Question on trip (Travelling to different countries)
 

The wife and I are wanting to head to Europe in April for about 11 days. We wanted to visit Italy, Greece and Turkey while we are there. I'm wondering what you guys recommend as the best way to get between the 3 countries....I don't have a specific order on visiting those places so whatever is easiest is fine with us.

In Greece, I'd like to go to go to Athens
In Turkey, I'd like to go to Ephesus and Istanbul
In Italy, I'd like to go to Venice

I'm thinking about 3 days or so in each city with 2 extra days to do whatever we want....Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you,
Ryan

Most air travel search engines like Kayak have an option to search multi-city travel, so that would be my first step--find out the best combination of cities to fly into and out of. For travel between those cities within that time frame, you will be flying of course. I would check a European search engine like skyscanner to find out which low cost carriers fly between those cities.
Please report back--many people, me included, consider this type of trip too much (too much money--and time--spent in transit, etc.). I tend to pick a place I want to visit and branch out into the immediate area, but maybe you are a city person, and it is your trip of course. I will say that I think only three days in Istanbul in addition to a visit to Ephesus is tight--perhaps you could put your extra days there.

Keep in mind that because your travel days will be mostly occupied with getting from one place to another, you'll need four nights in a city in order to be able to spend three days there.

Istanbul is a much larger city than Athens or Venice, so I agree that you should spend more nights there. Three nights may be enough for Venice, unless you want to concentrate mostly on the artistic heritage of the city. I've never been to Athens, so I hesitate to advise on the number of nights to spend there.

Not sure how you are counting your days. You have "about eleven days" and want to visit four places. Then you say you are "thinking about 3 days or so in each city with 2 extra days". But four cities and 3 days in each city is twelve days and two extra means a total of fourteen. So, do you have eleven or fourteen days? It makes a big difference. You also don't seem to count the time for travel between cities.

With 11 days only, I think you are moving way too much. It will cost you a lot in time and money, but it is your trip.
I think the "easiest" way between the 3 destination (Athens, Istanbul, Venice) is to fly. Look into low cost airlines, and find the most economical way between them. Ferries (if they run between these destination) would take too long.
I don't think you have 2 extra days to do whatever you want, most of that time will be spent in transit.

Combine Athens and Istanbul into this trip. Leave Venice for another time. Add extra days to Istanbul if you have that option. Ephesus from Istanbul is a very long (repeat long) day trip. Maybe fly to Izmir for a couple nights and day trip from there. Ephesus is a big site and offers little shade. Stay hydrated, wear a hat and comfortable shoes!

Istanbul is a fascinating place. We spent a week there and could have easily spent a second. We liked Cappadocia more than Ephesus. That too is worth at least two days.

With 11 days I would just go to Turkey.

I think you are doing too much, too far apart, for only 11 days, due to the logistics of getting between them which eats up time.

Pick two. I'd do Italy and Greece myself. I think kayak isn't going to be the most useful for any discount airlines between cities in Europe, it won't show them, but is good for your start and end points.

FOr example, I really like Easyjet and they fly from Rome to Athens nonstop in only 3 hours for about 40 euro. They do not fly from Venice to Greece, though.

Try www.whichbudget.com for these flights between European countries. Or try a European search engine (I use www.opodo.fr but it has an English version at www.opodo.co.uk)

It does show some cheaper airlines like Vueling but doesn't show any nonstop flights from Venice to Athens. Whichbudget shows only one possibility -- Air One, the low budget Italian airline. I have not heard of it, but that might work.

http://flyairone.com/EN-EU/fly-with-...tinations.aspx

I find www.skyscanner.net to be excellent for budget air travel planning in Europe.

I appreciate the responses and we are thinking of extending the trip to 15-20 days now...Not sure exactly but definitely extending it. With that said, I hope that helps space things out better. I'm really big into Roman ruins, hence Ephesus, and I've read it can be a day trip from Istanbul by plane. I know it's a long day of walking and stuff but I'm definitely up for that.

If you are going to Venice and have extra time to spend, consider visiting Verona as a day trip for its significant Roman ruins, but also Aquileia, which is probably the most valuable Roman archeological site in northern Italy. It is much easier to get to Verona from Venice than it is to get to Aquiliea, and if you decide to go, you might want to budget for a taxi from the train station in Cervignano to the excavation site, or see if you can find a tour from Venice.

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/friuliv.../aquileia.html

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...ia-TG-C-1.html

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/825

Thanks for the heads up, sandralist. I'll definitely check those out. Verona looks like a great place to see...