Athens to Istanbul
 

We are taking a Windstar cruise from Venice to Athens. We would like to vist Istanbul after the cruise. How is the best way to get to Istanbul from Athens, Greece. Is there a ferry, a train or do we need to fly?

Fly.

There are no direct ferries. It is possible, by ferry from Pireas to Hios, boat to Cesme, bus to Izmir, then a bus, or combination of train and ferry, to Istanbul.
By train, it's straight forward, via Thessaloniki, but it takes at least a day and a night, or two long days.

It's a very short flight. I think it's less than two hours.

Thanks... sounds like we need to fly!!