Greece and Istanbul Help.... Please
 

We (early 40s) will have 10 days on the ground starting in Athens. We would like to spend most of our time in Greece but we would love to spend 2 days in Istanbul. Any suggestions for our itinerrary are greatfully appreciated.

I honestly don't understand what you are asking for, guv.

Please clarify.

Thin

First, where in Greece will you be going?

Second, does your 2 days in Istanbul include travel time from Greece?

Third, does your budget allow for you to fly between Greece and Istanbul?

We are flying into And out of Athens. We would like to spend a couple of days in Athens and then four or five days on one or more of the islands. We are not big beach goers so we would prefer an island(s) with good sightseeing. As stated, we would like to spend some time in Istanbul as well--are two full days sufficient ?

We were planning on flying from Athens to an island and then from Athens to Istanbul and back.

We will have ten days not including travel to and from the U.S.

Any suggestions for our itInerary?

You don't have enough time to spend "couple of days in Athens and then four or five days on one or more of the islands" _PLUS_ 2 days in Istanbul _PLUS_ all the travel time to and from Athens, the islands, back to Athens then on to Turkey then back to Athens.

Save Turkey for another trip or pick one island for 3 days, Turkey for 2 days and Athens for 2 days. Add to that the travel time and your 10 days is history.

I don't think two days is sufficient time to visit Istanbul.

If you want history, you could visit Rodos for a few days. A flight on Aegean Air takes less than an hour. A great hotel on Rodos is the Rodos Park Suites just outside the Amboise Gate of the Old Town. The swimming pool is fabulous.

Have you thought about going to Crete???

Thin

Thin

Do you have a flying carpet??? Otherwise, even when you use an airline, count half a day for going between 1 place and another. I.E., Athens - 1 hr minimum, packing, checking out, getting to metro or bus or taxi, 1 hr minimum to airport, 1 hour minmum check-in & waiting for plane, 1 hour flight, 1 hour disembarking, ehcking into hotel ... see what I mean?? Avoid the in-out time loss of TWO stays in athens.

Best scenario: immediately on arrival, check in for flight to chosen island -- Rhodes is a GOOD choice, lots to do in Rhodes Old Town for 2 days, then rent car to explore island for 2 days. Fly back to Athens ( allot 1/2 of Day 5). Then day 6-10 With possible day trip to nearby isle lilke Aegina (30 mins to Piraeus on metro, 45 minute ferry ride). OR take a 2 day Trip to Nafplio on CHAT tours, if it works for your schedule; these trips offered on Tues or Wed.

Nafplio is on a peninsula, surrounded by water, so you get an "island experience" and you see ancient sites (Mycenae, Epidaurus) plus LOADS of free time to explore the Most Beautiful Town in All of Greece in afternoon, evning & a.m, here's a friends slide-show of same: http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh

Main lesson for newbies: Island-hopping even by plane is time consuming and saving Athens time for the end saves u at least half a day, maybe a full day.

How about Athens for two nights, fly to Crete for four nights, fly to Istanbul for three nights (one stop via Athens), fly back to Athens for final night ?

Sound reasonable ?

Thanks

No it doesn't sound reasonable. Sorry. Mostly you would see airports.

You could try 2 nights Athens, fly to Chios for 3 nights. Chios has lots to see.
http://www.chiosnet.gr/tourism/himap.htm Take ferry to coast Cesme and then bus to Izmir to coast Bandirma and ferry across Sea of Marmara to Istanbul for 3 nights. You can see allot of Istanbul in 2 full days. Fly to Athens 1 night.

One alternative (more expensive) to consider would be a cruise which starts in Athens and ends in Istanbul. Though you would still need to get back to Athens.

We were considering that possibility -- and may well end up with a different option (we've more time to work with). We used frequent flyer miles to get roundtrip to Athens (via London with a 3 days stay in London outbound). There is a one week cruise we are interested in (small ship) which we figure to go on after three days in Athens. After the cruise, two more days in Athens, then on to Israel for 10 days. We'll return to Athens and stay near the airport for the next day return flight marathon home.

After further consideration (and research), I have this proposal.... Arrive Athens and drive to Nafplion for four nights in the Peloponnese. Drive to Athens and depart for Istanbul for three nights. Return to Athens for three nights in Athens. Any comments ????

A LOT more sensible, since you seem to be HOOKED on seeing Istanbul during an all-too-short trip to Greece. (A lot of us admittedly are not crazy about favoring a Turkey visit over Greece, because we've read too much history!).

