Paris to Istanbul by train
Travel from Paris (France) to Istanbul (Turkey) by train (2256km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
The train connection Paris (France) - Istanbul (Turkey) goes via Italy, by ferry to Greece and on to Turkey. It is also possible to travel via Zurcih (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary), Bucharest (Romania) to Istanbul (Turkey). Please read the following travel information and blog posts.
There are three different travel routes. Have a look on them and decide which one fits best for you.
- 1Paris (France) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Budapest (Hungary) - Bucharest (Romania) - Istanbul (Turkey)
- 2Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Istanbul (Turkey)
- 3Paris (France) - Milan (Italy) - Bari (Italy) - Igoumenitsa (Greece) - Thessaloniki (Greece) - Istanbul (Turkey)
2256 km
How to use the following information: we show you the best routes and where to buy tickets. On longer routes you may need more than one ticket. Book your tickets step by step as explained. If you have questions about the route from Paris to Istanbul, please ask in our forum. Of course, sometimes there are as well other travel routes possible.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections : popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Paris / Bordeaux - Istanbul / Lyon - Istanbul / Marseille - Istanbul / Strasbourg - Istanbul / Lille - Istanbul / Toulouse - Istanbul / Paris - Ankara / Lyon - Ankara / Paris - Izmir1 Paris (France) - Zurich (Switzerland) - Budapest (Hungary) - Bucharest (Romania) - Istanbul (Turkey)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from Paris (France) to Zurich (Switzerland)
Travel from Paris to Zurich by direct TGV Lyria high-speed-train. The ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The journey time is four hours. There are at least six train connections per day. The trains depart every two hours.
The departure station is Paris Gare de Lyon. The arrival station is Zurich HB.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Zurich?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV Lyria France - Switzerland (Lyria)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Zurich - Paris
1b Travelling from Zurich (Switzerland) to Budapest (Hungary)
There is a direct Railjet train from Zurich to Budapest every day, as well as a direct Nightjet night train.
How much does a train ticket cost from Zurich to Budapest?
The train ticket on the Railjet day train costs from 44 euros. On the night train, a ticket in a seat car costs from 29 euros, in a couchette car from 49 euros and in a sleeper car from 69 euros. The earlier you book, the greater your chance of getting a savings price.
How long does it take to travel from Zurich to Budapest by train?
The train journey takes 10 hours.
What is the schedule of the day train connection in the Railjet from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Railjet RJX165 in Zurich is at 10:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 21:19h.
What is the schedule (departure/arrival) for the Nightjet night train from Zurich to Budapest?
The departure of the Nightjet EN40467 is at Zurich HB at 21:40h. Arrival in Budapest at 09:24h.
What experience have we had with the Zurich to Budapest train connection?
Book early to buy saver fare tickets. Our recommendation is the Nightjet night train: You save money on a hotel and the trip is very comfortable and inexpensive.
Where to buy a ticket from Zurich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ) / ÖBB Nightjet (NJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 40467 Zurich - Budapest / EN 40462 Budapest - Zurich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Zurich
1c Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Bucharest (Romania)
Travel from Budapest to Bucharest by overnight train or by day train. The journey time is 15 hours. Train tickets start from 29 EUR.
The overnight train is comfortable and the recommended way of travel. It offers couchettes for 4 or 6 persons per compartment with ticket fares from 39 EUR. And sleeper compartments for one to three travellers with ticket fares from 55 EUR. The departure time in Budapest is 19:10 and the arrival time in Bucharest is 12:30.
Beside the overnight train there is a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train which run at daytime. Ticket fares start from 29 EUR. The departure time in Budapest is at 07:10 and the arrival time in Bucharest is 23:59.
As third option there is the overnight train "Dacia Express". It offers sleeper compartments as well with shower and toilet. The departure station of the train is Vienna (Austria), therefore the arrival time in Bucharest is very late the next day at 16:00. The departure time in Budapest is 23:10. You can board the train already one hour earlier. The ticket fares are the same like mentioned above.
All in all it is a recommended rail trip trough the beautiful scenery trough Transylvania and of the Carpathian mountains.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Bucharest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 347 Vienna - Bucharest / EN 473 Budapest - Bucharest
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Bucharest - Budapest
1d Travelling from Bucharest (Romania) to Istanbul (Turkey)
Travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by direct overnight train Bosphorus Express. This daily overnight train has a journey time of 18:30 hours. Train tickets start from 52 EUR.
