Train from London to Istanbul
Photo © Fantaz @ Flickr
Overview
Route: London to Istanbul via Paris, Munich and Bucharest (train or train and bus)
Journey time: Just over 2 days
Detailed itinerary
Option 1: via Paris, Munich and Bucharest (train only, some sleepers) |
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Sample itinerary: Take the 1025 Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, which gives you plenty of time to transfer to Gare de l'Est for the 1524 to Munich, getting you to the Bavarian capital at 2138. You've got time to grab a late dinner or a quick drink before catching the 2340 sleeper service on to Bucharest, where it arrives almost a full 24 hours later, at 0035 (Romania is an hour ahead of Germany). Bed down for the remainder of the night, and get a late breakfast before catching your final train, at 1224, to Istanbul, where it will arrive the following morning at 0750.
Price: About £450 return. The train to Munich costs from £161 return and to Budapest costs from £367 return. An interrail pass could also be purchased for the route, which may save money. For further details click on the link to Raileurope below.
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Don't forget check-in time for Eurostar is at least 30 mins before departure. |
Frequency of service: About 15 trains a day
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: From 2 hrs 15 mins
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| Transfer | A short 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est. Exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de L'Est. Alternatively it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de L'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans'). |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 25 minutes
Book a hotel near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est
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| Leg 2: | Paris Est to Munich Departs Paris Est daily at 1524, arriving in Münich at 2138. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
TGV Journey time: 6 hours 14 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform within Munich Hauptbahnhof |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Munich (München) Hauptbahnhof
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| Leg 3: | Munich to Bucharest (Bucuresti Nord) (overnight) Train departs Munich daily at 2340, arriving at Bucharest almost 24 hours (and a change of time zone) later, at 0035. |
Frequency of service: daily
Operator:
Euronight Journey time: 23 hours 55 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Bucuresti Nord Station. Alternatively it's just a short walk to catch a bus from outside the station (or vice-versa). |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Bucuresti Nord
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| Leg 4: | Bucharest (Bucuresti Nord) to Istanbul The train departs Bucharest daily at 1224, arriving in Istanbul at 0750 the next morning. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
BDZh/TCDD Journey time: 19 hours 26 minutes
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| Destination | Hoş geldiniz - İstanbul |
Book a hotel near Istanbul Sirkeci
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Option 2: via Paris, Munich and Bucharest (train and bus, some sleepers) |
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Sample itinerary: Take the 1025 Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, which gives you plenty of time to transfer to Gare de l'Est for the 1524 to Munich, getting you to the Bavarian capital at 2138. You've got time to grab a late dinner or a quick drink before catching the 2340 sleeper service on to Bucharest, where it arrives almost a full 24 hours later, at 0035 (Romania is an hour ahead of Germany). From Bucuresti Nord there are various bus services departing daily to Istanbul - the journey time is just under 12 hours.
Price: About £450 return. The train to Munich costs from £161 return and to Budapest costs from £367 return. An interrail pass could also be purchased for the route, which may save money. For further details click on the link to Raileurope below.
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Don't forget check-in time for Eurostar is at least 30 mins before departure. |
Frequency of service: About 15 trains a day
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: From 2 hrs 15 mins
|
| Transfer | A short 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est. Exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de L'Est. Alternatively it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de L'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans'). |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 25 minutes
Book a hotel near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est
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| Leg 2: | Paris Est to Munich Departs Paris Est daily at 1524, arriving in Münich at 2138. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
TGV Journey time: 6 hours 14 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform within Munich Hauptbahnhof |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Munich (München) Hauptbahnhof
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| Leg 3: | Munich to Bucharest (Bucuresti Nord) (overnight) Train departs Munich daily at 2340, arriving at Bucharest almost 24 hours (and a change of time zone) later, at 0035. |
Frequency of service: daily
Operator:
Euronight Journey time: 23 hours 55 minutes
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Bucuresti Nord Station. Alternatively it's just a short walk to catch a bus from outside the station (or vice-versa). |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 minutes
Book a hotel near Bucuresti Nord
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| Leg 4: | Bucharest to Istanbul (bus) Several companies run buses from outside Bucuresti Nord and from Filarest Bus Station to Istanbul. Two companies that operate from Bucuresti Nord are Toros and Ortadoğu Tur (Oz Ortadogu). |
Frequency of service: 1+ per day per company
Operator:
Toros/Ortadoğu Tur (Oz Ortadogu) Journey time: Around 11-12 hours
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| Destination | Hoş geldiniz - İstanbul |
Book a hotel near Istanbul Bus Terminal
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Your route to Istanbul
The lines on the map are for illustrative purposes only - they don't show the exact route taken by the train.
