Tips and Suggestions for traveling Turkey and the Greek Islands with my 78 year old dad

How long will this trip be? How many days or weeks?
You mention islands, plural yet only mention only Patmos. Will there be more islands than Patmos?

Turkey is one of those places where a guided tour may be warranted. Especially if someone is even a little mobility challenged.

I agree with David, take your dad on the Rick Steves tour of Turkey. I’ve been on it and it is a wonderful way to traverse a large country and learn about its history and culture. Especially for your Dad who has some mobility issues. As long as he can walk fairly well, he will be fine on this tour with you to help him. The tour does not go to the island of Patmos or any Greek island. You would have to arrange that visit.

I agree with the previous poster. I would look at tours. I haven't been to Turkey but a few friends did last year (with a tour group). Have a look at the RS tour itineraries. And other tour groups options. The tour my friends took last year was www.vjv.com/europe-tours/turkey/grand-tour-of-turkey.

I took my 87 year old mother to Jordan and Israel last spring. She is very mobile, but she is not accustomed to elevation changes and uneven surfaces. The smartest thing mom did was to hire a physical therapist several months before the trip to work with her on stair climbing, endurance, balance, and handling uneven surfaces. She handled all the ancient/biblical sites like a champ.

Does your dad have any specific places he wants to see in Turkey? I imagine that Ephesus is on the list. Western Turkey is full of biblical sites.

If a RS tour doesn't work timing wise, consider contacting SRM Travel for private guide services. They are the main guide providers for RS tours and have been recommended often on this site. I have no personal experience with them yet, but I have a Sept. trip using their services for a day tour, plus a RS tour. https://www.srmtravel.com/TourTravelServices.html

Also, while you're planning make sure you all have currently valid passports, and if not get that process going immediately due to processing delays.

You might also consider a cruise, if you can find one that stops at the places he wants to see. I know ships stop at Kusadasi, for Ephesus. And we were on Patmos when a small cruise ship visited.

Otherwise, getting to Patmos from Turkey will require a ferry to Samos and then another ferry to Patmos. You can walk to many hotels on Patmos from the ferry dock, and there are buses and taxis to take you to the monastery of St.John.

In addition to passports, Turkey requires a visa for US citizens. It costs $50 and takes about 10 minutes to do online. I suggest making the effective date a week or so before your trip so if any flight changes affect the timing you won't have to get another one.

You can consider booking a cruise from Athens to visit Patmos and Ephesus on the same tour. During my trip to Turkey before the pandemic, there were direct ferries from Kusadasi (near Selcuk Ephesus) to Patmos, and after 7 church tours in Turkey, I took a ferry to Patmos and went to Athens by ferry at midnight. The midnight ferries to Athens also have a sleeper cabin option and were very comfortable. I would definitely recommend taking a guided tour of Turkey. You can complete 7 churches as you wish by arranging a driver and guide from Istanbul. You can also transfer to Patmos via Samos Island now. The tour that I book was https://ephesiantourism.com/7-days-seven-churches-of-revelation-tour/