Train Travel

Istanbul has two main train stations: Sirkeci, near the Eminönü waterfront in Old Istanbul, and Haydarpaşa, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, both of which are out of service for an extended period due to major work to extend the Marmaray and build high-speed rail lines. One of these high-speed lines, connecting Istanbul with Ankara and Konya, is now operational, but travelers must board in Pendik, far from the city center, making this much less of a convenient option than it should be. Travelers seeking to take the train from Istanbul to Bulgaria or Greece are likewise being bused from Sirkeci to a train station farther west.