A trip to Turkey by train is no easy feat, but it does offer the chance to loosely retrace the steps of the original Orient Express, a journey that has captivated the minds of travellers for more than a century.
If you have deep enough pockets, Belmond, the luxury train operator behind the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, do offer the entire journey from London to Istanbul.
For the average holidaymaker, there is a much more cost effective way to sample the delights of this fantastic route using regular trains. Better still, there are towns and cities slightly off the original route that offer deeper insights and connection with local cultures, cuisines, and people. The beauty of an Interrail Pass is that it gives the holder the joy of flexibility. A pass offers ample opportunity to hop on and off the train between destinations, if only for a few hours if you simply fancy a stop for some lunch, or a wander around an interesting looking place.
Choosing to avoid over touristed places always adds a hint of adventure to any journey, and towns like Veliko Tarnovo and Brasov are ideal stop offs if you can afford the added days. Here you’ll find wonderful value in small, family run B&Bs, and plenty of authenticity.
If you fancy a treat, first class upgrades are a worthwhile splurge, especially given that the route is dotted with some very affordable places to stay.
Arriving in Istanbul feels like the end of one great story and the beginning of another. The train pulls in and suddenly Europe gives way to something older and grander. Minarets dot the skyline, ferries glide across the Bosphorus, and the scent of roasted chestnuts and sea salt envelopes you.
In Sultanahmet, Byzantine mosaics shimmer beneath Ottoman domes, while across the Golden Horn, the cafés of Karaköy and Galata buzz with modern life. It’s a layered city, where centuries sit side by side and every corner offers something unexpected.
It’s a fitting end to an odyssey across Europe. A melting pot of cultures, and by the time you’ll have got there you’ll have probably seen and experience just about everything rail travel has to offer, good and bad!
Getting to Turkey by rail
To plan your own journey by train, including a route that loosely follows the path of the original Orient Express, head over to seat61.com, however do be warned that rail tickets for some sections of the route aren’t the easiest to arrange, and so I recommend using Byway (byway.travel) to help plan your trip. They’ll arrange all passes, seat reservations and hotel bookings as a package, and are rated 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Have a look at their pre built one-way trip to Turkey here, or give them a call on +44 (0)20 4525 6215, or +1-210-641-5329 from the USA, if you’d like to customise it, or build one from scratch.
They have a dedicated concierge team who can help suggest a route and hotels, whether one way or return, no matter where you intend to start. They even look after you while you’re away with on demand WhatsApp support and free rerouting in case of disruptions. Given that these are almost a given on this route, this is an invaluable service, even for the experienced traveller.
