Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Travel
Tom Hall

‘An unforgettable rail journey’: my night on the Istanbul-Sofia Express

Istanbul Sofia Lonely Planet Tom Hall Bulgaria Turkey
Istanbul/turkey,-,May,04,,2019:,The,Weakly,Known,Sofia-istanbul,ExpressIstanbul/Turkey - May 04, 2019: The weakly known Sofia-Istanbul express train is more convenient than any other transport. Turkish State Railways TCDD; Shutterstock ID 1393004576; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -
The relaunched Istanbul-Sofia overnight service ready to depart from Halkalı station. Photograph: Angel Petrov/Shutterstock

Last week Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel list included the Istanbul-Sofia Express as an essential journey for 2023.

The overnight service restarted in April this year, after being suspended in early 2020. When introduced in 2017, it was a successor of older night-train services, including several incarnations using variants of the name Orient Express. I boarded one of the speedy suburban trains at Sirkeciin Istanbul’s Eminönü quarter, heading out of the city to Halkalı, an unassuming commuter station that’s now the starting point of this night train.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Why Some Foods Taste Better When You Eat Them With a Plastic Fork
Have you ever noticed that a fast-food salad, a takeout pasta dish, or a slice of cake seems more satisfying when you eat it with a flimsy plastic fork? The food itself has not changed, yet the experience can feel different from eating the same meal with silverware at home.…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Table for 1? Nearly 40 percent of all restaurant visits are solo diners
More people are embracing the idea of taking themselves out on a date in recent years, with one New York City-based influencer telling her viewers: ‘It’s hard for me to want a boyfriend because I take myself on cute solo dates’
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
The Hidden Difference Between “Natural” and “Organic” on Food Labels
Walk down a grocery store aisle, and you will find packages promising everything from natural ingredients to certified organic products. Both labels can make food sound healthier, cleaner, or closer to the way nature intended, but they do not mean the same thing. One generally describes certain characteristics of a…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Is having urine the color of Mountain Dew normal?
A Trump administration doctor says neon yellow urine is normal because of diets consisting entirely of meat and fermented foods. Here’s what experts say
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Country Music Star Accused of Satanism Rips Online 'Parasites' Pushing a Highly Negative Narrative
Zac Brown rejects satanic claims about his Las Vegas Sphere shows, calling online critics 'parasites' and explaining the personal story behind the imagery. Copy
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Nicki Minaj's Lawyers Reportedly Want To Quit Rapper's 'Unreasonably Difficult' Jingle Ball Lawsuit
Nicki Minaj's lawyers are seeking to withdraw from a $275K Jingle Ball lawsuit, citing irreconcilable differences and a breakdown in communication.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play