I have lots to learn but after a bit of reading, I'm trying to plan a two week trip next April/May for my husband, self and maybe another couple or two. We don't want a cruise since they spend too little time in port. Don't want a tour, but would love to add a number of local tours so it isn't totally do-it-alone. Thinking of something on this order, but have beginners' questions (We could also start in Istanbul and end in Athens):

Fly US to Athens.
One or two nights Athens (maybe a short two or 3 day tour - but where?)
Now begins island hopping (don't want to spend any more than 3 to 4 hours on any one ferry). Definitely want to go to Santorini and Crete (or maybe Rhodes instead of Crete?)
Maybe Mykonos or a different island. Want 2 to 3 nights on each island.
Then on to Turkey (but where?) before ending the trip in Istanbul and flying home from Istanbul. I like the idea of flying (perhaps Athens to Santorini or Crete?) to minimize ferry travel. But, not being on a cruise, what is the best way to get from the last of our Greek Islands' stops to Turkey (I had assumed to Kusadasi/Ephesus and then flying Izmir to Istanbul), but admit I don't know what would be best to see in Turkey given our time limits.
I defnitely haven't figured out the ferry system or routes yet. That's my biggest stumbler.

Other info - we are in our late fifties, love history and natural beauty, mingling with the locals and Greek food and culture - variety. Don't want to be caught up in the "glam" or hedonistic scene on any Greek Islands which is why we are avoiding the summer, but I must admit I can't pass on Santorini and would love to go to Mykonos too. But this will be our only trip to Greece or Turkey (time and budget are too restricted and unseen parts of the world still too many for us to plan on a "next" trip to Greece).

Open to any practical advice on this rough itinerary.

Thanks!

Suggest you start your planning with a good guidebook or two. To learn the Greek ferry system, try Thomas Cook's <i>Greek Island Hopping</i>.

Hello Leslie,

From what I can gather of what you wrote above, you wish to spend about 11-12 days in Greece and maybe 2-3 in Turkey.

Unless you want to include Turkey just to tell friends that you've been there, You may as well forget it and do Greece only.

There is probably nothing fo you to see in in Turkey given your time limit and interests.

Hi Leslie.
Well, it is great fun to plan a trip. Your first order of business is decide which country you want to focus on. If you attempt to cover both Greece and Turkey you will not have met your stated desires to mingle with locals and enjoy the beauty, history, and food. You'll spend all your time in transit.
We can't tell you which country to go to, but I'd suggest reading some books and talking to your potential travel companions to narrow the scope. Both countries have lots to see - history and beauty. I been been to Istanbul but traveled more in Greece, so here's a little info:
From what you mentioned about your style, I'd recommend the Athens area for 4-5 days, Santorini for 3-4 and Paros for 5. Mykonos is definitely more of glamorous island, although it won't be overrun with partiers at the time of year you are going. Paros is a varied and interesting island with easy ferry access to other islands. Possible day trips are Antiparos, Delos, Naxos.....
While in Athens, visit the main attractions, like the Acropolis, the new museum, the National Archeological Museum, and stroll around the Plaka area. Also a trip to Delphi or Naufplion are both wonderful, but again, you will have to choose. Some travelers want to get right out to the islands to relax, but if it is a first trip to Greece, I think you should see Athens right away. I'd like to hear from you again when you have made some decisions. Enjoy the planning!

You could make Rhodes one of your Greek islands, then ferry from there to Kusadasi. See Ephesus and fly to Istanbul from Izmir.

But I agree with the others. I'm not sure you have enough time for all this. You need to lay it out night by night.

Some thoughts:

Easter is a big holiday in Greece. Check on the date of the Orthodox Easter. You may want to avoid this or experience it.

It's actually a little cooler in Istanbul than in Athens, also slightly rainier. So maybe Athens first, then Istanbul.

You're traveling well before the high season. There are probably fewer ferries that time of year.

Yes, always a personal challenge for me to slow the pace. My instincts are to cram too much in. But I also can't make sense of traveling 12,000 miles to only relax on islands. So many others have commented that on a combo Greece / Turkey trip they liked Turkey better. Perhaps, I could settle for nothing on mailand Greece other than Athens, and then fit in Ephesis and Istanbul. If I forfeit Crete, how does Rhodes compare?

<i>But I also can't make sense of traveling 12,000 miles to only relax on islands.</i>

<i>Perhaps, I could settle for nothing on mainland Greece other than Athens...</i>

Those two statements are contradictory. Perhaps you should skip the islands and stay on mainland Greece instead. Many people who have never been to Greece think it's only about Athens and the islands, but that's far from true.

I love the Greek Islands, but never go in April/early May, when weather is cool, ferries operating on winter schedules, and most hotels restaurants still closed. Note that ferry travel in the Greek Islands is time consuming. Even the faster conventional ferries run at 30 mph or less, and some routes don't have daily ferries.

Most major archaeological sites are on the mainland. There's far more to see in Athens, the Peloponnese, Delphi, Meteora, etc. than all the islands put together, and would also give you more time for Turkey. You could travel around the mainland, then fly to Istanbul from Athens or Thessaloniki.

April 15th is Orthodox Easter in 2012. That's a period when Greeks travel to their home islands and villages, so ferries will be heavily booked and roads busy during the week proceeding and the week after that date.

"preceeding!"

Or maybe even "preceding", lol!

Mods, please give us an edit feture!

Heimdall - your latest spelling is correct.
LeslieC - This new idea of skipping the Cyclades makes more sense at that time of year and particularly if you're set on getting to Turkey.
You could try: Athens and surrounding mainland for 4-5 days; fly to Rhodes for 3; ferry to Turkey where you'd have 3 days to stop at sites along the coast and fly into Istanbul for the last 3 days. It is still a really packed itinerary but doable.
You really can't compare Rhodes and Crete both are historical and beautiful. Rhodes will fit in better with your plan to travel to Turkey. Frankly, you don't have enough time for Crete.

<i>Heimdall - your latest spelling is correct.</i>

Took me awhile, though, didn't it? Not one of my better days. ;-)

Seriously, most travel forums now allow editing, and it's time Fodor's gets up to speed.

Mia culpa. On 2 different threads I made the mistake of saying there's a ferry from Rhodes to Kusadasi. Wrong! It's the island of Samos which is close to and has a ferry to Kusadasi. Aaaaargh!

Hello Lesli,

If you are history buffs, then you are going to the right place. My wife and I love Greece and Turkey. Athens is usually the place to go to and see all the famous sites. As far as the Islands, they are usually overrun with tourists in the summer months, a little quieter out of season.
Just a little tip, the north of Greece is usually off the regular tours, so the locals normally go there. Some of the best beaches in Greece are there (Halkidiki, Sithonia) and if you are there in May, there are no people. From there you can see the birth place of Aristotle, Thessaloniki, the tombs of Alexander the Great, Phillipi - where the Apostle Paul visited, and Mt. Olympus - the seat of Zeus. Amazing stuff. From there, Istanbul is up the road, you can get there with a bus, or short flight. You definitely have to see Ephesus, I usually won't pay twice to see a sight, but I have been there twice and would go again.
You can get some ideas from this site... sithoniagreece.com