're still lucky and there's a basketball game on, we recommend experiencing the spectacular and magical world of the NBA in Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center with tickets secured by us! Of course, those of you who want to get specific and tested suggestions from our guide, feel free to consult him at any time.
4th day: New York City - Visit to the Metropolitan Museum - walk in the neighborhoods "Sex & the city , Friends" - tour of the Brooklyn Bridge - Brooklyn Dumbo area - Timeout Market - Bryant Park Christmas Market, Public Library
Today, we begin our tour of the public library, a beautiful building both inside and out, dominated by marble, murals, woodwork, quiet spaces for reading and study. Remarkably, the public library is one of the most important research libraries in the United States. We continue in the footsteps of the main protagonists of the famous Sex and the City series, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. In addition to 5th Avenue where the four friends spent most of their time shopping, we will visit in particular the Magnolia Bakery where the famous group used to enjoy their famous cupcakes, and Carrie's house where the filming of the famous series took place. At the same time we will continue our walk in the West Village, where we will pass by the building where the shooting of the series that was a huge success in Greece, "The Friends", thus completing our special walk. Afterwards, we visit one of the richest museums in the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art where works of priceless value from every culture are collected. It is the third most visited museum in the world, after the Louvre and the British Museum. Its permanent collections include works of art from classical antiquity, ancient Egypt, Byzantine and Islamic art, paintings and sculptures by leading painters, as well as an extensive collection of American, African, Asian, Asian and contemporary art and much, much more. Surely a single day is not enough to explore it in its entirety. This is a museum with a rich and inexhaustible collection that art lovers will love. Next, we will experience Brooklyn's Dumbo district, an area located in the southeastern end of Brooklyn. This area, whose name comes from the initials Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is one of the most historic and photographed areas with unsurpassed views for the best photos of your trip. So, as a souvenir, don't forget to take a picture of the corner of Washington Street yourself. There we'll walk through neighborhoods reminiscent of another era. The famous 19th century brownstone houses are a landmark, the immaculate buildings and manicured trees of Brooklyn Heights lend an air of stateliness to the neighborhood. While the area caters to classic tastes, one need not be an expert to enjoy the area's rustic architecture. In Brooklyn's most impressive neighborhood is the Timeout Market a multi-faceted market with restaurants from top chefs with specialties from around the world. We will stroll along the river with views of the Manhattan skyscrapers and enjoy food and drink in a unique setting among the majestic bridges of Brooklyn and Manhattan. From there we will have the opportunity to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States (1883) and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by crossing over the East River. Since its opening it has been a symbol of New York City and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1972. We then transfer by coach to the Christmas Village in Bryant Park. We will wander the small Christmas booths, sampling great street food, buying souvenirs and enjoying a musical event. One of the most enjoyable ways to end our day in the decorated city! We suggest spending the evening at one of Manhattan's most authentic Jazz Bars, with live music, food and drinks. Due to the fact that the center is often full, you have the option of booking and purchasing a ticket from us. For the burger and chocolate lovers, our guide will recommend the best spots in town.
Day 5: New York - Woodbury Commons Discount Village
Free day. For those of you whose very cheap shopping is one of the reasons for visiting New York, a visit to the largest, richest and most impressive, shopping mall, the famous Woodbury Commons, is a must. It is worth noting that the shops are spread out in a huge open space that resembles a small village, which makes your shopping even safer. Just an hour or so away from Manhattan, there are all the brand-name items at incredibly low prices. Two hundred and twenty plus fashion names will be at your disposal. It is no coincidence that the largest percentage of Americans, choose this place for their shopping. With stores like Michael Kors, Gucci, Guess, Dolce&Gabbana, l.Jgg, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Timberland, Brooks Brothers, Tommy Hilfiger and many more in an incredible variety and at prices up to four times cheaper than in Greece. It will also help you save time, as you won't have to spend extra time shopping in Manhattan. Our guide will give you the necessary advice to see as many shops as possible, making appropriate use of your time according to your shopping interest. Along with your membership, you get a $10 VIP Coupons Book for extra perks and discounts and a map to mark the top stores that interest you. Again, if shopping is not your forte, we suggest a stroll through Soho, Chelsea with its local market and East village, which was home to high society until 1900, then populated by immigrants and from the 1950s onwards the area became a mecca for the Beatles, hippies and punk generation. The East village became a laboratory for experimentation and new trends.
