London to Istanbul Rail Adventure
London to Istanbul Rail Adventure
London to Istanbul Rail Adventure
15 Days Starting in London and ending in Istanbul
Visiting: Zurich, Vienna, Budapest, Alba Iulia, Brasov, Sighisoara, Bucharest, Sofia, Istanbul
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
A unique opportunity to travel in comfort and style all the way by train from the UK to Istanbul. Fully escorted by Undiscovered Destinations’ senior travel consultant Mark Huggins, enjoy a thoroughly well-planned journey which includes all trains and hotels, together with sightseeing excursions provided by experienced locally based guides.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : London To Zurich With Lunch In Paris At The Train Bleu Restaurant
Location: Zurich
Accommodation Name: Hotel Bristol Zurich or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Meet Mark, your Undiscovered Destinations’ tour leader, at London’s impressive Gothic revival St. Pancras station. He will be waiting for you by the statue of poet laureate John Betjeman who led the campaign to save the station from being demolished. Take a morning Eurostar, with a light breakfast served at our seats, to Paris. Upon arrival at the city’s Gare du Nord station road transport will be provided to take us to the Gare de Lyon, the Paris terminus serving trains to Switzerland. Before boarding our next train, a high-speed TGV to Zurich, we will break the journey for a leisurely lunch in the opulent surroundings of the Gare de Lyon's famous Train Bleu restaurant. Continue from Paris to Zurich on a TGV-Lyria train, a journey of just over four hours, passing through a patchwork of quiet French villages and open fields, briefly pausing at Dijon before reaching Basel, the Swiss border, and gently rising foothills of the Alps. Arrive in Zurich at around 8.30pm and make our way to our overnight accommodation, located just a few minutes’ walk from the station. Overnight Hotel Bristol Zurich or similar. (BL)
Day 2 : Zurich To Vienna Via The Arlberg Pass
Location: Zurich
Accommodation Name: Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, we make our way back to the station for a mid-morning departure by slick Austrian Railjet train to Vienna. The wonderfully scenic journey will take us via the fabulous Arlberg Pass that lances dramatically through the Alps and into the Austrian Tirol. The train runs along the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes, and then hugs the mountainside, before it snakes through a huge valley, past Swiss and Austrian scenery taken straight from the Sound of Music. Sit back, relax, and perhaps enjoy lunch which can be purchased (debit and credit cards accepted) on the train to be served at your first class seat. Arrive in Vienna and check-in to our hotel, located close to the station. Overnight Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof or similar. (B)
Day 3 : Vienna Walking Tour And Continue To Budapest
Location: Vienna
Accommodation Name: Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Austria's capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cosy wine taverns, and the special Viennese charm. Explore the city on a morning walking tour with a local guide, before we take a mid-afternoon Railjet train that flashes up the broad Danube Valley to Budapest, erstwhile gateway to the exotic east. Upon arrival at the city’s uniquely designed Keleti station, intriguingly adorned with statues of British railway icons James Watt and George Stephenson, we will walk the short distance to our hotel and check-in for a two night stay. Overnight Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar. (B)
Day 4 : Budapest Walking Tour
Location: Budapest
Accommodation Name: Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we will meet our guide in the lobby of the hotel and enjoy an in-depth look at Budapest’s attractions and contemporary culture on a four-hour walking tour. Set off to visit the city’s most popular sights, gaining an insight into the history of these fusion of the two great cities of Buda and Pest and their development from Roman to modern times, witnessing a glorious array of architectural wonders. During the tour pause for traditional cake and coffee (included in the price of our tour) before pre-paid public transportation takes us to Buda’s landmark Castle Hill from where vistas of the Danube and the city are a delight. Later, return to the hotel and the rest of the day will be free. Of course, you can take the opportunity to explore more of the city on your own and your guide will no doubt be happy to offer advice, or perhaps you might head to one the famous thermal baths to while away the afternoon and recharge your batteries. Overnight Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar. (B)
