Travel from London to Istanbul

As you can read on Seat61.com: "The Zagreb-Belgrade & Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended, so you should travel via Bucharest until further notice.”

For the route via Belgrade you would currently need to use buses so the only rail route is via Bucharest. I suggest you read the information on Seat61, make your own plan, check which reservations you need and if you then still have questions, then come back here with specific questions. For questions about reservations, always specify train route, date and departure time.

Thank you for your quick response. Does Belgrade-Bucharest go by train?

In fact as for now NO INternat trains at all to Bgrad-except for the in winter only overnite to Black mountains=Cerna Gora=Monte Negro. READ first that seat61 as it has all the info you ask for here

I did it this year. Budapest - Craiova - Sofia - Istanbul. The easier alternative is Budapest - Bucharest - Ruse - Sofia - Istanbul.

hello thanks for the info. how to drive the trains from zagrab to belgrade can't find anything about

how to drive the trains from zagrab to belgrade can't find anything about

There are currently no trains, as I already wrote above, citing seat61.com.

Hello, the page from sees 61 is really good and has helped me a lot, but now I'm still wondering whether I can travel from London to Istanbul with my passport or whether other documents are necessary and what about kobit and what conditions are there at the moment and I'm also wondering if I can use my SIM card to make calls from Germany on the London Istanbul route?has anyone recently driven the london istanul route with interail? and can give me some tips? greeting straigtM

Hello, I have another question, do trains run at all currently and over Christmas to New Year trains from Bucarest to Istanbul because the rail app doesn't show me anything

Trains are running normally. Bulgarian railways are very late delivering data so please check the BDZ website:

https://www.bdz.bg/en/a/sofia-istanbul-sofia

(This includes the connection from Bucharest.)

You need to check with your SIMcard provider to get information about the conditions when you travel outside the EU.

Within EU you probably have the same conditions as in your home country, but there might be some restrictions for the use of data. But you better check the exact conditions yourself as they may differ from company to company.  

the route from bucharest to istanbul where can you reserve a seat for the sleep scales? i think i read something but i can't find it anymore. can someone give me some advice?

Bucharest - Istanbul only has a direct couchette in summer. Outside the summer, you need to change a few times but travel time is the same. In Dimitrovgrad, you change to the night train from Sofia to Istanbul, with couchettes and sleepers. Please see the information on the BDZ website:

https://www.bdz.bg/en/a/sofia-istanbul-sofia

thanks for the answer great ... could you also stay there for a day from dimitrovgrad to sofia and then to istanbul ... i can't figure out the timetable ... would that work?

thanks for the answer great ... could you also stay there for a day from dimitrovgrad to sofia and then to istanbul ... i can't figure out the timetable ... would that work?

If you mean you want to go via Sofia: yes, that's possible. From Bucharest, you can also get to Sofia quicker than via Dimitrovgrad, see this page:

https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Bucharest.htm#Bucharest_to_Sofia

From Sofia, you can then take the direct night train to Istanbul.

hello ok great do you have to reserve seats from bucarest to sofi via ruse or is it just possible to take the interrail ticket and where do you buy the night train service from sofia to istanbul

hello ok great do you have to reserve seats from bucarest to sofi via ruse

As far as I know, that is not necessary.

where do you buy the night train service from sofia to istanbul

At an international ticket office in Bulgaria.

You pass is valid in the train Bucharest 10:55 to Sofia 20:10. Full timetable in the PDF on this page:

https://www.bdz.bg/en/a/sofia-bucuresti-sofia

In the winter, you'll have to change in Ruse.

This train is not yet in the app because Bulgarian railways are very late sending their timetable data to the European Timetable Centre. If it is not in the app on the day of your journey, then just add it manually.

The above timetable does not mention any mandatory reservations. In Bulgaria, they are not necessary anyway. If you ask in Bucharest, they will very probably sell you one, whether it is mandatory or not.

can you also take the subway and trams with interail

can you also take the subway and trams with interail

No, you can't. These are not operated by the railways. In some cities, you can use suburban trains, e.g. in many German and Swiss cities.

hello do you need a sleeping bag for the sleep scales on the journey from london to istanbul or is it possible without

hello do you need a sleeping bag for the sleep scales on the journey from london to istanbul or is it possible without

Bedding is provided in couchettes and sleepers.

where can i reserve the eurostar seat ... that doesn't work somehow? can i also buy it at the train station?

where can i reserve the eurostar seat ... that doesn't work somehow? can i also buy it at the train station?

Risky as Eurostar reservations are usually sold out days (in high season weeks in advance) 

https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish