Sirkeci Station
Sirkeci Station
4
About
This train station in Istanbul was once the last stop of the famed Orient Express. Today, there is much less traffic but you can catch a train to other parts of Turkey or certain areas of Europe.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Neighbourhood: Sirkeci
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4.0
364 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
163
Average
83
Poor
8
Terrible
0
Musicians Mum
1,313 contributions
Sept 2022
Just entered in a short way for a quick view as with some members of a group ,walking back from river.I would like to have explored in detail as featured in some films but at least I can say I have been there!Super little old train outside. Were I to visit Istanbul again,I would try and see this properly
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ginges_revenge
Brisbane, Australia5,859 contributions
Mar 2020
It was OK. It wasn't a very busy when we were there. Has a little café which we didn't stop at. Has the Marmaray link in it which is useful to link with the Asian side of Istanbul. Has a little transport museum in it which wasn't the best. Just a useful transport link in a lovey build.
Written 4 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
veciaf53
Reggio Emilia, Italy1,912 contributions
Oct 2019
Terminus station of the Orient Express, lots of memories that it evokes: illustrious novelists, such as Agatha Chistie, Hemingway, Graham Greene, Dos Passos, Ian Fleming have written about it.
Built in the late nineteenth century in the port area of Eminönü by architect Jasmund, as a terminal for the Orient Express: a luxury train connecting Europe (Paris and Vienna) with Istanbul.
The main entrance of the station has been redone and looks like a modern structure.
The façade facing the Bosphorus, instead, is being restored and original architectural elements can be found here. This part of the building is inspired by different styles: a Byzantine base (alternating red bricks and gray stones), oriental elements and Moorish arches.
Worth a brief stop. Inside, you can see the waiting room, a small museum that collects photographs, various objects and memorabilia of all kinds; there is also a restaurant.
The station is still running for some trains to Europe and a train that takes you to the outskirts along the Marmara sea.
Built in the late nineteenth century in the port area of Eminönü by architect Jasmund, as a terminal for the Orient Express: a luxury train connecting Europe (Paris and Vienna) with Istanbul.
The main entrance of the station has been redone and looks like a modern structure.
The façade facing the Bosphorus, instead, is being restored and original architectural elements can be found here. This part of the building is inspired by different styles: a Byzantine base (alternating red bricks and gray stones), oriental elements and Moorish arches.
Worth a brief stop. Inside, you can see the waiting room, a small museum that collects photographs, various objects and memorabilia of all kinds; there is also a restaurant.
The station is still running for some trains to Europe and a train that takes you to the outskirts along the Marmara sea.
Written 1 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jayne S
Upton upon Severn11 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
This display takes place 2 or 3 times a week in the Exhibition hall of the station. There are 5 "dancers" & a group of 6 men who play instruments that I didn't recognise apart from a large tanmborine. The music was an accompniament to the whirling with chanting rather than singing. Because of the acoustics of the room, it seemed as if 20 people were performing. I can't really describe the whole experience except to say that it was totally mesmerising. Don't miss it & go with an open mind. Tickets are available on the station on the days of performances
Written 17 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren T
Jiangyin, China17 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
I'd been looking forward to visiting Sirkeci Station, the famed terminus of the Orient Express, for years. I wanted to see the station's faded glory, soak up the ambience, and muse over the heyday of luxury travel, when varied and colorful characters--from Mata Hari to Churchill to Hemingway to the Rolling Stones--crossed these storied platforms. As a writer and photographer, Sirkeci Station would be a dream visit for me, and my plan was to take some photographs and notes for a travel piece I'd been asked to write for an online travel magazine, to which I contribute regularly.
I wasn't disappointed with the station itself: Though the main entrance is partially under scaffolding at the moment, the architectural detail of the rest of this beautiful, blush-pink building is still visible; the many stained glass windows, arched doorways, and scroll work of the Orientalist design evident and quite striking. In fact, enough of the richness still exists that one can squint the eyes, and find themselves transported to other eras, to the busy and exciting past of this exotic station. It's downright lovely.
