Munich to Istanbul

MUNICH TO ISTANBUL

A Motorcycling Odyssey – From Europe to Asia and Return

This 35-day tour begins and ends in Munich. It includes 15 different countries, a total of 8 free days, and covers approximately 5,000 miles of exceptional motorcycle travel. From Germany, the tour continues through Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Turkey. After exploring Turkey, the trip returns to Germany via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. There is virtually no repetition of the eastbound route during the return to Munich.

(The map is for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect secondary or rural roads frequently used.)

Highlights of this Adventure include:

• Historical cities and world heritage sites such as Split, Dubrovnik, Budapest, the Meteora Monasteries in Greece and the sites of ancient Troy and Ephesus in Turkey.
• Extraordinary motorcycling along such world-class destinations as the Croatian coastline, the Turkish Sea of Marmara, the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania and the winding roads of Austria’s backcountry.
• An afternoon at the Plitvice Lakes in the mountainous area of central Croatia – A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Two free days in Greece: one in a top spa & wellness hotel in the Greek mountains and the other on the “Green Island” of Thassos – an island located in the Aegean Sea that is famous for clean beaches, hospitality, tasty wine and magnificent honey.
• Several free days in Turkey, including Akyaka – Turkey’s “seaside secret” – a beautiful village beach resort nestled at the head of the Bay of Gokova.
• Two free days in Istanbul, a “transcontinental city” that straddles the Bosphorus Strait – the dividing line between Europe and Asia.
• The Transylvania region of Romania, including a free day in Brașov and one night in Sighişoara. This small town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. It’s also the birthplace of Vlad Dracula (also known as Vlad Tepes – Vlad the Impaler), who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional creation, Count Dracula.
• A free day in Budapest, Hungary — home to extensive UNESCO World Heritage Sites and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

At a Glance Your Munich to Istanbul Adventure

Day 1 – Arrival in Munich

Welcome to the “beer capital of Germany”! On the official arrival day we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Walk around and try out one of the famous Bavarian beer gardens, before we meet for the motorcycle handover in the late afternoon. Riders arriving early can visit the BMW museum, a close by beer garden or do some sightseeing in downtown Munich. We’ll have a kickoff meeting in the evening, followed by our first dinner together!

DAY 2 – MUNICH TO MILLSTATT, AUSTRIA ~ 215 MILES

After a short ride on the German autobahn, we turn off towards Austria and dive into the alpine mountain range. One possible option is the Großglockner – Austria’s highest mountain pass – or we may follow the road through popular alpine resorts, before we end up in Kärnten, Austria’s southernmost state. It is famous for its lakes and scenic beauty and Millstatt is a typical and historical little town for our overnight stay.

Day 3 – MILLSTATT TO LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA ~ 160 MILES

Although Slovenia is a small country, it offers a variety of landscapes that we can enjoy on our bikes. Today, we arrive in the capital, Ljubljana, whose well-preserved historic city center makes for a perfect stroll before dinner.

Day 4 – LJUBLJANA TO PLITVICE, CROATIA ~ 165 MILES

Today we will ride through Croatia, taking several route options, including a scenic stretch along the Croatian coastline, to reach one of the country’s highlights, Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Day 5 – PLITVICE TO SPLIT ~ 215 MILES

After an early start we make it straight down to the coast and go for another twisty section of the scenic roads there. We then follow the coastline inland toward Split — whose historic city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Bring your camera and you may be able to capture your own “once in a lifetime” shots.

Day 6 – SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK ~ 155 MILES

From one UNESCO World Heritage Site to another, we will follow the coastline toward Dubrovnik, often called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic.’ A ferry will take us across to the Pelješac Peninsula, and after another 50 miles we will arrive in Dubrovnik, one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic and the cultural and administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Day 7 – Free Day in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has so much to offer that it is well worth it to spend a free day here. We can take one of the guided city tours, spend some time getting lost in this marvelous city, or hang around with a glass of wine and watch people walking by.

Day 8 – DUBROVNIK TO DURRËS, ALBANIA ~ 185 MILES

Today it’s getting serious! Via Montenegro, with a population of less than one million, one of the smaller European countries, we reach the border to mountainous Albania. Only 25 years ago it was prohibited to own a car! Our destination, Durrës, is one of the largest cities and an economic center of the country.

