We’d like to help you for your questions about train travel.
Please keep in mind that we are not a call center working for TCDD Tasimacilik or any other operator, and we cannot help you for ticketing or reservation problems.
You can write your question at the bottom of this page, in “questions/comments” box.
Rail Turkey En 
Thank you Onur. I may have the same debit/credit card problems online / through the app – even when in Turkiye – so I’ll phone when in Istanbul or go to Sirkeci Station. Your advice on this chat line and your journal articles have been very valuable for our planning! Well done.
Yvonne
If I board in Turkey and I get down in Austria do I require transit visa for all the countries that the train passes through? I have Turkish and Schengen visas.
You need to check for each country you are passing through if each requests visa for your passport.
Is it possible to travel with 2 small dogs to either Iran or Georgia?
No train to any of them
Hello. Is it possible to catch the HST train from Sogutlucesme train station to Izmit train station, get off for a couple of hours and catch HST back to Sogutlucesme train station
Sure, possible. Better to buy tickets in advance.
Are there any bars(anything preventing the falling down from bed) on the beds in the international Sofia(-Halkali) Express in 2 bed cabins?
Any hints of news of the Ankara/Baku service starting ,? The purpose built Swiss carriages – what have they been doing since 2019?
Azerbaycan has still all its borders closed. It is impossible/forbidden to travel to Azerbaycan by land.
hello can you buy tickets on the day at istanbul Station? are kids welcome for the business class
Yes and yes
Hi,
I am going to arrive on June 21st at Bucharest and I plan to take the Bosphorus express on June 22nd. I am wondering if all the tickets will be sold out or not…
Thank you
Hello! No idea for this question?
Hi Alicia. I rarely miss the questions that I can answer, but I cannot recheck if I can answer yours, because system does not take me to 2nd level (original question of a question). Can you ask again?
Hello! We travell by interrail from Spain to Turkey across Europe, we need to take the Ankara-Kars night train, we didn’t find any way for interrail users, can you help us. Thanks.
Hi. I checked the website, also checked via call center. There’s no online way to get tickets for interrail travellers. Stations seem the only way. Just note that, in main line trains like Ankara-Kars, reservation is a must, and couchettes are sold out very fast. Since you’ll have to reserve your seats short before departure, you’ll probably find way only on standard coaches with seat. Good luck.
I travelled with an Interrail pass in Turkey in April 23 but was unable to find a way to book a couchette reservation only. Instead I downloaded the TCCD App (Android), ignored my pass, and instead paid for a full price ticket with couchette both ways on the Dogu. The tickets were not expensive and the app worked very well.
Note 1. No train will show until 30 days before your travel date – for a couchette try to buy as early as you can on the first day your ticket is released. Only one wagon of couchettes was offered on the app
Note 2. On the return from Kars I saw a second wagon of couchettes was nearly empty. I wondered if its empty berths had been allocated to travel agents who make enough profit from those they do sell to offset losses from couchettes they don’t sell. Can anyone confirm this?
Hi Steve. I don’t know the exact process for agencies, but from the working style of travel agencies which we used for that route once for our family group, I can understand that one or more wagons are reserved for agencies and never opened to independend travellers. I don’t think anyone pays for empty seats/berths. Empty seats/berths and unmet demand at the same time is really annoying.
Hi! Do you know if it is allowed to take non folding bikes on trains from Edirne (or any station round that region) into Istanbul?
No. Only trains with carriage wagons allow non folding bikes. And no such train between Edirne and Istanbul.
Hi. Me and my boyfriend want to travel from Tbilisi to Istanbul later this month. I know (think) it’s not possible to get the train straight from Tbilisi but which station in Turkey can we go to in order to get to Istanbul? Does Kars work? Thank you!
There’s train from Kars to Ankara and from Ankara, you can get to Istanbul by high speed train.
