Turkey is widely considered to be one of the most exotic countries in the world, and despite being a city that’s steeped in history, what makes Turkey even more alluring is the visibly modern vibe it displays in the major cities. Turkey is the only city in the world built on two separate continents – Asia and Europe. One of the most comfortable and affordable ways to travel around the country is to purchase one of the rail passes available and experience Turkey by train.
Turkey by train: what you need to know
Experiencing Turkey by train is an absolute adventure. There are various options to choose from, including comfortable sleeper trains, overnight trains, high-speed connections, long-distance trains winding through exquisite landscapes and even a couple of old diesel trains. Train travel in Turkey mimics how the country itself is, a mixture of traditional and modern experiences that’ll keep you coming back for more. Let’s tackle a couple of questions you might have about train travel in Turkey.
Which train providers operate in Turkey?
Outside of Izmir, if you’re travelling around Turkey by train, your trip will always be operated by the same company: Turkish State Railways, or Turkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryollari (TCDD) in Turkish. This government-owned railway company is responsible for the ownership, maintenance, planning and construction of the railway infrastructure in Turkey and operates all routes within the country.
Turkish State Railways operates a range of passenger services, including their premier high-speed railway service, intercity trains between major cities, trains going to Europe or the Middle East, regional trains within specific districts and commuter trains in Ankara and Istanbul.
High-speed trains
Travelling around Turkey by train on a high-speed rail is the most common way to travel, especially between the major metropolitan cities. These trains typically move on private lines at speeds of up to 250 km/h. These lines run between Ankara, Istanbul, Konya and Eskisehir, though there are new lines under construction at the moment.
There are up to 10 departures in each direction every day, and the trains are very punctual and reliable. They offer both economy and business-class seats, with some trains even having business compartments in them.
Mainline trains
Mainline trains are also known as long-distance trains. These operate less frequently than high-speed trains on a day-to-day basis, though you will usually find at least one train per day to your required destination, depending on how remote it is. Mainline trains connect the main metropolis to far-away destinations, and there are few exceptions to where they reach. Unfortunately, if you’re trying to get to the Black Sea, you’ll need to make your way to Ankara and catch a bus from there. These long-distance trains all have Pulman wagons, which are cabins with rows made up of one double seat and one single seat, both reclining and comfortable.
If you’re on an overnight long-distance train, your train will have a couchette, sleeper or both. Couchettes have four seats that are replaced by four beds in the evening and you’re given pillows and blankets at night. These compartments are gender-specific. Sleepers offer two beds, air conditioning, a basin and an electrical socket. If a single passenger reserves a compartment, the other bed is not for sale, so the initial passenger will incur surcharges.
Regional trains
Regional trains run between some neighbouring cities like Adana and Mersin and usually run up to 20 times per day at varying intervals in both directions. These tickets are generally only available at stations and do not include seat reservations.
Buying train tickets
If you’re looking for high-speed trains or mainline trains, these tickets are on sale online through KAYAK. Scroll to the left-hand side of the page and click on the “Trains and Buses” link to navigate to the page and then input your departure/arrival cities and dates. High-speed train tickets typically go on sale 15 days before the departure date, while mainline tickets are available up to a month prior. International tickets from outside Turkey may be found online, but international train tickets from Turkey to outside destinations are usually only available at the stations.
Gender declaration
Don’t be surprised if you’re asked for your gender when booking the ticket. Turkish State Railways do not allow different genders to be seated alongside each other or even in the same compartment. Only when tickets are bought together will this be allowed, under certain circumstances. If you declare the wrong gender, you may be asked to leave the train, pay a fine or change seats at the discretion of the inspector.
Popular trains and routes in Turkey
There are a wide variety of routes offered throughout Turkey along various lines, but there are a few that are special and well worth a trip while you’re in the country.
Izmir to Konya
There is one train operating every day in each direction, departing from Konya at roughly 19:30 each evening and from Izmir at about 21:05. These are nightly sleeper trains called the Konya Mavi Tren and usually act as a link between Izmir and Cappadocia or Ephesus.
Each train offers Pullman cars, couchettes and sleepers, as well as a dining car. They also function as a convenient and budget overnight stay en route to either Ephesus or Cappadocia. If you’re heading to Cappadocia, you’ll need to take a bus or hire car from Konya to get there.
Pamukkale Ekspresi Train
The Pamukkale Ekspresi Train is a rail route operating as a daytime link between Denizli and Istanbul via Eskisehir. The train departs Denizli at about 08:00 and heads to Ayfon, where more passengers can climb on before the around 12:33 departure. From there, it heads to Kutahya for a brief stop before making its way to Eskisehir at roughly 14:38. Once you’ve arrived in Eskisehir, you’ll be just in time for the roughly 16:40 departure of the high-speed train from there to Istanbul.
One of the biggest advantages of taking the train rather than other modes of transport, despite the whole trip being around 12 hours, is the beautiful scenery of the flourishing Aegean region you’ll pass through along the way. The Aegean shores are some of the most beautiful in the whole world – a magnificent coastline teeming with exquisite beaches, pine trees and rocky crags, surrounded by olive groves.
Istanbul to Ankara
This route is worth it for the sheer pace and the distance covered. There are four classes featured on the high-speed trains between major regions, including economy, economy plus, business and business plus. There’s also a cafeteria car included. If you’re riding on a plus ticket, you’ll receive dinner on evening trains and breakfast on morning trains. Comfort on the train is higher than on planes, and tickets are cheaper.
The fastest train between Istanbul and Ankara covers a distance of around 534 km generally in under 4 hours, which isn’t a lot slower than the total travel time of taking a flight (if you include the plane’s taxi time on the runway, security, baggage collection and getting to the city).
Benefits of travelling by train
Travelling by train has some obvious benefits to car travel or taking a plane. Air travel is sought-after because of the time efficiency, but you miss out on so much of the scenery and comfort offered by train travel.
No weather delays
The weather in Turkey can be unpredictable: sunny on one day and rainy or cold on the next. Airlines frequently ground planes due to storms. Trains, however, can run during any type of weather.
Comfort
There is no comparison between train travel and any other form of transport. You’re afforded a lot more space and freedom to move around on a train than in a car or plane.
Sustainability
Outside of bicycles and walking, train travel is the most sustainable way to travel, often decreasing your carbon footprint by as much as 70% compared to planes and cars. Trains also provide more efficient use of space and they contribute less to noise pollution.
