Hello friends. Today I will tell you how you can easily and quite affordably travel from Turkey to the Greek islands. If you are already on holiday in Turkey, you can even do all this without a Schengen visa. Looking at the map, you will see that some Greek islands are very close to the Turkish coast. This means there are ferry connections between holiday towns like Bodrum, Marmaris or Fethiye and Greek ports. The distances are short and the prices generally not high, so a trip to a Greek island looks very appealing. It is also a great opportunity for those who want to extend their stay in Turkey by another 30 days. According to current rules, we can stay 60 days continuously, then by crossing the border we officially get another 30 days. Most people do not bother and just pay a fine when leaving Turkey, but I wanted to do everything properly. That is why the Greece option looked perfect to me.
If you are not an EU citizen, the first thing that comes to mind is the visa. Greece is an EU country and requires a Schengen visa. Most people do not have one. Here is the good news. Through any travel agency you can get a one day visa for only 40 to 45 euros, or a six day visa for 60 euros. For the six day one you need to provide a few more documents, but it is nothing complicated. And just like that you are ready to head to the Greek islands.
Ferry services start in mid April and end in late October. One way tickets cost between 15 and 50 euros. The cheapest options are usually day trips. Now let me share my experience.
We were staying in Avcılar village near Ölüdeniz. The nearest big town was Fethiye and we went there early in the morning. Our plan was to cross over to Rhodes. The ferry was at 8:30, but you needed to be there at least an hour earlier for registration, checks and the passport stamp. A small downside was that registration cost extra, 75 euros. At the port we also paid 5 euros and on the return they charged another 10 euros on the Greek side.
Passport control was quick. Afterwards we saw what must be the world’s smallest duty free shop and then boarded the ferry. At the pier a ship with the word Migros caught our eye. It turned out to be a floating supermarket that sails into coves without access roads to provide shopping. A really nice service.
Our ferry was modern with comfortable seats, large windows, toilets, a small café and air conditioning. Everything was set up for a smooth trip. The journey lasted just under two hours.
Arriving in Rhodes, passport control was again fast and suddenly we found ourselves in EU territory. It was 11 a.m., so the whole trip including formalities had taken only two hours. For day trippers that leaves about 4.5 hours of free time, since you need to be back at the pier by 3:30 p.m. for the 4:30 ferry. That is enough to get to know the town, though to explore the island properly you would need at least two or three days which of course costs more.
We did not explore the town much because we had another plan. From Rhodes there are flights to many European cities. Our destination was Rome and we got a ticket for just 45 euros, cheaper than getting from Fethiye to Rhodes. We flew Ryanair into Ciampino Airport. It felt unbelievable because Rome is one of my favorite cities. I had not been there for a long time and had missed it so much. It really felt like a dream. We wandered a bit in Rhodes to take in its beauty and then headed to the Eternal City.
Rhodes enchants you right from the start with its relaxed atmosphere, seaside promenades, labyrinthine old streets. Tourists from all over Europe come here, as you can fly cheaply to Italy, France, Germany, the Czech Republic and more. If you have a Schengen visa it is a big advantage. But Rhodes is not just the port town, it is a large island with wonderful beaches, nature and historical sites. Renting a car at a reasonable price makes it easy to explore thoroughly in a few days.
Then we headed to the airport. From the central bus terminal you can buy tickets either from machines or at the counter, which is safer. The fare is 2.5 euros. The airport is 12 km from the city and the ride takes 20 minutes. The airport itself is large by national standards, modern and renovated.
And then we were in Rome. We could not believe it but we had already made it from the airport to Termini Station, the city’s main train hub. Getting there was very easy. The bus cost 1.20 euros, the train 1.50 euros. The trip took about 15 to 20 minutes, so less than 25 minutes in total.
Our first stop was the Villa Borghese hill, offering a panoramic view of Rome, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, obelisks, squares. The view was incredible. It was pure joy for us. We passed Piazza della Repubblica, the Four Fountains Square and the street where Gogol once lived. Interestingly, the building’s only decoration is a small plaque noting that he lived there. Then we reached Piazza di Spagna.
