Bucharest to Istanbul ALONE in a Turkish Sleeper Train
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-hhoebeke1
I just did the same trip a few days ago, was a comfortable ride. One correction, the tickets can be booked online - I did so on the website of the Romanian Railways. It was not possible to only book a reservation (to use with an interrail ticket. I needed to catch the connection so to be certain bought a ticket online, and in Bucharest station it was easy to book a reservation and I cancelled the ticket purchased online (this can only be done online, there is a small fee. The border controls take some time - and some of the stops along the way - reconfiguring the train - are a bit long, but good to stretch your legs a bit. With the interrail app you have a decent idea about the timeline of the trip, but it would be nice if the operators would announce the timeline at different stops - I got some cold drinks in Bulgaria and at the Turkish border. Comfort was ok, I ended up alone in a 4-person couchette and the car was about 50per cent full. The toilet on our car (at least on the end I used was a classic porcelain toilet bowl, it was clean. Air conditioning did not work until the last station in Romania. Opening the window helped a bit but a lot of dust entered the car. The trip through Bulgaria was stunning and very relaxing. The border crossing with Turkey took some time - and in the middle of the night - but all said, it was efficient - just for you own comfort try to travel as light as possible. At the arrival station in Istanbul there are only a few ticket machines to get the Istanbul card for public transport. The train ride from the station to the city center took about 30 minutes. I agree a very nice experience, comfortable, 'old school' rail travel. Some tips: take enough food and drink (it can be hot on the train. there are loads of sandwich shops and small supermarkets in or near Bucharest station, travel as light as you can and enjoy the ride. Look forward to take the train from Istanbul to Sofia soon.
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I just did the same trip a few days ago, was a comfortable ride. One correction, the tickets can be booked online - I did so on the website of the Romanian Railways. It was not possible to only book a reservation (to use with an interrail ticket. I needed to catch the connection so to be certain bought a ticket online, and in Bucharest station it was easy to book a reservation and I cancelled the ticket purchased online (this can only be done online, there is a small fee. The border controls take some time - and some of the stops along the way - reconfiguring the train - are a bit long, but good to stretch your legs a bit. With the interrail app you have a decent idea about the timeline of the trip, but it would be nice if the operators would announce the timeline at different stops - I got some cold drinks in Bulgaria and at the Turkish border. Comfort was ok, I ended up alone in a 4-person couchette and the car was about 50per cent full. The toilet on our car (at least on the end I used was a classic porcelain toilet bowl, it was clean. Air conditioning did not work until the last station in Romania. Opening the window helped a bit but a lot of dust entered the car. The trip through Bulgaria was stunning and very relaxing. The border crossing with Turkey took some time - and in the middle of the night - but all said, it was efficient - just for you own comfort try to travel as light as possible. At the arrival station in Istanbul there are only a few ticket machines to get the Istanbul card for public transport. The train ride from the station to the city center took about 30 minutes. I agree a very nice experience, comfortable, 'old school' rail travel. Some tips: take enough food and drink (it can be hot on the train. there are loads of sandwich shops and small supermarkets in or near Bucharest station, travel as light as you can and enjoy the ride. Look forward to take the train from Istanbul to Sofia soon.
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-jokerash
Eastern Europe trains always have delays, at least in Romania. As a romanian citizen, I remember when I was a kid, going by train 500kms from Bucharest to north of the country on couchette car (to Vatra Dornei, there is a magnificent scenery from Suceava onwards, the last leg of the trip. Nowadays, trains are slower then cars because of lack of investments, high level corruption and other reasons. I went even all the way to Munich (from Bucharest) by train in 1990s, when i was 8 years old, just when Germany won the soccer WC they gave us the -visas- to go there and we visited friends which fled during the communist era. It was a very long trip: Bucharest-Budapest-Wien-Munich.
