Noorie
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Hi, I am heading into Istanbul from Sofia via the train - I have heard that it costs about £10 on the border and you get a visa there and then. Is this right? Or should I apply for a visa from my own country (UK)? What the best way and easiest to avoid any complications when I come to Istanbul?
Thanks.
Noorie
SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments
If you are British you can buy the Visa at the border for £10/€15/$Something. They dont really care about who you are, its more a tax than a visa...
Noorie
Traveller
5 comments
Thanks for the advice on the Visa :)
Noorie
baobab
Traveller
128 comments
[quote]If you are British you can buy the Visa at the border for £10/€15/$Something. They don't really care about who you are, its more a tax than a visa...[/quote]
i just post to confirm SIDUDe.
Castaway
Traveller
23 comments
Is it that easy? I mean, I read a thread saying that they wake you up several times during the trip and go threw your stuff several times too. And also they take your passport and only give it to you when you arrive.
Has anyone actually done this trip?
SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments
Yeah I have, its relatively normal for the guard to take peoples passports and store them in his room (locked) but im not sure if he did on this train. You have to wake up at the border (you get there at about 5am I think), get off and go and buy a visa. Its no biggie, there are lots of other tired travellers doing the same thing so youll make a few friends before you even arrive. Customs had a quick look into the top of our rucksacks but werent that interested otherwise. I guess if they had been tipped off about something they can ask you to unpack things. Sometimes they have dogs.
Just go with the flow. Anyone who asks to take your passport should have ID, and will likely ask for the ticket as well. If you want you can ask him to unlock his office to prove he is who he says. I have never had a problem with any imposters trying to take passport/tickets from me on this train.
Castaway
Traveller
23 comments
So where in Europe should we look for imposters? :|
SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments
I dont really know anywhere thats particularly bad. Common sense is the best approach, it normally really obvious and if you befriend a couple of locals you really cant go wrong. Best advice is dont worry, dont panic, keep a sensible head on and remember to ask for ID and youll be fine, as I said ive never had any problems
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
Which currency do you have to buy the visa with? I only have bulgarian levrer on me at the moment, will I be able to purchase the visa with that?