Belgium - it's quite different from London & Athens (architecture, food, language). You can stay in one central city and experience other Belgium cities by train. Good time of year - a bit cool, perhaps but not hot and not cold.

Belgium sounds like a ggod fit for your plans..Bruges is a gem..Small enough to be restful. Charming enough to rate a couple or more stars. Biking seems to be a choice for closer look sees. A departure from the exoticness ( is this a word??) of Greece and Turkey. OTOH Istanbul can knock your sox off. We had 4 days there before a cruise and could have stayed 40..Turkish airlines was very different from other carriers as far as it was superior. Full meals i Econ.with 2 choices no less. We were very surprised when we were required to change carriers in Frankfurt..A very nice surprise.

Since Istanbul is my absolute favourite city in Europe I have to vote on your wild card!
For travel between Athens and Istanbul I have used the extremely slow direct train or a ferry from one of the Greek islands to Turkey and then bus from there. But I have understood that all international trains to/from Greece have been cancelled due to the economic situation in Greece so I guess you will have to go by bus, at least from Thessaloniki or Alexandroupoli or another Greek city closer to the border. Or take a ferry from one of the Greek islands, e.g. from Rhodes to Marmaris.

Otherwise I would pick Rome and/or another place in Italy, maybe Venice, Florence or Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi?

I guess you do know that a train from Bari, Italy to Stockholm via Milan, Basel and Copenhagen will take something like 45 hours? To this you will have to add travel time from Athens to Bari.

I have traveled to all places you mention except for Stockholm at different ages.

Although I am sure things have changed at most of those locations since I last visited them, i doubt that you will have the combination of night life, history, food and scenery of Istanbul at any of them, although Rome would get close.

You have some advantages for Istanbul :

- It is relatively cheaper than some of the other places.
- It has combinations of scenery and night life with super supper clubs, bars and restaurants smack on the Bosphorus, looking over towards the lights on the Asian side and to the bridges connecting the two continents.
- You can get decent italian and eclectic food in addition to the different varieties of Turkish cuisine.
- You have Roman, Greek as well as Ottoman and European architecture and art and history in addition to the museums which contain major pieces dating from 4000BC onwards, because of the archeologically rich hinterland which even includes the world's oldest temples at Gobeklitepe in the Southeast (almost 12,000 years old) and a multitude of civilizations from Hittites, Assyrians to Phrygians, and even Celts.
- You will find the people you meet much more friendly than at any other megalapolis of over 15 million people, willing to help you out with directions, information, etc.
- Istanbul is a very easy city to walk and sightsee on your own and easy to find your way because of the hills and the Bosphorus. (some rather steep streets though)

If you come to Istanbul, you should decide whether you wish to be a pure tourist or mingle. As a tourist, you can wear anything you like and do what other tourists do, missing most of the night life.

If you want to mingle, you would be spending more time on the Bosphorus shores at Cihangir and Nisantasi districts after your sightseeing and dress better, which may simply involve almost designer jeans and a top that was selected to make you look good. (no sandals though, unless designer, because almost all women will be wearing heels and most with platforms)

The weather will be hot but some evenings may be cooling, especially on the seaside, so a light knit or cardigan may come useful, although all restaurants will supply nice shawls and most ladies prefer to catch a cold rather than not display their clothes.

The weather in Stockholm is usually nice in mid-September but somewhat unpredictable. Daytime temperatures between 15 - 20 C, chilly evenings/nights/mornings with temperatures very likely going below 10 C.

This time of year, when the sun sets at 22:00 and the trees have green leaves, I realize that I think Stockholm must be one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I think Stockholm is at it's best from mid-May until July when days are very long (daylight from 3 am until 10 pm). It's some distance from Athens though and for some reason flight connections are poor between Athens and Stockholm.

My picks would be either Istanbul or Rome, and I would ask fellow travelers which they might be most interested in seeing: Roman architecture (colosseum, etc.), Renaissance art (Sistine Chapel, etc.) and Italian food or Turkish mosques (Haghia Sophia, etc.) and palaces (Topkai Palace, etc.) and spicy Turkish food. Can't go wrong either way. I have not been to Stockholm though.

I'm not sure why but for some reason it seems weird to me going to scandanavian countries or Switzerland after your time in Greece. It seems like Rome or Istanbul would be more fitting somehow.

Thanks for all your replies!

@hoxa61-- I am definitely planning on flying from Athens to Rome or Istanbul, I meant I would use the trains for regional travel around the area that I choose for the last part of my trip.

@suze-- that's exactly why I am looking at Scandinavia or Switazerland. I think the cultural contrasts that Europe offers are one of my favorite things about traveling there. I know that some of the destinations that I have chosen may seem odd and disparate, but I just really enjoy seeing completely different areas in the same trip--just my own personal travel preference

I have too many excellent choices, and alas you cannot see them all in one trip...

If you decide to go for Scandinavia, check departures and prices on Norwegian Air Shuttle. They fly from Athens to both Copenhagen (1 weekly) and Stockholm (2 weekly). If they fly on a day that suits your itinerary they have usually competitive prices. http://www.norwegian.com/en/

Well, if you plan on flying a trip to Scandinavia doesn't seem to be weird anymore. I misread your post, I thought you planned on going by ferry/train.

I can understand wanting the "cultural contrasts" but if those are your finalists, I'd change around the order, so Greece was last, not in the middle.

I really appreciate the feedback, and I am very intrigued by Istanbul..

@otherchelebi-- i am assuming you are referring to evening dress for ladies, but it's 3 guys on this trip, haha, but thanks for the insight!

I agree that Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities, IMHO. It is also very expensive and it seems quite out of the way for you. Reading about Istanbul on this thread definitely made me want to go there soon. It is a logical location after Greece.

Tentek, We made our first trip to Istanbul and Cappadocia (had been to Ephesus on a cruise) late last fall and were absolutely awed by the beauty of Turkey. We wish we had gone sooner and would love to go back and see more. Hope you make it very, very soon.