What I didn't love, however, was the experience my husband and I had in the restaurant. When we entered, there wasn't one customer inside, and only two people at a table out on the platform. The restaurant itself is beautiful--framed photographs of Agatha Christie and scenes from the film version of Murder on the Orient Express line the rich, mustard-colored walls, and the rooms glow with light streaming in through the stained glass windows--it's truly a gorgeous space. There were even postcards available, all copies of vintage travel posters, and I bought some. I figured that this officially made me a customer, and my husband and I walked about, admiring the rooms, and taking photographs (and since there were no customers, we weren't disturbing anyone). As we were discussing going out to the platform section of the restaurant, of ordering some drinks, of lingering awhile and enjoying the atmosphere, we were approached by either a manager or owner, who glared at us, and looked us up and down with disgust, as if we were dog excrement he'd accidentally stepped upon in the street. I'm not sure if his judgmental, pinched face was because I have tattoos, or because my husband was wearing shorts and sandals in the brutal summer heat, or just because of the mere fact that we were "tourists" (*sniff). At any rate, we WERE paying customers. We felt so unwelcome, however, that we began moving toward the open front door, with this jerk hot on our heels, and he swiftly closed the door the second we stepped out. Wow. "And don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out", huh?
You'd think that, with an empty, open restaurant, business would be welcome in Sirkeci Station's Orient Express Restaurant. Apparently, that's not the case. It's unfortunate, as without this incident, my visit to the station would've been one of the highlights of my trip to Istanbul, and I would've written a glowing review and wonderful travel piece as a result, which in turn would've been viewed by many travelers and potential visitors/customers. I must say that, as a seasoned world traveler, I've never experienced such snobbery at the hands of someone in the industry. Perhaps this manager needs a reality check--these aren’t the days of luxury train travel anymore, with de rigueur dress codes, porters, Louis Vuitton steamer trunks, diamonds and furs—to survive as a business, you’re going to need to be a bit more welcoming and less judgmental toward your customers. Otherwise, those thousands of people I saw wandering the streets and marching just past your doors will keep walking, and your business will continue to suffer a slow and painful death, regardless of any historical connections. Remember, also, that with the internet in full swing these days, you’ll find that word gets out quickly, whether positive or negative (*grin).
Again, how unfortunate, as without this incident, I would've given a better rating to Sirkeci Station as a whole. My advice is to see the station, and skip the restaurant (unless, of course, you enjoy paying for a haughty attitude and bad treatment).
I wasn't disappointed with the station itself: Though the main entrance is partially under scaffolding at the moment, the architectural detail of the rest of this beautiful, blush-pink building is still visible; the many stained glass windows, arched doorways, and scroll work of the Orientalist design evident and quite striking. In fact, enough of the richness still exists that one can squint the eyes, and find themselves transported to other eras, to the busy and exciting past of this exotic station. It's downright lovely.
What I didn't love, however, was the experience my husband and I had in the restaurant. When we entered, there wasn't one customer inside, and only two people at a table out on the platform. The restaurant itself is beautiful--framed photographs of Agatha Christie and scenes from the film version of Murder on the Orient Express line the rich, mustard-colored walls, and the rooms glow with light streaming in through the stained glass windows--it's truly a gorgeous space. There were even postcards available, all copies of vintage travel posters, and I bought some. I figured that this officially made me a customer, and my husband and I walked about, admiring the rooms, and taking photographs (and since there were no customers, we weren't disturbing anyone). As we were discussing going out to the platform section of the restaurant, of ordering some drinks, of lingering awhile and enjoying the atmosphere, we were approached by either a manager or owner, who glared at us, and looked us up and down with disgust, as if we were dog excrement he'd accidentally stepped upon in the street. I'm not sure if his judgmental, pinched face was because I have tattoos, or because my husband was wearing shorts and sandals in the brutal summer heat, or just because of the mere fact that we were "tourists" (*sniff). At any rate, we WERE paying customers. We felt so unwelcome, however, that we began moving toward the open front door, with this jerk hot on our heels, and he swiftly closed the door the second we stepped out. Wow. "And don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out", huh?
