The incredible Haghia Sofia (above) & beautiful Blue Mosque (below), both just 10 minutes walk from Istanbul's Sirkeci station.
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London to Istanbul in 4 days by train
Istanbul is Europe's most exotic city, at the very edge of Europe where east meets west. Can you still travel from London to Istanbul by train? Of course! The journey is safe & comfortable, yet also an epic 2,000 mile 4-night adventure, rediscovering some of the mystery, intrigue and romance of long-distance train travel through the Balkans.
On this page you'll find an easy step-by-step guide to booking & making a train journey between London or Paris and Istanbul, one-way or return, eastbound or westbound, with an Interrail pass or point-to-point tickets, with schedules, fares, what the journey is like, suggested stopovers and how to book.
Train times, fares & tickets
London to Istanbul via Paris,
Munich, Budapest &
Bucharest
Variations
via Harwich-Hoek ferry, via Brussels or via Sofia
Useful country information: dial code,
currency...
Travel insurance, mobile data, VPN & other
tips
Venice-Simplon-Orient Express to Istanbul
Hotels in Istanbul & the famous Pera
Palas
On other pages
Starting from other UK towns & cities
About the
train from Bucharest & Sofia to Istanbul
Train travel in Turkey, beyond Istanbul
Trains from
other European cities to Istanbul
Trains from Istanbul to
other European cities
General information for
train travel in Europe
Luggage on trains &
luggage lockers at stations
Taking your bike &
Taking dogs
Eurail pass guide &
Interrail pass guide
The Orient Express, the truth
behind the legend
Istanbul-Aleppo-Damascus-Jordan
& on to Cairo
Istanbul-Tehran by Trans-Asia Express train
Istanbul-Thessaloniki-Athens by train
Istanbul-Cyprus by
train+ferry
Istanbul-Odessa
(Ukraine) by ferry
Route map: London to Istanbul by train
Useful country information
Which route to choose?
There are two basic route strategies: Through Budapest & Bucharest, or through Zagreb, Belgrade & Sofia.
Unfortunately, the Zagreb-Belgrade train was suspended during the pandemic and remains suspended due to general Balkan incompetence. Belgrade's other link with western Europe, the Budapest-Belgrade line, has been closed for reconstruction and won't reopen fully until 2026. Meanwhile, a combination of track reconstruction and similar incompetence has buggered the Belgrade-Sofia line. So Zagreb-Belgrade-Sofia is currently a dead loss. Once a crossroads, Serbia is now a black hole.
So at the moment it's a no-brainer, the best route from London or Paris to Istanbul is via Budapest & Bucharest as shown below. On this page I show the most obvious combination of trains on this route, but there are many possible permutations, I suggest some possible variations here.
London to Istanbul via Bucharest
This section explains the train times, the cost, what the trains and the journey are like, and how to arrange tickets. If you'd prefer to travel via Brussels rather than Paris & Stuttgart, or would prefer to take a ferry via Harwich-Hoek van Holland instead of Eurostar, no problem, see the suggested variations here.
London ► Istanbul
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Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar
Leaving London St Pancras at 10:24 on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:50.
Or on any day of the week, you can leave London St Pancras at 09:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:50.
Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.
By all means take an earlier Eurostar if you'd like more time in Paris or if it has cheaper seats available.
In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.
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Day 1, travel from Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex
Leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 15:55 Monday-Friday & Sunday, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:04.
Or if you left London at 09:31, leave Paris Gare de l'Est by TGV Duplex at 13:54 daily, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:04.
The impressive 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck. Times may vary, check for your date at int.bahn.de.
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Day 1, travel from Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train
Leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 by sleeper train Kalman Imre, arriving Budapest Keleti 09:19.
The Kalman Imre has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast. More about this sleeper.
You now have a day to explore Budapest. Luggage lockers are available. Map of Budapest showing Keleti station.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train
Leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 by sleeper train Ister, arriving Bucharest Nord 11:35.
Ister is the ancient name for the River Danube. The Ister has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with safe, comfortable & carpeted 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments. It has Romanian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments (basic flat bunks with rug & pillow) and ordinary seats. Sleepers can be converted to private sitting rooms for evening/morning use, and there's a shower at the end of the corridor which may or may not work. The Ister may have a bar car attached within Romania, but I recommend taking your own supplies.
