Sofia to Istanbul Night Train: would YOU take this 15 HOUR slow train to Asia?!

The Sofia to Istanbul night train: is it 15 hours of hell, or a unique throwback to the romance of rail, bringing you to the gates of Asia in Turkiye's largest city? This is the complete guide to what it's like. Jump on board as we journey from Bulgaria to Turkiye. Twice as long as the bus, ten times as long as flying, but is it the only way to travel? See how to get from the centre of Sofia to the station, what to do about food on board, all the facilities, and find out why everyone is thrown off in the middle of the night! 00:00 Why take the train? 00:52 From Sofia to the Central Station 03:53 Departure from Sofia 04:30 What it's like on board 08:34 Setting up the beds 11:04 Encounter with luxury 12:40 Thrown off at the border 14:59 Turkish daybreak 17:03 Arriving (sort of) in Istanbul 18:48 The verdict