Day 5 : Budapest To Alba Iulia, Transylvania
Location: Alba Iulia
Accommodation Name: Hotel Transilvania or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we make our way back to the station to board a modern intercity train named Claudiopolis for Romania. Our first of two stops in the country’s historical Transylvania region will be the city of Alba Iulia located on the River Mureș. As the journey is scheduled to take around nine hours we should be prepared for a long and tiring day, but we will be rewarded with some fabulous scenery. After the warm southern plains of Hungary recede and the Romanian border is crossed, our route follows the Mureş River which snakes its way steadily uphill into the heart of ancient Transylvania. Liberally forested mountains cloak the eye-line on either side of the carriage as we head east, crossing viaducts towards our destination. At around 6pm we will reach Alba Iulia, where we will walk from the railway station to our hotel, a distance of about 2km. Alternatively taxis are available at the station. Overnight Hotel Transilvania or similar. (B)
Day 6 : Walking Tour Of Alba Iulia Citadel With Wine Tasting
Location: Alba Iulia
Accommodation Name: Hotel Transilvania or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a leisurely breakfast we will walk the 1.5km from our hotel to the Alba Carolina Citadel, a star-shaped fortress, built between 1715 and 1738 and the largest citadel in Romania, which we will explore with a local guide. After our visit we will enjoy wine tasting accompanied by regional cheeses, hosted by a local wine expert, in the citadel’s 300-year old cellars or catacombs. Mid-afternoon return to our hotel with the rest of the day at leisure to relax or to explore on your own. Overnight Hotel Transilvania or similar. (B)
Day 7 : Alba Iulia To Brasov And Bear Watching
Location: Brasov
Accommodation Name: Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we head back to the station and continue our adventure through Transylvania by taking an intercity train to Brasov, a journey of around five hours. The line sweeps up the broad valley of the River Olt, dotted with small towns and farming villages. Keep your eyes peeled for the fortifications that tell of the turbulent past of the region before the route rises steadily into the hills, plunging into a tunnel to emerge at the start of the descent to our destination. Upon arrival we will walk the 1.3km to our hotel. After check-in and time for a quick freshen up, we will meet our local guide and head back out for a three to four hour excursion to spot brown bears in the wilds of the Transylvanian forests. We join a ranger and trek into the forest in search of a hide, then wait quietly in hope of spotting the Carpathian brown bear that inhabit the region. We might also see deer, wild boar, lynx, and other native wildlife. Return to our hotel at around 7pm. Overnight Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar. (B) Note As food and drink is not always available to purchase on today’s train, it is essential you bring your own provisions. A variety of shops can be found near the station or ask the hotel to provide a picnic.
Day 8 : Full Day Guided Tour To Sighisoara, Viscri And Rupea Citadel
Location: Sighisoara
Accommodation Name: Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we will make the most of our limited time in the region by discovering three of Transylvania's oldest and most captivating historical sights on a full day tour. We start by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sighisoara, a medieval fortified city, followed by a stop at the 14th-century village of Viscri and its listed fortified Saxon church. For our last stop we will visit the impressive Rupea Citadel, perched atop a hill, with breathtaking views. Return to Brasov by early evening. Overnight Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar. (B) Notes Please note this excursion does not include meals or drinks but a stop will be made for lunch payable locally.
