Turkey & Greece Self-Launched: Istanbul to Santorini in 14 Days

Fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) or the cheaper Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Take the Havaist bus or Metro M11 + Marmaray into the old city (roughly £3–5, 60–90 min) and check into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy. Spend the afternoon wandering Sultanahmet Square on foot, then in the evening join a cheap public Bosphorus sunset ferry (İDO/Şehir Hatları, ~£2–3) instead of the operator's €93 dinner cruise. Eat a balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by Eminönü or meze in Karaköy.

🚌Airport bus/Metro into the city (~£4)

🛏Sultanahmet or Karaköy hostel, dorm or private twin (~£15–22 pp)

• →Sultanahmet Square orientation walk
• →Public Bosphorus ferry at sunset
• →Eminönü street food

Take an early morning high-speed YHT train from Istanbul to Ankara (~4.5 hrs, ~£12–15 booked on TCDD or via a Turkish booking site). In Ankara visit Anıtkabir (Atatürk's mausoleum, free) and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (~£4) — both a short taxi/metro hop from the station. Then take an evening intercity bus from Ankara's AŞTİ terminal to Göreme/Nevşehir (~5 hrs, ~£10–14) or fly Ankara–Kayseri and shuttle in. Overnight in a Göreme cave-style guesthouse.

🚌YHT train Istanbul–Ankara ~£13 + bus Ankara–Göreme ~£12

🛏Göreme village guesthouse, cave room (~£15–20 pp)

• →Anıtkabir (Atatürk mausoleum)
• →Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
• →Arrival in Göreme

Book a hot-air balloon flight direct with a licensed operator (approx. £150–190 pp — far below the €333 the operator quotes) and watch sunrise over the valleys. Later, buy a Göreme Open-Air Museum ticket (~£8) and walk the Dark Church frescoes; then hike the Rose/Red Valley trail to Pasabag (Monks Valley) fairy chimneys free of charge, or take a local minibus. Visit a pottery workshop in Avanos. If you skip the balloon, do the free hike up to Uçhisar Castle viewpoint.

🚌Local minibus/dolmuş around the valleys (~£3)

🛏Göreme village guesthouse (~£15–20 pp)

• →Sunrise hot-air balloon flight (book direct)
• →Göreme Open-Air Museum
• →Pasabag & Rose Valley hike
• →Avanos pottery workshops

Morning dolmuş to Kaymaklı Underground City (~£3 entrance) and, if time allows, Derinkuyu. Return to Göreme for lunch, then take a late afternoon bus or a cheap domestic flight (Kayseri→Denizli) toward Pamukkale; overnight buses are common and save a hotel night. If busing, expect ~10–11 hrs, ~£15–18.

🚌Dolmuş to Kaymaklı ~£3 + bus/flight to Denizli ~£16

🛏Overnight bus or Pamukkale village guesthouse (~£12–16 pp)

• →Kaymaklı Underground City
• →Derinkuyu (optional)
• →Overnight transfer to Pamukkale

Enter the Pamukkale/Hierapolis archaeological site early before the tour coaches (~£10 entry, includes the travertine terraces, Hierapolis necropolis, Roman baths and theatre). Walk barefoot down the white terraces around sunrise or late afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds. In the afternoon take a local bus to Selçuk/Kuşadası (~2.5 hrs, ~£6) and settle into a guesthouse near Ephesus.

🚌Local bus Pamukkale–Selçuk ~£6

🛏Selçuk or Kuşadası guesthouse (~£14–18 pp)

• →Pamukkale travertine terraces
• →Hierapolis ruins & necropolis
• →Antique pool (optional, extra fee)

Walk or take the local minibus to Ephesus' upper gate and enter at opening (~£15 entry). See the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, Odeon and Curetes Street with a self-guided audio app or a small-group GetYourGuide entry+guide tour (~£35–45). Afterwards visit the Basilica of St John and the Meryemana (House of the Virgin Mary) pilgrimage site by taxi/minibus. Evening in the hill village of Şirince for wine tasting and gözleme.

🚌Local minibus/taxi to Ephesus & Meryemana (~£6)

🛏Selçuk or Kuşadası guesthouse (~£14–18 pp)

• →Ephesus ancient city
• →Basilica of St John
• →House of the Virgin Mary
• →Şirince village evening

Take the regional train or bus to İzmir (~1 hr, ~£2) and explore Kemeraltı bazaar for hand-painted pottery, carpets, spices and lokum, plus the seafront Kordon promenade. In the late afternoon take a cheap domestic flight İzmir→Istanbul (often £25–40 on Pegasus/AJet) or an overnight bus (~£18, 8–9 hrs).

