Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Athens has been called the “birthplace of democracy.” Its legacy looms large from atop Acropolis Hill, the pinnacle of ancient Greece. This open-air museum is an astonishing repository of once-mighty structures. From its colonnaded Parthenon—built more than 2,600 years ago—revered Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle formulated new ideas of government and debated its role in civic life.

It was here in Athens that the Apostle Paul delivered one of his most well-known messages. Standing before the Areopagus, he spoke to the philosophers about the “Unknown God” they worshiped, boldly proclaiming the gospel and calling the people to repentance. His visit reminds us that even in the heart of ancient pagan culture, the message of Christ can take root and transform lives.

Crete was home to the Minoans, Europe’s earliest recorded civilization. Its capital, Heraklion, grew from the riches of the Venetian Empire, which ruled here for four centuries. Crete enjoyed a Renaissance building boom that helped bolster Heraklion as the region’s most strongly fortified city. The island is blessed with generous beaches, soaring mountains, and coursing rivers. It is also where the distinct mantinades—couplets of love accompanied by Cretan instruments—could break out at any number of cafés at any time.

It was on this island that the Apostle Paul left his trusted companion Titus to “put in order what remained” and appoint elders in every town (Titus 1:5). Crete was known in ancient times as a place of strong-willed people, yet Paul saw the potential for strong churches to be established here. His letter to Titus offers timeless guidance for leadership and godly living that continues to speak to believers today.

Rhodes is home to the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a remarkable fortification. Its historic quarter is Europe’s largest active medieval town. Outside the city, forests of pine and cypress blanket mountain slopes; vineyards and groves of citrus and olives soak up the Aegean sun. The Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem conquered the island in the 14th century, bringing great wealth from the Holy Land. Under their rule, the city was reconstructed to mirror the medieval ideal. Many of the buildings from this era remain and make for rewarding strolls.

The Apostle Paul stopped in Rhodes during his third missionary journey as he traveled toward Jerusalem (Acts 21:1). Though Scripture mentions only a brief visit, Rhodes played a quiet role in the early spread of the gospel across the Mediterranean. Walking its ancient streets today offers a meaningful connection to the journeys of the early church and the enduring reach of the message Paul carried.

One of antiquity’s best-preserved cities, Ephesus offers an unparalleled look into the lives of the ancients. Many of its ruins have endured from the time Ephesus was one of the largest metropolises of the ancient world. Excavations reach back to the 10th century BC, when this city hosted one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Temple of Artemis. Today, Ephesus is still full of wonders: the towering façade of the Library of Celsus, the massive amphitheater that once sat 25,000 spectators, and residences adorned with frescoes.

It was in this influential city that the Apostle Paul spent over two years preaching the gospel, sparking both revival and opposition. His ministry here led to one of the most dramatic events recorded in the New Testament—the riot of the silversmiths who feared the loss of their trade in making idols of Artemis (Acts 19). Ephesus later became home to a thriving church, and the Apostle John addressed it as one of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Walking its ancient streets offers a powerful connection to the early church and the enduring message of the gospel.

Çanakkale was an object of desire dating back to the ancient Greeks. Today, the nearby ruins of Troy, once a powerhouse of Asia Minor, provide a glimpse of the region’s former glory. The remarkably preserved structures of this UNESCO World Heritage Site offer hints of life here in the days of Alexander the Great and the later Roman Emperor Augustus. But it is the fabled Trojan Horse that is most prominent here. In Homer’s Iliad, the wooden steed gave ancient Greeks entry to the city during the Trojan War, and its legend is still very much alive today.

While Troy itself is not mentioned in Scripture, the broader region of Asia Minor played a vital role in the spread of the early church. The Apostle Paul traveled through this part of the world multiple times, and the cities of this region became centers of Christian faith and teaching. Visiting Troy offers a meaningful connection to the ancient world in which the New Testament was written and the gospel first took root.

Istanbul exudes a fascinating mix of Western and Eastern cultures. Its strategic locale led to its role as a significant center of trade—eventually becoming a cultural crossroads along the world-famous Silk Road. One of the city’s stunning centerpieces is Hagia Sophia, founded as a basilica, converted to a mosque, then a museum; it is now a mosque again and features exquisite mosaics and frescoes. The city’s Grand Bazaar offers a rich taste of Turkish culture, from a vast selection of carpets and fabric to luscious dates and the local sweet favorite, Turkish Delight.

Long before it became known as Istanbul, this city was called Constantinople and served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years. It became one of the most important centers of early Christianity, shaping theology, church governance, and the spread of the faith across the Eastern world. Walking through its historic streets offers a powerful connection to the enduring legacy of the Christian faith and the civilizations that helped preserve and proclaim it.