At off-season (October to May) you have to use connection trains to get to Dimitrovgrad (Bulgaria) where you can enter the overnight train. Travel from Bucharest via Ruse and Gorna Oryahovitsa to Dimitrovgrad (Bulgaria) where the night train departs at 22:40. You have enough time to change trains at each of these railway station.
The direct overnight train Bucharest to Istanbul departs at "Bucharest Gara de Nord" railway station at 11:00. The arrival time in Istanbul Halkali railway station is at 05:20 in the morning. After midnight you have to leave the train at the Turkish border with all your luggage and put your luggage through an X-ray machine.
The ticket price is 38 EUR plus a supplement of 14 EUR for a berth in a 4 person compartment. Buy the ticket at the railway station in Bucharest or on the website of Romania railways CFR. Select "Halkali" as destination.
The arrival station Istanbul Halkali is located 25 kilometres outside of the historic city centre. Get by Marmaray suburban train directly to Istanbul Sirkeci railway station (the former historic railway station) and on to "Söğütlüçeşme", the departure station for the high-speed-trains in direction of Ankara. These suburban trains run every 15 minutes with a ticket fare of less than 2 EUR. The journey time from the Istanbul Halkali station to the historic city centre is 35 minutes.
Where to buy a ticket from Bucharest to Istanbul?
The following links could be interesting for you.
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
Bosfor Bucharest - Istanbul / Bosfor Istanbul - Bucharest
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Bucharest
2 Paris (France) - Munich (Germany) - Budapest (Hungary) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Istanbul (Turkey)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Paris (France) to Munich (Germany)
Travel from Paris to Munich by ICE and TGV INOUI high-speed-trains. The ticket price starts at 39 EUR. The journey times is six hours. There are at least five train connections per day with only one change of trains.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Munich?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE) / ICE Alleo Germany - France (ICE Alleo) / TGV Alleo France - Germany (TGV Alleo)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Munich - Paris
2b Travelling from Munich (Germany) to Budapest (Hungary)
To travel from Munich to Budapest by train use one of the direct Railjet trains. Train tickets are available as "Sparpreis Europa" (saver price) from 39 EUR. The journey times is seven hours. The Railjet trains offer at least five direct connections per day.
There is a night train available as well offering tickets from 29 EUR. The journey time of the night train is 9:30 hours.
Find ticket prices and schedules via our booking links. The ticket price depends on your travel date.
Where to buy a ticket from Munich to Budapest?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Railjet (RJ)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
EN 463 Munich - Budapest / EN 462 Budapest - Munich
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Munich
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2c Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Belgrade (Serbia)
Travel from Hungary to Serbia by direct train on the route from Budapest to Belgrade.
There are saver fare tickets available from 15 EUR.
2021: the direct route Budapest to Novi Sad and on to Belgrade is under construction. The best option is to travel by train from Budapest to Zagreb and from Zagreb to Belgrade if you want to avoid changes and buses.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your train tickets via the given booking websites.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Belgrade?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
G 341 Budapest - Belgrade
train company:
MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Belgrade - Budapest / Budapest - Novi Sad
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2d Travelling from Belgrade (Serbia) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train connection. In off-season (October to May) you have to change trains in Nis and Dimitrovgrad. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.
The journey time from Belgrade to Sofia by direct day train is 11:30 hours. Train tickets are available from 21 EUR in 2nd class. Buy your ticket locally at the railway station. The departure time in Belgrade (Topcider) is 09:15. The arrival time in Sofia is 20:45.
If no direct train is available, you have to travel in several steps:
1. Belgrade to Nis. It might be the case that you have to stay overnight in Nis.
2. Nis to Dimitrovgrad.
3. Dimitrovgrad to Sofia.
Find the exact schedules via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Belgrade to Sofia?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Sofia - Belgrade
2e Travelling from Sofia (Bulgaria) to Istanbul (Turkey)
Travel from Sofia to Istanbul by direct overnight train. The daily train has a journey time of 11 hours. Train tickets start from 29 EUR.
The departure time in Sofia is 18:30 and the arrival time in Istanbul is 05:30. Buy your train ticket locally at the railway station of Sofia. The ticket price is 19 EUR plus a supplement of 10 EUR for a 4-berth couchette or 15 EUR for a 2-bed sleeper. The private sleeper compartment for one single traveller is 28 EUR plus a supplement of 35 EUR. In the middle of the night at the border, you have to get out of the train with all your luggage put it through an X-ray machine.