Day 9 : Brasov To Bucharest And Afternoon City Tour
Location: Bucharest
Accommodation Name: ibis Styles Bucharest City Center or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we will take a train at around 9am for Bucharest, a journey of two-and-a-half hours. Upon arrival at the city’s Gara Nord station we walk the 1km to our hotel. After check-in and time for some lunch (payable locally), we will meet our guide for a three hour city tour travelling by private vehicle. Bucharest stands as a curious blend of 16th and 17th century opulence in the heart of the Old City and the extraordinarily dramatic imprint of the soviet-leaning Ceausescu’s take on architecture. Discover the key sights including the grandiose Palace of Parliament and explore the city centre including the Royal Palace, Revolution Square, and Calea Victoriei. Return to our hotel. Overnight ibis Styles Bucharest City Center or similar. (B)
Day 10 : Bucharest To Sofia, Bulgaria By Road
Location: Sofia
Accommodation Name: Sofia Hilton or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Given the lack of a convenient rail service, today we will need to plug the gap in our overland train adventure by traveling to our next destination, Bulgaria’s underrated capital, Sofia, by road. However, this will give us the opportunity to make a short stop along the way at the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the Bulgarian side of the border. Here we can marvel at a medieval church, filled with vibrant frescoes, and carved into a cliff. Later we continue about four hours to Sofia, where we will check-in at our luxury hotel for a two night stay. Overnight Sofia Hilton or similar. (B)
Day 11 : Sofia City Tour And Folklore Dinner
Location: Sofia
Accommodation Name: Sofia Hilton or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast we will meet our guide for a two to three walking tour of Sofia taking in the key sights including the Central Market Hall, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the vibrant historical city centre. After returning to our hotel the remainder of the day will be free until we head out for dinner which we will take in a local restaurant with traditional folklore music and dance. Overnight Sofia Hilton or similar. (BD)
Day 12 : Sofia To Plovdiv And Overnight Train To Istanbul
Location: Sofia
Accommodation Name: Overnight train (4 berth couchette compartment, booked for exclusive use)
Meals Included: Breakfast
As we approach the final leg of our transcontinental adventure, we take a morning train at around 10am from Sofia to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and a journey of about two-and-half hours. Like Rome, Plovdiv straddles seven hills; but as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, it is far more ancient. With our local guide we will explore its romantic old town, packed with colourful and creaky 19th-century mansions that are now house-museums and galleries. After the tour we will take dinner (payable local), before we board the overnight sleeper train, bound for Istanbul. In the late evening, the train will reach the Bulgarian / Turkish border, and passengers must disembark to have their passport checked. Your luggage will also be examined and possibly put through an x-ray machine. After a stop of about an hour the train continues to Istanbul, arriving early the next morning. Overnight train (4 berth couchette compartment, booked for exclusive use). (B)
Day 13 : Arrive Istanbul And Afternoon Food Tour
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Pera Palace Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Arrive in Istanbul early in the morning. At the time of writing, owing to construction work, our train terminates at Halkali, a suburban station 25km west of central Istanbul. Rather than taking a local train into the city, we will be met at Halkali station and transferred by private vehicle directly to our centrally located hotel, the iconic Pera Palace Hotel. As our rooms have been booked for the night before, this will ensure that early check-in is guaranteed for our group. Ater time to freshen up you will be invited to enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant which is served until 10:30. Later, and after getting some rest, we leave the hotel to meet our local guide for a private food tour. We visit the Çiçek Pasajı, originally called the Cité de Péra, a famous covered arcade with rows of historic cafes, winehouses and restaurants. And it is here we will try different food and drinks with each tasting hand-picked by our host based on their love for food, and knowledge of the city. Enjoy only the most authentic bites the city has to offer before returning to our hotel or exploring on your own. Overnight Pera Palace Hotel. (BL)
Day 14 : Istanbul Full Day Tour And Farewell Dinner At The Pera Palace Hotel
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Pera Palace Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we will meet our guide for the final tour of the trip, a full day excursion of Istanbul. Experience the city’s timeless sights and stunning historic places. Listen for the ancient echoes of pounding hooves and charioteers at Hippodrome Square and spot the distinctive tiles of the Blue Mosque. See the Byzantine mosaics and minarets of Hagia Sophia, then follow in the footsteps of powerful sultans, courtiers, and generals at Topkapi Palace. With time for lunch (included as part of the tour) between sights, we finish our day with a stop at the vibrant Grand Bazaar, with its labyrinthine of passageways, before returning to the Pera Palace. Later join Mark and your fellow travellers as we enjoy a farewell dinner served in the hotel’s Agatha Restaurant. A truly fitting way to celebrate our own version of the Orient Express. Overnight Pera Palace Hotel. (BLD)
Day 15 : Depart Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we check-out of the hotel and a private transfer will be provided to the international airport to coincide with your departure. (B)
What's Included
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Tour leader
The services of an Undiscovered Destinations’ tour leader.
