Athen to Istanbul OR Istanbul to Athens

[Mr.Travler]

We are looking into a Windstar cruise for 9-29-07. Both the Wind Star and the Wind Spirit do the same itinerary in opposite directions. We would probably leave 3 to 4 days before the cruise starts. Any suggestions as to what area would be more enjoyable and interesting, Athens or Istanbul?

Your replys will be appreciated.

Bruce

[klncpa]

Hi Bruce,

 

We did the 9/16 Istanbul to Athens trip and enjoyed it immensely. It was our first cruise and we liked it and WindStar so much that we booked 10/7/07 Venice to Rome on WindSurf just this week.

 

We spent three nights in Istanbul before the cruise and five nights in Athens after the cruise.

 

Istanbul has some interesting sites which we really enjoyed: Topkapi Palace, Dolmabache Palace (the Sultans were into some extreme ostentation), Haghia Sophia museum (formerly a church and a mosque), underground cistern, the Grand Bazaar, and the big mosques (Blue Mosque and Suleyman). It was a clean city, and pretty easy to get around in, most of the major sites in a pretty concentrated area, and the people were nice. The trams were very, very crowded, and shopping can be a pretty high pressure experience.

 

I am a ruins freak, so Athens was paradise for me. The Acropolis, the Archeological musem, Temple of Olympian Zeus/Arch of Hadrian, day trips to Delphi, Mycenae and Epidaurus, and Panathenaic Stadium. The people there are also very nice. The city isn't filthy, but it's not exactly spotless either. The Metro is easy to use, if you need it.

 

It all boils down to what you like to do. There are two ports on the cruise with shore excursions to ruins (Rhodes - Lindos Acropolis and Mykonos - Delos). So, if you're not real excited by ruins, you may want to opt to spend your time in Istanbul because you'll have two shots at ruins on the cruise. But, the Acropolis is definitely an impressive site. If shopping is your thing, you'll probably find the shopkeepers in Istanbul to be quite overbearing.

 

Hope this helps you somewhat and that you have a fabulous time.

 

Karen

[klncpa]

Bruce...

 

There are actually four shots at ruins on the cruise. In addition to Rhodes and Myknonos, I forgot to mention Ephesus (awesome) and Bodrum.

 

Sorry for my misstatement...

[cielolama]

Hi Bruce,

 

To add to Karen's comments, try to spend extra time in both Istanbul and Athens if you can. We did back to back Istanbul - Athens -Istanbul in September. We went a day early to Istanbul and were able to see quite alot, most of the sights Karen mentioned and a cruise up the Bosphorus which was excellent. One more day would have been perfect.

 

My "must sees" in Athens are the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum and the Plaka. Just these require more than a day. Sights in Athens are fairly spread out. We found the Metro to be a good way to get around. In addition, there is a hop on off bus which stops at probably everything you would want to see.

 

The itinerary you're considering is very good, all of our favorite ports. A couple suggestions, definitely go to Ephesus when you're in Kusadasi. On Santorini, consider taking a bus to Oia; it's much less crowded that Fira.

 

Have a great trip!

 

Chris