You'd think that, with an empty, open restaurant, business would be welcome in Sirkeci Station's Orient Express Restaurant. Apparently, that's not the case. It's unfortunate, as without this incident, my visit to the station would've been one of the highlights of my trip to Istanbul, and I would've written a glowing review and wonderful travel piece as a result, which in turn would've been viewed by many travelers and potential visitors/customers. I must say that, as a seasoned world traveler, I've never experienced such snobbery at the hands of someone in the industry. Perhaps this manager needs a reality check--these aren’t the days of luxury train travel anymore, with de rigueur dress codes, porters, Louis Vuitton steamer trunks, diamonds and furs—to survive as a business, you’re going to need to be a bit more welcoming and less judgmental toward your customers. Otherwise, those thousands of people I saw wandering the streets and marching just past your doors will keep walking, and your business will continue to suffer a slow and painful death, regardless of any historical connections. Remember, also, that with the internet in full swing these days, you’ll find that word gets out quickly, whether positive or negative (*grin).
Again, how unfortunate, as without this incident, I would've given a better rating to Sirkeci Station as a whole. My advice is to see the station, and skip the restaurant (unless, of course, you enjoy paying for a haughty attitude and bad treatment).
Written 11 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atulya_sinha
Kolkata (Calcutta), India869 contributions
June 2019
Sirkeci railway station, located on the south bank of the Golden Horn, was once the eastern terminus of the famed Orient Express from Paris. Although Sirkeci is simply a Metro station and there are no long distance trains starting from there nowadays, the building with its Oriental-Gothic façade, clock towers and stained glass windows (designed by German architect August Jasmund, completed in 1890) is well worth a visit.
Apart from the station building itself, with its architectural beauty and brooding railway atmosphere, there are two specific tourist attractions located near the first platform:
a) There is a small, but well stocked, railway museum in one of the halls, with a wide variety of exhibits on display
b) Each evening, there is a show of whirling dervishes in the adjacent hall.
There is much to attract the tourist just outside the station. There is an excellent market, with eateries to suit all tastes and pockets. You can also find souvenir shops, chemists and fruit stalls. In addition, there are utilities like a taxi stand, a tram stop and a row of ATMs towards the north.
Apart from the station building itself, with its architectural beauty and brooding railway atmosphere, there are two specific tourist attractions located near the first platform:
a) There is a small, but well stocked, railway museum in one of the halls, with a wide variety of exhibits on display
b) Each evening, there is a show of whirling dervishes in the adjacent hall.
There is much to attract the tourist just outside the station. There is an excellent market, with eateries to suit all tastes and pockets. You can also find souvenir shops, chemists and fruit stalls. In addition, there are utilities like a taxi stand, a tram stop and a row of ATMs towards the north.
Written 14 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol A S
Marietta, GA4,153 contributions
Apr 2019
Sirkeci Station is on the southern shore of the Golden Horn, near the Eminonu ferry terminal, trams and buses. Although it is a historic station (built in 1890 by the Oriental Railway as the eastern terminus of the Orient Express), Sirkeci Terminal also serves modern commuters. The terminal building is a fine example of European Orientalism, with patterned brick work and stained glass windows. At the time it was built, it was considered "state of the art", with gas lighting and heated with large Austrian tile stoves. The terminal restaurant became a meeting point for journalists, writers and other prominent media people in the 1950s and 1960s. The same restaurant, today called "Orient Express", is a popular spot for tourists. The Istanbul Railway Museum is located in the station. Members of the Mevlevi Dervish order regularly conduct ceremonies at Sirkeci station, which can be observed for a fee. Since May 2013, no international trains connect to Sirkeci terminal. The international train to Bulgaria runs from Halkali Station (about 20 km west; there is a bus) with connections to Bucharest. Sirkeci station is open most hours with no fee. The Tourist Information Office at the station is fairly comprehensive, with friendly staff who speak English; it is open 9:30am to 6pm (mid-April to Sept, closing at 5 pm other times).
