London to Istanbul with Interrail
Plan your own legendary rail adventure
It’s one of Europe's most spectacular rail journeys: London to Istanbul via Paris. In this itinerary, you'll learn how to use an Interrail Pass to experience the excitement of the route yourself.
Cities visited in this trip:
1. London, Great Britain
2. Paris, France
3. Munich, Germany
4. Budapest, Hungary
5. Craiova, Romania
6. Vidin, Bulgaria
7. Sofia, Bulgaria
8. Istanbul, Turkey
For this itinerary we recommend:
- Interrail Pass: Global Pass
- Travel days: 10 days within 2 months
1. London, Great Britain
The first part of your epic rail adventure involves boarding the Eurostar high-speed train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. The trip takes roughly 3 hours from start to finish.
With Interrail you're covered for travel on the Eurostar – you’ll just have to reserve a seat.
2. Paris, France
Spend a while exploring the French capital, giving yourself time to explore the beautiful Parisian train stations.
When you’ve seen enough of Paris (has anyone ever, by the way?), take the train to Munich. The journey takes as little as 6 hours, with a stopover in Mannheim, Germany.
You will need a seat reservation for the journey from Paris to Mannheim.
3. Munich, Germany
Don’t let a visit to Munich – the capital city of Bavaria – pass by without plenty of sightseeing and taking one of the free walking tours.
Ready to venture further east? Take the RJX railjet xpress from Munich to Budapest, a reservation-free journey that will take 6 hours and 30 minutes.
4. Budapest, Hungary
Explore the marvels of Budapest on each side of the Danube River, and don't forget to fuel up on regional specialities at the Central Market Hall. When you're ready to continue, hop on a direct night train to Craiova, Romania.
Reservations are required for the night train from Budapest to Craiova. It's a good idea to make your arrangements in advance.
5. Craiova, Romania
Take time to immerse yourself in this southwestern Romanian city's deeply-rooted history and culture. Then, take a direct train over the border to Bulgaria; your trip to Vidin will take only 3 hours.
6. Vidin, Bulgaria
Spend some time unwinding along the Danube during your stay in this riverside city. Don't miss a visit to the Baba Vida fortress and the striking Belogradchik Rocks, just an hour away.
From Vidin, it's less than 5 hours by train to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital city.
7. Sofia, Bulgaria
Experience the parks, churches, and other sights of Sofia before embarking on your final train journey of the trip. This train service takes you from Bulgaria to Turkey overnight, arriving in Istanbul in the early morning.
You will need to make a reservation for the night train journey from Sofia to Istanbul.
8. Istanbul, Turkey
When your train pulls into Istanbul, your Interrail trip will be complete. Take time to appreciate your achievement; you visited 7 countries on your journey, crossing a wide swath of Interrail's Pass network along the way. Enjoy exploring Istanbul, your last destination!
Get your Interrail Global Pass
Ready to explore Europe? With the Interrail Pass, you can go one stop further, experiencing Europe's highlights while lingering in the places that intrigue you. The best Pass for this trip is the Interrail Global Pass.
Standard prices start from €212
Valid for travel in 33 European countries
No booking fees
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