Ankara to Hamburg by train
Travel from Ankara (Turkey) to Hamburg (Germany) by train (2290km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
Travel from Ankara in Turkey to Hamburg in Germany by train. The ticket fare starts from 130 EUR. The journey time is from 50 hours. You have two travel routes. From Istanbul (Turkey) to Bucharest (Romania) or via Sofia (Bulgaria) to Belgrade (Serbia). Continue from there via Vienna (Austria) to Hamburg. Please read our detailed travel information with schedules and ticket fares.
There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.
- 1Ankara (Turkey) - Istanbul (Turkey) - Bucharest (Romania) - Vienna (Austria) - Hamburg (Germany)
- 2Ankara (Turkey) - Istanbul (Turkey) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Budapest (Hungary) - Hamburg (Germany)
2290 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 Ankara to Hamburg, 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
Hamburg - Ankara / Istanbul - Hamburg / Istanbul - Munich / Istanbul - Mannheim / Istanbul - Stuttgart / Istanbul - Dortmund / Ankara - Berlin / Ankara - Munich / Izmir - Berlin1 Ankara (Turkey) - Istanbul (Turkey) - Bucharest (Romania) - Vienna (Austria) - Hamburg (Germany)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
1a Travelling from Ankara (Turkey) to Istanbul (Turkey)
Travel from Ankara to Istanbul by direct high-speed-train. The journey time is 4:30 hours. The train ticket prices start from 75 TRY (9 EUR) in 2nd class and 105 TRY in 1st class (12 EUR).
On the train journey from Ankara to Istanbul you will travel by a "Yüksek Hızlı Tren" (YHT) high-speed-train with a top-speed of 250 km/h. There are at least six train connections daily. The travel distance is 530 kilometres. You have to be at the train platform at least 15 minutes before departure due to X-ray scan of your luggage.
The deparutre station is Ankara central railway station.
The arrival train stations are "Istanbul Pendik" and "Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme". You reach "Sirkeci" station by Marmaray suburban train from "Söğütlüçeşme" station. Frequent trains every 10 minutes. The journey time is 10 minutes for a ticket fare of less than 1 EUR.
"Istanbul Haydarpaşa" is under construction and maybe the YHT will start from there as well one day.
Find the exact train schedules and book your train ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Ankara to Istanbul?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Yüksek Hızlı Tren (YHT)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Ankara
1b Travelling from Istanbul (Turkey) to Bucharest (Romania)
Travel from Istanbul to Bucharest by direct overnight train. The daily overnight train has a journey time of 20:30 hours. The train ticket fare is 49 EUR.
At off-season (October to May) you have to leave the overnight train in Dimitrovgrad (Bulgaria) at 04:30 in the morning and continue your journey via Gorna Oryahovitsa and Ruse to Bucharest.
The direct overnight train Istanbul to Bucharest departs at Istanbul Halkali station at 21:40 and arrives in Bucharest at 17:00. Buy your train ticket locally at the Istanbul Sirkeci train station (ticket window 4). This is not the departure station Istanbul Halkali.
The ticket price is 38 EUR plus a supplement of 11 EUR for a berth in a 4 person compartment.
In off-season buy a ticket Istanbul to Dimitrovgrad. And the other tickets locally at the stations where you have enough time, at least one hour in Dimitrovgrad, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Ruse. It is also possible to buy the ticket in the train from the conductor.
The departure station Istanbul Halkali is located 25 kilometres outside of the historic city centre. Buy your ticket for the overnight train at Istanbul Sirkeci railway station and get by Marmaray suburban train directly to Istanbul Halkali 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 come by train from Ankara, the Marmaray suburban train station is "Söğütlüçeşme". From there you get directly to "Istanbul Sirkeci" (buy the overnight train ticket) and on to "Istanbul Halkali" (departure of the overnight train).
Where to buy a ticket from Istanbul to Bucharest?