🚌Train Selçuk–İzmir ~£2 + flight İzmir–Istanbul ~£32

🛏Istanbul hostel or overnight transport (~£16 pp)

• →Kemeraltı Bazaar
• →Kordon seafront walk
• →Handicraft shopping

Self-guided full day on foot through the historic peninsula. Hagia Sophia (free for worshippers; small visitor fee), the Blue Mosque (free), the Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace (~£15) and the Grand Bazaar. Break for lunch at a lokanta near Eminönü (çiğ köfte, lahmacun, kebab). Consider a GetYourGuide skip-the-line Topkapı/Hagia Sophia combo if you want context. Evening baklava and tea in Karaköy.

🚌Tram and walking (~£2)

🛏Sultanahmet hostel (~£18–24 pp)

• →Hagia Sophia
• →Blue Mosque & Hippodrome
• →Topkapı Palace
• →Grand Bazaar
• →Karaköy food crawl

Cheap morning flight Istanbul→Athens on Pegasus/Aegean from SAW or IST (~£45–70 one-way booked in advance). Take Metro Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki/Syntagma (~£8). Check into a Monastiraki or Koukaki hostel, then do the free-to-cheap classics: watch the Evzones changing of the guard at Syntagma Square, walk the Athenian Trilogy and Hadrian's Arch, and catch sunset from Philopappou Hill. Dinner in Plaka (~£12).

🚌Istanbul–Athens flight ~£55 + airport metro ~£8

🛏Monastiraki/Koukaki hostel, dorm or private twin (~£20–28 pp)

• →Changing of the Guards
• →Athenian Trilogy & Hadrian's Arch
• →Philopappou Hill sunset
• →Plaka evening walk

Book an Acropolis entry slot online (~£22, or ~£28 combined Acropolis + Acropolis Museum). Climb early before the heat and crowds, then explore the Acropolis Museum and the Ancient Agora (~£9). Afternoon coffee in Anafiotika, and optionally a Monastiraki street-food dinner. If you want a guide, a GetYourGuide Acropolis walking tour runs ~£30–40.

🚌Metro/tram (~£3)

🛏Monastiraki/Koukaki hostel (~£20–28 pp)

• →Acropolis & Parthenon
• →Acropolis Museum
• →Ancient Agora
• →Anafiotika neighbourhood

Take the Metro to Piraeus and board a Blue Star or fast catamaran ferry to Mykonos (~£30–45 slow, ~£55–70 fast; book on Ferryhopper or Direct Ferries a few weeks ahead). Arrive in the afternoon and check into a guesthouse in Mykonos Town or Paradise/Platys Gialos. Walk the windmills, Little Venice and the old port at sunset, then a gyros dinner for ~£7 instead of the island's pricey restaurants.

🚌Ferry Piraeus–Mykonos ~£40

🛏Mykonos Town or Paradise Beach guesthouse/hostel (~£28–40 pp in shoulder season)

• →Windmills & Little Venice
• →Old port sunset
• →Beach afternoon (Platys Gialos/Paradise)

Take the morning boat from Mykonos old port to the archaeological island of Delos (~£18–22 return plus ~£10 site entry) and explore the UNESCO ruins and Terrace of the Lions in 3–4 hours. Afternoon back on Mykonos: rent a scooter or ATV (~£20–25/day) to reach remote beaches like Fokos or Agios Sostis, or hike the coastal trail. Budget an island gyros or a picnic rather than restaurant dining.

🚌Delos boat ~£20 + local scooter hire ~£22

🛏Mykonos guesthouse/hostel (~£28–40 pp)

• →Delos archaeological site
• →Coastal views from Delos
• →Beach hopping by scooter
• →Hiking trail

Take the morning high-speed catamaran Mykonos→Santorini (SeaJets, ~1.5–2 hrs, ~£50–65). Bus from Athinios port up to Fira (~£2). Check into a guesthouse in Fira or Perissa (affordable, but still pricey in peak season). Walk the caldera rim trail from Fira to Oia for free sunset, or bus to Oia (~£2). Dinner of a Santorini gyros or a cheap taverna in Pyrgos for local prices.

🚌Fast ferry Mykonos–Santorini ~£58 + local bus ~£2

🛏Fira or Perissa guesthouse (~£30–45 pp)

• →Fira caldera rim walk
• →Fira–Oia sunset
• →Oia village exploration

Take a morning public boat to Nea Kameni (volcano hike) and the Palea Kameni hot springs (~£20–25, cheaper than the operator's sailing cruise). Stop at a family winery in Pyrgos or Megalochori for Assyrtiko and Vinsanto tastings (~£15–20). Then local bus to Santorini Airport/JTR and fly back to Athens (~£30–50) or take the ferry if you have time. End of the trip — optional onward travel or onward Athens stay.

🚌Volcano boat ~£22 + bus ~£2 + Santorini–Athens flight ~£40

🛏—

• →Nea Kameni volcano hike
• →Palea Kameni hot springs swim
• →Santorini wine tasting
• →Departure to Athens