I love trains, and if I could, I would travel the entire world just by train. Train travel in Europe is both economical and fun. If you want to travel around Europe by train and eventually reach Turkey, this post may be useful for you.

In this post, I share our train travel from Turkey to Europe, covering the journey from Amsterdam to Istanbul and the experiences we had. Additionally, I’ve included a few tips on finding cheap train tickets in Europe.

Note: This blog post focuses solely on the train journey from Europe to Turkey. I will separately write about our experiences in the cities we visited, the places we explored, the delicious food we ate, and the affordable hotels and apartments we stayed in. You can find these posts under the “Travel” section in the menu, by selecting the relevant country under the “Countries” tab.

Tips for Finding Cheap Train Tickets in Europe

1. If you plan to travel through Europe by train, using collective ticket sales platforms like Omio or Trainline is great for viewing connections and options. However, my recommendation is to buy your tickets directly from local train company websites. For example, for the Netherlands, use Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), for Germany Deutsche Bahn (DB), for the Czech Republic Ceske Drahy (CD), and so on. You can easily find each country’s railway company by searching on Google.

2. Buy fixed-date tickets instead of flexible tickets, as these are generally cheaper.

3. Tickets without assigned seats in second class are more affordable, so opt for those. In most cases, you can easily find empty seats in the carriages.

4. Choose night trains in Europe. This way, you can cover both accommodation and travel costs in one go.

💡 eSIM and Unlimited Internet in Europe

Since I would be in multiple countries during our train travel in Europe, I bought a 10-day unlimited Europe package from Holafly, which offers eSIM services. This package covered all the countries I would visit, so I had internet access throughout the trip. I made all my hotel reservations, easily purchased train tickets, and watched videos I wanted to during the train rides (not all trains had Wi-Fi, and some that did weren’t working). The price was also quite affordable.

If you’re traveling to multiple countries in Europe, consider getting an eSIM from Holafly. It’s very easy to activate, and you can manage everything through the app. You can use this personal Holafly link for a 5% discount. (Make sure your phone supports eSIM service.)

Train Travel Through Europe: Amsterdam to Istanbul by Train

Amsterdam to Berlin Train (6 Hours)

For our first train travel in Europe, we left Amsterdam for Berlin. This was the most expensive ticket we purchased, but it was also the most comfortable train we had. As you might expect, the service quality and ticket prices drop significantly as you travel east.

We bought this ticket from Germany’s national railway company, DB. We had a second-class ticket, and since we didn’t have an assigned seat, we could sit wherever we wanted in the carriage. The best spot was at the tables with four seats and a middle table, so we could work during the journey.

Since there was no restaurant carriage on this train, we had brought some food with us. The train’s toilets were very clean, and they even had disinfectants in the restrooms for cleaning your seat. This system is common in most public restrooms in the Netherlands, but I didn’t expect to see it on the train.

Ticket checks throughout the journey were done via QR code. So, it’s important to have your ticket either on your phone or in hand with the QR code visible for scanning. We boarded the train around 16:00 and arrived in Berlin at around 22:00. We stayed in Berlin for one night and the next morning, we left our belongings in the lockers at the train station and explored the city. In the afternoon, we set off for Prague.

💡 Finding International Trains

If you want to travel around Europe by train, international trains may not always be listed on collective ticket sales platforms. To find them, visit the official railway websites of the countries you’re traveling to and check the “international trains” section. This will give you access to the most up-to-date schedules and ticket prices.

Berlin to Prague Train (4 Hours)

Our train travel in Europe continued with a pleasant journey from Berlin to Prague. We bought this ticket from CD (Czech Railways). We boarded the train early to secure a nice spot for sitting across from each other. The train was relatively empty, so finding a seat wasn’t a problem. Once we arrived in Prague, we found an affordable hotel near the city center so we could easily access public transportation or walk to most places.

As soon as we set foot in Prague, we were greeted by streets that looked like they came straight out of the Middle Ages. Since 24, 48, and 72-hour public transport tickets were quite affordable, we got one. We explored almost every corner of the city by walking and using public transport.

I won’t go into details here, as I’ll share more about what we did and where we stayed in a separate post, but we happened to find a great deal on an app and joined a river cruise. If you visit, I highly recommend taking a river tour. We spent two days in this beautiful city, which we found to be enough to see the main sights. (Though when it comes to experiences, even three months wouldn’t be enough!)

Prague to Budapest Train (7 Hours)

We purchased the Prague to Budapest ticket from RegioJet’s website. Since this train was relatively cheap, we decided to splurge and get assigned seats. We had a few options: we could either go business class in a closed 4-person compartment or take the open carriage with similar services. Since we weren’t that crazy, we paid an extra 20 euros to get assigned seats in the open carriage.