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
Bucharest - Istanbul
1c Travelling from Bucharest (Romania) to Vienna (Austria)
Travel from Bucharest to Vienna by overnight train. The journey time is 18:20 hours. Train ticket fares start from 49 EUR.
The overnight train "Dacia" (EN346) is comfortable and the recommended way of travel. There are the following service classes available:
- standard seats. Ticket fares from 49 EUR.
- couchettes: compartments with berths for 4 or 6 passengers. Ticket fares from 59 EUR.
- sleeper-wagon: private compartments with beds for 1 to 3 passengers and washbasin. Optional you can book these compartments with private shower and toilet. Ticket fares from 79 EUR for a bed in a 3-persons-compartment. And from 159 EUR for a private sleeper-compartment only for yourself.
The departure time in Bucharest is 14:00 and the arrival time in Vienna is 08:20.
Beside this direct overnight train you can travel first by overnight train from Bucharest to Budapest. In Budapest you change trains to Railjet day train to Vienna.
All in all it is a recommended rail trip trough the beautiful scenery trough the Carpathian mountains and Transylvania.
Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Bucharest to Vienna?
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 346 Bucharest - Vienna / EN 347 Vienna - Bucharest / EN 473 Budapest - Bucharest / EN 472 Bucharest - Budapest
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Vienna - Bucharest
1d Travelling from Vienna (Austria) to Hamburg (Germany)
Travel from Vienna to Hamburg by train. The journey time is 10:05 hours. The train ticket price starts at 29 EUR. A comfortable travel option is by "ÖBB nightjet" overnight train.
Travel by ICE day train connection with a journey time of 10:05 hours. The train ticket price starts at 39 EUR. The departure station is "Wien Hbf". The arrival station is "Hamburg Hbf". There are several train connections available with one change of trains.
The more comfortable travel option is by "ÖBB nightjet" NJ490 overnight train. The train ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The departure time in Vienna is 20:30. The arrival time in Hamburg is 09:00. The following service classes are available:
- standard seat: the cheapest travel option with a ticket price from 29 EUR.
- shared compartments with beds: with a maximum of 4 to 6 travellers per compartment. The ticket price starts at 49 EUR. You can book this type of accommodation as well as private compartment only for your family or friends.
- private compartments with beds: travel for your own in a private compartment or with up to three travellers in total. Some compartments offer a private shower and WC. The ticket price starts at 89 EUR.
Where to buy a ticket from Vienna to Hamburg?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
IntercityExpress (ICE) / Railjet (RJ) / EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
ÖBB nightjet NJ490 Vienna - Hamburg / ICN 1955 Rome - Palermo
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Hamburg - Vienna
2 Ankara (Turkey) - Istanbul (Turkey) - Sofia (Bulgaria) - Belgrade (Serbia) - Budapest (Hungary) - Hamburg (Germany)
The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.
2a Travelling from Ankara (Turkey) to Istanbul (Turkey)
Travel from Ankara to Istanbul by direct high-speed-train. The journey time is 4:30 hours. The train ticket prices start from 75 TRY (9 EUR) in 2nd class and 105 TRY in 1st class (12 EUR).
On the train journey from Ankara to Istanbul you will travel by a "Yüksek Hızlı Tren" (YHT) high-speed-train with a top-speed of 250 km/h. There are at least six train connections daily. The travel distance is 530 kilometres. You have to be at the train platform at least 15 minutes before departure due to X-ray scan of your luggage.
The deparutre station is Ankara central railway station.
The arrival train stations are "Istanbul Pendik" and "Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme". You reach "Sirkeci" station by Marmaray suburban train from "Söğütlüçeşme" station. Frequent trains every 10 minutes. The journey time is 10 minutes for a ticket fare of less than 1 EUR.
"Istanbul Haydarpaşa" is under construction and maybe the YHT will start from there as well one day.
