Turkey & Greece

Airport Transfers: In Istanbul, you’ll want to stay in the “Sultanahmet” historic area. Transfers from Istanbul airport are easily arranged. We recommend first asking your hotel lodging about their options, or you can arrange your own through numberous advance booking transfer services such as Transfeero, or even by taxi on arrival. I recommend having your hotel name and address written on a piece of paper so you can hand it to a taxi driver, in this case, for ease of communication (and not having to hand over your phone). Transfers are often around $50 for a private transfer for a couple, plus or minus some for luxury level of car or larger group. The Sultanahmet area is about an hour from the airport, and there are many pedestrian only areas, so read hotel reviews if curbside drop off is a concern. But usually, it’s not far to drag the luggage (and many transfer services will assist) if you have to walk a block or two from car zones to your hotels in the historic areas. There are many historical, boutique hotels in the Sultanahmet area, that aren’t suitable for larger group hotel bookings as we need, but can be wonderful experiences for a night (or few) if you arrive early.

Hotels: Smaller boutique hotels are especially fun to find in Istanbul in areas close to Haggia Sophia or the Blue Mosque for easy walking and fun restaurant experiences. Sirkeci Mansion, Rast Hotel, and Amiral Palace Hotel are a few can recommend, each in a different area to also give you an idea of locations we like.

Restaurants: We believe that FOOD is one of the best reasons to travel, to literally “taste” and participate in the culture. And Turkish food is worth the trip alone. Just plan all your events around food as the priority, and you’re going to have a great trip; this is my philosophy. From street food to local favorites, to fancy rooftop dining splurges, there are countless opportunities in Istanbul, even more than many destinations, for “perfect bites” and table experiences. We never visit Istanbul without a stop at Old Ottoman Cafe and on our last visit we especially enjoyed Esto Restaurant. Something more upscale like Carlos Terrace Restaurant has also been recommended (above our paygrade so I can’t speak for it - but looks amazing). Again, google maps is a great resource for finding highly reviewed restaurants, and trying something new each time. Ask for recommendations for the best of house - and SAVOR. Now I’m hungry.

Bosphorus Cruise: There are several Bosphorus cruise options, and we absolutely recommend doing something like this. It’s amazing to be on the water between the continents, with Istanbul, and Asia/Europe, on either side. There are also Bosphorus “Dinner” cruises which are in the evening. (Note, some of the dinner cruises also include entertainment, which may be music, or may even be belly dancing. So if that’s not your thing, be advised, double check the reviews/details, or enjoy your drinks on the deck!). There are many Bosphorus cruise options, and what’s on offer for these changes often. We especially enjoy the day cruises to see the sites, perhaps with a guide talking about what’s on the shores as you pass.

Turkish Bath at a Hammam: There are many of these available, either to locations specifically designed to host this, or by searching for hotels that include a Hammam experience on site. Deeply cultural, and recommended experience. One of the most famous is Cagaloglu Hamam which dates from the 1700’s, and is easily accommodating to travelers (english), but there are many to choose from. https://cagalogluhamami.com.tr/en/

Mosque Architecture: There are countless mosques, all with intricate designs and architectural features. Some enjoy going to many of these, from the famous Blue Mosque, to whichever they happen upon. All will have different guidelines as far as where to take shoes off, head coverings for women, etc. but overwhelmingly, all are welcome to visit.

Byzantine Churches: the number of Byzantine churches has dwindled significantly since 1453, but on this website (https://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/churches) you can find some still in existence that testify to the city’s importance within church history.

Miniaturk Museum: houses numerous miniature models of different buildings from not only Istanbul, but also other places in Turkey and the world. Their website https://miniaturk.com.tr/en could also be a good resource to discover additional interests in the city (if they made a miniature of it, they think it’s important).

Culture Soaking: Istanbul is an amazing place to people watch, and just enjoy the unique cultural flavors of this land. One of Jamie & Samuel’s favorite things to do is grab some street food from the many vendors around Sultanahmet, and enjoy sitting on a bench, or in the grass with the locals, relaxing around the big central fountain between Haggia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Grand Bazaar/Spice Market: We plan to visit these as a group, but there’s no end to what you can see and explore – different every time. A fun place to soak up culture, and find some tastes and treasures.

Counting Cats: Istanbul (and much of Türkiye) has a remarkable approach to caring for, not for “strays,” but for “the city’s animals.” You will see happy, beloved, friendly “stray” cats everywhere, and some dogs as well. There are vending machines for food you can drop some spare change in, that dispenses food below for the next animal that wanders by for a food. Many carry treats or food to share. It’s a remarkable part of Istanbul’s culture. Bring hand wipes and pet the city pets - they’ll love you.

Rick Steves: When it comes to personal travel, Rick Steves is well known for good reason, and his suggestions for personal walking tours and experiences are often very good. Since his books are available electronically, you can listen at your own pace as he and/or a local guide walk you through the streets of major cities like Istanbul and Athens.

Athens

Culture/Shopping: Walking, shopping, and staying at hotels in older neighborhoods near the Acropolis, like the Plaka area, offers its own unique food fare and experiences. As a group we have to stay near hotels that allow buses to park closer, than some more boutique but unique options may. However, our reserved lodging for this group at the Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel is in a walkable area and it may be more convenient to add some nights as you wish to this location, by separate individual booking (may more may not require a room change; we can book this through our local travel providers but I would suggest an individual booking via hotels.com, booking.com, or directly with the hotel that is likely to provide a better rate).

National Archaeological Museum is excellent for history and art lovers, in particular walking you through a history of sculptures, including exceptional gold artworks.

Culture/Shopping: Walking and shopping in older neighborhoods near the Acropolis like Plaka also offers its own unique food fare and experiences.

Greek Islands: One of our favorite day trips from Athens was a day cruise that takes you to three nearby islands, including Hydra, Poros, and Aegina, with lunch, in one day. This is a great tour and we highly recommend it. Here is one tour on Get Your Guide that offers this day trip.  

When we first did this trip (years ago) we arranged it directly with a tour operator, and rather than the standard day trip, we added a night in Hydra. So when the tour got there, we stayed and picked it back up the next day for the “return” trip via the other two islands. Hydra is the highlight of the three and worth the trip alone. A car free gorgeous island, we had extra time on Hydra hike around it, find “perfect picnic spots”, etc. We do not have contact information for how to arrange these kinds of travel exceptions, as our previous contacts went out of business since Covid. There are many options, for all kinds of travel arrangements, we just hesitate to recommend specific companies that we don’t have direct experience with.

Delphi: This is a great site to visit that we include on our longer study trips in Greece. Greece trips, and is available as a common day trip from Athens. It is a longer drive of 2+ hours, and because of its location on the side of a mountain, expect to climb some steps to get closer to the temple itself. This was the site of the most consulted oracle of the ancient world. Get Your Guide offers this as a day-trip, among many other options.

Mycenae: An archaeological site about a 2-hour drive away from Athens and offers a glimpse into the lives of people 3,500 years ago. The Mycenaean Civilization dominated mainland Greece and much of the Mediterranean for about 500 years leading up to the time of King David. Here is an option on Get Your Guide for a well-reviewed day-trip.

Thessaloniki/Phillipi: Athens offers short flights to Thessaloniki, from where you can arrange trips to Philippi as well.