day 1- arrive Athens late afternnon
2- Athens
3-Athens
4-Athens
5- Athens 9 PM flight to Chania stay Casa Delfino ( I know should have stayed longer in Chania but already have flight)
6- Samaria gorge stay Casa Delfino
7- Chania in AM drive to Knossos and then stay in Iraklion
8- AM CAT to Ssntorini stay Atrina
9-Santorini Atrina
10-Santorini Atrina
11-Ferry to Naxos night Naxos
12- Day Naxos and overnight ferry to Samos ( only runs Wed and Sat)
13-Samos
14- ferry to Kusadasi
15-Kusadasi
16- Kusadasi
17-Kusadasi
18- fly to Isanbul
19- 21 Istanbul
22- fly home

Hi

I don't think you need 4 nights at Kusadasi. One will do. I would use at least an extra night for Naxos and the balance for Istanbul. You could pinch another night from Athens and use it for the islands but it seems you may be locked in for flights.

belly, i don't have any critique on your itinerary but have a curious question. we are planning a similar destination in Oct and i want to ask you if you are touring Turkey (in particular) on your own, renting a car etc as opposed to picking up a local tour package along the way. have you been to athens and turkey before? happy planning for your greece/turkey vacation.

I would suggest 2 less days in Kusadassi and add them to Istanbul instead. There is soooo much to see and do in Istanbul and you've only given yourself 1 1/2 days.

I agree. Spend more time in Istanbul and less time in Kusadasi.

I think 4 days in Athens is too much. I love Athens but I've always felt like two days is enough.

I am guessing that during those four days you are traveling to other places (Delphi, Mycenae, theater of Epidaurus, etc.).

I forgot to say that I agree with others that Istanbul deserves more time.

I would spend more days in Istanbul and cut my stay in Athens to 2 days max. Istanbul deserves at least 3 to 4 days min. Have a great trip.

Actually in Istanbul 4 nights with late afternoon flight 5th day. Just got lazy listing itinerary. Nights 18-21(4)in Istanbul and glad I did given all the votes for Istanbul. Stuck with athens for 4 nights which may be too much. May do day trip to Hydra which sounds very cool. Thanks all.

By cribbing time off Athens and Kusadasi as others have suggested, you may free up just enough nights to fit in Cappadocia between Kusadasi and Istanbul. We did this (in reverse order) by using overnight buses Topkapi (Istanbul) to Nevsehir (Cappadocia), and from Nevsehir to Izmir with local bus on to Kusadasi via Celcuk (where we stopped to explore Ephesus). Our Cappadocian stay was at Urgup, a short local bus ride away from Nevsehir.
The highlights of this trip were Urgup (and tours from Urgup) and Ephesus. I'd recommend it if you can fit it in.

If there is any way to change your flight, I would cut 2 days from Athens and add to staying in Chania. We just returned from Chania, it is so beautiful. You need a good 2 to 3 days exploring this old charming city.