Find the exact train schedules and book your train ticket via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Ankara to Istanbul?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
Yüksek Hızlı Tren (YHT)
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Istanbul - Ankara
2b Travelling from Istanbul (Turkey) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
Travel from Istanbul to Sofia by direct overnight train. The daily train has a journey time of 12 hours. Train tickets start from 29 EUR.
The train departure time in Istanbul Halkali station is at 21:40 and the arrival time in Sofia is 08:40. Buy your train ticket locally at the Istanbul Sirkeci train station (ticket window 4). This is not the departure station Istanbul Halkali. 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 there is a control at the border.
The departure station Istanbul Halkali is located 25 kilometres outside of the historic city centre. Buy your ticket for the overnight train at Istanbul Sirkeci railway station and get by Marmaray suburban train directly to Istanbul Halkali 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 come by train from Ankara, the Marmaray suburban train station is "Söğütlüçeşme". From there you get directly to "Istanbul Sirkeci" (buy the overnight train ticket) and on to "Istanbul Halkali" (departure of the overnight train).
Where to buy a ticket from Istanbul to Sofia?
Buy the train ticket at a railway station. Note: in some countries you have to pay a service fee at the ticket counter. The ticket can be purchased at a station in the country of departure, also sometimes in other countries.
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
Sofia - Istanbul
2c Travelling from Sofia (Bulgaria) to Belgrade (Serbia)
Travel from Sofia to Belgrade by direct day train connection. In off-season (October to May) you have to change trains in Dimitrovgrad and Niš. Sometimes an overnight train is offered as well.
The journey time from Sofia to Belgrade by direct day train is 09:15 hours. Train tickets are available from 21 EUR in 2nd class. Buy your ticket locally at the railway station. The departure time in Sofia is 09:15. The arrival time in Belgrade (Topcider) is 18:30.
If no direct train is available, you have to travel in several steps:
1. Sofia to Niš.
2. Niš to Dimitrovgrad.
3. Dimitrovgrad to Belgrade.
Find the exact schedules via the booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Sofia to Belgrade?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Belgrade - Sofia
2d Travelling from Belgrade (Serbia) to Budapest (Hungary)
Travel from Serbia to Hungary by direct train on the route from Belgrade, Novi Sad to Budapest.
There are saver fare tickets available from 15 EUR.
2021: the direct route Belgrade, Novi Sad to Budapest is under construction. The best option is to travel by train from Belgrade to Zagreb and from Zagreb to Budapest 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 Belgrade to Budapest?
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.
B340 Belgrade - Budapest
train company:
MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Budapest - Belgrade / Novi Sad - Budapest
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn
2e Travelling from Budapest (Hungary) to Hamburg (Germany)
Train tickets from Budapest and selected other cities in Hungary to Germany are available from Deutsche Bahn (German railways) via the given booking links. There you also find the train schedules.
Saver price tickets called "Sparpreis Europa" offer very attractive ticket fares from 39 EUR. These tickets are valid for routes from Hungary via either Slovakia and Czech Republic or via Austria to Germany.
If it is not possible to book a saver price ticket from your departure station all the way to Germany, book a first one from Hungarian railways MAV from your departure station to Budapest. Followed by a second ticket from Budapest to Germany.
Where to buy a ticket from Budapest to Hamburg?
The following links could be interesting for you.
train types: Train types you are likely to travel with.
IntercityExpress (ICE) / Railjet (RJ) / EuroCity (EC)
night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip.
ÖBB nightjet NJ490 Vienna - Hamburg / ÖBB nightjet NJ40490 Vienna - Düsseldorf / EN 40476 Budapest - Berlin / EN 462 Budapest - Munich
train company:
DB Deutsche Bahn / MÁV Magyar Államvasutak - MÁV START
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Hamburg - Budapest / Budapest - Berlin / Budapest - Munich / Budapest - Frankfurt am Main / Budapest - Cologne
search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections.
rail.cc Deutsche Bahn / Omio planer
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 Ankara and Hamburg? 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.
