Trains in Turkey

TCDD (Turkish Republic State Railways) operates passenger trains all over the country. The train is the comfortable way to travel between cities like Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

Train types in Turkey

The train network in Turkey is run by TCDD (Turkish Republic State Railways). Their trains cover a large part of the country, and connect all the major cities. Turkish train times aren't always easy to find online. Your best bet is to check the Turkish version of the TCDD timetable.

Map with main train connections in Turkey

Domestic Trains

Regional trains (Bölgesel)

Various routes throughout Turkey

Main line train (Anahat)

Faster connections between major cities

International Trains

Bosphorus Express

International train to Bulgaria and Romania

High-speed train (Yüksek Hızlı)

Modern train that travels up to 250 km/h
Connects Istanbul, Konya and Ankara

Night Trains

Blue night train (Mavi Tren)

Travels from Ankara and Konya to Izmir

Bikes are sometimes allowed on trains. Please check at the station if a special ticket is required.

Popular Connections in Turkey

Domestic routes
International routes

Here are the average travel times between the bigger cities in Turkey. Reservation are recommended for all of these train journeys.

Route	Travel time
Ankara to Izmir (Night train)	15hr 20min
Istanbul to Ankara	4 hr 20min
Istanbul to Izmir*	9 hours
Istanbul to Konya	4hr 30min

Route	Which train?	Travel time	Reservations
Istanbul (via Dimitrovgrad, Serbia) to Bucharest (Romania)	Bosphorus Express	14hr 10min	Required
Istanbul (via Dimitrovgrad, Serbia) to Sofia (Bulgaria)	Bosphorus Express	5hr 13min	Required

*You'll need to take a ferry from Istanbul to Bandirma (across the Sea of Marmara). From there, the train will take you to Izmir in 6 hours.

Reservations for trains in Turkey

Which trains in Turkey require reservations?

Reservations on Turkish trains are not mandatory. However, we do recommend making reservations for the high-speed train between Istanbul and Ankara, and other long-distance trains.

How can I make reservations for trains in Turkey?

At a ticket desk or self-service machine at Turkish train stations
You can make your reservations up to 15 days in advance

Get your Pass for Turkey

Tips and tricks for Turkey

Turkey main train station

Istanbul is the main hub in Turkey for Interrail travellers.

Istanbul is the gateway to Europe, but ongoing constructions have decreased the city's accessibility.
High-speed trains to Ankara leave from Istanbul Pendik.
Historic Haydarpasa station is closed, but worth a visit!

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