London to Istanbul: Epic Rail Journey
- 11
- £1,099
- Turkey
- Travel across Europe from London to the Bosphorus
- Stop off overnight in Munich, Budapest and Bucharest
- Travel through undiscovered countryside of Bulgaria
- Istanbul: bazaars, minarets, Turkish baths and hookah-pipes
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- Double compartment on the ‘Ister’ overnight sleeper from Budapest to Bucharest
- Private compartment on the Sofia to Istanbul sleeper
- 7 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
Suggested Itinerary
Leave from London this morning and travel with the Eurostar to Brussels Midi. Here, pick up the ICE service to Cologne, on the banks of the River Rhine.
Check in for an overnight stay at the Cityclass Europa am Dom (or similar), located close to the station. Once you’ve settled in, enjoy an evening at leisure in Cologne, perhaps with dinner in the Old Town area or a stroll along the banks of the river.
After breakfast in your hotel, check out and return to the station, located opposite the steps of the city’s famous Cathedral. Catch a direct train from here south to Munich and make your way to the Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Centre (or similar), where you have an overnight stop.
You’ll arrive in the early afternoon, so there’s plenty of time to stretch your legs and explore.
You have a leisurely start this morning, so why not take some time after breakfast and have another look around the centre of Munich? This historic city is the regional capital of Bavaria with an easily walkable centre and some lovely green spaces.
In the late morning, return to the station for a direct train to Budapest. Your journey takes you via Chiemsee (known as the Bavarian Sea) and Salzburg with rolling scenery and distant mountains to watch through your window as you perhaps enjoy lunch in the restaurant car. On arrival in Budapest, check in at the Hotel Rum (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Spend a free morning in majestic Hungarian capital Budapest. Perhaps take a stroll along the River Danube, take a guided tour of the famous Parliament Building or enjoy a morning dip in one of the city’s beautiful Art Nouveau spa complexes. Around midday, it’s time to return to the station and catch your sleeper train to Istanbul.
TMR RECOMMENDS: If you have the time, it’s well worth spending an extra night or two in Budapest so that you have time to explore this beautiful city.
Spend the morning onboard the sleeper train in your private cabin, continuing south through rural Romania to capital city Bucharest. On arrival, check in at the K + K Elisabeta (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure exploring this dynamic city where 19th century, communist-era and ultra-modern buildings all jostle for space along side one another. The most famous building in the city has to be the gigantic Parliament Building, the world’s second largest administrative building after the Pentagon.
After breakfast this morning, head back to the station and take a train across the Bulgarian border to Ruse. Here, change onto a service bound for capital city Sofia. These trains are fairly basic, with limited facilities. We would strongly recommend taking your own food onboard and some toiletries as well.
You’ll arrive in the evening and check in for an overnight stay at Les Fleurs Boutique Hotel (or similar).
You have a free day to explore Sofia before your onward rail journey this evening. The Bulgarian capital has a history dating back a thousand years and offers many museums and historic landmarks including the onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. You might also like to browse the shops or enjoy a coffee along the bustling Vitosha Boulevard. We would also recommend having an early dinner in Sofia prior to boarding your sleeper train, bound for Istanbul, as there are limited catering facilities onboard.
Early this morning, you with pull into Istanbul Halkali station where you can take the modern metro or take a taxi into the centre of town. Your accommodation for the next 3 nights as the Yasmak Sultan Hotel (or similar).
Founded as Byzantium around 660 BC, Istanbul has been one of the most significant cities in the history of Western civilisation. Little wonder then that there is a huge wealth of historic monuments to see. For the perfect introduction to Istanbul’s history, the best place to head for is the magnificent Hagia Sofia, built as a Greek Orthodox basilica, briefly a Roman Catholic Cathedral, for five-hundred years a mosque, and then from 1935, a secular museum. You can also grab a bargain in the colourful Grand Bazaar, but be prepared to haggle over a glass of apple tea!
Enjoy some further free time in Istanbul before making your way to the airport for a flight back to the UK (not included).
TMR RECOMMENDS: Why not extend your holiday? For example, we can add our Turkey Explorer itinerary which includes a guided visit to Cappadocia with its visually arresting fairy chimneys (pictured). Or you can check out our Istanbul to Georgia extension. Please call for details.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Cologne
The centrally located CityClass Hotel am Dom offers easy access to the main station and Cologne Cathedral. Modern bedrooms feature conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, minibar and a hairdryer. Guests can also relax in the spacious lounge area with an on site bar. A daily breakfast buffet is served here every morning. The hotel also boast a 24-hour reception.
Munich
Conveniently situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Munich’s main station and 10 minutes’ walk from the historical centre, the Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Centre offers comfortable, convenient accommodation with modern interiors. In-house dining is available at the Oleo Pazzo, a Mediterranean bistro.
Budapest
Hotel Rum is a boutique hotel, housed in a historic building in the centre of Budapest. Bedrooms are categorised by rum varieties such as ‘light rum’, ‘spiced rum’ and ‘black rum’. There is also a Southeast Asian restaurant called Urban Tiger, and a rooftop bar. Complimentary Wi-FI internet access is available throughout the hotel.
Bucharest
Located in the centre of Bucharest, a 2-minute walk from the University Square and less than 10 minutes from the Old Town, the PeakTure Hotel Bucharest offers modern accommodation with free Wi-Fi internet access throughout. Guests can enjoy snacks and drinks in the on-site bistro or a work out in the well-equipped fitness centre.
Sofia
Hotel les Fleurs occupies a convenient location on the main shopping street in the centre of Sofia, close to Bulgaria’s parliament building. The hotel’s exterior and interior were designed by Italian architect Francesco Lucchese and each bedroom is individually decorated. All bedrooms are non-smoking and feature modern facilities such as iPod docking stations and DVD players. There is also a gourmet restaurant in the hotel, offering locally sourced dishes,
Istanbul
Located in the heart of the historic Sultanahmet area, the Yasmak Sultan Hotel is just a short walk from Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia. All of the guest rooms feature unique decor along with modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi. The hotel also features a pool and spa area. Enjoy breakfast in the rooftop restaurant, overlooking the Bosphorus.
