Vienna to Istanbul by Train

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Our experience taking the train from Vienna to Istanbul was a memorable one. We followed part of the traditional Orient Express route via Budapest, Belgrade and Sofia on two trains over three days.

Here are some highlights/lowlights:

* 😊 2 bed berth
* 😊 Getting to sleep on the bottom bunk (Jordan was on the upper bunk)
* 😊 Drinking wine (in wine glasses, from Vienna) & eating sausage, cheese and bread for supper - both nights
* 😞 Border/passport control stops that were often in middle of the night that we needed to wake up for.
* 😞 Sudden stopping, loud breaking screeches
* 😞 Feeling hot, sweaty, and sticky during the day and getting no air blowing through because for unknown reasons we are stopped on the tracks.
* 😊 Hanging head out the windows for fresh air
* 😊 Figuring out a way to keep our window open (use of carabineer)
* 😞 Changing trains in Sofia - very challenging, kind of like the Amazing Race.
* 😊 Not getting scammed by the guys that tried to “help” us reserve our sleeper berth for 40 Euro each (actual cost = 15 Euro).
* 😞 Turkish visa for Canadians is $60, for everyone else it’s $20-$40.
* 😞 Standing in line to get passport stamped at Turkish border at 3am.
* 😊 Hearing the call to prayer for the first time at the Turkish border at 5am. Brings back memories of Morocco, Mali, and Egypt etc. We’re back in a Muslim country.
* 😞 Arriving in Istanbul and walking to our hotel with heavy packs in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius (feels like 41 with the humidity)
* 😊 The total train experience AWESOME!!

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Photos

Loaded down
Waiting for our train at the Westbahnhof train station in Vienna.

Sleeping berth
Our home for the next 3 days.

Narrow hallway
Our bags are so big we could barely fit.

Turkey border
At 3am...

Reading
Using the down-time to do a little research on Istanbul.

Toilet
Pretty sure everything just goes straight through onto the tracks...flush did not work.

Fresh air
It was so hot and stuffy on the train (no A/C), so this was the best relief from the heat.

Dinner time
Sausage, cheese, buns and (of course) wine. No resaurant car means that we had to stock up in Vienna.

Final leg on the bus
The last hour of the journey had to be completed by bus due to flood damage on the train tracks.

Comments

[Byron]

Feeling very jealous ....
..... I can't believe you are off on another big trip so soon! Shame we can't join you again on this one. Have a fab time, congrats on getting married and I look forward to following the blog. Take care, Byron

[Erika Robinson]

WOW! What a ride!
Great to see you are having a great time! Thanks for all the great pictures, I feel like I am there...sort of...except for the early morning wake ups!! That is tough..reminds me of my life as a flight attendant!! Looking forward to your next blog, all the best and safe travels!

[Savitha]

Love the pictures and the updates. Sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time. I can't wait to read your next update!

[Paul Sherman]

Great start
Glad to see you got away OK, sometimes that is the biggest challenge. I'm looking forward (immensely) to your blogs. Keep Safe and Have Fun Paul

[Ammar Ghasemian Azizi]

Thanks.
Thanks, All notes were useful for me.