Warsaw to Istanbul by rail

18–26 Oct 2025 · Poland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey

9 days4 stops4 countries1,631 km

Three night trains and a lot of borders. Went for a story about the Orient Express; came back with a story about sleeping.

Day 1 18 Oct
1

Warszawa 🇵🇱

Warsaw, Poland

Centralna, 19:15, a couchette that smelled of oranges and other people's socks.
Day 2 19 Oct
2

Budapest 🇭🇺

Hungary · 2 nights

Keleti in the morning is a cathedral with trains in it. Stayed two days for the baths.
Day 5 22 Oct
3

Bucharest 🇷🇴

Romania · 1 night

Painted churches the size of living rooms, and a night train south with a man who sold me a watch.
Day 7 24 Oct
4

Istanbul 🇹🇷

Turkey · 2 nights

Halkalı at dawn, a Marmaray under the sea, and then the call to prayer over the whole city at once.

2 Nov

The night train to Budapest is the best hotel in Europe2 min read
Eleven hours, one bunk, zero notifications. A report from the top berth.
15 Nov

Istanbul arrives all at once1 min read
Off the night train from Bucharest at dawn, and the first hour of a city that doesn't do first hours.

Following along? Send Piotr a heart — no account needed.

4 0 Liked by Tomasz, Kasia and 2 others

4 stops Make your own map