Turkey and Greece Itinerary from Korea: 10 and 14 Days with Costs

Ten days is enough for Istanbul, Cappadocia, Athens and one Greek island, and 14 days adds Ephesus and a second island; our Turkey and Greece tours start from $3,165 per person for 9 days and from $4,470 per person for 14 days. For travellers from Korea, the plan that works best is to fly into Istanbul from Incheon, finish in Greece, and fly home from Athens, so you never backtrack.

Both countries are visa-free for Korean passport holders on a normal holiday, which leaves the real decisions to the route, the season and the budget. This page gives a day-by-day 10-day and 14-day itinerary, the flight plan from Korea, what each version costs with our tours, and how Chuseok and the summer holidays affect the dates. If you want a package already built, start with our 9-day Turkey and Greece tour from Istanbul to Santorini.

Entry rules for Korean passports in both countries

Türkiye. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of ordinary Republic of Korea passports do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. There is no e-visa to buy. Carry a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond your stay; six months is the safe rule.

Greece. Greece is in the Schengen area, where Korean citizens can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For Schengen entry, your passport should have been issued within the last ten years and be valid for at least three months after the day you leave the Schengen area.

Two changes on the European side are worth knowing about:

• The Entry/Exit System (EES). The EU now registers visa-free visitors' fingerprints and a facial image at the first external border crossing. If you fly from Istanbul to Athens, that happens on arrival in Athens, so allow extra time at passport control.
• ETIAS. The EU plans to require an online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, including Koreans. Check the official EU website before you travel in 2027, and apply only there.

Turkey is outside Schengen, so days in Istanbul and Cappadocia do not count towards your 90 Schengen days. Our page on Turkey tours from Korea covers the Turkish side in more detail.

The flight plan: Incheon to Istanbul, Athens to Incheon

The easiest ticket is an open-jaw: into Istanbul, out of Athens.

• Outbound. Turkish Airlines, Korean Air and Asiana fly nonstop between Incheon and Istanbul Airport (IST). Asiana is being merged into Korean Air, so check which airline will operate a 2027 Asiana booking.
• Inbound. The return from Athens to Incheon usually has one connection, for example through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, or through a Gulf or European hub. Compare a few, because the connection time varies a lot.
• Between the two countries. Turkish Airlines and Aegean Airlines fly nonstop between Istanbul and Athens, about an hour and a half. On the 14-day route, the seasonal ferry between Kuşadası and Samos is an alternative; our page on the Greece and Turkey tour compares every crossing.

Time zones. Türkiye is six hours behind Korea all year. Greece is seven hours behind Korea in winter and six in summer, because Greece uses summer time and Turkey does not. From late March to late October, Istanbul and Athens show the same time.

Why Turkey first? The flight from Incheon lands in Istanbul, and the jet lag of the first days makes the very early balloon pickup in Cappadocia easier. The Greek islands, at the end, are where you want to slow down.

The 10-day itinerary

Four places, three flights and one ferry or flight to the island. It is full but not rushed.

Day 5 is the long one. Some routes fly from Kayseri to Istanbul and connect to Athens the same day; if the connection is tight, an evening in Istanbul and a morning flight to Athens is the calmer version. Our page on Istanbul to Cappadocia compares the flight, the night bus and the train for the Turkish leg.

The 14-day itinerary

Fourteen days lets you add Ephesus on the Turkish side and a second island in Greece, and gives each place an extra night.

Ephesus matters on this route for a reason many Korean travellers care about: it is one of the main sites of early Christian history, linked to the letters of Paul and to the Seven Churches of Revelation. Our Ephesus and Kuşadası guide has the background.

What each version costs with our tours

Our starting prices are per person in US dollars:

• 9 days, Istanbul to Santorini: Turkey and Greece tour package from $3,165 per person. The closest match to the 10-day plan above.
• 9 days, private, Istanbul, Cappadocia and Athens: private Turkey and Greece tour from $3,730 per person.
• 12 days, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Athens and the islands: Turkey and Greece tour, 12 days from $4,195 per person.
• 14 days, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Cappadocia: Turkey and Greece tour, 14 days from $4,470 per person.
• 15 days with flights and ferries: Aegean Legends Turkey and Greece tour from $4,200 per person.

On top of the package, budget for:

1. Flights from Korea, the open-jaw ticket into Istanbul and out of Athens.
2. The balloon in Cappadocia, from $199 per person for our standard sunrise flight. It depends on the weather and on permission given each morning, so it is never guaranteed.
3. Meals not in the package, site tickets if they are not included in your tour, and tips.

Each tour page lists exactly what is included, so compare them side by side before choosing.

When to go: Chuseok, summer and the sea

Chuseok week. In 2027 the Chuseok holiday runs from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 September. It is a popular week for long trips from Korea, so flights fill early and prices rise; book months ahead if you want those dates.

Late spring and September. May, June and September are the best months for this route. The islands are open and warm, the sea is swimmable, and Cappadocia and Athens are pleasant for walking. MGM, the Turkish meteorological service, puts the long-term Aegean sea average at 22.1°C in June and 23.3°C in September.

July and August. Peak season on the islands, with the highest prices and the biggest crowds. Athens can be very hot, and on heatwave days the Acropolis has closed in the early afternoon in recent summers, so plan it for the first hour of the morning.

Winter. Istanbul and Cappadocia work all year, and Cappadocia under snow is a draw of its own. On the Greek islands, many hotels close in the off-season and ferry services are reduced, so a winter trip is better as Turkey plus Athens.

For more on fitting Türkiye into the Korean calendar, see our 2027 Turkey planner for Korean travellers.

Guides, language and money

• Korean-speaking guides. Licensed guides who work in Korean are few. On the Turkish side they are arranged on request, subject to availability, and early booking matters, especially for the Chuseok weeks. Our page on the Korean-speaking guide in Istanbul explains how it works. On the Greek side, guiding is usually in English.
• Two currencies. Turkey uses the Turkish lira and Greece the euro. Cards work widely in both; keep a little cash for small purchases.
• Phones. Turkey is outside the EU roaming zone. An eSIM for each country, or a regional plan that covers both, is usually cheapest.
• Luggage on the islands. Ferries and small island hotels are easier with one medium suitcase each than with two large ones.

Still deciding between the two countries? Our Turkey vs Greece comparison looks at cost, food and sights side by side.

Tours that cover this

• Turkey and Greece tour package, 9 days, Istanbul to Santorini: from $3,165 per person.
• Turkey and Greece tour, 12 days, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Athens and the islands: from $4,195 per person.
• Turkey and Greece tour, 14 days, Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Cappadocia: from $4,470 per person.
• Aegean Legends Turkey and Greece tour, 15 days with flights and ferries: from $4,200 per person.

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