Day 9 – DURRËS TO ARISTI, GREECE ~ 200 MILES

We continue our ride south through Albania on a wonderful coastal road and then turn west into the mountains toward the border to Greece. For the rest of the day we stay in the beautiful Greek mountains and finish our day in a spa-and-wellness hotel in Aristi, a small village in the middle of spectacular scenery.

Day 10 – FREE DAY IN ARISTI

Enjoy the surroundings of Aristi on your bike, go for a hike or just lean back and relax on our free day in this peaceful place!

Day 11 – ARISTI TO KALAMBAKA ~ 105 MILES

It’s a short distance today, but we have several interesting route options. The twisty old mountain roads are enjoyable to ride, and we will want to arrive in Kalambaka early enough to visit the world-famous Meteora monasteries.

Day 12 – KALAMBAKA TO ELIA BEACH, SITHONIA ~ 215 MILES

Heading east from Kalambaka, we will approach the legendary Mount Olympus, the seat of the ancient Greek gods. Soon after, we will follow the coastline and ride around Thessaloniki, making our way to a stunning beach resort on the Chalkidiki Peninsula. With its beautiful scenery and relaxing atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to spend the night.

Day 13 – ELIA BEACH TO THASSOS ~ 185 MILES

The Greek mountains near the Bulgarian border are still home to stone eagles, wolves, and of course, twisties. It’s a loop well worth the effort before we head south again and board the ferry to the island of Thassos.

Day 14 – FREE DAY IN THASSOS ~ 60 MILES (OPTIONAL)

Greece has more than 3,000 islands, so we should have a closer look at at least one of them! A free day on Thassos gives us the chance to experience life and riding on one of the Aegean Sea’s many small paradises. An optional ride can add about 60 miles to our day.

Day 15 – THASSOS TO ÇANAKKALE, TURKEY ~ 185 MILES

After the ferry back to the mainland we go for a loop into the mountains with great view into the Nestos Canyon. Later, the highway brings us to the Turkish border. After the crossing we continue through smaller cities to the ferry that brings us across the Dardanelles to a different continent and the city of Çanakkale. Welcome to Asia! The hotel on the waterfront is located next to a large wooden replica of the Trojan Horse, inspired by the legendary story and the movie ‘Troy.’

Day 16 – ÇANAKKALE TO FOÇA ~ 215 MILES

An early start ensures we are among the first to visit the world-famous city of Troy. The region offers many more sites, including Assos and Bergama, making this a long day filled with history and good riding. Today’s reward is an overnight stay at an exclusive boutique hotel in Foça.

Day 17 – FOÇA TO AKYAKA ~ 225 MILES

After an early start from Foça, we’ll enjoy a day of excellent riding through scenic roads. Along the way, we can explore ancient sites and charming villages, before arriving in Akyaka, a lovely town on the Aegean coast with a relaxed, picturesque atmosphere.

Day 18 – FREE DAY IN AKYAKA ~ 125 MILES (OPTIONAL)

On our free day in Akyaka, we can enjoy a scenic half-day ride and spend the afternoon relaxing. The city is nice to walk around and explore the local restaurants and bars.

Day 19 – AKYAKA TO PAMUKKALE ~ 140–230 MILES

Depending on how much time we want to spend exploring the famous travertine terraces of Pamukkale, we can choose a shorter ride or, if we start early, cover nearly 230 miles on some wonderful roads before ending our day.

Day 20 – PAMUKKALE TO EMET ~ 170 MILES

After a late start, we can fully concentrate on some fantastic riding today. It’s all about picking the small and twisty roads – no need to rush, there are no ruins to visit, just a 5-star hotel and spa waiting for us at the end of the day.

Day 21 – EMET TO ISTANBUL ~ 155 MILES

Today we return to the busier regions of Turkey. After riding some twisty roads and crossing a major mountain pass, we reach the coast of the Sea of Marmara. From Yalova, we will take the ferry to the European side of Istanbul, avoiding several hours of dense traffic. We’ll cap the day with a nice dinner at a restaurant in Istanbul, the city where Europe and Asia meet.

