Athens to Istanbul?

[edro]

I would like to plan a vacation for my girlfriend and I from Athens to Istanbul (or vice versa).

Has anyone done this?
Experiences, tips?

Train or plane?

Buy as a package or go on our own?

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[ElFenix]

it was way cheaper to fly into istanbul

stayed at the side hostel (see-dah), right next door to the four seasons istanbul. they also have a hotel. very clean rooms for very cheap, with a good breakfast on their wonderful patio upstairs (with great views of the blue mosque and the hagia sofia).

when going from istanbul to athens, take the plane. train takes for damn ever because there is no high speed service in turkey.

you could also island hop via ferry, but it'll take a while as well.

athens can basically be done in 1 or 2 days.

 

[edro]

All the airfare sites I am looking at shows it about $200 cheaper to fly into Athens.
Thanks for the advice on flying to the other city instead of the train.

I was kind of hoping to take the train and stop in another city in Greece... like Thessaloniki.

 

[edro]

Tips?

 

[puffff]

the bus would be a better option than train. bus routes are fairly extensive in that part of europe. it's also worth mentioning that istanbul's bus station is something to behold. not because it's modern or fancy, but simply because of it's sheer size.