We are planning a 2 week trip in October of 2011 and are looking for some suggestions on places we must see and places we should avoid. Basically we need help sketching out an itinerary for our trip. We are a young couple that would like to experience an even mix of culture and relaxation. We were loosely thinking of hitting Istanbul, and possibly a couple of other spots in Turkey before moving on to the Greek Islands. Going in October we hope to avoid the height of the tourist season, but would like to avoid the most tourist-y spots. We enjoy learning the culture of the places we visit, finding quaint local spots, going for hikes along the coast or through the country side, and at some point would love to find some sun and a great beach for a few days of R&R. Any ideas would be much appreciated! Ben & Mary
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
417 posts
A basic itinerary would have you start in Istanbul for maybe four days, one travel day to swing south to Ephesus (Kusadasi), spending another day there to sigtsee. Ferry from Kusadasi to Samos and spend two days. Then ferry to one other island of your choice (maybe Naxos, Paros, or Santorini for a taste of the Cycladic islands), spending two days. Finish in Athens for two days, and voila, you have two weeks in Greece/ Turkey. Day1- Leave USA Day 2- Arrive Istanbul Day 3 to 5- Istanbul Day 6- Bus to Kusadasi (buses in Turkey are very nice) Day 7- Kusadasi (Ephesus) Day 8 to 9- Samos Day 10 to 11- Naxos Day 12- To Athens Day 13- Athens Day 14- Head home PM me if you want more info.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3149 posts
Ferries in October are less frequent than during the summer months so your options will be somewhat limited as to departure dates. There are 8 Turkish ports from which you can leave Turkey to enter the Greek islands: Cesme, Dikili, Bodrum, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Fethiye, Kas and Turgutreis. Which one you choose will help determine which Greek islands are conveniently reached in a reasonable amount of time. If you have a particular Greek island in mind to visit that would help you decide. There is no ferry from Istanbul to any Greek island. With only 2 weeks available to you I strongly suggest you do some more research to first determine what and where in Turkey you "must see" so you can determine from which port you will be departing Turkey. Find current copies of good Greece and Turkey guidebooks to help you make your choices based on your interests. Ferry Schedules for Turkey>Greece: http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?lang=en Ferry Schedules for Greek Islands: http://www.gtp.gr Schedules for next October won't be available for several months yet. If you choose a Greek island with an airport you can save some time by flying back to Athens. Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air both serve the islands and Aegean does offer some great promotional fares for as little as €39 one-way, all taxes included. Sign up for their email newsletter and you'll be notified when they're released for next October, probably sometime next summer.
Posted by
Langley, B.C., Canada
59 posts
As another poster suggested, after visiting Ephesis (a Turkey must), take bus to Kusadasi and ferry to Samos. We stayed in Dias Apartments in Pythagorion (web site is http://www.dias-studios.gr/ - book directly with Effie rather than thru other travel sites that list her apts). The ferry from Turkey arrives in Samos Town but the taxi to Pythagorion is not overly expensive - you might have to ask the drive to slow down as they like to speed !!!! Samos is a lovely island and easy to travel around via bus. From there, you can go south to islands like Kos and Rhodes. Or go west to Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and depending on time Santorini. As mentioned, the ferry schedules may be what determines your routing. I know that from Samos (airport about 5 mins taxi ride from apt Dias), Rhodes, Naxos & Santorini all have flights to Athens. From whatever island you end your island hopping on, I recommend flying to Athens - the ferry trip is long (and may not be direct) from the islands I mentioned.
Happy travels.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3401 posts
I agree with previous poster about flying back from Samos ... you can get "bargain" tickets from Aegean Air that are no more than tix for loooong ferry to Piraeus. In Greece October is WAY off-season NO fear of "touristy Spots" Au contraire, u want to avoid emptied-out "closed-down" places. Pythagoria is such a town; seasonal. Instead choose Vathy, where ferry docks. Try lovely Hotel Pythagoras, 300-400 yards to your left, right on the waterside, nice family-run, CHEAP, a cute little beach just below your balcony; with notice he'll pick u up. Ask about half-day public bus "tours" around the island, they run at least during summer. This terrific little website by pair like u, gives info about busses, hikes, car rental , more! http://www.islandwalking.com/samosholiday.html Western Samos has not only beaches & landscapes but little villages that time forgot. For a night or two on a lovely Western beach, look at: http://www.studiosioanna.com/ -- if it's still open. If u want "quaint local spots", hikes, non-touristy.. Samos is it Don't rush to Santorini/Mykonos just because they're on all the calendars. Samos is a Gem, overlooked by Americans.
Posted by
Langley, B.C., Canada
59 posts
Agree that Samos is a real GEM but we were in Pythagoria at the middle of October and the town was still very open. And the beach that is about a 10 min walk from Apartment Dias was still renting lounge chairs/umbrellas and the fast food stall open. The water was warm enough for a pleasant swim after either a nice walk or sit on the beach. The airport for Samos is about a 5 min taxi ride from Pythagoria as well as ferries to Kos, Rhodes, and other islands of the coast of Turkey go from there. You see, we really liked Pythagoria.
Have fun.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3401 posts
Hi, Bev! Glad to hear that Pythagoria is still open in October & so enjoyable at that time. V. Different from hi season. It's a great little port ... I have on my stairway wall a stunning picture of sailboats lined up in the early morning sun, no one about, as we caught the excursion boat to Patmos. One of those photos that begs to become a jigsaw puzzle :-D