straightforward question here: can anyone recommend how to travel from Athens to Istanbul? Air, bus, boat(?). Thanks in advance.
Definitely airplane. There are no direct ferries.
Nonstop flights between the two cities take an average of one and one half hours. Turkish Airlines and Aegean Air seem to offer the most flights daily. There are some low cost carriers as well. Be aware of the terms and conditions with the super cheap carriers. My experience with Turkish Airlines was exceptional.
No option, really. No ferries or trains. Air is your only choice.