Written 7 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dmbrussia
Moscow, Russia76 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
Pretty nice museum.
Worth visiting to see the really important part of country life. For Turkey it was a step forward.
Of course there are lots of historical things, like silver dinning sets for 1st class. Feel yourself like a billionaire. There are dozens small things like tools, phones, books and all these small things create atmosphere of past.
Of course you'll see lots of cars, like anywhere in the city.
PS it's free from charge to enter, but rlly I won't visit it in case I'm to pay for entrance.
Worth visiting to see the really important part of country life. For Turkey it was a step forward.
Of course there are lots of historical things, like silver dinning sets for 1st class. Feel yourself like a billionaire. There are dozens small things like tools, phones, books and all these small things create atmosphere of past.
Of course you'll see lots of cars, like anywhere in the city.
PS it's free from charge to enter, but rlly I won't visit it in case I'm to pay for entrance.
Written 25 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derya G
Istanbul, Türkiye67 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Although no train is departing nor arriving to this last train station of Europe, you can still cross to the Asian side of Istanbul with the Marmaray train which has a station several floors below, Sirkeci Station will become operative again in a couple of years and will gain again its splendor of the past as it is one of the landmarks of Istanbul.
Written 4 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
junior1907
Istanbul, Türkiye196,142 contributions
June 2015 • Business
Owing to a part of new Marmaray rail project which is pending at this moment,Sirkeci Main Train Station is still very quiet as there's no train service available.However,paying a visit and seeing the terminal and Museum is still a good option to remember old those good and active days.
Written 12 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The station is in a very poor condition at the moment . I don't know for sure if there are any left luggage facilities but suspect that if there are they would be very rudimentary .
Written 26 July 2019
Azhar B
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Сколько стоит оставит чемодан в камере хранения на пол дня?
Written 4 February 2019
What day is the Whirling dervish every week?
(Every Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat? or other days now??)
The information i found on the internet varies a lot.
Written 29 April 2017
Ciao ragazzi vorrei delle informazioni, mia sorella è a Istanbul e vorrei farle un biglietto del treno fino a Venezia per passare le vacanze di natale e poter ammirare il magnifico paesaggio nel periodo invernale viaggiando in treno.
Gli unici dubbi che ho sono il servizio, il mangiare e i controlli doganali alle frontiere
Grazie tutti
Written 14 December 2016
Ciao ragazzi vorrei delle informazioni, mia sorella è a Istanbul e vorrei farle un biglietto del treno fino a Venezia per passare le vacanze di natale e poter ammirare il magnifico paesaggio nel periodo invernale viaggiando in treno.
Gli unici dubbi che ho sono il servizio, il mangiare e i controlli doganali alle frontiere
Grazie tutti
Written 14 December 2016
mekkoneko
Tokyo, Japan
I'd like to see sema whirling dance at the Sirkeci Station on Oct 14-16. When is it held and where can I reserve seats?
On the site, it is held on Tuesday and Saturday only. Is it the latest information?
Written 22 September 2015
mekkeoneko-san.
シルケジ駅のホームページでは火曜と土曜になっていますが情報が古いですね。
クルクル回るセマーは本当はコンヤが本場ですが僕らが泊まったホテルでも観覧希望者が少なくて中止になりました。
シルケジ駅では夜、有料となっています。
今日の情報ですが公式ホームページからコンタクトできますのでお尋ねになってはいかがでしょう。
当サイトはwebページリンクできない仕様になっていますから宜しくお願いします。
Written 23 September 2015
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