Turkey and the Balkans by train
Our most ambitious slow travel adventure to date. Travel across Europe and through the Balkans to reach the dividing line with Asia.
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Due to the unique intricacies of a rail holiday to Turkey, these trips require a minimum booking notice of two months to ensure the best experience. Get in touch with us before booking.
Reaching Istanbul overland is an adventure. Trains across Eastern Europe are less comfortable than in the West, often with delays and without air conditioning (avoid the hottest summer months).
The journey crosses several borders, with late-night passport checks that require getting off the train. Byway's WhatsApp disruption support is available throughout, and we recommend contacting us before booking.
Journal
As seen in The Times
May to June or September to October is the best time to visit Turkey, with mild weather and fewer crowds than peak summer across the country, from Istanbul to the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. July and August bring the hottest weather, particularly inland and in the south. Winters are quieter and colder, with snow in central and eastern Turkey and along the Black Sea coast. There are highlights year-round: the Istanbul Tulip Festival blankets the city in over 30 million blooms every spring, the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival sees competitors coated in olive oil for one of the world's oldest sporting events every June, and camel wrestling tournaments take over villages along the Aegean coast through the winter months.
The best things to do in Turkey include exploring Istanbul's mosques and bazaars, wandering the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, and visiting the ancient ruins of Ephesus.
Exploring Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar
Hot air ballooning or hiking among Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and cave dwellings
Wandering the ancient ruins of Ephesus, near the Aegean coast
Relaxing in the thermal pools and travertine terraces of Pamukkale
Cruising the Bosphorus, the strait dividing Europe and Asia
Visiting the ancient cities of Antalya and the Turquoise Coast
Watching the Whirling Dervishes perform their spiritual Sufi ceremony in Konya, birthplace of the mystic poet Rumi
Discovering the UNESCO-listed ruins of Troy near Çanakkale, the legendary setting of Homer's Iliad
Paragliding from Babadağ Mountain over the turquoise Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz, landing right on the beach
Marvelling at the ancient Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs above Fethiye
Journeying along Turkey's lush, tea-covered Black Sea coast, around Trabzon and the Sümela Monastery
Istanbul is reachable overland from London via a change of trains through Central Europe, typically routing through Austria or Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The final leg runs on the Sofia-Istanbul Express, an overnight sleeper train and the only direct rail link between mainland Europe and Turkey. Ferries also connect the Turkish coast with nearby Greek islands, including Bodrum to Kos and Marmaris to Rhodes. Within Turkey, high-speed YHT trains connect Istanbul, Ankara and Konya, with buses covering routes such as Cappadocia, Antalya and Pamukkale that aren't served by rail.
Our price includes all transport, accommodation and a personalized itinerary for your trip. Byway's travel experts are also available on WhatsApp throughout for disruption support and travel tips.
No, flights to Europe aren't included, but all transport and accommodation once you're here is. Short-haul flights are highly carbon-intensive, and traveling around Europe by train, ferry or bus is an easy, enjoyable alternative.
Yes. Different hotel options are available to choose from on the trip page, and any room upgrade requests can be added in the booking form. Our team will then find upgrade options and discuss them with you.
No. If you'd like to leave Europe from a different city, our concierge team can build you a custom one-way trip.
Yes. Prices on our trip pages are shown in your local currency by default, or you can select your preferred currency, including USD, CAD, EUR or CHF, from the dropdown in the top right corner of the trip page. The payment page will always show the price in your chosen currency.
You can generally bring as much luggage as you can carry, as long as it fits in the luggage racks or overhead space. On Eurostar, UK and most European trains, the standard allowance is two large bags and one smaller item, provided you can manage them yourself; let us know in advance if you're planning to bring anything oversized. Since you may need to change stations or walk to hotels, packing light makes the journey more comfortable.
Most European train tickets are digital and sent to you by email. A few, including tickets for Spain, Portugal and some EuroCity trains, require paper tickets, which can be mailed to a hotel on your itinerary.
No, Byway trips are self-guided, not part of a group tour. You'll have on-demand personalized support by WhatsApp, text or phone throughout, so all the planning and booking is done for you, and any disruptions are handled without you having to worry about them.