The train crosses Transylvania by night, calling at Brasov (for Dracula's castle) at 08:48 next morning, well worth a stopover, before ascending the pass through the Carpathian mountains, a wonderfully scenic almost Alpine section of route.
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Day 3, stay overnight in Bucharest
A same-day connection is too tight, so stay overnight in Bucharest and continue on day 4 as shown below. In Bucharest, the Euro Hotel Grivita, Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord & Hello Hotels Gara de Nord are all just a 5 minute 350m walk from the station, inexpensive with good or great reviews. Other hotels in Bucharest.
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Day 4, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul overnight
From 13 June to 13 October 2025 there's a direct couchette car from Bucharest to Istanbul:
The Bosfor leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 10:11, arriving Istanbul Halkali 09:56 next morning.
The through car is an air-conditioned Turkish TVS2000 couchette car with comfortable 4 berth compartments. It's a lovely scenic journey across Romania & Bulgaria via the Shipka Pass, then overnight to Istanbul. Bring your own supplies of food and beer as there's no catering car. The train calls at Veliko Tarnovo in late afternoon, the ancient Bulgarian capital. It's well worth a 24 hour stopover!
Be prepared to get off the train with your bags at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to get your passport stamped, then put your luggage through an X-ray machine.
For full details of this journey with timings, photos & tips, see the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
When the direct couchette car isn't running, travel as follows:
Travel from Bucharest to Dimitrovgrad on a series of connecting trains, leaving Bucharest Nord at 10:11, arriving Dimitrovgrad 21:58.
Times may vary, but it should all go like clockwork, it's a lovely scenic journey across Romania & Bulgaria via the Shipka Pass. Bring your own supplies of food and beer as there's no catering car.
Tip: The train calls at Veliko Tarnovo in late afternoon, the ancient Bulgarian capital. It's well worth a 24 hour stopover.
Then travel from Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul by Sofia-Istanbul Express, leaving Dimitrovgrad at 23:03, arriving Istanbul Istanbul Halkali 09:56.
This train has comfortable Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned sleeping-cars with 1 & 2 bed compartments and a Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments, see the photos below.
Be prepared to get off the train with your bags at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to get your passport stamped then put your luggage through an X-ray machine.
For full details with timings, photos & tips, see the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
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Day 5, transfer to central Istanbul by Marmaray train: The international train now terminates at Halkali, a suburban station 25 km west of Istanbul, early on day 5, probably an hour or two late. Transfer by Marmaray suburban train from Istanbul Halkali to Istanbul Sirkeci in the city centre as shown here. Recommended hotels in Istanbul.
Istanbul ► London
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Day 1, travel from Istanbul to Bucharest overnight
From 12 June to 11 October 2025 there's a direct couchette car from Istanbul to Bucharest:
First transfer from Istanbul Sirkeci to Halkali by frequent Marmaray suburban train as shown here.
Halkali is a suburban station 25 km west of central Istanbul, the international train now starts here. At Halkali, there's a brief baggage X-ray check when accessing the platform for the train to Bucharest.
Then travel from Halkali to Bucharest by direct couchette car, leaving Halkali at 20:00, arriving Bucharest Nord 17:32 next day.
The through car to Bucharest is an air-conditioned Turkish TVS2000 couchette car with 4 berth compartments. Be prepared to get off the train at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to get your passport stamped. Next day it's a lovely journey across Bulgaria, up the Shipka Pass and across the world's longest steel girder bridge over the Danube into Romania. If you want to stop off at the ancient Bulgarian capital, Veliko Tarnovo for 24 hours, it's well worth a stop, the train calls there at 10:11. Bring your own supplies of food and beer as there's no catering car.
For full details of this journey with timings, photos & tips, see the Istanbul-Bucharest page.
When the direct couchette car isn't running, travel as follows:
First transfer from Istanbul Sirkeci to Halkali by frequent Marmaray suburban train as shown here.
Halkali is a suburban station 25 km west of central Istanbul, the international train now starts here. At Halkali, there's a brief baggage X-ray check when accessing the platform for the train to Bucharest.