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Accommodation
All accommodation.
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Meals
Daily breakfast (B), plus lunch (L) and dinner (D) where shown in the itinerary.
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Rail travel
Rail travel based on first class seats for daytime journeys and private sleeping compartments for overnight journeys.
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Guided sightseeing tours
Guided sightseeing tours as per itinerary, with the services of a private English-speaking guide or driver/guide.
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Transfers
Transfers as per itinerary with a private car or minibus.
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Entrance fees
Unless stated otherwise, entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary.
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Airport transfer
Hotel to airport private transfer in Istanbul.
What's Not Included
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International flights
International flights
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Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance
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Visas
Visas – when required
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Meals and drinks not stated
Meals and drinks not stated in the itinerary
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Tips
Tips (Discretionary)
Mode of Transport
Travel by a range of comfortable daytime trains and one overnight sleeper. Rail travel based on first class seats for daytime journeys and private sleeping compartments for overnight journeys.
Accommodation
All accommodation in mostly 4 and 5 star hotels along the way.
Check out our Q&As
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What meals are included in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Daily breakfast (B), plus lunch (L) and dinner (D) where shown in the itinerary are included.
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What type of accommodations are provided in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
All accommodation in mostly 4 and 5 star hotels along the way.
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What are the exclusions in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Exclusions include international flights, travel insurance, visas when required, meals and drinks not stated in the itinerary, and tips (discretionary).
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What countries does the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure visit?
The London to Istanbul Rail Adventure visits the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
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Are there any guided tours included in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Yes, guided sightseeing tours as per itinerary, with the services of a private English-speaking guide or driver/guide are included.
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What are the highlights of the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Highlights of the tour include traveling by first class train and staying in mostly 4 and 5 star hotels, enjoying lunch in Paris at the Gare de Lyon's Train Bleu restaurant, traveling across the Arlberg pass with spectacular Alpine scenery, exploring Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains, wine tasting in Alba Iulia's 300 year old cellars, bear spotting in Transylvania, and ending the adventure with a stay in Istanbul at the iconic Pera Palace Hotel.
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What is the starting point of the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
The starting point of the tour is London, specifically at St. Pancras station.
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What type of transportation is used in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Travel by a range of comfortable daytime trains and one overnight sleeper. Rail travel based on first class seats for daytime journeys and private sleeping compartments for overnight journeys.
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Are airport transfers included in the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
Yes, hotel to airport private transfer in Istanbul is included.
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What is the ending point of the London to Istanbul Rail Adventure?
The ending point of the tour is Istanbul, at the Pera Palace Hotel.
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I’m a single traveller – will I feel out of place?
In a word, no. We get a good mix of single travellers and couples on our group tours.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
We are happy to allocate a twin room to two single same-sex travellers. If there is no one else to travel
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, sorry this is not possible.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We offer fully transferable group tour deposits (excluding any flight payments which are always non-refundable). You can change your group tour booking up to 10 weeks before departure and not lose your deposit – we will put your deposit towards any new group booking as long as you travel within 2 years of the original departure date.
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Can I alter the tour?
On our scheduled departures this isn’t possible, simply due to the fact that you’ll be travelling with other people. However, if you like the look of one of our advertised trips but want to tweak it slightly, then we can offer tailor made itineraries just for you, to accommodate your specific requirements.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
There are no hard and fast rules about what type of people travel on Undiscovered Destinations’ group tours – we attract people from all ages, nationalities and walks of life. What you are likely to find though is that travellers share a similar outlook about travel. We tend to attract people with a curiosity about the lesser visited corners of our planet.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been going since 2004.
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1 Select your preferred date
Friday - Friday
May 09, 2025 - May 23, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Undiscovered Destinations allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Undiscovered Destinations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform undiscovered destinations, 70 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Undiscovered Destinations requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of undiscovered destinations charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 34 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 20 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.