Hi Ellen, we were in Kars in early April when we were told by our local host that from Tbilisi to Kars she took a bus to the border, walked across it, then picked up a bus to Kars. From Kars to Ankara we found it best to buy train tickets on the TCCD app. You may be too late to book a couchette as these go soon after the day of release.
Hi Ellen, we were in Kars in early April when we were told by our local host that from Tbilisi to Kars she took a bus to the border, walked across it, then picked up a bus to Kars. From Kars to Ankara we found it best to buy train tickets on the TCCD app. You may be too late to book a couchette as these go soon after the day of release.
Hi! I will take bosphorus express from Istanbul to Bucharest, and I had questions about border controls, will they check our luggages? Is there a limit of goods which can be brought in EU? We plan to have some shopping in Turkey, it would be horrible if they seize all or make other problems
Similar to exits of airports, police checkes in detail not all of them, only whenever they see need.
What are working hours of international ticket office?
Changes station to station. Which one?
Sirkeci window 4 international tickets
Mentioned as 07:00-22:00 in TCDDT’s website w/o any specific notice for international. Let us know if you experience stg different.
I saw in couple of sites that window 4 is open till only 6 p.m.
Since I land at IST at 4 p.m, plus border control plus customs plus currency exchange plus trip to Sirkeci It is very likely that that I can not make it till 6 p.m.
I would greatly appreciate if you can check it please. For me it is the choice between using a train or using a bus.
I was there a week ago and it was open past 18 o’clock for sure ! I bought a rezervasyon around 19:30 no problem
Van to Trabriz are suspended right?
Yes
I need to know for sure because Sirkeci station as I read is under repairs, so things can change. And transfer from IST to Sirkeci only to find a closed window is a lengthy and expensive enough adventure.
If you need %100 trustable information, I’d suggest you to get in contact with TCDDT. See contact info at https://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/tr/yolcu_iletisimi
Thank you, but the site you suggested is only in Turkish, so I think I should use a bus instead of Train. No problems with the bus.
Hi there. It says that I should book in advance, 30 days to be exact. Can I not do this 2 weeks before? At least after I get my visa from Turkish embassy. Where I came from, we need to apply a visa before going to Turkey. Also it says that it’s operating only from December to March but I’m seeing comments that it’s operating even after March. I’m interested to experience the Ankara to Kars touristic Dogu, then go down to Kars stay for 2 days then head to Sumela and Trabzon mainly to see the monastery. One more thing, I tried the app, it says there is no available trip on August. And also will it affect if I will buy a Turkey train card?
Hi. Main line tickets are on sale 30 days before departure, you can buy even 10 minutes before, Dogu Express runs all along year, Touristic Dogu Express runs during winter, no specific dates for start and end. App only shows available tickets, so for August you need to wait for 30-days rule. Train card does help only for traveller, travelling on same route min 20 days on a month.
I came to this website as I can’t find answers on Google or maybe I’m asking the wrong questions but here it goes, is there a train from Samsun to Trabzon? Trabzon to Kars? Kars to Dogubayazit? Dogubayazit to Van? Van to Sivas? I’m sorry if I’m being handful with all my questions but I guess it’s better this way than reading all the blogs out there just to find this information. Do I need to book all my train tickets in advance? Because from Saw airport I’ll be going to Ankara by high speed train.
I came to this website as I can’t find answers on Google or maybe I’m asking the wrong questions but here it goes, is there a train from Samsun to Trabzon? Trabzon to Kars? Kars to Dogubayazit? Dogubayazit to Van? Van to Sivas? I’m sorry if I’m being handful with all my questions but I guess it’s better this way than reading all the blogs out there just to find this information. Do I need to book all my train tickets in advance? Because from Saw airport I’ll be going to Ankara by high speed train.
Trabzon and Dogubeyazit have no rail connection. Not even close. You can go from Van to Tatvan by bıs and take Vangolu Express to Sivas.