Then travel from Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad by Istanbul-Sofia Express, leaving Halkali at 20:00, arriving Dimitrovgrad 05:07.
This train has comfortable Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned sleeping-cars with 1 & 2 bed compartments and a Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments, see the photos below.
Be prepared to get off the train at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to get your passport stamped.
Then travel from Dimitrovgrad to Bucharest on a series of connecting trains, leaving Dimitrovgrad at 07:10, arriving Bucharest Nord 17:32.
It's a lovely journey meandering through the lush green valleys of Bulgaria, including an ascent of the Shipka Pass. You crosses the Danube from Ruse in Bulgaria to Giurgiu in Romania over the world's longest steel girder bridge, 2.5km long. Bring your own supplies of food and beer as there's no catering car.
For full details of this journey with timings, photos & tips, see the Istanbul-Bucharest page
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Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest
The Euro Hotel Grivita, Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord & Hello Hotels Gara de Nord are all just a 5 minute 350m walk from the station, inexpensive with good or great reviews. Other hotels in Bucharest.
Changes to train times mean a same-day connection is no longer possible, even if the Bosfor arrives on time, which it won't. The traditional 3-night journey has become 4 nights, but on the up side you have most of day 3 to explore Bucharest.
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Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Budapest on the sleeper train
Leave Bucharest Gara de Nord at 17:58 by sleeper train Ister, arriving Budapest Keleti 08:50 next day (day 4).
The Ister has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with comfortable & carpeted 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin. Compartments convert to private sitting rooms by day and there's even a shower at the end of the corridor which might work if you're lucky. There are 4-berth & 6-berth couchettes (basic bunks with blanket & pillow). The Ister may have a bar car attached within Romania, but I recommend taking your own supplies. Ister is the ancient name for the Danube.
You now have a day to explore Budapest. Luggage lockers are available. Map of Budapest showing Keleti station.
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Day 4, travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train
Travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre, leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.
The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. More about this sleeper train.
If you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the business lounge in Budapest on platform 9 with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Day 5, travel from Stuttgart to Paris by ICE
Travel from Stuttgart to Paris by ICE train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 10:52, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 14:07.
The high-speed ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Do not risk earlier connections.
In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord
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Day 5, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar
Leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:12, arriving London St Pancras 18:32.
Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.
Can I stop off on the way?
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Of course. As each train is ticketed separately and runs daily, you can book each train for whatever date you want. So feel free to spend time in Paris, Stuttgart, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Sighisoara or Brasov (for Dracula's castle) in Transylvania, Bucharest or Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria's ancient capital), it makes no difference to the cost. Just remember that most of these trains are reservation compulsory, so you need to have made a seat, couchette or sleeper reservation before you board each train, you can't just hop on without a reservation.
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You make all the reservations in advance in the UK, or you can stay flexible and make reservations at stations as you go, it's up to you. If you choose to make reservations as you go, you'll hardly ever find these trains fully booked, places are normally available even on the day of travel.
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There is only one daily train from Bucharest to Istanbul, but on most of the other stages (for example, London-Paris, Paris-Stuttgart-Munich-Vienna-Budapest & Budapest-Bucharest) there are other trains as well as the ones suggested above. You can check train times for each stage using int.bahn.de, although the timetable data is not always 100% reliable east of Bucharest.
How much does it cost?
There are two different ways to ticket a London to Istanbul train journey: (a) a series of point-to-point tickets or (b) an Interrail pass.
Point-to-point tickets are cheapest, if you buy cheap advance-purchase tickets for each train several months ahead.
However, advance-purchase tickets commit you to a specific train with limited or no refunds or changes. With an Interrail pass you can reschedule or re-route as necessary if a fire, flood, or missed connection affects your journey. If you live outside Europe, you qualify for a Eurail pass not Interrail, but pricing & reservations are exactly the same. Here is a rough summary of the total costs:
Cost if you use point-to-point tickets
Calculating the cost of a London to Istanbul train journey is a black art. You're not buying a London to Istanbul ticket, there's no such thing, you're buying a separate ticket for each train. Fares for Eurostar, TGV and the Stuttgart-Budapest & Budapest-Bucharest sleeper trains vary like air fares depending on demand and how far ahead you book. From Bucharest to Istanbul, the price shown below is fixed and is what you pay even at the station on the day.