Anyway, your new plan is more time-efficient, especially if you pick up that car at the airport immediately on arrival and go straight to Nafplio on the modern 4-lane highway (only 2.5 hours max), then drop it at the Airport just before you board a plane for your Turkey Trot.

I think your plan is good. The Peloponese, although not a real island experience, is rich in history and beauty. Monemvasia should be included. Gythio; Mystra; Diros caves; Mani penisula; Mani type hotel in Limeni.

Istanbul is fabulous and very interesting

Chania, now you are starting OP on the over-reaching again! and we just got him/her to climb down from a Mission Impossible to Crete. How do you even know he/she is interested in the Medieval and Byzantine (Monemvasia-Mystra) more than the ancient sites? It will take at least one full day, probably 2 to explore Nafplio itself ... then what I call a "ruin-a-thon" day to take in Mycenae, Tiryns and Epidaurus -- & how about a swim at Assine, just outside Tolo? If you drive down to Monemvasia on day 3, takes at LEAST 4 hours, then if u stay overnight, then you have that long drive back to Athens on day 4.

So please don't go on about Gythio and the Mani; leave that for a return trip; we've been striving to keep this trip realistic, not just a driving marathon.

Didn't read through the entire thread so I apologize if this has already been addressed...

Have you booked your airline tickets already? If not, check into an open jaw flying into Athens and out of Istanbul. It may not cost too much more and you will have more time on the ground.

I loved both Greece and Turkey! Have a great time!

Thanks for all the input. I purchased Business class with miles so I am obliged to fly in and out of Athens. It seems like three nights in Athens may be one too many. With an extra day, should I spend it in Peloponnese or in Istanbul ? Also, who is OP ????

Original Poster. And 3 nights in Athens is not too much ... it's been waiting 4,000 years for you, maybe you should try it for 3 days.

Even though you've already purchased your tickets with miles, you could try calling the airline and asking how much it would cost you to change your itinerary. $100-150 fee may be well worth it.

The open jaw is a great idea.
As much as I love both countries, transportation in both has always been horrendous for me. Olympic Air notoriously gives seats away even if you arrive far ahead of time. Taxis, ferries, etc. in both countries can be iffy as well.
Perhaps that's changed.

Regardless, as said, there's so much to do in both countries that you may want to savor a few locations rather than 3 or more.
One more thought if you want more time and amazing ruins check out Ephesus, Turkey. I actually like the ruins better there than Athens. Love Athens, hate the smog and congestion.

Ephesus is truly amazing, isn't it? But OP won't have time to see it with the existing itinerary.

OP, I hate throwing my thoughts on you without knowing why you want to visit an island for those days. I've had too many folks tell me things I wasn't even interested in or applicable to my post.

You aren't beach folks so if you'll tell us why you want to include those island days maybe we can help you with other islands.

If you want to just tour around an island or two, you can take a daytrip from Athens to Poros and Hydra. Poros is an adorable island, no cars/buses/etc... just donkeys, a wonderful little town, gorgeous views, great places to stop for food or a cocktail, and great walks/hiking getting lost along the coast or in the rambling 'neighborhoods'. Then you could onto Hydra if you like. After seeing Hydra, you could take a water taxi over to the Peloponnese, hire a taxi to be your guide up the Peloponnese (stopping by Epidaurous) and dropping you at the bus stop in Corinth. From there, you can take a bus back to Athens.

Wouldn't involve any flights to an island and back. Use the hydofoil from Pireaus to Poros. Ferry to Hydra. Water taxi to Peloponnese.

Just a day or two on these islands which allows more time for Athens and Istanbul.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time!!!

<<"Ephesus is truly amazing, isn't it? But OP won't have time to see it with the existing itinerary.">>

Likely true if the OPs itinerary is written in stone.
The OP would definitely have to switch something out.

I also am not exactly sure what the OP is looking for except historical locations.

Actually, Joannyc has it wrong. It's Hydra where there are no cars or buses, where donkeys are the main source of transportation.

Thanks for all the input. A little bit of information overload ! We have been to Italy/France/Spain numerous times and have always enjoyed visiting small towns. We were hoping to take in the historical treasures of Athens and also spend some time visiting some slower paced areas of Greece. Initially I was thinking of Crete however as the other posters have indicated, it would require too much travel time. Peloponnese sounds like a great alternative as there are some great historical sites and towns to stay in/visit. I've always wanted to visit Istanbul (the trip was initially to be to Turkey but no FF flights available through Continental) so Istanbul is someplace I do want to keep on the itinerary. That being said, I'm currently (always open to suggestions) thinking about the following

Day 1 Arrive Athens and Drive to Nafplion
Day 2 Tour Peloponnese from Nafplion
Day 3 Tour Peloponnese from Nafplion
Day 4 Tour Peloponnese from Nafplion
Day 5 Drive to Athens to depart for Istanbul
Day 6 Tour Istanbul
Day 7 Tour Istanbul
Day 8 Tour Istanbul
Day 9 Depart for Athens
Day 10 Tour Athens
Day 11 Depart Athens

Comments ????

