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small ship Athens/Istanbul
for those who have taken the small ship Athens/Istanbul trip. Best to take GFT to have 3 nights both cities or 4 Istanbul/2Athens. Which city should we spend more time??
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Both cities are amazing, filled with amazing sights and history. If you haven’t been to either city before then 3 nights each is a safe option.
If you've been to the Acropolis I'd definitely recommend Istanbul. There's a lot to see there. If not, do 3 and 3 as Smiling Sam suggests.
Both cities are amazing; can't lose no matter how you split your time there.
We completed this great tour last year. Even though we had spent considerable time in Athens prior we choose to use our GOT there. Since our tour started in Athens that was an easy choice. My Greek MD also gushed over the Hotel Grand Bretagne and she was right. It’s magnificent and head and shoulders above the Intercontinental in Istanbul. Think about what appeals to you, do some research and decide. The Rick Steves books are an inexpensive investment and can give you many ideas. We felt comfortable exploring central Athens on our own although you have to be alert for pickpockets. In Istanbul we had a terrific guide, he pointed out several people who were more or less incognito that were with his company and were “minders” of sort. They were keeping an eye on us and watching for the less savory characters who pray on tourists. We saw a lot in Istanbul and a couple we met on the ship (not with Tauck) spent several days there after their Windstar tour mostly on their own. They did their research, hired some private guides. We had lunch with them a few weeks ago and debriefed. I think a planned extension in Istanbul could be very enjoyable but its not the sort of place I’d feel comfortable wandering on my own at this stage in my life.
My husband and I used our gift of time night in Istanbul, where our tour started. We had previously visited Athens. I loved Istanbul, and we enjoyed our independent time there. We were not uncomfortable on our own. In fact, we utilized the funicular and the Metro to go sightseeing and to visit the Archeological Museum.
Yes, guide books and Trip Advisor will help with your decision. I found Istanbul to be just outstanding. We were in that city for 9 days with a tour company and extended for another day. Because I think Istanbul offers a lot more than Athens, you could even consider staying there for three days and fly to Cappadocia for three more. Hotels there will handle everything for you - tours, transportation, and the wonderful hot air balloon rides.