Cost if you use an Interrail pass
Using an Interrail pass is the most flexible way to travel from London or Paris to Istanbul. It costs almost the same as point-to-point tickets if you're under 28 years old, a little more if you're over 28, but it's worth it for the flexibility. After buying the pass, you need to pay for a Eurostar passholder fare & for sleeper or couchette reservations. More about Interrail passes & how they work. Here's the breakdown:
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1) The Interrail pass itself
For a one-way trip to Istanbul:
A 4-days-in-1-month pass costs €212 if you're under 28, €283 if you're 28-59, or €255 if you're over 60.
This gives 4 days of unlimited train travel in all the countries you pass through on any 4 dates you choose within an overall period of 1 month. Children 4-11 inclusive get a free £0 Interrail pass if accompanied by an adult.
A 4-day pass is enough for an eastbound journey using the trains suggested above, even stopping off for a day or two in Budapest & Bucharest. It's also enough for a westbound journey June-October when the direct Istanbul-Bucharest couchette car runs.
However, for a westbound one-way trip October-June you'll need a 5-day pass, because Istanbul to Bucharest with a change at Dimitrovgrad becomes 2 pass days not 1. You may also need a 5-day pass if you want to make further stopovers in Paris, Vienna, and so on.
For a return trip to Istanbul, June-October:
When the direct Bucharest-Istanbul couchette car operates, a 7-day pass is all you need.
A 7-days-in-1-month pass costs €286 if you're under 28, €381 if you're 28-59, €343 if you're over 60.
This gives 7 days of unlimited train travel in all the countries you pass through on any dates you choose within an overall period of 1 month. Children 4-11 inclusive get a free pass if accompanied by an adult.
It's enough to make the outward & return journeys using the trains suggested above, even with a day or two in Budapest or Bucharest, as long as you complete both outward & return journeys within a month.
However, it's a lot easier to buy a 5-days-in-1-month pass to cover London-Bucharest-London, then buy a regular ticket for the Bucharest-Istanbul-Bucharest couchette car, as I shall explain later.
For a return trip to Istanbul, October-June:
At other times of year, Istanbul to Bucharest with a change at Dimitrovgrad requires 2 pass days not 1, so you'll need a 10-day pass.
A 10-days-in-2-months pass costs €335 if you're under 28, €447 if you're 28-59, €402 if you're over 60.
First or second class?
There's little point in buying a 1st class pass as only a 2nd class pass is needed for most sleepers & couchettes on the Stuttgart-Budapest & Budapest-Bucharest trains, and the Balkan trains are 2nd class only. Basically, you'd be paying significantly more just to go 1st class on the London-Paris and Paris-Stuttgart sectors. But it's your call!
Remember the rule for using Interrail passes on sleeper trains: Since 2019, overnight trains only require one day of a flexi pass to be activated, the date it leaves, as long as you don't change trains after midnight. So a daytime train followed by a sleeper train both leaving on the same day requires only 1 pass day. But a sleeper train followed by a daytime train next morning requires 2 pass days. More about this rule.
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2) Eurostar passholder fare from London to Paris
Interrail passes cover Eurostar, but you need to pay a Eurostar passholder fare of €35 in Standard if you have a 2nd class pass or €40 in Plus if you have a 1st class pass. See the Eurostar page for details of Eurostar passholder fares and how to buy them.
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3) Paris-Stuttgart TGV reservation fee
Reservation compulsory, €19 each way in both classes.
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4) Stuttgart to Budapest sleeper reservation
Passholders pay a variable supplement for the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper train, per person per bed: Couchette in 6-berth compartment €20, couchette in a 4-berth compartment €25, bed in a 2-berth sleeper €50, bed in a single-berth sleeper €100.
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5) Budapest to Bucharest couchette reservation
Couchette in 6-berth €15, couchette in 4-berth €22, bed in 3-bed sleeper €28, bed in 2-bed sleeper €42. Bed in single-bed sleeper (1st class ticket or pass required) €98. Information from www.cfrcalatori.ro.