I am leaving Amasya tomorrow is it possible for you to confirm what time the train from Amasya to Samsun will leave? And if I need to buy the ticket in advance? What happened was in Istanbul I did not buy ticket in advance when I wanted to go in Ankara. I wish to avoid the same scenario.
Pls check timetable either of Samsun-Sivas train or Samsun-Amasya train at Rail Turkey. First can be bought online.
Hi Onur,
I just wanted to thank you for all the hard work you put into maintaining this site. Without that, I would have missed some lovely train rides while I was in Türkiye last month. In Denizli, Selçuk and Izmir I just used the trains to get around (I had actually planned my holiday that way).
The trains were clean and always on time and the staff were all so polite and helpful. One thing all the trains had in common was someone coming around with a trolley selling tea, coffee, water, cakes and sweets. That was most welcome especially on the Ege Express. The Ege Express was one of the highlights of my holiday. It was a long ride but the scenery was absolutely beautiful. It was so worth the time.
I took the morning HST from Eskisehir to Istanbul and when it pulled away, I was given a snack box with a roll, water, juice and cake. I was also given steaming hot tea. That was in business class.
Keep up the good work,
Keith.
Hi Keith. Thank you for your kind words. I’m very happy that you enjoyed your time. And feedbacks help me helping others, so thanks for all.
Hi which High speed train station is the nearest to Istanbul Airport to Konya
Halkali. But note that only one of five konya trains depart from Halkali. For rest, nearest station is Sogutlucesme in Asian side. There’s direct bus service to Halkali station and Kadikoy service is close to Sogutlucesme statin.
Thank you will that then be the 7:20 train on the 5th of July 2023
Hi,
I am landing IST (airport) on july 11th around noon. I plan to take Istanbul – Sofia train that evening. Is there a way for me to buy ticket online before i land in IST? If not, will the tickets be available for that day i.e., train might be full? I plan to take uber to the first station, buy the ticket, and uber to the second station. Is it practical to do all this in 4-5 hours of time? Any other suggestions?
Thanks, -Sudhir
Hi. No online ticket. Cannot tell if tickets will be available, but I guess you can find. Go to Sirkeci from airport, buy ticket, enjoy around, take Marmaray to Halkali, get on train.
For the istanbul-sofia train, is it sufficient to show the digital copy of the ticket (scanned or camera pic) or do we need to have the physical paper ticket on us to board and travel?
Thanks!
I don’t think picture will be accepted.
Hi ! I am looking to book a Istanbul Ankara high speed train on TCDD for August 1st, but only one result shows (night train). For the July 31, there are several high speed trains.
Do you know how I can book a high speed train for this date ?
Thank you very much !
Pierre
Seems a change is planned for HSTs but waiting to be officially announced. Just wait for a couple of days.
Hi,
I am trying to book on the app, but I keep getting a “system error” message. Is it because I have a foreign credit card, or are there general problems? Tried with a different card and on the website too and got the same message.
A follower wrote that it may be related with settings of card, allowed regions to use. No other clue.
Less than four months ago I paid for Kars and other tickets with a £UK credit card on TCDD app no problem. Did you have confirmed seat or berth reservations before you tried to pay?
I have used my card all over my world without a problem, and I did confirm my seats before. I really have no clue what might be the cause.
Are there plugs to charge the smartphone in couchette and in sleeper cars?
Yes, in both of them.
Yes, from experience there was one socket above the door in our two-birth sleeper cabin to Halkali and one in the four-berth couchette cabin to Kars. This socket you will have to share any with others in your cabin.
Hello, we were supposed to take the night train from Istanbul-Sofya on 15.08.2023. but we couldn’t make it. The worker of the Istanbul train station said that we can get refund even little bit. So we headed to the Sofya bus station and asked for the refund, but she said that that ticket is not responsible from them so we had to ask you guys. Can you help me with this problem? Thank you
We, as a rail journal, cannot help. Sorry. Refund is not possible unless you are late due to another delayed TCDDT train, to our knowledge.
