My fiance and I are looking to book a 14-16 day trip to Greece/Turkey this September for our honeymoon. We would love any advice on places to stay or how to see all the best sites in these two beautiful countries. We were thinking if we could do a cruise somewhere in our trip even if its just for a few days. We wanted to spend more time in Greece than Turkey, and definitely have a few days in Santorini.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding! I suppose you could take a short cruise, but you won't get to see much of each island on cruise port calls. There is an excellent ferry system in the Greek Islands, and also flights from Athens to many. It's a better island experience when you stay for a few days on each.

There are several different island groups in the Aegean Sea between the Greek mainland and Turkey, so you need to do a little homework and decide where, e.g. Santorini, you would like to go. Then come back to Fodor's for advice about good islands to combine with your primary destination, and how to get from one country to another. N.B. there are no ferries from Greece to Istanbul.

Thank you! I did do some homework... and spoke with a travel company medhills travel- have you heard of them?
This is what we are thinking..

Sept 9: Arrival in Istanbul.
Sept 10: Old City Tour.
Sept 11: Optional: See The Real Istanbul - details at www.circleistanbul.com
Sept 12: Morning flight & Touring Cappadocia.
Sept 13: Touring Cappadocia. (Optional hot air balloon for sunrise!)
Sept 14: Flight to Athens (via Istanbul)
Sept 15: Half Day Athens City Tour. (flight to Mykonos this afternoon is also an option)
Sept 16: 07:00 am Ferry to Mykonos. 10:30 am arrival. Afternoon aat leisure.
Sept 17: Mykonos.
Sept 18: Mykonos.
Sept 19: 09:40 am Ferry to Santorini. 11:30 am arrival. Afternoon aat leisure.
Sept 20: Santorini.
Sept 21: Santorini.
Sept 22: Santorini.
Sept 23: Santorini.
Sept 24: 09:00 am flight back to Athens. 10:00 am arrival - catch your international flight back home.

we might do an extra day in istambul and one less in mykonos... not sure yet.

Stuff can happen when you are on vacation that is why most of us recommend you fly back to Athens the day before your return flight.
Last year we were on a flight that was delayed and people from South Africa France US and UK all missed their connectors home. Talk about a sad bunch of people.

Another day in Athens will give you an opportunity to see more.
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632121475515/

I would cut a day from Santorini and add it to Istanbul. There's plenty to keep you busy for more than two days!

Also, yes, please take stanbr's advice and return to Athens the day BEFORE your flight home. We made this mistake once several years ago and did miss our connection back to NYC. Never again!

beautiful pictures stanbr thank you for sharing.. we are going to extend to three days in Istanbul, and yes I was going to take a late night fight on 24th, or the next day, good recommendation!

any must sees?
I heard to do a ferry/boat cruise in Istanbul one night and grand bazzar

I want to do hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia for sure

athens- New Acropolis Museum, Parthenon, etc

MYKONOS- one day we have to go to Delos

Santorini- wine tour? relax

any suggestions on hotels? this is what I was recommended
Hotels: Recital Istanbul, MDC Cappadocia, Athens Gate, Mykonos Grand, Petit Palace (Petit Suite)

Upgrade Options:
Hotel Tagoo Mykonos - $180 extra a night
Boheme Mykonos - $260 extra a night
Pantheon Santorini - $110 extra a night
Pezoules Santorini - $120 extra a night

Take a day or two from Santorini and add it to either Istanbul or Athens.