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6) Bucharest to Istanbul couchette reservation
Couchette in 4-berth €14. Information from www.cfrcalatori.ro.
How to book using an Interrail pass
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Step 1, plan your trip:
Using the times above, decide what trains you want to take on what days. This may help: How to plan an itinerary & budget. Work out what Interrail pass duration you need and what class you want, see pass durations & prices here.
A 4-days-in-1-month pass is enough to make a one-way eastbound journey at any time of year using the trains suggested on this page. It's also enough for a one-way westbound journey June-October when the direct Istanbul-Bucharest couchette car operates.
For a one-way westbound trip outside this period you'll need a 5-day pass, because Istanbul to Bucharest with a change at Dimitrovgrad requires 2 pass days not 1, see the overnight sleeper rule. Not rocket science, just basic logistics!
For a round trip, a 7-days-in-1-month pass is sufficient when the direct Bucharest-Istanbul couchette car operates, but you will find it much easier to buy a 5-days-in-1-month pass to cover London-Bucharest-London, then buy a regular ticket online for Bucharest-Istanbul-Bucharest as I'll explain in a minute
Outside this period you'll need a 10-days-in-2-months pass for a round trip because the extra change at Dimitrovgrad means an Istanbul to Bucharest westbound journey requires 2 pass days not 1, see the overnight sleeper rule.
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Step 2, buy an Interrail pass:
Buy a pass at www.thetrainline.com/passes, www.interrail.eu or www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes and select Europe).
The confirmation email contains your pass number. Download the Railplanner app for your phone and follow the instructions to load the pass into the app using your name & pass number. There's no need to activate the pass until you're ready to travel. You need a pass number to make reservations, but other than this there is no connection between the pass itself and any reservations you may make, as explained here!
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Step 3, make your reservations:
1) Book the Eurostar from London to Paris using any of the methods shown here. The Eurostar passholder ticket will be emailed to you, you can print it out or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. More about Eurostar passholder tickets.
Tip: Check availability before buying a pass. After booking you can go to www.eurostar.com, click Manage your booking, enter your reference and choose a better seat from a seat map. Or you can do that in the Eurostar app once you've loaded your tickets.
2) Book the Paris to Stuttgart TGV, using the Interrail reservation service as shown here. You print it out or show it on your phone.
3) Book the Stuttgart to Budapest sleeper, using the Interrail reservation service as shown here (small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website following Method 1 (no fee) or the Hungarian Railways website as shown here (no fee). You print it out or show it on your phone.
4) Book the Budapest to Bucharest sleeper, using the Interrail reservation service as shown here (small booking fee) or the Hungarian Railways website as shown here (no booking fee). You print it out or show it on your phone.
5) Book from Bucharest to Istanbul.
When the June-October direct couchette car runs:
Here's the problem: You can't make the €14 reservation-only booking for this train online. So if you insist on using a pass for this bit, you either have to book in person at Bucharest Nord (hoping that there are places available, it can leave fully-booked in high summer) or book in advance by emailing Andy as shown here - but if his fee exceeds €42 per person, you may as well buy a normal ticket.
However, it's easy to book a normal ticket for the Bucharest-Istanbul couchette car with reservation included for €42 + €14, using the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. After booking online you collect hard-copy tickets at Bucharest Nord. You can book one-way or round trip in either direction this way, but tickets have to be collected in Romania, they cannot be collected in Istanbul.
So for a round trip to Istanbul, you'd buy a 5-day pass to cover the London-Bucharest-London part of the journey, then buy a normal ticket online for Bucharest-Istanbul-Bucharest for €42 ticket + €14 reservation each way. This way, everything can be booked online!
Even if you're only going one way and already have a pass, for simplicity and peace of mind, consider biting the bullet and buying a regular Bucharest-Istanbul ticket online, rather than turn up and hope to make a reservation at the station, only to find the couchette car fully-booked, or paying a hefty fee for an agent to procure a reservation. It's your call!
If you want sole or dual occupancy of a whole 4-berth compartment, simply book 4 tickets.