The arrival station is Istanbul Halkali which is located 25 kilometres outside of the historic city centre. Get by Marmaray suburban train in direction of the city centre, to the old Istanbul Sirkeci railway station. These suburban trains run every 15 minutes with a ticket fare of less than 2 EUR. The journey time is 35 minutes.
If you want to continue your journey in direction of Ankara, continue by Marmaray suburban train until the station "Söğütlüçeşme. Here is the departure of the high-speed-trains to Ankara.
Where to buy a ticket from Sofia to Istanbul?
The following links could be interesting for you.
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
D 493 Sofia - Istanbul / D 81032 Istanbul - Sofia
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Sofia
3 Paris (France) - Milan (Italy) - Bari (Italy) - Igoumenitsa (Greece) - Thessaloniki (Greece) - Istanbul (Turkey)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
3a Travelling from Paris (France) to Milan (Italy)
Travel from Paris to Milan by TGV/Inoui high-speed-train. The journey time is 7 hours. The ticket fare starts from 29 EUR. There are up to four direct train connections daily.
A comfortable travel option is the direct overnight train "Thello". The cheapest tickets are available for 29 EUR. The departure time in Paris is 19:15. The arrival time in Milan is 06:00. This train offers four service-classes:
- couchette-compartment for 6 persons.
- couchette-compartment for 4 persons.
- sleeper-cabin standard for 1 to 3 travellers: a compartment with washing basin.
- sleeper-cabin premium for 1 or 2 travellers: a compartment with private shower and WC.
The departure train station in Paris is "Paris Gare de Lyon". The arrival station in Milan is "Milano Porta Garibaldi" or "Milano Centrale".
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Milan?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
TGV France - Italy (TGV)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
TH 221 Paris - Venice / TH 220 Venice - Paris
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Milan - Paris
3b Travelling from Milan (Italy) to Bari (Italy)
To travel in Italy by train, buy your train ticket online via the following booking links. There you find exact schedules and ticket prices. Italian state railways Trenitalia and the private operator Italo offer several types of advance fare tickets (Economy and Super Economy fares). A ticket price may vary a lot and depends on the type of train, class and time of you travel. For long-distance travel use a high-speed train, also a night train can be a good option for you.
Where to buy a ticket from Milan to Bari?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
DB ÖBB Eurocity (DB ÖBB EC) / InterCity (IC) / Frecciabianca (FB) / Frecciargento (FA AV) / Frecciarossa (FR AV) / EuroCity (IT) (EC) / TGV France - Italy (TGV) / Regionale Veloce (RV) / Italo (ITALO) / Eurocity Thello (THELLO)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
TH 220 Venice - Paris / ÖBB nightjet NJ294 Rome - Munich / ÖBB nightjet NJ40294 Rome - Vienna / ÖBB nightjet NJ236 Venice - Vienna / ICN 1559 Rome - Palermo / ICN 1963 Milan - Syracuse / ICN 765 Milan - Lecce
ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful.
Ancona - Patras / Civitavecchia - Barcelona / Livorno - Barcelona / Ancona - Split / Bari - Dubrovnik
train company:
TRENITALIA Trenitalia - Ferrovie dello stato / THELLO Thello / NTV Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori / MINO Minoan Lines / GRIM Grimaldi Lines / BLUELINE Blueline Ferries
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Bari - Milan / Rome - Ancona / Rome - Bari / Rome - Bologna / Rome - Florence / Rome - Milan / Rome - Naples / Rome - Venice / Milan - Venice / Venice - Florence / Venice - Rome
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
3c Travelling from Bari (Italy) to Igoumenitsa (Greece)
Travel from Bari to Igoumenitsa by ferry. The journey time is 8 hours. The ticket price starts at 35 EUR. The ferry companies Superfast Ferries, ANEK Lines and Grimaldi Lines serve this route.
You will find these service categories on board of the ferry:
- standard inclinable seats which are the cheapest travel option
- shared cabins with beds: you share the cabin and the shower and toilet with other travellers.
- private cabins: from standard to luxury cabins with private bed, shower and toilet. This is the best option if you want privacy, travel with your family or friends.
The check-in time is two hours prior to departure.
