How can I find train departure information for Athens - Istanbul?
OK, only just now did I see this notice:
TRAIN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AS FROM 13 FEBRUARY 2011 Greece is in a dire economic state, and massive rail cuts are being implemented. All international trains between Greece and the rest of Europe (including the Thessaloniki-Istanbul train) are cancelled until further notice from February 2011. Greece is now cut off from the rest of Europe!
This is worrying. Assuming I have a 30-day unlimited Interrail pass, what is the best method to use to get to Istanbul from Athens, without flying?
I know that I can take a ferry to Rhodes and a ferry onwards from there to Turkey, but that takes a long time. I would rather take a train close to the border of Greece and take a bus or something over the border and continue that way. Even if it also takes a long time via bus, I would rather be spending that time on land than on a ferry.
Previous post:
I've tried bahn.de, but it doesn't recognise "Athens" at all, or "Athen" (the German name).
I've tried the Turkish train website, but it is eternally loading and never shows up at all.
I've tried the Greek train website, but it doesn't seem to recognise "Istanbul" and instead shows me Athens - Thessaloniki.
I know that I have to go from Athens to Thessaloniki to Istanbul, but I can't get any of these websites to recognise "Thessaloniki - Istanbul" either.
I know about seat61, but it doesn't have specific price/departure information for the days I want.
Best Answer
In regards to your note about the trains being cancelled - I'm not sure, haven't found any more on that. However, this site:
has all means of getting between them, including train and ferry (assuming the train is running).
Train appears to be 54 Euros (if running), and the ferries between 30 and 60 Euros, depending on which port you use.
Wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/en/Athens) also includes some info, and certainly seems to believe that the trains are still running.
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Is there a train between Athens and Istanbul?
To travel from Athens in Greece to Istanbul in Turkey, the easiest and fastest way is by bus. There is no direct train connection anymore between these two countries.Can you Interrail to Istanbul?
Travel with Interrail from Sofia to Istanbul by direct overnight train. The daily train has a journey time of 11 hours. The departure time in Sofia is 18:30 and the arrival time in Istanbul is 05:30. Buy your ticket supplement locally at the railway station of Sofia.How do I get from Athens to Turkey?
The best way to get from Athens to Turkey is to fly which takes 4h 43m and costs \u20ac65 - \u20ac250. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs \u20ac9 - \u20ac13 and takes 16h 24m. How long is the flight from Athens to Turkey? The quickest flight from Athens Airport to Istanbul Airport is the direct flight which takes 1h 30m.How do I get from Turkey to Greece by train?
The only train from Turkey to Europe is the slow Istanbul \u2013 Sofia Express (\u0130stanbul \u2013 Sofya Ekspresi) departing Istanbul's Halkal\u0131 station at 22:40 (10:40 pm) headed for Sofia, Bulgaria, with some cars separating at Dimitrovgrad to travel to Bucharest, Romania. It does not go to Greece. It is not a comfortable train.HOW TO GET TO ATHENS CITY CENTER FROM THE AIRPORT!
More answers regarding how can I find train departure information for Athens - Istanbul?
Answer 2
You can go from Athens to Thessaloniki, and then to Sofia (http://www.trainose.gr/en/passenger-activity/international-services/international-railway-services/) and than to Halkali (Istanbul uptown, http://www.bdz.bg/en/time-table-international/balkan-express-sofia-istanbul.html)
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