Wednesday 28th April 2010: Manchester - Istanbul - Dimitrovgrad.
First time in Turkey: convenient arrival route for doing the Podkova branch in Bulgaria next day. Caught the Metro and Tram from the airport to Sirkeci station, where I booked a Balkan FlexiPass (TRL 305.50 for 10 days 2nd class) and a berth in the sleeper to Bulgaria (TRL 20.10). I knew that getting a Balkan FlexiPass would be marginal on cost benefit, but I wanted the flexibility to change my routing at short notice. The Sleeper coach was a bit rattly, and we had to get up to go to the border post at Kapikule for Turkey exit formalities.
See trip report for the full itinerary, traction details and notes.
First time in Turkey: convenient arrival route for doing the Podkova branch in Bulgaria next day. Caught the Metro and Tram from the airport to Sirkeci station, where I booked a Balkan FlexiPass (TRL 305.50 for 10 days 2nd class) and a berth in the sleeper to Bulgaria (TRL 20.10). I knew that getting a Balkan FlexiPass would be marginal on cost benefit, but I wanted the flexibility to change my routing at short notice. The Sleeper coach was a bit rattly, and we had to get up to go to the border post at Kapikule for Turkey exit formalities.
See trip report for the full itinerary, traction details and notes.
Istanbul Sirkeci
Istanbul Karakoy
Istanbul Tunel