Sirkeci Train Station

A station with history. If you are fan of Orient Express, worth to visit

Beautiful old buildings with very old steam engine outside

Sirkeci railway station is a railway terminal in Istanbul. The terminal is located on the tip of Istanbul's historic peninsula right next to the Golden Horn and just northwest of Gülhane Park and the Topkapı Palace. Sirkeci Terminal, along with Haydarpaşa Terminal on the other side of the Bosphorus, are Istanbul's two intercity and commuter railway terminals. Built in 1890 by the Oriental Railway as the eastern terminus of the world-famous Orient Express, Sirkeci Terminal has become a symbol of the city.

The most iconic and imaginative train (the setting in many a book or film) is the Orient Express. In 1883, after a journey of 80 hours and 3,094 kilometers, the first train of this service arrives at Sirkeci Railway Station. This terminus was opened as early as 1872, but did not get its current European-Oriental appearance until 1890. This glorious train history will come to an end in 2009 when the Orient Express is discontinued after 126 years. Regular trains will continue to arrive at this terminal for another four years, but after 2013, when the train tunnel under the Bosphorus is ready, all trains will disappear underground. Today, the Istanbul Demiryolu Müzesi and the Orient-Express Restaurant are located in the old station. A nice modern-historical destination in the old center of Istanbul.

Interesting and important train station where the old and new buildings merge together in a big contrast. The old part is very beautiful and has beautiful lights and decorations. At the left and back from the main entrance, there's a restaurant reminding us about the famous Orient Express train. Worthy place to enter and take some pictures inside.