Hello ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to ask either I can go from Edirne to Villach by train Optima-Express and cross the Turkey-Bulgaria border (or Turkey-Greece border) without any problems? I am a resident of Ukraine and have national resident ID as Ukrainian citizen, but I do not have travel passport or Schengen Visa. Basically I am an Ukrainian refugee.
Thank you in advance!
Sincerely yours,
Yurii
Hello, whatever I try to buy my train ticket from Ankara to Istanbul, there is a error with payment, I have a European card. Is it possible to buy the ticket at the train station before it leaves?
Thank you
Try again some time later. For me there was an error with my debit card – but one day later it worked perfectly well.
Tickets are sold out fast. Buy as early as you can.
Hello
Hello
what is the best route from Istanbul to Kapadokya ?
Thanks
Giuseppe
See here https://railturkey.org/travel/routes/cappadocia/
Hello, is there a website or company that offers 2-3 week tours by rail that you can recommend?
I’d like to book the night train Sofia-Istanbul (leaving from Istanbul, heading to Sofia) around the 3rd or 4th of January.
Is it possible to book it on line?
Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately not possible. Online sales is not possible either.
If you contact Amber Travel, they will buy the paper tickets and deliver them by hand to your hotel in Istanbul. Of course, there is a charge for this service.
Hallo,
When finish Dogu Expres this year? How muchmust pay for 4 persons? I sow very expensive prices for this train.
Thanks a lot!
HOW CAN i GET A TICKET FROM DOGU EXPRESS from Spain
Via internet. See details on train page.
Hello, I need to travel from Istanbul to Diyarbakir but the bus is very long. Is there any trains that run from Istanbul to maybe halfway or a sleeper train? I am a lone female traveller so would need my own couchette aswell. Many Thanks in advance
Hi Rebecca. High speed train from Istanbul to Ankara, sleeper (Kurtalan Express) from Ankara to Diyarbakir. Buying whole compartment is possible. But finding ticket is not easy, try to buy 30 days in advance, as soon as tickets are on sale.
is tcdd app down? I am not able to access it for a long time.
same for me, the app wont load on android phone. I’ve tried the TCDD website, doesnt work either.
Me is out of Turkey and yes app is not working here either. There’s a one week bank holiday in Turkey, the problem may wait next week to be solved.
I bought tickets 10 days ago but trying to buy return tickets to Ankara unsuccessful. New app not working
This makes no sense due to the holiday. I believe there are many visitors to use this app to book the tickets. This outage made the trouble to my travel plan.
How does one get on the M11 line (which station) to Ataturk International Airport?
I guess you mean Istanbul Airport, since Ataturk Airport is not used for regular flights. You can get on at Zincirlikuyu. Name of station is Gayrettepe.
The TCDD website is down (as of Apr 11, 2024), and seems to have been down for over a week. When I checked about a month ago it was working fine. I dont know if is still works inside of Türkiye. I havn’t read any complaints or news about it, other than this forum. Also TCDDs Facebook is working and they have recent posts there. I’ve also tried to send email and contact them om FB and X, but no reply from them yet…
If I choose to buy the ticket at Sirkeci, can I still buy YHT (high speed train) tickets there? Is it okay to buy a couple of days in advance for Istanbul to Ankara?
I live in Belgium and I know that the TCDD website is no longer accessible outside Turkey. I need to call a friend who lives in Turkey.
Hello, my friend and I are trying to book a Dogu Express train ticket for 22/04 from Ankara to Kars. We are both female, and when we try to book 2 beds, we are told to ‘please select a seat from a compartment that’s appropriate to your gender’. We can see there are 17 beds available, but none are allowing us to book. We would appreciate some help, thank you kindly.
Hi. Tcddt system allows both genders to travel in same compartment only if seats/berths booked together. You shall face no problem if you buy berts from an empty compartment. If any berth is sold, traveler should be female, so that you both can buy the others. Can you try again with these perspective?
