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 2024. 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 buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". 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
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The Istanbul-Sofia Express runs every night with sleeping-cars & couchettes, see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
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For onward connections from Sofia to Belgrade, see the Sofia to Belgrade page.
Istanbul to Veliko Tarnovo & Bucharest
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A direct couchette car links Istanbul with Bucharest every day in summer, see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
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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.
Istanbul to Budapest, Vienna, Munich, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London
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See the London to Turkey page for train times & prices in either eastbound or westbound directions between all these cities.
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You take the daily sleeper train from Istanbul Sirkeci to either Sofia or Bucharest, see the Istanbul to Sofia & Bucharest page.
At present I recommend the route via Bucharest because of poor connections through Sofia & Belgrade.
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Then take an onward train from Bucharest to your chosen destination, see the Trains from Bucharest page.
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You will find information about the whole journey from Istanbul to Paris & London on the London to Istanbul page.
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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
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Step 1, travel from Istanbul to Sofia by daily overnight train as shown on the Istanbul to Sofia page.
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Step 2, the Sofia-Thessaloniki train is currently only running between Sofia and Kulata, next to the Greek border. The Kulata-Thessaloniki part is cancelled.
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Stay overnight in Thessaloniki.
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Step 3, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by intercity train in around 4 hours, check times & buy a ticket at the Greek Railways website www.hellenictrain.gr.
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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
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Step 1, travel from Istanbul to Izmir by train or ferry & train as shown on the Train travel in Turkey page.
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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.
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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
See the advice on hotels in Istanbul here, in particular the classic Pera Palas Hotel.
Backpacker
hostels
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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
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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 with Staysure.co.uk 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 & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. 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 money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. 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, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use 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. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.