Greece and Turkey in three weeks

You don't want to search for two one-way fares (which as you say, will cost a fortune), but for "open jaw" fares - flying, for example, Seattle to Athens, then Istanbul to Seattle, on one ticket. To do this, use the "multi-city" option on booking sites like Kayak, Orbitz, etc. Open jaw fares will usually cost about the average of the two city pairs round trip. For example, if Seattle-Athens RT is $1000, and Seattle-Istanbul RT is $1200, then Seattle-Athens, Istanbul-Seattle should be $1100. Of course, it doesn't always work this way. And sometimes, it's much cheaper into Istanbul and out of Athens than the reverse, for totally unknown reasons, so do check both possibilities.

Neither Easyjet nor Ryanair have service between Athens and Istanbul. I have found that both Aegean Airlines and Olympic Airlines have fairly inexpensive options and with a sale it's usually around 100 Euros round-trip. Good luck!

I agree with Harold. Open jaw is what you will want to do. And then use smaller airlines/ferries between the two. I always check the well known budget carriers, Ryan Air and Easy Jet. And then in this region in particular....check Aegean Airlines and Pegasus and Olympic. Flown all of the above and no problems.

Don't forget to check with Turkish Airlines.

Of course, flying open jaws is almost certainly the way to go on this. But...maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't it be a bad plan to go to Greece, putter around the islands, then get back to Athens, fly to Istanbul, then putter around Turkey? I have not been to either country, but have been eyeing a 3 week trip to the two sometime down the road. I've always figured that the way to do it efficiently would be to fly to Athens, spend a day, then head out to the Greek islands. Putter around some islands, then - when you're at some Greek island that's near a Turkish island - take a ferry from your last Greek island to your first Turkish island. Putter around some Turkish islands, then hit the Turkish mainland, ending up in Istanbul, fly home from there. Is such a routing not possible? If it is, wouldn't that make sense - basically fly into either Athens or Istanbul, and use some islands and ferries to connect the two?

I was in Turkey in Mar and from my research I recom. fly into Istanbul , see the sights on the west coast (can be done by bus) then leave from Kusadasi or Izmir to Greek islands ending up in Athens. It takes some carefully planning ahead for the ferries so best start asap on the ferry schedules , connections and overnights on the islands you wish to see. Then fly home from Athens. If you do not want to see Greek islands then you would need to get back from South Turkey by air or bus to Istanbul. Realize there are 2 airports in Istanbul ck carefully.

Right - but there are ferries that connect Greek islands and Turkish islands (or Greek islands to the Turkish coast) - right?

thank you everyone. I found an open jaw flight that worked great for us. I am now looking at ways to get the most out of our three weeks!

David, and now if you want more advice, you need to say which way your open-jaw works - to Istanbul & Home from Athens or vice versa? It matters. In 3 weeks you will want to spend a minimum 3 days in Istanbul, 3 in Athens. Then another 5 days in turkey (not Turkish islands). Add 2 days eaten up by travel. So, about 1 week for Greek islands. So please only try 2 islands, or you'll spend all your time on travek One thing to beware of ... The crossing from Turkey is easy at Kusadasi (after seeing Ephesus), only 45 minutes to Samos. HOWEVER, Samos has VERY limited ferry service to/from the most popular island group, the Cyclades (you know, the white cube-like dwellings, blue shutters, on all the posters). Former ferry connections to Naxos or Mykonos, gone. U can only get to Syros, and 2x per week. If first stop is Athens, you could go counter-clockwise: fly to Santorini, midnight ferry to Rhodes, then ferry (45 minutes) to Marmaris Turkey, and go up the TUrkey mainland by bus or plane to Istanbul. Clockwise, more challenging. Also does your trip include week of Aug 15, THE hugest Greek holiday? If so, travel will be tough, all ferries jammed. See? With these potential problems, generalities won't do; you need to give detailed specifics so we can help you avoid or solve transport problems.

Yes, there are several Greek islands with ferry connections to Turkey. I know of these: Lesvos/Ayvalik, Chios/Cesme, Samos/Kusadasi, Kos/Bodrum, Rhodes/Marmaris, Kastellorizo/Kas. There could be more. I'm looking into this myself for a 2013 trip. Plan to fly into Istanbul, visit some spots in Turkey and then make my way to a Greek island and eventually fly home from Athens.

Thank you everyone! I found a great open jaw ticket and I am feeling very excited about this adventure since I have had your support. I leave next Friday, August 17, two days before my 60th birthday!
David