Izmir

This is a perfect destination for those of you who wish to enjoy the sun and bathe in the sea all day long. Situated on the Aegean coast, the gorgeous beaches are waiting for you to go and relax and enjoy the local food. There are 15 cultural and natural gems in Turkey and two of them are in Izmir!

Your Eurail or Interrail Turkey journey will take you to the Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape in Pergamon and to the ancient city of Ephesus, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Get ready for a colorful history lesson!

Istanbul

The cutting-edge metropolis is a mixture of ancient history and modern style, with an impressive cultural heritage. This is mainly due to the fact that Istanbul has been the capital city of no less the four grand empires: the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

It is almost a must to visit the remarkable landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia or the Grand Bazaar. For a really memorable view over Istanbul and over the world, really, as you will be sailing on the strait that separates Europe from Asia, make sure to go on a Bosphorus cruise, especially close sunset.

Ankara

The Turkish capital city is a vibrant blend of eastern and western culture, which means that you can drink your fancy coffee and have fun in dazzling clubs and then hit the archaeological sites located all over the city. You can even admire all that from above, by climbing the Atakule Tower.

For a proper history lesson, make sure to visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and see for yourself valuable artifacts from the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras and not only. Another attraction is the well-preserved citadel, dating back to the Byzantine Empire. You will be able to meet local families living there, who are eager to share secret tales of the city.

Cappadocia

This is a backpacker’s paradise, with breathtaking landscape and memorable experiences. Molded by erupting volcanos millions of years ago and shaped by Mother Nature from then on, the landscape is scattered with green valleys, gorges and peculiar rock formations now known as the ‘fairy chimneys’.

Cappadocia is also known for the hot air balloon experiences and this could be your picture perfect over a valley filled with colourful hot air ballons.
The place is also known for the cavern and rock-cut architecture, so make sure you visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the subterranean human and nature-built structures.

Bursa

In case you wish to see and taste the authentic Turkish culture, then your next stop on your Interrail or Eurail Turkey journey should be in Bursa. Although less visited by tourists nowadays, the city once represented an important Greek settlement, which grew into an imposing Byzantine city, culminating with becoming the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. The landscape is wonderful as well – you have the mountains on one side of the city and the sea on the other side. What more can you wish for?

Bursa is also the place to experience the traditional life in the Turkish village and the people are incredibly hospitable.

Interrail and Eurail Turkey Map and Planner

A lot of travel guides available online makes planning a trip easier than before. Planning is an excellent way to make sure that you will get the most out of your trip in a well-budgeted way. Various tools have been developed to help you plan for your future getaway.

The Interrail and Eurail Map is a detailed map that is included in every global pass. This map helps you plan for the routes you want to take in every train ride.

The Interrail and Eurail Planner App allows you to find the nearest trains in your location, know their departure and arrival time and even make reservations for e-tickets.

Interrail Turkey – best places to stay

You’ll need to have somewhere to stay when you’re on your Interrail or Eurail Turkey trip. Here’s some places where you can do just that, brought to you by our readers, as well as our partners at Booking.com.

Reader Recommendations

We want to hear about the best places you stayed while you were on your Interrail Turkey trip – bonus points if they’re a little off the beaten track! Share the love and give us a recommendation – get in touch or add yours in the comments section (coming soon)!

[your recommendations here!]

Recommended Interrail Holland Route

In case you find it hard to choose an itinerary, we have some suggestions for you. Feel free to amend it as you wish.

Route: Izmir > Ankara > Istanbul

Izmir: Visit the City of Sun, where you will encounter great, sunny weather almost all year round. You can try some windsurfing or visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pergamon and Ephesus. Izmir is the place to go sightseeing by bicycle as they are pretty serious about this activity. In fact, the city is a candidate of the European Cycle Route Network (EuroVelo). Book your hotel or hostel.

Ankara: Visit the second largest city in Turkey and experience the tasty mixture of East and West. European influences collide with the Middle East ones, making it an out of this world encounter with history in the making. You can hit the multitude of museums or just enjoy a picnic in the Karagol Nature Park. Book your hotel or hostel.

Istanbul: Visit the remains of four grand empires that have made the city their capital and go with the flow while seeing different cultures at every corner. Not to mention the many tasty dishes you can try basically anywhere in the city. Book your hotel or hostel.

Keep in mind that the Interrail Turkey Pass is only available to you if you are a European resident. This pass will allow you to travel throughout Turkey with only one ticket.

• Recommended: Interrail Turkey Pass
• Travel days needed: 3 days within 1 month
• Prices: from € 51

Should you be a non-European resident, then the Eurail Turkey Pass is the one you need.

Which Eurail Turkey Pass Will I Need?

Non-European citizen and residents have access to the Eurail Global Pass, which enables you to travel to all 30 participating countries. One of the many memorable experiences would be to drink your morning turkish coffee in the historical city of Istanbul and the next to chase the impressive Nothern Lights in Sweden.

Indeed, it might seem far away, but your Eurail Pass can take you from Istanbul to Stockholm and offer you the opportunity to visit other countries as well.

One possible route is Istanbul (Turkey) > Bucharest (Romania) > Budapest (Hungary) > Berlin (Germany) > Stockholm (Sweden).

There are night train connections between each step of your journey so you might find some time to go sightseeing by day, before your next train.

Interrail Holland, Eurail Turkey Photo Gallery

Here are some of the best photographs people have been kind enough to share from their previous Interrail Turkey trips.

If you have photos to share, we’re open to considering them for display on this page – just email us to start a conversation!

Conversely, if you see your photo here and want it taken down, just let us know.

Interrail Turkey FAQ

Whichever Interrail or Eurail Turkey guide you read, there will always be unanswered questions. If you feel that there is anything missing from this guide or the FAQ below, let us know in the comments or send an email!

Interrail and Eurail Turkey – get your Pass today!

Going on an Interrail or Eurail journey in Turkey may very well turn out to be a once in a lifetime experience due to the vast cultural heritage and great hospitality of the locals. You cannot travel to Turkey and come back the same. The taste, the smell, the wonderful landscapes and relaxing massages will only feed your hunger for travelling and make you want to start your next Interrail or Eurail journey as soon as possible.

Until then, enjoy your baklava in Turkey!