London to Istanbul - Grand Rail & Wine Journey

As a general rule most hotels will allow guests to check-in from 2pm. Please note, excepted when stated, that the price of your tour does not include guaranteed early check-in. Therefore, please advise us if you would like to ensure that your room is available for an earlier arrival.

The hotels on this tour have been carefully selected based mainly on their location and proximity to the railway stations. With some exceptions most properties are of a 4 or 5 star category.

The daily meal basis is shown in the tour itinerary, which is daily breakfast, plus lunch or dinner where indicated.

Usually, it will be impossible for Undiscovered Destinations to pre-pay for meals and drinks taken on the various trains. Therefore, it is essential that you travel with sufficient cash to pay for these services as credit and debit cards may not always be accepted. We would recommend that you have euros available as these will offer the best overall acceptance.

The food and drink available to purchase on trains, when it is available, can be limited so many travellers come prepared and choose to bring their own provisions. You will find a choice of shops and eateries at most stations. We recommend that you travel with plenty of water, and items such as fresh and dried fruits, biscuits, crackers, etc.

If you have any special dietary requirements, you must notify us at the time of booking. Whilst we will make every effort to cater for you, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible. As noted above on-train catering can be limited, particularly in Eastern Europe. Even the most common dietary requests, including vegetarian options, may not be available.

You will need some extra money to cover meals and drinks not included in the tour price, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs, and items of a personal nature such as laundry.

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Lunch or dinner: from £10 to £15.

Drink prices can vary greatly depending upon location. As an average guide: bottle of beer £2 – £3; bottle of water £0.50 – £1.

Tipping is commonly recognised as a way of rewarding guides and drivers for good service. Your tour leader will collect a kitty of approximately 100 Euro per person for the tour for the purpose of tipping local guides and drivers. Waiters and bar staff in most of the countries visited on this tour are generally low paid and it is customary practice to leave a small tip, around 10% of the bill.

As you will be visiting major cities on this tour ATMs will be widely available. Cards are widely accepted in the main cities including at larger restaurants and most hotels. Card acceptance on the trains will be more limited, particularly beyond Western Europe.

Local currencies: Euros, Hungarian Forint, Romanian Leu, Turkish Lira. Recommended currency for exchange: Euros and US Dollar. Exchange facilities will generally be available at the railway stations. Your local guide or the hotel reception can provide future assistance.

The Undiscovered Destinations team have travelled widely by train and never experienced any problems, but you should not be complacent. It is essential that you take good care of your personal belongings.

Pack wisely and store your most valuable possessions, including electrical items and of course your passports and travel documents, in a separate day bag. Also remember to keep any important medicines and prescriptions or doctors’ letters in the same bag. Make sure you keep this bag with you at all times.

Some travellers choose to keep their passport, one or two credit/debit cards and some emergency cash in a money belt. When travelling by sleeper train the carriage will generally be staffed by an attendant. On newer trains you might be able to lock your compartment from the outside using a hotel type keycard, but this is still the exception. So, you will need to ask your attendant to lock the door for you if you are planning to leave the compartment. During the night you will be able to lock the compartment door from the inside.

Some experienced travellers choose to bring their own padlock just in case the door lock is faulty. A combination cable padlock can also be used to help secure your baggage to luggage racks.

Our advertised prices do not include the cost of international flights. Please contact us if you would like a quotation to book a ‘flight inclusive’ package.

It is a condition of booking with Undiscovered Destinations that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your insurance policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country and be valid for the entire duration of your holiday.

UK, US, and Australian passport holders do not need a visa for travel in EU states. However, it should be noted that the European Union has introduced a new Entry/Exit System (EES). Please review full details by following the relevant official guidance and be advised that an online application for authority to travel may be required.

British citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist purposes can enter the country without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Other nationals should check before booking with your nearest embassy, consulate, or visa agency.

As immigration requirements can change without notice it is essential that you check the latest information with your nearest embassy, consulate, or visa agency. It is important to check the requirements both at the time of booking and again at the time you pay your balance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, valid for at least six months after the date of return to your country of residence.

We strongly advise that your passport contains a minimum of two blank pages, as this may be a requirement of the local immigration authorities. In addition, certain countries will stipulate that the two blank pages are opposite each other. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you may be refused boarding by your airline or denied entry by the immigration authorities.

For specific information about the requirements for your destination please check with the country’s embassy or consulate. Alternatively, UK citizens can visit the relevant Foreign Travel Advice guidance.

We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information and advice regarding the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than a month you might be advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Meningitis.

The region can be bitterly cold in its winter months and fiercely hot during July and August. A pleasant time to visit is from May to September.

When it comes to clothing it is usually recommended that lighter clothes are worn through the day, and warmer ones at night. A hat is also advised to be worn through the day to protect from the sun, along with at least one piece of waterproof clothing for any days that the weather may be wet or windy.

The first thing on your list should be a first aid kit. Travellers are best advised to travel well-prepared: adequately immunised, with sufficient supplies of prescription drugs, along with a medical kit. Suncream or sunblock is a must. Insect repellent, including a bite spray, will also be useful to have. It is usually advisable to bring a torch or head torch in case of any electricity outages.

When travelling long distances by rail some travellers choose to bring a few games to while away the hours. A phrase book can of course be useful or download a translation app on your phone.

Please bring a small towel to use on the trains as hand drying facilities are not always provided. It is also wise to bring toilet paper and hand sanitiser as sanitary conditions on the trains can vary considerably.

The majority of hotels used on this tour offer dependable wi-fi although charges may apply. On most trains within Western Europe wi-fi is now available although charges may apply, and the service might be limited to basic internet browsing and checking of emails. Travelling beyond Western Europe most trains do not offer wi-fi.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. We recommend that you bring a pair of flip-flops to wear whilst moving about on long distance trains.

Upon request we can provide you with the latest train schedules, although these will be subject to change.

Your luggage should not exceed 20kgs (44lbs). One large suitcase or rucksack, and one small hand luggage rucksack is acceptable.

This journey is best suited to experienced travellers who enjoy an active style of travel and are comfortable managing their own luggage throughout. As is typical on European rail journeys, there is no airline-style checked baggage service, so luggage remains with you at all times and is stored in the racks provided on board.

Throughout the journey, a dedicated tour leader will accompany the group, supported by experienced local guides in each destination. While your tour leader will manage all logistics and coordination, local guides will provide in-depth insight and lead sightseeing experiences along the way.

Due to the nature of rail travel, it will often be necessary to walk between railway stations and our hotels. Wherever possible, we select centrally located properties within easy reach of the station, though in some destinations this may involve walks of up to 10–15 minutes.

This style of travel offers a rewarding and immersive way to experience Europe, and we are of course happy to discuss any aspect of the journey with you before booking to ensure it is the right fit.

Countries visited on this tour have an electrical supply that is 220V/50 Hz and plugs usually have two round pins. On the majority of trains, you will find electrical sockets which usually have two round pins. We would recommend that you bring a universal travel adapter as there can be exceptions to the above.

Please ensure that you have an up-to-date copy of these tour notes immediately before you travel, as from time to time our itineraries may be amended, either for operational reasons or in response to feedback from customers. You will be informed of any major changes to your tour, but small changes may just be added to these tour notes. These tour notes were updated April 2026.