I am working on my travel itinerary for next summer. We must travel from Istanbul to Greece either Athens or Thessaloniki. Is there a ferry or bus service from Istanbul direct to Athens or Thessaloniki? This information appears to be hard to find. <BR>Thank you. <BR>John

Have you considered flying? When we were there in summer'98 this was the best option. Turkish Airways was fine and not at all expensive (we payed an extra $120 over the normal Athens roundtrip fare). <BR> <BR>When we were at the planning stages we looked into the ferry option and there was none. One cruise ship company told us it would be possible to join the cruise in Istanbul and travel to Athens via Mykonos in 2 days. But only in case they were not able to sell it out. The price would be quite "salty", way more than by aoirplane. One alternative would be by train but this would demand the better part of two whole days. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

John, I suggest you pick up a good guidebook for really specific info about travel between the two countries. We just returned from Greece and I had contemplated adding Istanbul to our itinerary, though what I read was not especiallly encouraging. Train travel and I believe bus travel is difficult because apprear to be no direct routes between major cities in Greece and Istanbul, the train route ends up being very roundabout and really LONG according the guide book I read. I would look at all the options, but might consider flying as Paulo suggested.

Unless a new line has been added, the ferries from Turkey go to the Greek Islands only (Rhodes I know, maybe Santorini? Crete?). From there, you'll have to catch another ferry to Athens or Thessaloniki (and this latter one I think has maybe one boat a day). If you add in 2 or 3 days on a Greek island to your itinerary, the ferry makes sense; otherwise, fly as Paolo suggested. I can't imagine doing a bus or a train.

I'm having the same problem. Going in June and would like to go from Thessolokini to Istanbul but preferably by rail if possible or boat. I cant seem to find any info for this trek. Don't mind an over night ride but not much more. If you or anyone has found any good info on these options please let me know. Thanks and hope you have a wonderful time.

Turkey's two nicest bus companies have direct nonstop bus service between Istanbul and Athens. This is all discussed in detail in the LP Guide to Turkey, including phone numbers, etc. Try their web sites: www.varan.org; and www.ulusoy.org. The buses and service are first class. The train is crap.

The URL for the bus company Ulusoy is http://www.ulusoy.com.tr/ and for Varan is http://www.varan.com.tr/english/index.htm <BR> The addresses given above are not for the bus companies.

Thank you all for the information provided. <BR>Flying is too expensive at 190USD per person and we are contemplating the bus to Thessaloniki from where we'll rent a car. <BR>The Lonely Planet is the only guide that mentions bus travel.They say there is daily service but my hotelier in Istanbul says it's only Tuesdays and Saturdays at this time. Varam and Ulusoy's web sites are only in Turkish regardless of the flag you clik on and even so I did not see an Istanbul-Athens connection indicated. Other travel agencies are not responding to my e-mails, perhaps not very interested in the commission they stand to make. <BR>Any ideas where I can get some kind of confirmation that buses between Istanbul and Thessaloniki are leaving on a daily basis (in the summer of 2001)? <BR>Thanks, <BR>John