At times when the direct couchette car isn't running:
Book from Bucharest to Ruse at the station in Bucharest, and book the sleeper from Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul when you change trains at Gorna Orjahovitsa, there's no way to book from outside Bulgaria.
Tip: There's a minor irritation when using your Interrail pass from Bucharest or Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul. You are of course using a direct overnight train so the Interrail night train rule applies and only one pass day (the date of departure) is used. However, the Railplanner app incorrectly thinks it's a separate train from Kapikule to Istanbul, therefore if you add it to your pass directly from the Railplanner timetable it will trigger the use of a second pass day to cover what it thinks is a second train leaving after midnight. The solution is to add the Bucharest or Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul train to your pass manually.
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If you have any problems making reservations online you can make them by phone. Call DB's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings. You can also try International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, overseas callers +44 844 2482483. You have to allow time for these reservations to be posted as hard copy.
How to book using point-to-point tickets
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When does booking open?
Booking opens up to 11 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 6 months ahead for the Paris-Stuttgart TGV and the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper. It only opens 60 days ahead for Budapest-Bucharest.
Hotels can be booked risk-free before booking trains if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.
Before you start, make a list of the specific trains & dates you need to book as each train is effectively a separate booking.
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Step 1, book the Eurostar
Go to www.eurostar.com & buy Eurostar tickets between London & Paris. Use the times above as a guide, by all means book an earlier Eurostar outwards or a later Eurostar on the way back if it's cheaper or if you want to stop off in Paris. See tips on choosing the best seats on Eurostar.
If you're starting from another UK town or city, see advice on buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.
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Step 2, book the Paris to Stuttgart TGV
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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Step 3, book the Stuttgart to Budapest sleeper train
Book this at www.thetrainline.com. Use the journey planner to bring up the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper train marked EN with 0 changes. You print your own ticket. You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.
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Step 4, book the Budapest to Bucharest sleeper train
Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Booking opens 60 days ahead. For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See my advice for using mavcsoport.hu. For Bucharest type Bucuresti.
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Step 5, book from Bucharest to Istanbul
When the June-October direct couchette car runs:
Buy tickets for the Bucharest to Istanbul couchette car at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Booking usually opens 90 days ahead, but sometimes less.
For Bucharest enter Bucuresti (Romania) and for Istanbul enter Halkali (Turkey) or just Istanbul.
If you want sole or dual occupancy of a whole 4-berth compartment, simply book 4 tickets.
Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord, you need to choose a collection station on the final page. You can book one-way or round trip in either direction, but only if you can collect in Romania. Tickets cannot be collected in Istanbul.
Or book at the station in Bucharest, the direct couchette car often has sleeping berths available even on the day, but not always. For international tickets go to ticket window 1 in a room marked Case de Bilete with a large blue sign, not far from the information kiosk in the centre of the station, see a photo of the ticket office so you know what to look for.
Westbound from Istanbul, you can book at the international ticket window at Istanbul Sirkeci.
Or email Andy at tickets@discoverbyrail.com (the same rail expert that runs www.discoverbyrail.com). He can arrange couchette tickets on this train in either direction with tickets sent to your hotel in Bucharest or Istanbul or he may be able to arrange a handover.
Or email Amber Travel, www.ambertravel.com, a reliable and experienced agency who can arrange westbound tickets from Istanbul, they come highly recommended.
At times when the direct couchette car isn't running:
Step 1, book the train from Bucharest to Ruse (in winter) or to Gorna Orjahovitsa (in spring/autumn shoulder periods, see the timetable above) using at the Romanian Railways international website, bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. It cannot book to Dimitrovgrad.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Booking usually opens 60 days ahead. If booking to Ruse, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. If booking to Gorna, you may need to collect hard-copy tickets from the ticket office at Bucharest Gara de Nord. Booking usually opens 60 days before departure.
Step 2, buy the ticket from Ruse or Gorna to Dimitrovgrad at the station when you get to Ruse or Gorna, or if necessary buy from the conductor on board the train.
Alternatively, you can buy a ticket from Ruse to Gorna Orjahovitsa at the Bulgarian Railways website www.bdz.bg, but it won't book as far as Dimitrovgrad. You need to register, tickets can be printed out. Booking opens 30 days before departure. Then buy a ticket from Gorna to Dimitrovgrad when you reach Gorna, or on board the train.