Day 6: Excursion to Washington DC (optional)
Free day. We suggest a full day excursion to Washington DC, the city that, was chosen to be the capital of the Federation. Washington DC is more than just a state capital, it is where the yesterday, today and tomorrow of the United States is summed up. It is a modern imperial Rome where, behind the hermetically sealed doors of the American palace (White House), critical decisions are made about the future of the Planet. Three elements define the identity of the American metropolis today: the multiracial human presence, the exemplary urban organization and, above all, the open horizons. In Washington, skyscrapers do not dominate since no building is allowed to exceed the height of the Capitol (the only exception being the Obelisk monument). We will see the monuments of the American presidents, Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln, a monument where the Greek element is strong as the Parthenon was used as a model. We will meet the reflection pool with the famous Obelisk, Lafayette Square, and the White House, considered the most famous residence of the entire planet. Here the strong police force is evident everywhere and the images particularly familiar from Hollywood movies. We will also see the Capitol, the seat of the US federal government which at 88 meters high is the tallest building in the city and is the center of the city. Next we will see the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress which is the largest and richest in the world with several influences from Greek culture, the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives Building (in a special display case the original of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence) and the Smithsonian Institute, the largest museum complex in the world. If there is time, we will pass by the National Aeronautics and Space Museum, where we will admire modern exhibits of history-making spacecraft. Still we will pass by the most important Ministries, Museums, Banks, headquarters of international organizations, but also hotels, theaters, the Station, the to choose FBI headquarters and the bustling train station, the Union Station whose interior is amazing with many shops and restaurants for anyone. Late afternoon return to the hotel.
Day 7: New York - Boston (optional)
Today we recommend a full day excursion to beautiful Boston the home of the famous Universities of Research and Technology. On our Greek-speaking tour we will see sights such as the Old State House, the Old North Church and others associated with early American history. Furthermore, we will see the Government Center, Copley Square and the Prudential Tower, and admire the Victorian-style buildings. We'll also pass by Symphony Hall with the renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra. We will then visit world-renowned universities such as Harvard University and MIT. Free time for walking, dining and late afternoon return to the hotel. Should you choose to stay in Manhattan, we recommend a visit to one or more of its museums. Firstly, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), considered to hold today one of the most important collections of works in the world, of the greatest contemporary artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Cézanne, Dalí and Jackson Pollock, among others. The Natural History Museum is also ideal for our little ones. It is the largest museum of its kind in the world, with more than 36 million exhibits and 45 permanent exhibitions, the most notable of which are the Dinosaurs and Fossils exhibition, which is the most famous, the Meteorites room, the Ocean Life room. The Guggenheim Museum, whose exterior is one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 200th century. An ideal day for shopping, a visit to Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, the famous sportswear store Abercrombie & Fitch and its discount store, which your guide will point out to you; or combine shopping at Macy's with a visit to the Empire State Building. If you want to see New York from above, there are a total of 5 observatories in Manhattan, the Empire State Building, the Top of the Rock and One World Observatory, The Edge and the brand new glass Summit-One Vanderbilt. Don't forget to try at least one of the hot dogs that can be found on every corner of the city with the characteristic "NIKAS" umbrellas, or one of the famous Halal Guys canteens with very good quality street food.
8th day: New York - One-day excursion to Philadelphia and the Amish community (optional)
Our optional excursion is a unique experience to get in touch with the primitive and unique way of life of the Amish community and be transported to the historical Middle Ages. Depart New York City for "Philadelphia City. There, we will visit the famous Liberty Bell, one of the symbols of freedom in America, the "Square of Brotherly Love", the Constitution and walk down Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential street in America. We continue with a panoramic tour that includes the famous "Rocky Steps" and then visit the Lancaster area, home to the Amish community. After a break for lunch at the Amish Marketplace, we enjoy an authentic wagon ride through the rural area and learn how the Amish community lives departure for New York. In the late afternoon, if you want to stay in New York, we suggest a stroll through Greenwich Village or wander the alleys of Little Italy and relax while enjoying an espresso or a delicious pizza made with a traditional Italian recipe at the first pizzeria to open in the U.S. Ask your guide. Visit the special district of China Town, walk through it and experience first-hand the images you will have already taken away from our tour. For dessert lovers, you will learn about the most famous pastry shops, such as some that serve a shot of milk with a glass of biscuit, or the cronut a delicious modern American dessert. Alternatively, you can visit the Greek quarter of New York, Astoria. This is where the first Greek immigrants settled in search of a better life in the late 1950s and made their own history in New York. Although it doesn't resemble the Greek Quarter of the past, you will see a few Greek shop signs, some Greek cafes and Athena Square.
9th - 10th day: Free day and return flight
Our last day can be used for walks and activities. For those most excited about South Manhattan, we suggest a stroll through Greenwich Village or a wander through the alleys of Little Italy while relaxing and enjoying an espresso or a delicious pizza made with a traditional Italian recipe at the first pizzeria to open in the US - ask your guide. You can even visit the special district of China Town and buy your latest souvenirs. Finally, we recommend a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge for your last souvenir photos and a visit to the famous Eataly Italian Market where you can buy produce or even dine at one of the very tasty restaurants located inside the market. For the sweet lovers you will be informed about the most famous pastry shops, such as some that serve a shot of milk with a glass of biscuit, or the cronut a wonderful modern dessert that Americans love very much. We always feel like we have to come back because the days never end and we will definitely have something left for next time! Departure for the airport. After passing the controls and if there is still time for a short stroll through the duty free shops, we depart for the return journey. Arrival in the city from which we started, with rich experiences of the most famous megalopolis!
