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For nearly 100 years, the legendary “Orient Express” crossed Europe to its easternmost terminus in Istanbul. The 80-hour journey came to symbolize the opulence of the railroad era. This train inspired storytellers from Agatha Christie to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
These “Orient Express” trains ran (mostly) regularly to Istanbul, Turkey, until 1977. Today, the Istanbul railway station in Sirkeci serves a different purpose, with Marmaray line trains stopping at the station before or after crossing the Bosporus.
However, this beautiful old train station still remains. I love walking through the terminal hall and the Istanbul Railway Museum.
The Istanbul Railway Museum is one of my favorite places in the city. The free museum is always quiet. It’s a cool way to get a glimpse into a bygone era.
One way to get a nice introduction to Istanbul is to take a tour. Check out these excellent tour options & book now!
Book your hotel in Istanbul now!The train station is located in a busy area of historic Istanbul. Yet, many visitors miss it while heading to more popular Istanbul landmarks such as Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia.
If you have a few minutes before you need to get to another destination (for example, if you have a tour scheduled as part of the Istanbul Tourist Pass), the Istanbul Railway Museum is a worthy detour.
The Istanbul Railway Museum opened in 2005. It’s owned and operated by Turkish State Railways (TCDD).
The whole museum takes up just a room, so you can see it all in just a few minutes if you want. Or, if you have more time, check out the audioguide (with text descriptions). Just make sure you respect the adorable security guards.
This room is packed with around 600 artifacts from the heyday of the Istanbul railway station, including many items from the Orient Express.
Beautiful stained glass windows provide plenty of light to see everything.
These artifacts cover not just the passenger experience but also the workers who kept these trains running.
There’s lots of old equipment, signs, office items, timetables, and other memorabilia.
Photographs of the railroad era cover the walls.
Other exhibits include train replicas, including Pullman cars.
There’s even furniture.
Just pay attention to the signs, unlike the local cats, who either can’t read or choose to ignore what they’ve read. It’s impossible to tell with cats.
One of my favorite parts of the railroad museum is the engineer’s cabin of a “Chubby Cheeks” 8000 train.
The commuter train ran between Sirkeci and Halkalı from 1955-2010.
This train station dates back to 1890. The main hall still resembles what it was like then.
While Istanbul railway station may no longer have the glamour it once did, it’s easy to imagine arriving here to find yourself surrounded by the history and architecture of Istanbul.
Tip: After you visit the Istanbul Railway Museum, head to one of the excellent nearby spots that serve the delicious Turkish dessert called kunefe.
If you’re interested in getting another glimpse of Istanbul’s past, I recommend the Museum of Innocence. Public transportation fans will also enjoy riding through the Istanbul Tünel.
Here are some great Istanbul tours.
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If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out these Istanbul hotels.