Day 22 – Free Day in Istanbul

Welcome back to Europe and one of its oldest and most impressive cities. One day is never enough, so we’ll stay for two. A half-day city tour will take us to iconic sights such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Golden Horn. Walk through the Grand Bazaar and soak up the lively atmosphere of this extraordinary city!

Day 23 – Second Free Day in Istanbul

Today you are completely free to dive into the streets and monuments of this fascinating city. Enjoy your last day in Turkey!

Day 24 – ISTANBUL TO PLOVDIV, BULGARIA ~ 210 MILES

We’ll start early to beat the dense city traffic of Istanbul. The ride to the Bulgarian border is around 125 miles, mostly on the highway to make good time. Once in Bulgaria, we’ll continue inland to the historic city of Plovdiv, with its fascinating old town waiting to be explored. Be sure to take a walk before we meet for dinner. And keep an eye out for local sheepdogs as they are a common sight (see photo of sign taken in Bulgaria during scouting trip).

Day 25 – PLOVDIV TO VELIKO TĂRNOVO ~ 175 MILES

Can you pronounce ‘Koprivshtitsa’? No? Don’t worry, you will get to know this charming town on our way to Bulgaria’s former capital. We will visit the beautiful Orthodox Shipka Monastery and ride the famous Shipka Pass before arriving in Veliko Tărnovo. Once there, take a walk around the hotel and enjoy some souvenir shopping.

Day 26 – VELIKO TĂRNOVO TO BRAȘOV, ROMANIA ~ 245 MILES

After about an hour, we cross the border to Romania, heading for the famous Transylvanian mountains! Watch out — Romanian roads can be very bumpy, but somehow they belong to these never-ending villages with their horse carriages and picturesque old houses. The city of Brașov offers all kinds of activities and we will check it out on the following free day.

Day 27 – FREE DAY IN BRAȘOV ~ 45 MILES (OPTIONAL)

The old town of Brașov is full of sights, including the Black Church and the main city square. Explore Romania’s narrowest street and wander through the various parts of the old town, or take the cable car up the mountain for the best views of the city. Nearby, about 18 miles away, is the famous Bran Castle, once associated with Count Dracula.

Day 28 – BRAȘOV TO SIGHIȘOARA ~ 205 MILES

After a visit to the castle, which is marketed today as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, we continue our ride towards one more highlight: the Transfăgărășan highway. It’s a spectacular mountain road – the second highest paved road in Romania. It connects the historical provinces of Transylvania and Wallachia.

Day 29 – SIGHIȘOARA TO EGER, HUNGARY ~ 330 MILES

The highway will help cover this long distance to the baroque city of Eger in Hungary. Leaving Romania, we will return to the 21st century and ride through various Hungarian landscapes. The city of Eger was once very successful in fighting off the invading Turkish army – thanks to the local women and the wine. We will check out some more of its history on a walk through this baroque masterpiece.

Day 30 – EGER TO BUDAPEST ~ 85 MILES

It’s only a short half day’s ride to one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. Budapest has a lot to offer and we start to explore it this afternoon!

Day 31 – Free Day in Budapest

Cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway, the second oldest in the world. There are many more highlights to discover.

Day 32 – BUDAPEST TO BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA ~ 160 MILES

It’s a fairly short ride to Bratislava – if we want, we can simply follow the river Danube and use the afternoon to walk around the beautiful capital of Bratislava. The city is strongly influenced by people of different nations and religions like Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks, and Jews.

Day 33 – BRATISLAVA TO ČESKÝ KRUMLOV, CZECH REPUBLIC ~ 185 MILES

Before leaving Slovakia, we cross the Little Carpathians and take a small border crossing into Austria. We will ride along backcountry roads through northeastern Austria before entering the tour’s last new country, the Czech Republic. What better way to experience this country than spending the night in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Český Krumlov and sampling some excellent Czech beer?

Day 34 – ČESKÝ KRUMLOV TO MUNICH, GERMANY ~ 200 MILES

Our last riding day leads us across the Bohemian Mountains into the Bavarian Forest and later on to the “Three River City” – Passau. We continue through the Bavarian lowlands and arrive where we started from five weeks ago: Munich!

Day 35 – Departure from Munich

Breakfast and airport transfers. We hope to see you on another Adventure soon.

TOTAL MILES: ~ 4,880 MILES