Brotherleelove, your absolutely correct... I did get it backwards! It is Hyda. Thanks!


Spinesrgn, I'd probably take a day away from Nafplion and add it to Athens.

Sorry, meant Hydra.

I am a lover of Nafplio, but I agree; drop a day from there to add to Athens. I would keep the sequence the same (driving from airport & back to drop car is the easiest, but go back to the airport on day FOUR for your Istanbul flight. Then come back to Athens on Day EIGHT and have 2 full days instead of just one.

And when you say "tour peloponnese" -- don't go crazy! You say you want slower-paced but you don't write that way. Day One afternoon, and morning of Day 2, explore Nafplion old town. (Go to Cultural office, next to OTE building, for FREE audio Guide to walk Old town). Aftrnoon of Day 2, Epidaurus? Day 3 -- Mycenae, & how about Tiryns? or Nemea, the sacred games site? or Assine, which has a nice beach. (PS - you have never told us WHEN you are going -- hot weather or cold??).

We are going the last week in July.

I was able to change my flights so this is our itinerrary:

Arrive July 28 Athens Drive to Nafplion
July 29 Nafplion
July 30 Nafplion
July 31 Nafplion
August 1 drive to Athens
August 2 Athens
August 3 Fly to Istanbul
August 4 Istanbul
August 5 Istanbul
August 6 Istanbul
August 7 Fly home from Istanbul

Any comments ?

A heckuva lot better!

I'd take a day from Nafplion and add a day to Athens. Glad to see that you're doing an open jaw ticket!

Thanks for all of the great input. Because of our convoluted flights from the US to Greece, we probably won't arrive in Nafplion until around 8:00 pm on 7/28. That gives us three days in Peloponnese. Still one day too much ?

NO not too much! You need a little time to recover, to acclimate... and Nafplion & vicinity is a great place to do it... none of the Athens bustle .... fortunately for you, by May 28 the sun doesn't set until about 8:45... go immediately to the waterside cafes to sit, see the afterglow, heave a great sigh, and say... we're heeeeere. As a reminder, re-run slide-show of stanbr's, link i gave you, above.

PS: you can get a really early start August 1 driving back to Athens, 6:30 or so (because by then you'll be rested) you'll be at airport by 9 to drop car, metro gets u to syntagma square by 10 a.m., so you'll have almost 2 full days in athens.

Glad to hear you made the flight change in order to take in Istanbul - - it is a magnificent city! I just returned from a cruise which started in Istanbul, took in Ephesus, Delos, Rhodes, Santorini, ancient Olympia, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Crete, and Athens - - only way to go. I'd have liked to have had more time in Istanbul and Athens, but at least I was there. Islands of Rhodes and Santorini are certainly worth seeing, and ancient Ephesus is awesome; however, I can see your time constraints when you're doing your own transportation. But Ephesus isn't too far from Istanbul so perhaps you could get to that site. Cruising from one island to another during the night gets you around to lots of places in less time; and Oceania Cruises is absolutely wonderful - - truly luxury cruising.

On Land, gomama, ephesus is not easy or quick to access from Istanbul, even if they fly it would involve busses. You are speaking from the prism of cruises, which is entirely different. Please, don't get this couple worked up again -- we have spent enough effort getting them to be realistic about what they can accomplish!!

Yep, upon looking again at the geography, I realize that. Their trip sounds well-planned, travelerjan, I'm sure they will see awesome sights and have a wonderful time! I was really impressed by Istanbul- - just hadn't known exactly what to expect; Athens was what I expected, ancient and modern as well. Travel to Greece had been No. 1 on my "bucket list" for a very long time. Bon voyage, spinesrgn!

Thanks for the great input. I think we're on our way to final plans !

I love both Greece & Turkey. Not sure if you can work Delphi in but I highly reccomend.We were 5 days in Istanbul & had plenty to do. We've been to Greece 2 times & loved both & plan to go back.When I'mdowninthe dumps i picture myself ina little white house looking at that BLUE water of Greece. Eating the wonderful fresh food.