Getting from Santorini to Turkey (and return)

Visiting Greece and Turkey during the same vacation is very common among travelers. The main reason is that the countries are located quite close and traveling between them is not very expensive either. When you plan to travel from Santorini to Turkey, the only options are: flights and ferries, or a combination of those. Once you arrive in Turkey, you can choose the bus, the train or the rental car to travel to the desired destination.

Quick Summary

If you don’t want to spend too much time traveling, you can choose to fly between Santorini and Izmir (via Athens). If, however, the time is not a problem, then you can catch two ferries: Santorini to Kos and then to Bodrum.

Flights from Santorini (airport code: JTR) to Turkey

athens-to-santorini-post-airportThe main international gateway into Turkey is Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport. Istanbul’s second airport – Sabiha Gökçen Airport – usually gets flights offered by low cost carriers. There are limited numbers of flights on Ankara’s airport and you can also fly into Antalya, if you plan to spend your time on the Turkish Riviera.

Santorini to Istanbul

There aren’t direct flights into any of Istanbul’s Airports. All flights require a stop in Athens. One way flights to Atatürk International Airport (IST) start at €132 per person (in late July 2012) and you’ll spend 3h traveling. Return flights start at €246 per person.

In this case flying into Sabiha Gökçen Airport is not even an option. You need to make 2 stops along the way and spend around €379 per person for a one way flight.

Santorini to Ankara

Flying from Santorini to Ankara requires two stops along the way (Athens and Istanbul). A one way flight starts at €445 per person. You’ll be spending from 11 h 10 min traveling each way (including the two stops).

Santorini to Antalya

Flying between Santorini and Antalya requires at least a stop along the way. A one way flight starts at €277 per person, while return flights start at €557 per person.

Santorini to Izmir, via Athens

You can also fly from Santorini to Athens – which costs from €110 per person (in late July 2012, including all taxes and fees), one way, on Aegean Airlines – and then to Izmir – from €89 per person (in late July 2012, including all taxes and fees), one way on Pegasus. Each flight takes about an hour.

>>read more about Cheap Flights to Santorini

Ferries from Santorini to Turkey

125x125There are quite a lot of choices for traveling by ferry between Santorini and Turkey.

The cheapest and fastest way to get between the two places by ferry is:

  • Santorini to Kos : 4 h 5 min, €33 per person, one way, economy class on Blue Star Ferries, connections on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun (during summer)
  • Kos to Bodrum, Turkey: 1 h, from €12 per person, one way, daily

Another option is:

  • Santorini to Rhodes : 19 h, from €26 per person, one way, Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat (during summer)
  • Rhodes to Marmaris, Turkey: 1 h, €41 per person, one way, daily

It is also possible to travel by ferry from Chios to Cesme (Turkey) and Lesvos to Ayvalik (Turkey). Since there aren’t ferries between Santorini and Chios or Lesvos, you’ll have to fly between the islands (via either Athens or Thesssaloniki).

Note: the article was first published in August 2011. Updates (price and schedule) have been made as of June 2012.

Photo credits:Santorini airport

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