We plan to go to Corfu, Greece the week of April 18-27 for a wedding. We will be flying to Athens and stay the night. I have always dreamed of touring Ephesus and wondered if we could take a ferry from Athens and spend a day in Ephesus before going to Corfu. is it possible? If so, should we fly out of Ephesus ot Corfu. What would the cost be?
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3122 posts
Wow. You do know that Ephesus is in Turkey........right?
There is no direct ferry from Athens to the part of Turkey where Ephesus is located, or to anywhere in Turkey for that matter. Greek ferries only go to Greek islands. You'd have to take a ferry from Athens/Piraeus to Samos then another ferry across into Turkey at Kusadasi then a taxi or bus to Ephesus. A round trip by ferry will take you at least 3 days, including your time in Turkey. You can fly from Athens to Samos and catch the 4:30pm ferry to Kusadasi and save a lot of time, but this would mean spending 2 nights in Turkey to see Ephesus the next day and since the only return ferry to Samos from Kusadasi is a morning ferry.
I'm sorry but your idea is impractical unless you fly, and even then you'd be wasting a lot of time. There is no airport in Ephesus. The nearest airport is in Izmir and there are no flights from Izmir back to Greece. You'd have to fly to Istanbul to pick up a flight to Athens, then fly from Athens to Corfu.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23290 posts
I was about to post the similar comments when I saw Lee responded. He is the expert in this area. IF Ephesus is extremely important to you, you might consider flying into Istanbul, work you way to Ephesus and home from Corfu but that would still be very complicated and expensive. Save Ephesus for another day.
Posted by
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
536 posts
Jamie - Lee hit it right on - Very difficult to do!! But - the Better news is that Corfu is one Amazing Island and you should see as much as possible, including going up into the mountains!! The old town section is a lot of fun, the cafes and restaurants in town are great and you will enjoy - Promise!!! Save Turkey for another day.
Greg
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
417 posts
As another idea, Sarande, Albania, is a short boat ride (about 45 minutes, if I recall) from Corfu town. Nearby is Butrint, which is a really fun late Roman site to visit. It is probably the closest major Roman city to Corfu, and well worth a visit. It is not touristy, and you can easily arrange a tour there from Corfu.
Yes, Ephesus is too far for a day trip, but I think Butrint would be worth your time.
Posted by
Athens, GA, USA
5 posts
Believe me, Ephesus is worth the wait. Better to do it well, and Izmir is a nice town to visit. Many of the Europeans I have met tell me that their favorite city in Turkey is Izmir. It is my opinion that you should visit Greece and do it well, and also visit Turkey, but do it well. Turkey is a wonderful, delightful country. Perhaps, if you are interested in seeing some Ruins, Corinth might be another option for you .