Step 3, book a sleeper or couchette from Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul at Gorna Orjahovitsa station, you have enough time between trains to do so, and Gorna ticket office is (obviously) equipped with the Bulgarian Railways ticketing system so can do this. However, the international ticket window may not be open weekends and holidays. The train is busy, berths are often available on the day but not always. There's no easy way round this.
Tip: if there are no berths tonight, but berths are available tomorrow, book tomorrow and stop off at Veliko Tarnovo, it's well worth the stop!)
Or you can buy in person at Bucharest Nord, from the international ticket window in the booking hall, see the Bucharest Nord station page. In the off-season they can only sell you a ticket as far as Ruse (or at times, Gorna Orjahovitsa), don't worry, buy that, then buy an onward ticket from Ruse or Gorna to Dimitrovgrad at the station when you get to Ruse or Gorna or (if necessary) buy one on the train. When you change trains at Gorna, book the Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul sleeper train at the ticket office there, you have time between trains.
In the westbound direction, you can buy tickets from Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad at the international ticket window at Istanbul Sirkeci station. You'll then need to buy a ticket from Dimitrovgrad to Ruse at the station when you get to Dimitrovgrad, or if necessary just pay on the train. Then buy a ticket from Ruse to Bucharest at the station when you get to Ruse. This is no problem, there are almost always places available.
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Or let Tailor Made Rail arrange it
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Tailor Made Rail is an experienced train travel specialist who can create a London to Istanbul package to your specifications complete with stopovers. As it's a package they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike and they're TTA-protected (like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel).
They have a suggested 9-night London to Istanbul package with stopovers, see www.tailormaderail.com/itinerary/london-to-istanbul-epic-journey, but of course they can arrange a journey with any stopovers you want, one-way or round trip, via Bucharest or via Sofia, or out one way back the other.
Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking. From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461. Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.
Or
let Byway.travel
arrange it
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Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.
They offer one-way or round trips from London to Istanbul with trains, stopovers and hotels booked for you as a package. Byway includes package protection, 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and WhatsApp support while you're away.
Browse their pre-configured one-way or round trip London to Istanbul packages at www.byway.travel/.../turkey-by-train.
Or ask them to build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or email them or use the contact form.
If you live outside the UK, no problem, send them an email or use their contact form or call +44 300 131 7173.
Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
If you're in Istanbul, how to buy tickets to western Europe
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If you're already in Istanbul and want to buy train tickets from Istanbul to western Europe, including Amsterdam, Paris or London, go to Istanbul's Sirkeci station, ticket window 4, open 08:30-12:00 & 12:30-19:00 every day (exact opening times may vary). Credit cards are normally accepted.
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They can sell tickets to Sofia or (when the direct couchette car operates) to Bucharest.
However, they can't sell tickets or make reservations beyond Bucharest or Sofia because they have no link to the reservation systems for the rest of Europe. You can check the cost of tickets to Sofia or Bucharest at www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr, click English top right, click PASSENGER then Trains then International trains.
In the off-season when there's no direct couchette car from Istanbul to Bucharest, you'll need to by a couchette or sleeper ticket from Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad and rebook there (or pay on the train if there isn't time) to Ruse, then rebook again in Ruse for the train to Bucharest. If necessary, simply pay the conductor on board the train.
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Then go to an internet cafe and book the sleeper train from Bucharest to Budapest at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Then book the sleeper from Budapest to Stuttgart at www.thetrainline.com and the TGV from Stuttgart to Paris at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You can buy a Eurostar ticket from Paris to London at www.eurostar.com. Booking these trains in advance is always cheaper than turning up and paying on the day.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Paris by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More about Eurostar & check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Gare du Nord station guide.
2. Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex See the video guide
In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany. Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views. The train has power sockets at all seats and free WiFi in both classes. A cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes. The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region. An hour or two later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg. On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower. Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart. Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.
3. Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre
Cosy & inviting, the photo below shows the air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car of the Kalman Imre. The sleeping-car has 11 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor. The fare includes a light breakfast of coffee, juice & croissant. More about the sleeper train Kalman Imre.
4. Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train Ister
The Ister from Budapest to Bucharest has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with carpeted 1, 2 or 3-berth compartments with washbasin. Travelling in the sleeping-car is safe, comfortable & civilised. The Ister also has a Romanian couchette car with 6-berth & 4-berth compartments, each supplied with blanket, sheet & pillow, berths convert to seats by day. Couchettes are fairly basic, and a bed in the sleeper is much more comfortable yet costs little extra, so is the recommended option. A Romanian bar car may be attached in Romania, but I'd take your own supplies and maybe a bottle of wine or some beer. The Ister also has seats cars, but a basic seat is not recommended for an overnight journey.
Traveller Philip Dyer-Perry reports: "Budapest to Bucharest on the Ister is an absolute pleasure. I booked online with MAV and travelled in the new sleeping car, which was comfortable, smooth, and clean. There is a shower, but obviously not intended for use as most of the hose assembly was missing. There was a dining car, and if you ask you can get a menu, but it's better to ask the man what he's got and negotiate a price. If you have hard (non-Romanian) currency there is a certain amount of flexibility. In the evening it was chicken & potatoes, next morning it was a rather tasty omelette. Just be aware that the main purpose of the dining car is as a place for the traincrew to smoke! It's good though, and a world away from Western Europe. The Ister was around 20 minutes late on arrival in Bucharest, but the sleeping car attendant assured a fellow traveller that he would make the connection to Istanbul. In fact he even phoned his colleague on that train. Once we pulled in we both ran, he to the Istanbul car, me to the Sofia portion, and we made it..."
5. Bucharest to Istanbul
In summer from early June to early October, an air-conditioned Turkish couchette car with 4-berth compartments runs direct from Bucharest Nord to Istanbul Halkali. Each compartment converts from seats to bunks, see the photos below. Sheet, blanket and pillow are provided.
In winter between October & June you travel in seats cars on a series of connecting trains from Bucharest to Dimitrovgrad, then in the sleeping-cars or couchettes of the Sofia-Istanbul Express to Istanbul. The route and scenery are the same.
A few hours after leaving Bucharest the train reaches the Romanian border point, Giurgiu. It then crosses the Danube into Bulgaria on a 2.5 km long steel bridge, the longest steel bridge in Europe, built in 1954 and now fitted with a road deck above the railway. The Bosfor then spends a lazy afternoon meandering along pleasant river valleys across rural Bulgaria. Pour yourself a beer or glass of wine (remember to bring your own food & drink as there's no catering), read away the hours & enjoy the trip.
After a late-night passport check at the Bulgarian border at Svilengrad, the train reaches the Turkish frontier at Kapikule well after midnight. Here you will need to leave the train briefly to get your passport stamped, then have your bags X-rayed.
The train used to make a dramatic entry into Istanbul, passing through the Byzantine Walls of Theodosius and skirting the Sea of Marmara underneath the very walls of the Topkapi Palace, but now it terminates at Halkali and you take a Marmaray suburban train for the last bit into central Istanbul. However, you still arrive at Istanbul's historic Sirkeci station built in 1890 in the heart of the city, albeit at the modern underground Marmaray platforms. However, you can still take the original main line railway into a ground-level platform at Sirkeci if you follow the advice here.
Sirkeci station is walking distance from all the sights, or you can hop into a taxi to the famous Pera Palas Hotel. Expect an arrival an hour or two late, so allow for this and enjoy the ride. Map of Istanbul showing Sirkeci station. For more about this journey, see the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
The Bucharest-Istanbul direct couchette car: Day and night setup, and seen boarding at Bucharest Nord. Courtesy of seat61 contributors.
Across Bulgaria. Lush green scenery as the train descends the Shipka Pass.
Kapikule on the Turkish border: Arriving here well after midnight, you must get off to get your passport stamped in the passport office (above right), then put your bags through an X-ray scanner. Photos courtesy of Frédéric Pardé.
Good morning Turkey! Dawn breaks as the train speeds east towards Istanbul.
Istanbul Sirkeci. You travel from Halkali to Sirkeci by frequent Marmaray suburban train, arriving at the new underground platforms beneath this historic station. Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.
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