Our verdict
Pick Turkey for more variety per rupee: Istanbul, Cappadocia's balloons and the Aegean coast in 7–9 nights, non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai, and land costs from about ₹55,000. Pick Greece if you want classic island time in Santorini and Mykonos and can get a Schengen visa — expect around ₹85,000+ on land for 6 nights plus a one-stop flight.
Side by side
| Factor | Turkey | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for Indians | Sticker visa via visa centre; e-visa only with a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence | Schengen visa, EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus service charges |
| Flights from Delhi/Mumbai | Non-stop to Istanbul, about 6.5–7 h | One-stop to Athens, about 9–12 h |
| Starting trip cost (per person) | 7N land from ₹55,000; about ₹95,000+ with flights | 6N land from ₹85,000; about ₹1.4 lakh+ with flights |
| Best months | April to June, September and October | May, June, September and early October |
| Beaches and islands | Aegean and Mediterranean coast: Bodrum, Antalya, Fethiye | Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Crete |
| History | Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Cappadocia's cave churches | Acropolis, Delphi, Knossos |
| Vegetarian food | Mezze, lentil soup, pide; Indian restaurants in Istanbul | Salads, yemista, spanakopita; fewer Indian options on islands |
| Honeymoon appeal | Cave hotels and balloon flights in Cappadocia | Santorini caldera sunsets |
| Shopping | Grand Bazaar, carpets, ceramics; cheaper | Boutiques; pricier |
| Family-friendliness | Good hotels, short internal flights, all-inclusive resorts in Antalya | Good beaches, but ferries and island steps |
Which one is for you?
Choose Turkey if…
- You want variety — city, landscapes, ruins and coast — in one trip
- Your budget is under ₹1 lakh per person with flights
- You want a non-stop flight from Delhi or Mumbai
- You are travelling with children or parents
Choose Greece if…
- Island-hopping and beaches are the main reason for the trip
- It is a honeymoon and Santorini is on the wish list
- You already hold a Schengen visa or plan a wider Europe trip
- You can travel between May and early October
The core trade-off
Turkey gives more variety for the money and a non-stop flight. Greece gives the classic island holiday, at a higher price and with a Schengen visa. For Indians, the visa often decides it.
Visas: think about the order
Turkey's e-visa is open to Indian passport holders only if they already hold a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit; everyone else applies for a sticker visa through the Turkish visa application centre, allowing 2–3 weeks. Greece is Schengen: the fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) plus service charges, and summer appointments fill early. That creates a useful sequence: get a Schengen visa for Greece first, and you become eligible for the quicker Turkish e-visa. See the Turkey visa guide and Greece visa guide.
Flights and cost
Non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai reach Istanbul in about 6.5–7 hours. Athens is usually one-stop, 9–12 hours. A 7-night Turkey trip — Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Pamukkale or Kuşadası — starts around ₹55,000 per person on land, twin sharing, including a domestic flight, or roughly ₹95,000 with international flights. A 6-night Greece trip covering Athens, Santorini and Mykonos with ferries starts around ₹85,000 on land and roughly ₹1.4 lakh with flights. Santorini's caldera-view hotels are the main reason Greece costs more. See Turkey trip cost.
What Turkey does better
Variety. In one week you can see Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, cruise the Bosphorus, rise early for Cappadocia's balloon flights (roughly EUR 150–250, ₹15,300–25,500, per person depending on season), walk the white terraces of Pamukkale and tour the ruins of Ephesus. Shopping at the Grand Bazaar costs less than anything comparable in Greece, and families find Turkey easy: good hotels, short internal flights and a culture that welcomes children.
What Greece does better
Islands. Santorini's caldera sunsets, Mykonos's beaches and Milos's coves are why Greece suits honeymooners, and ferries let you hop between islands at your own pace. Athens adds the Acropolis and its excellent museum. See things to do in Greece.
Food
Both work for vegetarians. Turkish mezze, lentil soup, pide and gözleme are easy to find, and Istanbul has Indian restaurants. Greek menus always have salads, yemista (stuffed vegetables), spanakopita and fava; Indian food is available in Athens and on the busier islands. Jain food is hard in both.
Seasons
Turkey is best from April to June and in September–October; July–August is hot inland and crowded on the coast. Greece's season runs from May to October, with June and September the sweet spots. From November to March many island hotels close and ferries run less often. See best time to visit Greece.
Can you combine Turkey and Greece?
Yes, and it makes a good 10–12 night trip. Short ferries link the Turkish Aegean coast with nearby Greek islands — Bodrum to Kos, Kuşadası to Samos, Çeşme to Chios — in roughly 1–2 hours, though most services are seasonal. You need a Schengen visa for Greece and a Turkish visa, multiple-entry if you will re-enter Turkey to fly home.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Turkey?
Which is cheaper, Turkey or Greece?
Is Greece or Turkey better for a honeymoon?
Can I use my Schengen visa to visit Turkey?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
