In March and April 2023 I travelled to Turkey for about 5 weeks for a “workation”. I travelled around Turkey by train and bus, worked on the road and discovered lots of places, including Side, Antalya, Izmir and Istanbul. I chose Turkey because the Mediterranean climate is pleasant even in the spring months. Travelling in Turkey is also still quite cheap compared with other European countries. Here’s my travel diary about taking the train to Turkey.
Train journey in Turkey
Working in Turkey
My itinerary
Night train from Vienna to Bucharest and Istanbul (1 night in Bucharest)
Istanbul (1 night)
Istanbul to Side
Side (10 nights)
Side to Antalya
Antalya (9 nights)
Antalya to Pamukkale
Pamukkale (1 night in Pamukkale)
Train from Pamukkale to Izmir
Izmir (6 nights)
Night train from Izmir to Istanbul
Istanbul (4 nights)
Night train from Istanbul to Sofia
My travel diary about Turkey
Getting there: night train from Vienna to Bucharest and Istanbul
Even getting to Turkey is an adventure. I start at Berlin’s main station, where I take the ICE to Vienna and change to the night train to Bucharest.
I had bought a ticket for the night train from Vienna to Bucharest four weeks in advance. The train leaves Vienna daily at 19:42 and arrives in Bucharest at 15:05 the next day.
After spending a night in Bucharest, I head back to the station and take a train to Plovdiv. First I take a regional train to the border town of Ruse. The train resembles a typical German regional train, even if it’s a bit outdated.
At the border crossing in Ruse, the Romanian border police collect all passengers’ passports. The process takes about 30 minutes before the journey continues. On the Bulgarian side, the same procedure is repeated: the Bulgarian border police collect all the passports, and I have to wait until mine is returned.
Once I have my passport back, I change trains in Ruse and continue my journey to Plovdiv. As train tickets in Bulgaria are incredibly cheap, I opted for first class. Don’t set your expectations too high, though. The first-class compartment consists of two facing benches with six seats in total. The trains themselves are a bit dirty and outdated, but there are power sockets and you can open the windows to enjoy the breeze.
I arrived in Plovdiv at night and have a three-hour wait at the station before catching a night bus to Istanbul. There’s normally also a night train from Bucharest to Istanbul, but it only runs from June. Flixbus offers a daily direct connection from Plovdiv to Istanbul.
Please note: the information given may change. So it’s always a good idea to check the train and bus timetables and to book your tickets in advance.
Istanbul
Istanbul cast its spell on me from the moment I arrived. It really is a huge city. I decided to take the metro to reach my hostel on the Asian side of Istanbul. Hush Hostel is in the vibrant, trendy district of Kadiköy. This area may not have as many famous sights, but it has a more relaxed atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle. It’s also very close to Söğütlüçeşme station, making it an ideal starting point for my journey the next day.
From Istanbul to Side
Unfortunately there’s no direct train connection from Istanbul to Side. To reach Side by train, I first took a train to Konya. The train journey from Istanbul to Konya usually takes about 4 hours and 50 minutes, with tickets costing around €12 on average. From Konya I have to change to a bus to reach Manavgat. I bought my bus tickets online in advance via FlixBus.
Don’t look out for a green Flixbus – most buses are blue and run by the company Kamil Koç. The bus ride takes about 4 hours and takes me through picturesque, snow-covered mountains until I finally arrive in Manavgat. Once I reached Manavgat bus station, I took a taxi to my hotel in Side.
Side
Side is a popular resort on the Turkish Riviera. There I spend time on the beach and explore the old town and the ancient ruins. Unfortunately, in March it’s not yet warm enough for swimming. But the sun shines most of the time and I enjoyed walking along the beach. My accommodation in Side: Nar Apart Hotel
Bus from Side to Antalya
To get from Side to Antalya, I took a taxi from the hotel to Manavgat bus station. From there I took the bus to Antalya. The bus is a very cheap way to travel from Side to Antalya. You can easily buy your ticket at the bus station.
Antalya
I fell in love with Antalya straight away and immediately felt at home. The stunning turquoise sea, set against the majestic backdrop of the mountains, welcomed me with open arms. I found a charming place to stay in the historic old town, which gave me a comfortable spot to work. One of Antalya’s highlights is its incredible food scene, serving delicious meals at affordable prices. My visit happened to fall during Ramadan. A lively bazaar with all kinds of shops and food stalls had been set up in the park. I took the chance to try various Turkish delicacies, savour the flavours and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. My accommodation in Antalya: House Of Good Things
Antalya to Pamukkale
After a fantastic week in Antalya, I decided to set off on the next stage of my journey and head to Pamukkale to see the breathtaking limestone terraces. To get to Pamukkale, I opted for a bus from Antalya to Denizli. When I arrived in Denizli, I took a handy minibus that brought me straight to Pamukkale. Surprisingly, the minibus ride was incredibly cheap, costing just 20 Turkish lira (about €1).
Pamukkale
I found an affordable hotel in Pamukkale for one night, so I could fully enjoy the beauty of the limestone terraces. These natural formations are truly breathtaking. But Pamukkale isn’t only known for its terraces – it’s also home to the ancient city of Hierapolis, which once flourished on this very spot. I eagerly explore the remarkably well-preserved ruins, marvel at the ancient theatre and let myself be captivated by the rich history of this fascinating region. On the way back to the hotel I came across a charming little restaurant called Osmanli Restaurant. The food served there was absolutely delicious. I recommend trying the lentil soup and lahmacun – a traditional Turkish dish.
Train from Pamukkale to Izmir
The next morning my train journey through Turkey takes me on to Izmir. After breakfast I first take a minibus to Denizli and from there continue by train to Izmir.
Night train from Izmir to Istanbul
There’s no direct night train from Izmir to Istanbul. So I booked a ticket online for the night train towards Ankara and got off in Eskisehir. From there I continued to Istanbul on a regular express train. I bought the tickets online on the Turkish State Railways website.
You’ll find more information about travelling from Izmir to Istanbul in our Turkey train travel guide.
Istanbul
Oh, Istanbul! This city has so much to offer that I hardly know where to start. The colourful bazaars, the impressive Topkapi Palace and, of course, the famous Hagia Sophia are just a few of Istanbul’s highlights. I visited the huge Grand Bazaar and the colourful Balat district, and strolled along the most famous shopping street, “Istiklal”, to Taksim Square.
My accommodation in Istanbul: Second Home Hostel
Night train Istanbul – Sofia
At Istanbul Halkali station I spontaneously decided to buy a ticket for the night train to Sofia. Luckily I managed to get one for the same day. In high season, though, I recommend buying tickets early, as seats can sell out quickly. I booked a ticket for a 6-berth couchette.
Once I had my ticket, I went back to my accommodation, packed my things and picked up a few supplies for the journey. The train left Istanbul station on time at 20:00, heading for Sofia, Bulgaria. And so my train journey through Turkey comes to an end.
