Direct trains between Bucharest and Istanbul, Thessaloniki start operating today

Direct trains between Bucharest and Istanbul and Thessaloniki will start operating on Friday. The summer trains operated by the Romanian state-owned company CFR Călători will run from 7 June to 7 October.

The two trains will allow Romanian tourists to access two major tourist destinations: Istanbul, Turkey, and Thessaloniki, Greece.

Direct train Bucharest – Thessaloniki (weekly)

Bucharest – Thessaloniki: Friday 12.40 – Saturday 6.59

Thessaloniki – Bucharest: Sunday 23.00 – Monday 18.55

Read more about

Offline vs. Online Wallet Apps: Finding The Right Balance

read more

This is a weekly service because tourists are interested to travel mainly during weekends. In Thessaloniki, the train will consist of a second-class wagon and a four-seat and 6-seater carriage. The train to Istanbul will be a four-seater carriage wagon in the cabin.

Direct train Bucharest – Istanbul (daily)

Bucharest – Istanbul: 12.40 – 7.40

Istanbul – Bucharest: 21.40 – 18.55

The train to Istanbul will run daily and depart from Bucharest at 12:40, arriving at Halkali Station at 7:40. The return will be at 21:40 in Halkali, arriving at the North Railway Station the next day at 18:55.

Between Halkali and the former Sirkeci railway station in Istanbul city center, the transfer is made by a bus provided by the Turkish railroad at no extra charge, based on the train ticket, according to a schedule set by the arrival of the train in Bucharest and departure it.