Now about accommodation. In the city center, hostels cost not 100 to 150 euros for three nights but starting at 100 euros per night. Considering my flight ticket was 45 euros this seemed crazy to me. I felt stuck. Then I remembered that reaching the seaside from Rome is very easy. It is only 25 km away, tickets cost 1.5 euros and the same ticket is valid on the metro. I figured accommodation might be cheaper near the coast and it was. We found a place for just 84 euros for three nights.
When we got to Piazza di Spagna I could not resist stopping by my favorite little eatery. Locals who work in the nearby offices come here all the time. The food is both delicious and incredibly cheap. My plate had pasta with mushrooms, red sauce and parmesan, all for only 4.5 euros. For Rome this price is amazing. There is no service fee or coperto. They used to include wine, but this time we got water, though sometimes you might still get wine. They hand you a fork and you can sit right by the square and eat. The only downside was that plastic forks have been replaced with wooden ones which are not very comfortable, but at least they now use cardboard boxes instead of plastic. It seems they are slowly changing things for the better.
After that filling lunch, we wandered the city for hours. In the evening we went to our hostel by the sea, housed in a former school building. It was clean with a kitchen and lockers, perfect for just sleeping. The only drawback was the long trip to the center which took nearly an hour, a walk to the train station, half an hour by train, then the metro. That is why we woke up at 5:30 a.m. to reach Rome’s center before the tourist crowds. Rome in the early morning is a completely different city, quiet, no mopeds buzzing and most importantly you can see the major sights in peace.
That day we walked about 25 to 27 km, discovering many new places despite having visited Rome many times before. I had prepared well, marking small courtyards, historic buildings and viewpoints on my map. Passing buildings you know the history of makes even the same street feel different. For food we just grabbed snacks from a supermarket. Having affordable chain stores right in the center is a big plus.
In the afternoon we walked towards Circus Maximus and the Botanical Garden. The rose garden was stunning and strolling there at sunset was unforgettable. The weather was perfect too, 22 degrees, sunny with some clouds, neither hot nor cold, ideal.
The next day the weather changed as often happens in Rome, rain in the morning, sun at noon, then rain again. Still, by 9 a.m. there was already a huge queue in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. That is why waking up early is crucial. If you come around 7:30 or 8 you can see Michelangelo’s masterpieces almost alone.
Later we ate at a popular spot . They had six types of pasta, large portions and prices very reasonable for Rome. We continued walking through the city, battling the rain and in the evening climbed Janiculum Hill. It is one of the best places to say goodbye to Rome, with sweeping views of the whole city and many familiar landmarks.
The next morning we went early to the airport to fly back to Rhodes. The trip was a bit tiring since our hotel was far from the center by the sea. We had to take a minibus, then a train, metro, another train and a bus, lots of transfers, but in the end everything went smoothly.
When we landed in Rhodes we could hardly believe we had been here just a few days earlier. It had only been three nights and two full days, but it felt like a much longer journey.
In town we first visited Rodini Park, just 2 km from the center. It is lush and green with ponds, fish, turtles, even peacocks, perfect for escaping the summer heat.
Then we returned to the historic center. The old town of Rhodes is a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by 4 km of walls. It is one of the best preserved medieval cities. Its most famous street is the Street of the Knights where you will hardly find any modern shops, it is like stepping back in time. Other streets do have souvenir shops, but in the narrow shady lanes you can still feel that medieval spirit.
There is also the Palace of the Grand Master, entrance 10 euros. It is huge, so you need at least two hours. Along the harbor you will also find windmills, beaches, old stone buildings, yachts big and small and of course plenty of cats.
Finally we boarded the ferry back to Fethiye. For this five day four night trip we spent 264 euros per person, including flights, ferries, hotels, food and transport, everything. That is about what a one way flight and one night’s hotel used to cost, so fitting a whole trip into that budget was amazing. Of course you need a Schengen visa for such an experience and not everyone has that chance. But if you do, a short getaway from Turkey to Greece can definitely open the door to Europe.
For me this journey was both very affordable and incredibly enjoyable. I hope this post has been useful and inspiring for you too.