Greece & Turkey: Athens, the Cyclades, Istanbul & Cappadocia
The Acropolis in Athens, sunsets over Santorini's caldera and Mykonos's Little Venice, then Istanbul's mosques and the Bosphorus, hot-air balloons at dawn over Cappadocia, and the Roman city of Ephesus.
- Best time to go
- May, June and September to mid-October. July and August are hot and crowded, with strong meltemi winds in the islands; Istanbul and Cappadocia are also good in April and October.
- Flying from India
- Istanbul is about 6½ to 7½ hours non-stop from Delhi and Mumbai. Athens is usually one stop via Istanbul, the Gulf or a European hub.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Greece: Schengen visa (multiple entry if you return to Greece after Turkey). Turkey: e-Visa online if you hold a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit; otherwise a visa from the Turkish consulate.
- Currency
- Euro in Greece; Turkish lira in Turkey, where cards are widely accepted and euros are often taken in tourist areas.
Greece & Turkey at a glance
Greece usually comes first. Two nights in Athens cover the Acropolis, the excellent Acropolis Museum and the lanes of Plaka. Fast ferries then link the Cyclades: Mykonos for whitewashed lanes, windmills and beach clubs, and Santorini for its caldera villages, black-sand beaches and sunsets from Oia or Imerovigli.
A short flight brings you to Istanbul, a city on two continents. See Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapı Palace, shop in the Grand Bazaar and cruise the Bosphorus past Ottoman palaces and waterside mansions. Fly on to Cappadocia for a sunrise balloon flight over the fairy chimneys and a night in a cave hotel, and, on longer trips, visit the Roman city of Ephesus near the Aegean coast.
Must-see
- The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
- Oia and Fira on Santorini
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
- A Bosphorus cruise
- Cappadocia's balloons and valleys
Food to try
- Greek salad, souvlaki and fresh grilled fish
- Santorini fava and tomato fritters
- Turkish breakfast spreads
- Kebabs and mezze in Istanbul
- Baklava and Turkish delight
Where to shop
- Plaka and Monastiraki, Athens
- Jewellery and art galleries in Oia
- The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
- Cappadocian pottery in Avanos
- Turkish towels, ceramics and carpets
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Santorini caldera, Oia and Imerovigli
Cave suites on the cliff
Whitewashed cave suites carved into the caldera rim, many with private plunge pools and terraces facing the sunset and the volcano.
Istanbul, the Bosphorus
Waterside and old-city hotels
Hotels on the Bosphorus shore in Beşiktaş and Ortaköy, or in Sultanahmet within walking distance of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Cappadocia, Uçhisar and Göreme
Cave hotels in the rock
Rooms carved into the soft volcanic rock, with terraces where you can watch the balloons rise at dawn.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Greece & Turkey journeys around
The Acropolis at opening time
Climb to the Parthenon and the Erechtheion with its Caryatid porch at 8 am, before the heat and the cruise groups, then see the originals in the Acropolis Museum.
Sailing the Santorini caldera
An afternoon on a traditional boat or catamaran: the volcanic islet of Nea Kameni, a swim in the hot springs, and sunset at sea off Oia.
Ephesus
Walk the marble streets of one of the best-preserved Roman cities to the two-storey façade of the Library of Celsus. Fly from Istanbul to İzmir or combine with an Aegean cruise.
Hagia Sophia
Completed in 537, the great domed church became a mosque in 1453; visitors enter the upper galleries with a ticket outside prayer times. Combine with the Blue Mosque opposite.
A private Bosphorus cruise
Two hours on the strait between Europe and Asia, past the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Ortaköy Mosque and the bridges, ideally at sunset.
Walking Cappadocia's valleys
Easy guided walks through the Rose, Love and Pigeon valleys among fairy chimneys and rock-cut churches, then the open-air museum at Göreme.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Greece & Turkey traveller
When to visit
April to June
Wildflowers in Cappadocia, warm days in Athens and Istanbul, and the islands before the crowds.
July and August
Peak island season: hot, lively and expensive, with strong winds in the Cyclades.
September to October
Warm sea, calmer islands and comfortable sightseeing in Istanbul and Cappadocia.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Fly into Athens via a one-stop connection and home from Istanbul, which has non-stop flights to Delhi and Mumbai.
Between stops
Athens to Mykonos is 2½ to 5 hours by ferry, Mykonos to Santorini 2 to 3 hours. Santorini or Athens to Istanbul is a short flight, and Istanbul to Cappadocia about 1¼ hours.
Insider notes
Get the right Schengen visa
If you visit Greece, then Turkey, then return to Greece, you need a multiple-entry Schengen visa. If you fly home from Istanbul, single entry is enough.
Balloon flights depend on the wind
Flights are cancelled in strong winds. We plan two mornings in Cappadocia so you have a second chance.
Skip Oia's sunset scrum
Oia's castle viewpoint is packed at sunset. Watch from Imerovigli, a caldera terrace or the water instead.
Island ferries in summer
The meltemi wind can make July and August crossings rough. We use larger, faster ferries and keep plans flexible.
Greece & Turkey: Common Questions
Santorini for the caldera and sunsets, Mykonos for beaches and nightlife, and Paros or Naxos for a slower, more local feel. Two islands is plenty on a ten-day trip.
Plan your Greece & Turkey journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Greece & Turkey specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Greece & Turkey
Journey · Island & Sea
Greek Island Hopping, Sea & Stone
Journey · Culture & Heritage
Istanbul & Cappadocia Skies
Journey · Ocean Cruise
Aegean Isles Yacht-Style Cruise
Journey · Beach & Slow Travel
Cyclades, Slow Island Days
Ready to plan Greece & Turkey?
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