There’s one drawback to buying a ticket from here, and I only realized it later. Since this section has assigned seating, it always fills up. However, in the unreserved carriages, there might be fewer passengers. In fact, our carriage was completely full. A family with two children was sitting at the four-seater table behind us, so parts of our journey were accompanied by crying. Families with children might prefer this carriage to secure their seats, which is something to keep in mind.

Thanks to this, we got to enjoy the attendant service, which isn’t available in second-class carriages. The attendant walked around occasionally, offering water and hot drinks. It was a good choice for a 7-hour journey. Additionally, the food on this train was quite affordable. Since we didn’t know this beforehand, we had brought our own snacks, but since the journey was long, we ended up buying food from the train as well.

By the time we arrived in Budapest, it was evening. Train stations usually have direct access to public transport either next to or beneath them. We bought public transport tickets from the machines at the station and headed to our apartment, then went out to grab something to eat.

We stayed in Budapest for two nights. Two nights and three days were enough to see most of the city, but since many places are on hills, exploring on foot can be quite exhausting. Since our next train journey was going to be a long one, we saved our rest time for the train.

💡 If you’re traveling by train in Europe, check whether your train has a dining car. If it does, you can find the menu on the railway company’s website. Sometimes, the prices are surprisingly affordable, so you won’t have to carry extra food with you.

Budapest to Bucharest Train (Night Train, 15 Hours)

The Budapest to Bucharest train was the longest journey on this route. It was also done with an old but nostalgic train. Since it was a night train in Europe, most of our 15-hour journey was spent sleeping. We boarded at 7 PM and arrived at 11 AM the next day.

We booked a sleeper cabin for two. Inside, there were bunk beds, a table, a washbasin, and a wardrobe. There was only one power outlet. The bed linens and pillows were prepared when we arrived, and there was a package with a toothbrush, soap, towel, and wet wipes.

If you want to experience train travel from Turkey to Europe, I highly recommend choosing a sleeper cabin for longer journeys. It makes the experience much more comfortable and allows you to save on hotel costs while traveling.

Our vagoon had a shower and a toilet. Since no one had booked this section, they were usually empty. I’m not sure if this route is generally quiet or if it’s just due to the season. There was also a dining car on the train. I went there twice to get coffee. How should I put it? It wasn’t exactly fancy. And since the train was old, moving between cars was quite challenging. (Most of the doors weren’t automatic.)

I had previously traveled around Romania by hitchhiking, and since Selçuk hadn’t been here before, we decided to visit Romania instead of Sofia. Honestly, there isn’t much to do in Bucharest, so I was planning to rent a car and head to Brașov afterward. Turns out, this train actually stops in Brașov! (I hadn’t checked the route for some reason.) So we could have gotten off directly in Brașov and visited Bucharest later. Keep this in mind if you plan to take this route.

💡 Tip: Since part of the journey is overnight, it’s a good idea to wear comfortable clothes and pack some snacks. Also, if possible, bring slippers – they will make you feel much more comfortable. Keep in mind that the train only has one power outlet!

Bucharest to Istanbul: How to Travel by Train?

Sofia – Bucharest – Istanbul Train: This route starts in Sofia, passes through Bucharest, and then re-enters Bulgaria before reaching Istanbul. The journey takes approximately 19 hours. Currently, this ticket can only be purchased at the train station in Sofia.

Bucharest – Istanbul Train: This train runs only in the summer and takes about 16 hours to reach Istanbul Halkalı. There are a few stops along the way where the train waits for around an hour (these stops are included in the total journey time).

You can check train tickets on Romanian Railways (CFR) or Bulgarian Railways (BDZ).

Bucharest to Istanbul by Bus (11 Hours)

We originally wanted to take the direct Bucharest – Istanbul train, but since it only operates in summer, we had to take a bus for the last leg of our journey. Finding a good bus company took some research (most reviews were pretty bad), but we finally found one that seemed better than the rest: Lilian.

Our journey took around 11 hours. We boarded the bus at 7 PM and reached the Bulgaria-Turkey border during the night for passport control. By 6 AM, we arrived at Esenler Bus Terminal in Istanbul.

Alternatively, you can take FlixBus, but for such a long trip, I’d recommend choosing a company that makes you feel safe. I doubt there’s a huge price difference between them.

💡 Tip for Train Travel in Europe: If you plan to explore Europe by train and already have a set route, consider getting an Interrail pass. These passes allow you to take unlimited train rides within a certain time frame.

Traveling across Europe by train brings many surprises and adventures. Along the way, we enjoyed great food, experienced different cultures, and put together this guide for anyone considering taking a train from Turkey to Europe.

This was our train travel through Europe, covering 6 countries in 10 days. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to travel Europe by train, I recommend planning ahead, using local train company websites, and opting for night trains in Europe whenever possible. Train travel in Europe is an amazing way to see different cultures, enjoy scenic routes, and experience the continent in a relaxed, enjoyable way.

Would you travel across Europe by train? Let me know in the comments!

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