Month in Turkey+Greece: feedback appreciated!

I'm doing a very similar trip this summer. I think your time in Istanbul looks right. I would stay in Goreme rather than Kayseri, 3 nights is the max without a car to drive to the other sights in Cappadocia. Four nights in Kusadasi seems like a lot. A day is plenty to see both Selcuk and Ephesus, not sure that there's a lot to see in Kusadasi itself, although that is where I'll be staying as well. I would suggest adding Pamukkale back in and reducing the nights in Kusadasi.

The Greece itinerary looks pretty good, I might reduce a night in Santorini and/or Mykonos, but I also know some people don't like to move around too fast. You could take the nights you reduce and use them for Naxos, which is very easy to get to between Mykonos and Paros.

Also, in Turkey be prepared for entrance prices to sights to be extremely high, mostly in Istanbul. Turkey has been going through years of currency deflation and price inflation, and some of the major tourist sights are trying to recoup income through jacking up their tickets beyond belief. You might look into whether the Istanbul Museum Pass (or the Turkey Museum Pass) is worth it to you. I'm getting the Turkey Museum Pass, which is good for 15 days of sightseeing, and costs 165 Euros, which isn't too bad if you're using it for two full weeks. It covers almost all sights in Turkey, although some in Istanbul are excluded. You can look on their website to see if it would work for you.

Three nights for Santorini is too much; give the other night to Paros. We loved our time in Fethiye!

Thanks for the detailed reply, @Bill. It's disappointing that the costs are so much higher now. We've been wanting to go to Turkey for a while and finally think it might happen this year. From what I'm reading, it sounds like a year too late.

@Suki, why take a night from Santorini and give it to Paros? I'm open to doing so, just curious why.

After additional research and some input from other forums, we've come up with a new draft itinerary. As before, the dates are tentative and this is still in flux, especially the Greece portion (which doesn't apply to this forum). We'd appreciate your thoughts!

15-Sep Arrive Istanbul. Mosques. Cistern. Bosphorus cruise. Topkapi Palace. Spice bazarre. Day trips to Gallipoli Peninsula and Troy (Istanbul 5nt)

20-Sep Fly to Izmir, transfer to Kusadasi. Visit Ephesus (Kusadasi 2nt)

22-Sep Fly to Cappadocia. Visit Tuz Gölü? Hot air balloon? Rent car while there? (Kayseri or Goreme 3nt)

25-Sep Fly to Antalya. Rent car? Optional visits to Perge, Side, Aspendos (Antalya or Alanya 3nt)

28-Sep Bus or car to Kas. Optional visits to Phaselis, Demre, Olympos, Finike, rock tombs (Kas 2nt)

30-Sep Ferry to Rhodes via Kastellorizo (Rhodes 3nt)

3-Oct Naxos? Paros? Crete? Car rental on chosen island (??? 3nt)

6-Oct Fly to Athens. Pick up rental car. Drive to Delphi (Delphi 1nt)

7-Oct Drive to Peloponnese via Patras (Peloponnese 5nt)

12-Oct Drive to Athens via Corinth. Drop off rental. (Athens 3nt)

15-Oct depart ATH

I know there are day trip ferries between Kas and Kastellorizo but was not aware you can then ferry onward to Rhodes. Check this carefully, and also verify the ferry timetables. It’s been years since we visited there so things may have changed.

You may need to spend a night in Kastellorizo— which is absolutely gorgeous & highly recommended. There are also flights between Kastellorizo & Rhodes.

Edited to say: I wouldn’t do Crete for just three nights. And if you’re looking for another island after Rhodes, there are lots of great islands in the Dodecanese, just a short ferry ride from Rhodes.

Well, we've pretty much decided it doesn't make sense to try to add an island between Rhodes and the Peloponnese given the time we have and the logistics of getting around. So, here's the latest itinerary draft - still subject to much discussion and research

• Arrive Istanbul. Mosques. Cistern. Bosphorus cruise. Topkapi Palace. Spice bazarre. Day trips to Gallipoli Peninsula and Troy (Istanbul 5nt)
• Fly to Izmir, transfer to Kusadasi. Visit Ephesus (Kusadasi 2nt)
• Fly to Cappadocia. Visit Tuz Gölü? Hot air balloon? Rent car while there? (Kayseri or Goreme 3nt)
• Fly to Antalya. Optional visits to Perge, Side, Aspendos (Antalya or Alanya 3nt)
• Bus or car to Kas. Optional visits to Phaselis, Demre, Olympos, Finike, rock tombs (Kas 2nt)
• Ferry to Rhodes via Kastellorizo (Rhodes 3nt)
• Early flight to Athens. Pick up rental car. Drive to Patras via Delphi (Patras 1nt)
• Drive to Gytheio, hugging the coast as much as possible (Gytheio 3nt)
• Drive to Nafplion (Naplion 3nt)
• Drive to Athens via Corinth. Drop off rental. (Athens 3nt)
• Depart ATH

I think we're getting closer. We still need to do a lot of logistics research to make all the transportation work. And then we've got to figure out lodging and see where we'd like to hire guides. But... progress!

We just talked through this a lot more, and we may very well split things up with a month in Turkey this year and a month next year in Greece. It's not a firm change yet, but there's a feeling we're not doing either country justice with our current plan. There are many places in Turkey we're not seeing - like the Black Sea coast - and there is so much of Greece we're not even touching. If we do this - a whole month in Turkey - what would you suggest we add?