How you get in Bari from the train station to the ferry port:
It is a distance of 2 kilometers from „Bari Centrale“ railway station to the ferry terminal. You can either walk which will take about 25 minutes. Or you travel by bus line number 50. It is a circle line from „Bari Centrale“ (departure directly in front of the train station) to „Stazione Marittima“. The bus runs every 20 minutes and the ticket price is 1 EUR (buy the ticket inside of the train station). The bus journey time is 15 minutes.
The ferry port of Bari has two terminals.
1. „Terminal Crociere“ is for ferry departures in direction of Greece.
2. „Terminal Porto di Bari“ is for ferry departures other than Greece, for example in direction of Croatia.
Between these two ferry terminals runs a free shuttle bus.
If you want to visit Bari old-town, use the lockers at the train station. These are better than the ones at the ferry terminal due to the opening times.
How you get in Igoumenitsa from the ferry port to the bus station:
There is no railway station in Igoumenitsa. You have to take the bus to continue your journey. From the ferry terminal you have to walk 10 minutes to the south to get to the KTEL bus terminal. There are many cafes, restaurants and shops nearby.
There are daily bus connections for example to Thessaloniki with a journey time of 4 hours.
Where to buy a ticket from Bari to Igoumenitsa?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Igoumenitsa - Bari
3d Travelling from Igoumenitsa (Greece) to Thessaloniki (Greece)
Travel from Igoumenitsa to Thessaloniki by bus. There is no train connection available.
The bus journey time from Igoumenitsa to Thessaloniki is 4 hours with a stop half the way. Buy your bus ticket from 38 EUR. There are normally 3 buses per day. The KTEL bus network in Greece offers comfortable, air-conditioned buses.
From the ferry terminal you have to walk 10 minutes to the south to get to the KTEL bus terminal. There are many cafes, restaurants and shops nearby so make sure that you buy a few snacks and drinks before leaving since there is no catering on board of the bus.
Once the bus arrives you just give your luggage to the driver who puts it in the designated luggage compartment. You then show your ticket to the driver and board the bus. Your seat number is printed on your bus ticket.
Thessaloniki Macedonia Intercity bus station is one of the biggest and most impressive bus stations in Greece. To get from the bus station to the train station of Thessaloniki you have to use the urban bus lines 45, 45A or 45B. The departure is in front of the terminal. The journey time is 10 minutes with a ticket price of 1 EUR. The bus runs every hour. If you want to walk, it is a way of 30 minutes (2,5 kilometres).
From Thessaloniki bus station you have three bus connections daily to Istanbul. The journey time is 10 hours and ticket fares start at 45 EUR.
Find the exact bus schedules and buy your tickets via the given booking links. Or use this website: www.ktel-thesprotias.gr
Where to buy a ticket from Igoumenitsa to Thessaloniki?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Thessaloniki - Igoumenitsa
3e Travelling from Thessaloniki (Greece) to Istanbul (Turkey)
Travel from Greece to Turkey by bus. There exists no direct train connection anymore. If you want to travel by train, travel from Thessaloniki to Sofia (Bulgaria) and from there to Istanbul. But it takes a lot more time than by bus.
There are several direct (overnight) bus connections available from the bigger Greek cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, ...) to Istanbul (Turkey). Find bus and train schedules via the booking links provided.
The bus journey time from Thessaloniki to Istanbul is 10 hours. Buy your bus ticket for this travel route from 45 EUR.
To book your ticket, use the following city names to find connections.
Athens = Atina
Thessaloniki = Selanik
Istanbul = Istanbul Avrupa
Where to buy a ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul?
The following links could be interesting for you.
bus: Bus connections that might be helpful.
Istanbul - Athens / Athens - Istanbul / Thessaloniki - Istanbul / Istanbul - Thessaloniki
train company:
TCDD Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları / OSE TRAINOSE / METU Metro Turizm / CRZH Crazy Holidays
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Thessaloniki / Athens - Istanbul / Athens - Ankara / Athens - Izmir / Thessaloniki - Ankara / Alexandroupoli - Istanbul / Piraeus - Istanbul / Patras - Istanbul / Igoumenitsa - Istanbul / Larissa - Istanbul
Need a cheap place to sleep? We recommend booking.com
Find a cheap flight! Compare prices on Kiwi.com
Do you have questions about the connection between Paris and Istanbul? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.
Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.
