London to Istanbul in Just 4 Days! By Train

Are you an adventurous traveller looking for an exciting new way to journey from London to the ancient city of Istanbul? A novel and leisurely way to travel between London and Istanbul is by train in just 4 days of train travel. Scheduled train service connecting the British and Turkish capitals is available for adventurous holidaymakers.

The historic new route, utilising both modern high-speed rail and traditional overnight sleeper trains, is being hailed by travel experts as the rebirth of the fabled “Orient Express” experience. However, this 21st-century version will whisk passengers across the continent in just 4 days – less than half the journey time of the original Orient Express at its heyday.

A Look into the Journey

The London-Istanbul marathon will commence with a morning Eurostar departure from St. Pancras, racing underneath the English Channel en route to Paris and onwards to Bavaria, Germany aboard French and German high-speed rails. In Munich, footsteps will retrace those of aristocratic explorers from centuries past as travellers board the iconic Schlafwagen sleeper service to continue the overland passage towards the Bosphorus.  

After traversing the Austrian Alps and exquisite Balkan countryside, the climactic final legs take the well-worn rail routes from Budapest across the Great Hungarian Plain, through the majestic lower Danube River valleys of Serbia and Bulgaria, and into European Turkey.

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Finally, on the fourth morning since departure, exhausted but equally exhilarated rail fans will arrive in Istanbul’s You arrive at Halkali, a suburban station 25 km west of Istanbul. Here, they can experience the unique cosmopolitan splendour of this ancient crossroads straddling the East and West.

This ambitious undertaking has been a dream of rail aficionados across the world for generations. With a scenic, eco-friendly way to reach Turkey’s greatest city from the heart of Britain now available, it will surely attract many free-spirited explorers longing for a taste of the golden age of overland travel.