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Eastern Europe trains always have delays, at least in Romania. As a romanian citizen, I remember when I was a kid, going by train 500kms from Bucharest to north of the country on couchette car (to Vatra Dornei, there is a magnificent scenery from Suceava onwards, the last leg of the trip. Nowadays, trains are slower then cars because of lack of investments, high level corruption and other reasons. I went even all the way to Munich (from Bucharest) by train in 1990s, when i was 8 years old, just when Germany won the soccer WC they gave us the -visas- to go there and we visited friends which fled during the communist era. It was a very long trip: Bucharest-Budapest-Wien-Munich.
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-komrad1983
Born in 1983 I still had the experience in post soviet countries with open window (it would open straight down, and you can easily even put you upper body out of the window) it was the best. I think this is the real railroad experience by smelling, hearing, feeling the railroad around you. Too bad modern world is a bunch of whiners and safety freak money hungry consumers with that it's nearly impossible unless going to Eastern Europe or post soviet countries. Plus the post soviet is 1520mm which make them much larger, and soviet Skoda's like CHs7, CHs8, CHs4 were the pices of art.
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Born in 1983 I still had the experience in post soviet countries with open window (it would open straight down, and you can easily even put you upper body out of the window) it was the best. I think this is the real railroad experience by smelling, hearing, feeling the railroad around you. Too bad modern world is a bunch of whiners and safety freak money hungry consumers with that it's nearly impossible unless going to Eastern Europe or post soviet countries. Plus the post soviet is 1520mm which make them much larger, and soviet Skoda's like CHs7, CHs8, CHs4 were the pices of art.
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-pepumarius2006
yaaay Timisoreana Beer: D (might not be best in its class, but it does its job. Great video and I am not surprised you were the only one on that sleeper car to Istanbul. Personally I would have NEVER considered taking such a long train ride to Turkey, knowing well enough the quality of Romanian trains (unless just for a refresher of what it feels like to ride with a train, when there are multiple faster options. But great video again and I love your content! Keep up the good work
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yaaay Timisoreana Beer: D (might not be best in its class, but it does its job. Great video and I am not surprised you were the only one on that sleeper car to Istanbul. Personally I would have NEVER considered taking such a long train ride to Turkey, knowing well enough the quality of Romanian trains (unless just for a refresher of what it feels like to ride with a train, when there are multiple faster options. But great video again and I love your content! Keep up the good work
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-circulati
This was a lovely trip, and that sleeping car seemed very comfortable. But those passport controls in the middle of the night -, why can-t they just leave earlier or later from Bucharest? I have the same issue when I go from Bucharest to Vienna on the Dacia train, at least the Hungarians don-t ask you to get out of the train at customs. But they might ask you to get off the train in Budapest and take another train if you-re more than an hour late --
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This was a lovely trip, and that sleeping car seemed very comfortable. But those passport controls in the middle of the night -, why can-t they just leave earlier or later from Bucharest? I have the same issue when I go from Bucharest to Vienna on the Dacia train, at least the Hungarians don-t ask you to get out of the train at customs. But they might ask you to get off the train in Budapest and take another train if you-re more than an hour late --
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-francispagan9676
It just reminds me of the Balkans back in 1963! The complex shunting, the rattly track, the trundling through this wild scenery. Quite nostalgic. At my age I don't think I can cope with it though - But the West Highland lines to Mallaig and Oban are magnificent and make up for this. No passports there at least - unless the independence guys get their way!
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It just reminds me of the Balkans back in 1963! The complex shunting, the rattly track, the trundling through this wild scenery. Quite nostalgic. At my age I don't think I can cope with it though - But the West Highland lines to Mallaig and Oban are magnificent and make up for this. No passports there at least - unless the independence guys get their way!
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-Cashsit
Hi, I loved your content
I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer
When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa?
I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother--
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Hi, I loved your content
I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer
When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa?
