Can anyone help with ideas for an Athens/Istanbul itinerary for September? I'm planning on going via Turkish Airlines, ticketed to Athens with a stopover on the way in Istanbul. How many days/nights each city? I'm thinking about perhaps a day trip to an island in Greece, and I'd like to do a short ferry cruise off Istanbul through the Bosporus. (I currently have tickets to Beijing during Sept., but I think its best to plan an alternative.)

Jumba,

If you want to see Istanbul you have to spent 3 days at least. You may stop in Istanbul some hours on the way to Athens so. You have to plan your trip in Istanbul on the way back to your country. Or after Athen you may go to Samos then to Kusadasi to see Ephesus, Virgin Mary's house, Artemission (Seven wonders of the world) then to Pergamum and Troia before Istanbul. You need 3 or 4 days for this trip (From Kusadasi to Istanbul)

Have a nice trip In Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz
[email protected]

Thanks for the info!

I thought Athens was fine for just one night but it depends on your interests. I suppose if I was recommending a greek island it would probably be Santorini for a couple of days and then on to Turkey. I was in Istanbul for 3 days which was fine but the highlight of my trip was the Cappadocia region which I would do again in a heartbeat. If you have the time, I would spend another three days there.

I'm in the not so fond of Athens camp, my preference would be to spend the time in Turkey. I'd give Istanbul at least 3-4 days, you need a full day to do the Bosphorus cruise (can be done with or without a guide, the unguided tours are by public ferry and cost very little, around $2US), and there are lots of things for the other days-Topkapi, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, underground cisterns, Grand Bazaar, Dolmabache Palace, etc.

Ephesus was the most amazing ruin site I've ever seen and Cappadocia was like landing on another planet, the landscape there was the backdrop for one of the Star Wars movies.

I have to agree with Kristi somewhat...as much as I love Greece I think two days are plenty in Athens and unless you are doing the "classical tour" route (Corinth, Epidaurus, Olympia, and Delphi) in Greece then I would also concentrate on Western Turkey. At least two-three days in Istanbul depending on your interests to do it justice and "soak up the local culture" as so many folks here seem to be fond of recommending although they never quite tell us HOW to do it!!!! and yes, the library, particularly, at Ephesus is absolutely stunning.

You don't say how long for the whole trip. But if you have 10-14 days, say, you could do a circle. Fly into Istanbul stay 3-4 days. Take ferry over to the Asian side - Yalova (for Bursa) or Bandirma. Then travel Aegean coast - Ephesus, Bergama, Troy - or some beach places - and use one of the ferry connex between Turkey and a Greek Is. You can can get to Lesbos, Chios, Rhodes (and one other, I think) this way. Then take ferry or fly to Athens. Fly back to where u came from. Or as open-jaw always more expensive than straight return, take bus/Train back to Istanbul and return from there. Or go south from Athens and get yourself to Italy on the ferry and fly from there - if u have 3 weeks min. Cappadocia is wonderful - but means more time, unless u want to skip Greece altogether.

This is just an idea for folk who like the unexpected of getting there, as much as the well documented pleasures of the target destination - if you see what I mean!

Thanks everyone, these are some great ideas. I'm going for 9 days at the end of August (I know, it will be hot), and it looks like based upon my research and your responses, I'll most likely spend less time in Athens and more in Turkey. I'm also booked on Swiss into Athens and out of Istanbul. I'm considering going from Athens to Istanbul by way of Cairo (perhaps a one-night stop-over) to see the pyramids.

Thanks again.