Is the Sofia overnight train running on Friday 14th June ?
I am travelling on an Inter rail , how do I book a Couchette in advance
Many Thanks
markwallis@blueyonder.co.uk
It’s running, no different info by now. No chance to book/buy online, need to go to ticket office in Turkey. Same in Bulgaria, if it hasn’t changed recently.
i made mistake in booking my ticket in train going from ankara to istanbul. How to correct my information pls
You can make changes using your pnr num.
Hello,
I have a question : for a night train from Sofia to Istanbul (Halkali), is it possible to make a bed reservation online/on the phone somewhere? The tickets are aldready bought, but the call I made in Bulgaria (BDZ train service) informed me that making bed reservations is only possible in their office in Sofia. Unfortunately, we are going to be in Bulgaria only on the day of the departure to Istanbul, so we cannot make the bed reservations in advance at all, although multiple web pages say it’s mandatory. Is there a number that I could call or a way that I could solve this issue in Turkey (from far away) ?
Thank you very much and best wishes to you !
Unfortunately no chance. You need to go to ticket office in Yurkey too.
Thank you for your answer ! I don’t know if you have this kind of information, but do you think there will be enough beds available normally (it’s a night train from Sofia to Istanbul this summer) ?
Never heard it’s full. But pls do not take it as advice. Sofia Express is like black box, no formal info like statistics about it, only talks between travellers.
can I buy tickets for Istanbul-Sofia at the Ankara train station?
thank you
Yes you can
Hello,
Does the optima express from Villach to Edirne has wifi ?
Thxs
I’d suggest you to check operator’s website.
Hello,
I have an Interrail GlobalPass, 2nd class ticket.
I plan to take 4 train journeys in August:
Istanbul – Ankara 3 August
Ankara – Kars 3 August
Erzincan – Ankara 14 August – Sleeping
17 August Ankara to Izmir – Couchette
I cannot make an Interrail reservation for Türkiye online, but I have read that tickets sell out very quickly. Do you think if I come to Turkey on August 2, can I make a reservation at the station, or will the tickets be sold out?
Alternatively, if I bought a full price ticket online, can I get a refund at the train station in Turkey and just pay the booking fee? I read on the Internet that someone said: “It is worth noting that the full refund is given until 15 minutes before the train departs. If you miss this time, you can still get an 80% refund” – is this true?
Thank you!
Tickets go on sale 30 days before, but at what time of day? like at midnight, or the time of departure? I want to try and book a Dog sleeper but it sells out almost immediately!
After midnight. No exact timing like 00:00:01.
ok thanks. I tried last night at 22:00BST, so midnight in Turkey, and nothing came up for around 10 minutes so I gave up. Do you think the website gets overwhelmed/too busy, or sometimes they are late to release tickets? I checked again when I woke up and the tickets were gone!
Yes for both questions
Hi is there a night train from Izmir to Istanbul? We travel on 27 july
thanks
No direct connection between Izmir and Istanbul. You can get night train from Izmir to Eskisehir and then take high speed train to Istanbul.
My wife and I want to travel to Sofya on the 19th June and return on the 23rd. As I understand we need to go to Sirkeci station to buy tickets. Can you please tell me the ticket office opening hours? Is the office open on Saturday and Sunday and can I buy the tickets on my wife’s behalf?
Thank you
Yes, you can buy on your wife’s behalf. For a long time, the opening hours have been not being published officially. But since train is running every day, international ticket office must be open every day at least until train departure time.
Dear Onur,
I have been trying to order tickets both on the app and online on TCDD (https://bilet.tcdd.gov.tr/sefer-listesi) and (https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/tcddWebContent.jsf) for 10 consecutive days now and every time the buy fails when I try to pay with my (and many other) credit cards. It all seems very unfortunate. Do you have any suggestion to what I might try? I’m looking for two tickets from Ankara to Kars on 29 of June.
