Iconic Train Journey in Turkey - Explore Enchanting Rail Routes
Turkey is a country which is known for having rich natural diversity and its amalgamation of several cultures that once made a home in the country. When tourists start to plan a trip throughout Turkey, they will notice that a lot of traveling is required to visit the many historical sites, monuments, and remnants.
While there are plenty of ways to go around in Turkey, one of the best means of transport, especially for long-distance traveling is through railways. There are several rail routes in Turkey that have developed a reputation for providing an excellent journey, filled with many beautiful sights.
Look at Turkey's iconic train journey
These train routes allow tourists perfect relaxation while they soak in the beautiful natural landscapes, historical sights, and other amazing views that surround these routes. So, let's look at Turkey's iconic train journey to explore these enchanting rail routes.
Eastern Express
Also known as Doğu Ekspresi, this rail route is for tourists looking to embark on a journey from Ankara to Kars. This route is filled with beautiful scenery for tourists to enjoy with the Erciyes Mountain being a majestic highlight of the journey.
It is not the only thing to enjoy on this trip as you will also be taking in the sights of the wonderful winter aesthetic of the Sarıkamış which is full of forests filled with snow-covered tree tops that evoke a sense of serenity and tranquility.
Once you arrive in Kars, you can enjoy all the remnants of the cultures that had resided here in the past and immerse yourself in the rich history of this place which is preserved in the many fortresses and Armenian churches.
Every stop that you will visit during the Eastern Express, deserves an exploration as all of them offer the rich natural scenery and cultural heritage that Turkey is so well known for.
Taurus Express
The Taurus Express is well known for its role in the book Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as a luxurious train. In reality, it is known to offer quick travel between Adana and Konya. As the name suggests, this rail route goes through the Taurus Mountain via tunnels that are dug into the mountains to allow the train to pass. This rail route will begin at Konya and takes around 6 hours to complete the journey. Konya is one of the oldest cities in Turkey which is believed to have been built during 3500 BCE.
Konya is most well known for being the final resting place of Rumi, who is the founder of the Whirling Dervishes, a Muslim order under the Sufis.The Taurus Mountain itself is full of dramatic bridges, vast steppes, and Auburn forests.
All of this gives the Taurus Express, an adventure filled with both historical and natural wonders.
Anatolian Express
Anatolian Express also known as Anadolu Ekspresi is for tourists looking for a journey from the capital of Turkey, Ankara to Kars, When traveling on this path, tourists will get the opportunity to take in the sights such as:
- Cappadocia's unique rock formations and cave dwellings
- The calm and serene views of Lake Van
- Get a chance to marvel at the winter-themed, Mount Ararat which has a snow-capped peak
When the tourists finally arrive in Kars, they get to explore the medieval architecture and rich history of Kars that is still preserved by the Turkish government. Every stop along the Anatolian Express promises tourists a new adventure that perfectly displays the diverse landscapes and cultural marvels that Turkey is so well-known for.
Lake Van Express
The Lake Van Express is a rail route used by tourists looking to travel from Ankara to Tatvan. This rail route which is also known as Van Lake Express, covers a distance of almost 1,300 km with each train departing 2 times in 1 week for the travel. Despite its name, this rail route does not end on Lake Van, but instead in Tatvan.
This entire journey is a large scenic adventure that begins in the capital of Turkey, Ankara, and takes the tourists through the many beautiful sights boasted by central Anatolia and passing through several great places such as:
- Kayseri
- Sivas
- Malatya
- Elazığ
If you decide to travel on this express, we advise you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the many beautiful sights that you will be presented with along this long journey.
Pamukkale Express
The Pamukkale Express which is also known as Pamukkale Ekspresi is one of the most popular rail routes in all of Turkey. The route travels from the Northern region of Turkey towards the Southern region taking around eight hours to complete the journey.
This express route has a rich history of its own where it formerly was used to travel between Haydarpaşa Terminal in Istanbul and Denizli during the night.
It was later suspended for at least 7 years before being restarted in 2015. The rail route covers a distance of 421 km, passing through the Aegean landscapes and through the mountainous and rural areas of central Anatolia.
Along this path, the train makes several stops at the many towns that are present on the way such as Kütahya, which is the location of the Kütahya Museum famous for displaying its region's famous historical pottery, and Afyonkarahisar filled with many interesting places.
The Pamukkale Express journey concludes in Denizli which is only 17.5 km away from one of the best places in all of Turkey to visit, which is the ancient city of Hierapolis. This historical ruin of the ancient city of Hierapolis has several famous parts to explore such as:
- The 3 gates of Hierapolis
- Cleopatra's Pool
- Temple of Apollo
- Pluto's gate
The Romans even chose this area as their final resting place, leaving behind a vast necropolis filled with tombs alongside the remnants of this ancient city.
Karaelmas Tourism Express
This is the newest Express on this list, with its services commencing in April this year (2024). The Karaelmas Tourism Express was built with the purpose to revolutionize the travel industry and encourage tourism in the city of Zonguldak.
During this trip, the rail route will take tourists to many great destinations that include Ankara, Kalecik, Çankırı, Çerkeş, Eskipazar, Yenice, Safranbolu, Filyos, Bartın, and Amasra, and then finally concluding in the city of Zonguldak. During this entire journey, tourists will get to take in the sights of beautiful lush green landscapes along with the natural and cultural wonders of the Western Black Sea region.
This project was expected to facilitate economic growth in the Zonguldak area via sustainable travel practices, and showcasing the historical and cultural significance of less popular sites that can be seen along the route.
Turkey is one of the most culturally rich countries in the world. The many historical remnants in the form of monuments, ruins, and sites left from the many cultures that once resided and ruled over Turkey, give the country a very rich and interesting history.
Exploring all these excellent places requires a lot of travel on the part of tourists and while there are several options for traveling around the country, your best option is to board one of the many rail routes of Turkey. So, if you are planning to visit Turkey, start applying for your Turkey tourist e-visa early and book all your reservations in advance.
Check your eligibility for Turkey Visa and apply for Turkey e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Bahamas citizens, Chinese citizens, Fijian citizens and Mexican citizens can apply online for Electronic Turkey Visa.