This page explains how to travel by train from Istanbul to other key European cities, and how to buy the cheapest tickets. Click here to for journeys starting in another city. Information current for 2023. Recommended hotels in Istanbul.
I want to go from Istanbul to...
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?". Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel FAQ
Istanbul to Ankara, Izmir & other destinations in Turkey...
Istanbul to Sofia & Belgrade...
-
The Istanbul-Sofia Express runs every night with sleeping-cars & couchettes, for details see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
-
For onward connections from Sofia to Belgrade, see the Sofia to Belgrade page.
 |
|
The Sofia-Istanbul Express. Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels & DiscoverByRail.com. |
 |
 |
|
|
1 or 2 bed sleeper on the Sofia-Istanbul train, looking towards the window. Larger photo. |
1 or 2 bed sleeper on the Sofia-Istanbul train, looking towards the corridor side. Larger photo. |
Istanbul to Veliko Tarnovo & Bucharest...
-
A direct couchette car links Istanbul with Bucharest every day in summer, for details see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
-
At all other times of year you take the daily Istanbul-Sofia Express overnight from Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad in Bulgaria, from where a series of connecting trains takes you to Bucharest, for details see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
 |
 |
|
|
Boarding the train... |
4-berth couchette compartment with berths folded away. |
 |
|
Across Bulgaria... Lush green scenery as the train descends the Shipka Pass... |
Istanbul to Budapest, Vienna, Munich, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London...
-
See the London to Turkey page for train times & prices in either eastbound or westbound directions between all these cities.
-
You first catch the sleeper train from Istanbul Sirkeci to either Sofia or Bucharest, for details see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page. At present I'd recommend the route via Bucharest, because of poor connections between Sofia, Belgrade & the rest of Europe.
-
Then take an onward train from Bucharest to your chosen destination, see the Trains from Bucharest page.
-
You will find information about the whole journey from Istanbul to Paris & London on the London to Istanbul page.
-
For longer journeys such as Istanbul to western Europe, an Interrail pass (or if resident outside Europe, Eurail pass) may make sense given the flexibility it offers.
Istanbul to Athens, Thessaloniki & Greece...
Option 1, by train via Sofia & Thessaloniki with overnight stop in Thessaloniki...
-
Step 1, travel from Istanbul to Sofia by daily overnight train as shown on the Istanbul to Sofia page.
-
Step 2, spend the morning in Sofia, then take the daily afternoon train from Sofia to Thessaloniki as shown here.
-
Stay overnight in Thessaloniki.
-
Step 3, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by intercity train in as little as 4 hours, check times & buy a ticket at the Greek Railways website www.hellenictrain.gr.
-
Alternatively, you can travel by ferry from southern Turkey to Rhodes then Rhodes to mainland Greece, see the Train travel in Turkey page.
Option 2, using the Izmir-Thessaloniki overnight ferry, several times a week...
-
Step 1, travel from Istanbul to Izmir by train or ferry & train as shown on the Train travel in Turkey page.
-
Step 2, sail from Izmir to Thessaloniki by overnight ferry several times a week from Spring until November. It's run by Levante Ferries, www.levanteferries.com. The crossing takes 14 hours with a range of comfortable cabins available. Book it at the Direct Ferries website or www.levanteferries.com.
-
Step 3, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by intercity train in as little as 4 hours, check times & buy a ticket at the Greek Railways website www.hellenictrain.gr.
Istanbul to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan...
Istanbul to Tehran & Iran...
Istanbul to Odessa & Ukraine...
Hotels in Istanbul
Other hotel sites worth trying...
-
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
-
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & VPN
|
|
|
|
|
Always take out travel insurance...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & covers you even if the FCDO advises
against non-essential travel.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
www.JustTravelCover.com.
You
can use
Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
A Curve card saves foreign transaction fees...
|
|
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.
|
|
Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.
|
|
Carry an Anker powerbank...
With so much now held on your mobile phone (tickets, reservations, vaccination records, etc) I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank. This can recharge your phone several times over if you're on the move and can't get to a power outlet. I never travel without one.