Soopial
Traveller
1 comments
Posted 2 years ago
Is it possible to travel from Amsterdam to Istanbul on a direct/express train?
If not, pls help with best possible route; i.e., fewest stops, overnight train, etc.
And, best place to purchase tickets in advance from USA for this trip pls?
Traveling in May 2022.
Appreciate the help in advance!
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi!
May 2022 is quite some time ahead (and the general timetable change in mid December 2021 can bring some minor changes too) but in general your route would look like this:
Amsterdam 1930 - 0919 Wien >> night train "nightjet", booking possible via https://rail.shop/omio
Wien 1942 - 1604 Bucuresti >> night train "Dacia", booking should be possible via https://rail.shop/omio or directly via ÖBB (Austrian Railways) via rail.shop/oebb
Bucuresti to Istanbul is currently suspended (due to covid) so you´ll have to see how the situation develops. If the regular service would resume it would look something like this
Bucuresti 1100 - 0700 Istanbul, but with a change of trains outside peak summer season; buy tickets locally (not possible online)
This would be the most comfortable option, leaving you with enough time to spend some time in Vienna and Bucuresti and also having no troubles getting your onward connection.
In theory it would be possible to travel Amsterdam - Vienna during the day to catch the night train to Bucuresti in the evening, for example like this:
Amsterdam 0738 - 1149 Frankfurt
Frankfurt 1202 - 1845 Wien
However this would be much more risky regarding your connection to the night train in Vienna - and you would need to stay an extra night in Amsterdam, get up early etc...
There is no sensible alternative neither to the Vienna - Bucuresti night train nor the Bucuresti - Istanbul connection.
I would recommend to check for timings and tickets in early 2022.
Flo
Soopial
Traveller
1 comments
I cannot thank you enough for this detailed reply, Flo! I will follow your advice and check on schedules early 2022.
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi.
As Flo already explained. Just some additional price information here: https://rail.cc/train/amsterdam-to-istanbul
Of course you can skip the stop in Cologne, as explained there.
Enjoy your trip, Peter :)