£999pp—Rail adventure to Istanbul from any British station

Rediscover the romance of slow travel on this rail journey across Europe. Your hotels are booked, but you'll get open train tickets, so you can travel as you please.

What's included

• All train travel, starting from any mainland station in England, Scotland, or Wales
• One night in Stuttgart at the Arcotel Camino
• One night in Vienna at the Zeitgeist Hotel
• One night on a sleeper train from Vienna to Bucharest, in a private room
• One night in Bucharest at Le Boutique Hotel Moxa
• One night on a sleeper train from Bucharest to Istanbul, in a private room
• Two nights in Istanbul at the Erboy Hotel
• Return flight to London from Istanbul, with 20kg checked bag per person
• Return train from the airport in London to any mainland station in England, Scotland, or Wales
• Daily breakfast throughout

When
Depart from any mainland station in England, Scotland, or Wales on any date between 15 June–5 October, 2025.

For more information, see our partner's website.

Itinerary
Tailor Made Rail provides a suggested itinerary in each destination. The plan is flexible, and you're free to do your own thing at your own pace. Just make sure to reach each hotel in time to check in for the evening.

• Day one... travel from your local station to London St Pancras, where you'll board the Eurostar to Paris. It's a short walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est. Here, you'll hop on a TGV train across one of Europe's fastest lines to Stuttgart, in western Germany. 
• Day two... in the morning, you'll set off a scenic journey south to Vienna. You'll head towards Lake Constance, then along the beautiful Arlberg Pass in the Tyrol mountains. If you prefer, you can leave Stuttgart a little later and travel via Munich. 
• Day three... you'll have most of today to explore the Austrian capital. Visit historic museums, stroll along the Ringstrasse, or simply relax in a cafe. In the evening, you'll board an overnight sleeper train to Bucharest. Tuck into a Hungarian dinner in the restaurant car, then retire to your private cabin.
• Day four... wake up to the scenery of Romania, as the train heads towards Bucharest. We recommend stopping off at Transylvania on the way and visiting Dracula's castle (see below).
• Day five... wander Bucharest's lively old town of Lipscani, or visit the Palace of the People. Later in the morning, you'll board an overnight train to Istanbul. Cross into Bulgaria and take in some of the scenic landscapes before arriving at the Turkish border.
• Day six... spend a full day exploring the sights of Istanbul. Haggle for bargains at the Grand Bazaar, or visit the Blue Mosque. Go for a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus river, or discover the trendy Balat district.
• Day seven... spend another full day in Istanbul. Visit the awe-inspiring Basilica Cistern, or pay your respects at the incredible Hagia Sofia mosque. You can extend your stay in Istanbul for another night from £60 per person.
• Day eight... fly back to London. Train travel from the airport back to your local station is included.

Other options

• A family of four (two adults and two children under 12) can travel for £2750 in total
• Stay in 5-star hotels throughout from £350 per person
• Stay for two nights in Vienna from £70 per person
• Stay for three nights in Istanbul from £60 per person
• Add a 2-night stay in Transylvania, with a Dracula's castle tour included, from £150 per person
• Travel first class from London to Vienna from £100 per person

Transfers & baggage
Train transfers are included between destinations. Hotels have been planned to be close to train stations—you could walk or get taxis. You may bring as much luggage as you can carry.