I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother--
reply
-Cashsit
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
-Cashsit
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
-Cashsit
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
-Cashsit
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
reply
Hi, I loved your content I want important information from you. Please, I need the answer When I booked a ticket for this train at the beginning of the video, was it a single ticket, and did you book it directly without them asking you for a passport for a visa? I would like an explanation, please, my dear brother
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-bakrdemir8656
One of my dreams is to have a high-speed train that connects all of Europe. For example, it could take 4-5 hours between Istanbul and Berlin. Wouldn't it be great to have trains that can go 500 km or 800 km per hour or faster, supersonic, and Istanbul to Berlin in 1 hour? maybe in 50 100 years later: D
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One of my dreams is to have a high-speed train that connects all of Europe. For example, it could take 4-5 hours between Istanbul and Berlin. Wouldn't it be great to have trains that can go 500 km or 800 km per hour or faster, supersonic, and Istanbul to Berlin in 1 hour? maybe in 50 100 years later: D
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-CalinFR
This route in reverse is way better. As soon as you depart Istanbul, you have the border at midnight then you can go to sleep in the first part of Bulgaria as the rail is smooth and no scenery. Then, wake up whenever you wish and enjoy the mountain scenery up to Bucharest where it arrives in the afternoon
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This route in reverse is way better. As soon as you depart Istanbul, you have the border at midnight then you can go to sleep in the first part of Bulgaria as the rail is smooth and no scenery. Then, wake up whenever you wish and enjoy the mountain scenery up to Bucharest where it arrives in the afternoon
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-dpo1954
Nice video man! It is our wish to travel to Istanbul by train once. Few questions: Is it possible to book a private compartment? Or is there always a possibility that you have to share a compartment? And did your (EU)passport got stamped at the border crossings, or was it just a formality?
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Nice video man! It is our wish to travel to Istanbul by train once. Few questions: Is it possible to book a private compartment? Or is there always a possibility that you have to share a compartment? And did your (EU)passport got stamped at the border crossings, or was it just a formality?
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train
Why the pain and suffering of taking this gruesome train ride when you can take a plane ticket for the same price and arrive in 1. 5 hours?
Unless you need to get down at some secondary location where there isn't any airport nearby and you are short on cash, train rides are a bad choice.
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Why the pain and suffering of taking this gruesome train ride when you can take a plane ticket for the same price and arrive in 1. 5 hours?
Unless you need to get down at some secondary location where there isn't any airport nearby and you are short on cash, train rides are a bad choice.
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-johnmcguigan7218
I remember the old Sirkusi station in Istanbul from the 1980s. Just a couple of blocks away was the old red light district, which was always bustling at night. The old district was legal, lined for several blocks with brothels that displayed their -wares. - Now it is gone.
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I remember the old Sirkusi station in Istanbul from the 1980s. Just a couple of blocks away was the old red light district, which was always bustling at night. The old district was legal, lined for several blocks with brothels that displayed their -wares. - Now it is gone.
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-Boveyphil
Great video - thanks. In 2008 I travelled from the top of Norway To Istanbul mainly by train & ferry boat. Unfortunately the line from Plovdiv (Bulgaria) to Turkey was closed at the time so we had to finish the journey by bus.
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Great video - thanks. In 2008 I travelled from the top of Norway To Istanbul mainly by train & ferry boat. Unfortunately the line from Plovdiv (Bulgaria) to Turkey was closed at the time so we had to finish the journey by bus.
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-herbyan1276
I am a fan of the train if. There is. From Rumania to the Netherland german or to Swiss or not the train. Is long distance and the must. Be Expensive successfull. In. Making in contain. And how many hours. Travel
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I am a fan of the train if. There is. From Rumania to the Netherland german or to Swiss or not the train. Is long distance and the must. Be Expensive successfull. In. Making in contain. And how many hours. Travel
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train
Please make a journey with the train from Cherven bryag to Oriahovo. There is a brand new railway, and the train is most expensive train in the Balkans.
Its just amazing, unforgetable
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Please make a journey with the train from Cherven bryag to Oriahovo. There is a brand new railway, and the train is most expensive train in the Balkans.
