Taking the Istanbul to Ankara Night Train
Taking the night train from Istanbul to Ankara is a time- and cost-effective way to travel between Turkey’s largest city and its capital.
By train from Istanbul to Ankara
If you need to travel between Istanbul and Ankara, you can of course choose for one of the many Turkish YHT high-speed trains departing each day ,which is what most tourists do.
Another option is the daily sleeper train that also connects Istanbul and Ankara.
This night train, known as the ‘Ankara Ekspresi’, is often overlooked by travellers, but it offers a highly time-effective and cost-effective way to travel from Istanbul to Ankara, as it saves you the cost of a night’s hotel stay.
The Istanbul-Ankara night train ©AndyBTravels
On board a Turkish night train
The Ankara Ekspresi features Pullman seating cars with reclining seats arranged in a 2+1 configuration, along with a single sleeper carriage containing two-berth compartments, attached to the end of the train.
If you’re travelling alone and choose a sleeper, you will automatically be allocated an entire compartment for private use when you make your booking.
Each sleeper compartment is fully air-conditioned and comes equipped with a washbasin and a fridge, which also serves as a complimentary minibar.
Shared toilets — one Western-style and one Turkish squat-style — are located at the end of each carriage.
The train also features a dining car that sells drinks and snacks, though you are always welcome to bring your own food and drinks and enjoy it at your seat or in your compartment.
Sleeper compartment on a Turkish night train in daytime mode. ©AndyBTravels
When you want to go to sleep, you simply flip over the seats to fold out the bed! ©AndyBTravels
Impressions of the journey
The Istanbul–Ankara night train departs from Istanbul Halkalı station in the city’s western suburbs, which is also the departure point for the Istanbul–Sofia night train and the seasonal Istanbul–Bucharest night train.
After departing Halkalı station, the Ankara Ekspresi passes through the Marmaray Tunnel beneath the Bosphorus, emerging on the Asian side of Istanbul.
It then stops at Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme station, which may be a more convenient starting point if you are staying on the Asian side of Istanbul.
The train departs Istanbul Halkalı at 22:00 and, barring any delays, arrives in Ankara at 06:58 the following morning after covering a distance of 576 kilometres (352 miles).
If you’ve booked a sleeper, you can certainly enjoy a good rest during the 8 hours and 58 minutes it takes this night train to reach Ankara!
Watch the YouTube video below to get an impression of what the night train journey from Istanbul to Ankara is like!
Ticket prices and where to book
The Istanbul–Ankara night train can be booked online via the website of TCDD, the Turkish Railways.
A Pullman seat on the Istanbul–Ankara night train costs 350 Turkish lira (£8.65, €10.11, $10.85), while a two-berth sleeper compartment is priced at 1,095 lira (£27.06, €31.62, $33.94) per person when two people are travelling together.
If you’re travelling solo and using the compartment privately, the cost is 2,190 lira (£54.12, €63.24, $67.88).
Conclusion
If you want to travel between Istanbul and Ankara by train, you can either take one of the high-speed services or opt for the night train.
The night train, featuring a well-equipped and comfortable Turkish sleeper carriage, may be a more cost- and time-effective option, as it allows you to travel overnight and save the cost of a night’s hotel stay.
