DIY Tours in Istanbul - The Historical Orient Express Route

The old train that runs from the Oriental-style Sirkeci station in Eminonu to Istanbul's suburbs has seen better days. The train is old, the doors may or may not close all the time, and it's used mostly by Istanbul's lower classes, but the route and stations have a hidden glamorous past, for they make up the last minutes of the famed Orient Express' historical journey across Europe to Turkey.

Train tips: The trip to Bakirkoy takes about 25 minutes and costs 1.40ytl (1.15 USD). A seat on the right hand side, (not the sea side) is more interesting as you'll get good views of the excavation pit at Yenikapi, some local houses and mosques around Kocamustafa Pasha, as well as a breathtaking view of the city walls and old cemetery.

It's not recommended to take this train late at night, and you should keep your valuables tucked away. If you get stuck in Bakirkoy later than you expect, the 94a Beyazit bus leaves from the square above the train station every 15 to 20 minutes. It's safe and the last stop is the Grand Bazaar.

The Stations

Sirkeci: The Orient Express and its journey have become the stuff of myth and legend. Immortalized in countless, films, books and other bits of pop culture, the train still makes one trip into Istanbul every summer. Many train buffs wait at the station to witness its arrival.

• Sirkici station was built in 1889 especially for the Orient Express.
• The train ran from 1889 up until 1977.

Cankurtaran: The closest stop to Sultanahmet. The train rounds Seraglio Point and Topkapi palace before stopping at Cankurtaran. Nice views of the Asian Side and the start of the city's "secondary walls".

Kumkapi: Nearby Balik Sokak, (Fish Street) comes alive at dusk with lively restaurants serving fish, meze, and raki, Expect live music, singing and dancing performed by tipsy Turkish men with big mustaches!

Yenikapi: At the moment, Yenikapi is the site of a huge archeological excavation pit. While digging the tunnel for the new metro and metro station in the area, what is believed to be the original harbor of Constantinople was uncovered. Ships, anchors and gold coins are just a few of the artifacts that have been found here.The site is best viewed from the train platform. For those interested in seeing what's getting unearthed here, there is an excellent exhibit at the Archeological Museum in Gulhane Park showing artifacts and relics found at the site.

Koca Mustafa Pasha: This is the station to grab a seat if you haven't got one, big exchange of passengers. Yedikule: Three things are going on here:

• Trains are stored here in old derelict buildings which belong to the Turkish Train Transportation Department.
• The Yedikule Dungeons and Golden Gate are located here. The dungeons are open to visitors.
• A major construction site is found here for the future metro that will run through the area.

As you leave Yedikule Station and the old city, look out the right side and as you pass through the city walls, there's a great view of the walls, an old graveyard and the old moat which is now full of vegetable gardens.

Next Interesting stop: Bakirkoy (four stops later) Bakirkoy is a large, modern pedestrian shopping area. Three malls and lots of small shops should keep you busy!

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