All the best, Mathias
Hi Mathias. Many faced that problem. One guess may be correct: opening the card for Turkey, which is considered not European, but Asian. Not any other explanation. You can also use agencies if you’re ready to pay for.
Dear Onur, thanks for the answer. I’ll try with the opening-card strategy, but if it fails: do you know any agencies worth trying?
All the best, Mathias
Tcddt lists agencies in its website. Cannot suggest any. But there are some suggestions of travellers in FAQ section.
Hi Onur,
Is the Taurus Express between Adana and Konya still running? I checked on the TCDD website and could not find any information.
Regards, Keith.
Hi Keith. It’s suspended due to engineering works from 15th of March for 3 months.
Suspended from 15th of May (not March) tot 3 months. Works between Karaman and Adana.
hey,
i am at the ankara trainstation right now.
i wanted to buy a ticket for the dogu express. I am traveling with a bicycle.
Dogu express is supposed to have awagon for luggage but they tell me there is none. When i ask for another train they tell me there is NO WAY to bring a bicycle if it is not foldable. Not one single train has a luggage wagon.
this cant be true right? The internet says these sleeper/night trains are aupposed to have one. I am really desperate right now as i dint have the time to stay several more weeks in Turkey.
please tell ne of a way i can trave to the east of turkey in a train with a bicycle.
The Dogu Express usually has a lot of passengers. Another idea to take the train to southeast Turkey is the Kurtalan Güney Ekspresi. There are usually fewer passengers and probably room for a bike.
Hi
I am planning to take the train to travel from Istanbul (Pendik) to Denizli changing at Eskisehir. In case the journey from Pendik to Eskisehir is delayed and I miss the train booked from Eskisehir to Denizli, can I take the next train from Eskisehir to Denizli?
Thanks.
Ray
I have used a high speed train a few times. Never more than ten minutes delay.
Thanks, I just wonder if it is delayed and I miss the connecting train, can i use the ticket for the next one arriving?
I can’t judge that. The small print usually states that the ticket is only valid on the day and time mentioned. I suspect that decision depends on the staff and whether there is still space, because the places are usually numbered.
So it is a matter of risk. But if the delay is caused them, then I suppose they will let me get on the next one. There are quite a few after shown in their timetable. Thanks.
No, you need to change with new if possible. Tickets sold by date.
If you buy as connected ticket (as Tcddt sells considering timings) yes. If you buy separately and miss, just tell to office. Maybe they can help. But HSTs do not delay much.
Thanks, that is reassuring as I am going to buy as connected ticket as one ticket with transfer at Eskisehir. Thanks.
6 pieces of luggage is what the 3 of us are taking from IST to ANK HST Aug 16 returning on Aug 24. What is the closest HST station near the FATIH neighborhood that we are staying?
Is there extra to be paid for the luggage?
Should we buy the tix right away?
We will be using local trains all through IST and ANK. Is there a SAVER option?
Take Marmaray for HST station, Sogutlucesme is the best option. Check travel travel info menu for luggage. Better to buy tix asap, but check they are on sale from train page. No saver.
Thank you! With 6+ luggage, we will shuttle or uber. The TCDD site does not sell tix until 30 days before (does that sound right?). Though other ‘agency’ websites are selling for mid-aug dates already.
Yes 30 days
For shuttle or uber, Bakirkoy is the closest. But not every train crosses to European side. I’d still suggest Marmaray.
while lugging 6 suitcases, take Marmaray?
I’m sorry, I want to ask for help. If anyone finds a blue bag in the TCDD train, car 5 number 11a, in the cabin, maybe also in the front, please inform me, I will get a suitable reward.
Hi. You need to apply through TCDDT’s official website. If you’re in Turkey, you can directly go to last station of that train for lost&found office.
i have been informed to them 3 days ago,ok they respond at that day but thay give a respond after 2 day,and they give respond if my bag its not found,i dont know what i must to do