Warsaw to Istanbul by rail

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

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

Warszawa 🇵🇱

Warsaw, Poland · 18 Oct

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

Budapest 🇭🇺

Hungary · 19 Oct – 21 Oct

Keleti in the morning is a cathedral with trains in it. Stayed two days for the baths.

Bucharest 🇷🇴

Romania · 22 Oct – 23 Oct

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

Istanbul 🇹🇷

Turkey · 24 Oct – 26 Oct

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

4 stops Make your own map