| georgia281019:29 UTC06 Jul 2007 | Hi, im travelling from istanbul to crete actually at the start of august. I know i can get a coach to athens and then a ferry to crete. can anyone tell me whether or not i should book these tickets in advance or will i be fine to book when im there? thankyou!
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| diskotek01:38 UTC07 Jul 2007 | it would be better to take train for athens, you can have a night train for istanbul-thessaloniki, than change line athens. and then you can continue to pireus port (where you will have ferry for crete). i think you don't need to book anything for these routes.
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| talltravel01:45 UTC07 Jul 2007 | For what it is worth, I will never again take a train out of Istanbul. The answer is: bus.
The speedy, broad bus network, new buses and lower cost of the bus system will have me on a bus every single time. One of their trains took three times as long as the same bus ride....
You have been warned....
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| gawkabout03:00 UTC07 Jul 2007 | In Istanbul, be sure to go upstairs in Hagia Sofia!
One of my favorite spots in the universe!
There's a big washing pool, inside the main hall. Behind that are large double vdoors, with a sign saying "Gallery". The stairs are a ramp with stones.
Have a great, cheap, slow trip.
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| bmta21:31 UTC07 Jul 2007 | but the very Q; you cannot even prebook from outside, so thats enough, nah?
there are some 4-6 nightferries daily from Peireas to many Kriti towns
NightTrain to Thessal is the only really to think off, then change to bus to athinai, there may even be direct bus to port. Greek trains suffer eternal strikes, heavy delays and worn out cars
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| man_in_seat_6118:53 UTC08 Jul 2007 | For heaven's sake, avoid such a huge nightmare bus journey!
It's easy, civilised and comfortable to take the daily sleeper train Istanbul-Thessaloniki (in northern Greece, Greece's second city in fact) then a 4.5 hour InterCity train ride through spectacular scenery to Athens.
I've put Istanbul-Athens train info at www.seat61.com/Turkey2.htm</a> (look for the international section)
You can then hop on the metro to Puiraeus and take an overnight ferry to Crete, with either www.anek.gr or www.minoan.gr
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| man_in_seat_6118:55 UTC08 Jul 2007 | Actually, it makes more sense (unless you want to see Athens, one of my favourite cities though not everyone's cup of tea) to take the sleeper train Istanbul-Thessalo9niki then a direct overnight ferry from Thessaloniki to Athens.
I think both Anek and Minoan also do this, but www.ferries.gr will tell you who does this ferry run.
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