Its just amazing, unforgetable
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train
As a turk i can tell TCDD is made out of delays but in the end every kind of TVS 2000 cars are very very comfortable (actually sleeper cars are more comfortable than my own bed)
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As a turk i can tell TCDD is made out of delays but in the end every kind of TVS 2000 cars are very very comfortable (actually sleeper cars are more comfortable than my own bed)
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-tecnoChannell
Used two days ago from Sofia to Istanbul. Great experience the only drawback is the passport and baggage check in the middle of the night at the Turkish border: (
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Used two days ago from Sofia to Istanbul. Great experience the only drawback is the passport and baggage check in the middle of the night at the Turkish border: (
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-nh7788
I really like how you put a map thumbnail in the top left at every stop. Thanks for the video. I plan on taking the train from Istanbul to Sofia in a couple of weeks.
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I really like how you put a map thumbnail in the top left at every stop. Thanks for the video. I plan on taking the train from Istanbul to Sofia in a couple of weeks.
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-tashfeenjavad543
one quick question --- Bucharest to istanbul --- you get exit stamp from bucharest and entry at edirne? or bulgarian stations also check for passport/visa?
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one quick question --- Bucharest to istanbul --- you get exit stamp from bucharest and entry at edirne? or bulgarian stations also check for passport/visa?
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-HNSOELLERS41065.
' Bukarest Romania ( RO ) ' PENNERS; 2011 TAXE ' Sofia -- Sandanski Bulgaria ( BUL ) 75; 00-; Sofia -- Varna 75; 00- ' SAKES BE a ZUG KLAUT WERTHES.
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' Bukarest Romania ( RO ) ' PENNERS; 2011 TAXE ' Sofia -- Sandanski Bulgaria ( BUL ) 75; 00-; Sofia -- Varna 75; 00- ' SAKES BE a ZUG KLAUT WERTHES.
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-Dunkcanio
Very much the sort of train that Western Europe used to run too, before markets became fragmented, and state operators gave up on co-operation.
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Very much the sort of train that Western Europe used to run too, before markets became fragmented, and state operators gave up on co-operation.
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-sevaovidiu7117
You wen through the most boring part of romania with the train lol. Try the mountains, the west, middle of the country and the north.
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You wen through the most boring part of romania with the train lol. Try the mountains, the west, middle of the country and the north.
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-KhanKhan-fw9fb
I give 4 days only no more wait I loss life after 4 days I going another country this for who come my demond cash must come
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I give 4 days only no more wait I loss life after 4 days I going another country this for who come my demond cash must come
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-Aviatorspot
Awesome train report. Oh it's like a ghost train ---! If someone comes knocking on your door, it's scary man! Subbed you ---
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Awesome train report. Oh it's like a ghost train ---! If someone comes knocking on your door, it's scary man! Subbed you ---
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-iuliandragomir1
Not a problem! You wanted you get it! I don't know anny idiot to go bay rain to Istambul! You deserve all the storry!
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Not a problem! You wanted you get it! I don't know anny idiot to go bay rain to Istambul! You deserve all the storry!
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-geofer023
Great video and nice ride.
Hope you enjoy Bucharest.
Congratulatiln for video and friwndly greetings.
Geo
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Great video and nice ride.
Hope you enjoy Bucharest.
Congratulatiln for video and friwndly greetings.
Geo
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-lenakaneva7266
This summer me also traveling wiht the BDZ night tran from the see to do Sofia, was very nice.
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This summer me also traveling wiht the BDZ night tran from the see to do Sofia, was very nice.
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-andycristea
2: 39 bigass digital display, 2: 50 not a CFR train. Nice video anyway! Thanks for sharing!
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2: 39 bigass digital display, 2: 50 not a CFR train. Nice video anyway! Thanks for sharing!
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train
I am Pakistani can i come to turkey or apply bugaria or Romania visa its easily available or no
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I am Pakistani can i come to turkey or apply bugaria or Romania visa its easily available or no
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-Sara-uq6km
Thank you so much for these videos, they really help making interrail less scary for me
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Thank you so much for these videos, they really help making interrail less scary for me
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-vazovic
you said this train goes to sofia but your map is wrong. sofia is wester than your route
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you said this train goes to sofia but your map is wrong. sofia is wester than your route
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