Doğu Ekspresi (Eastern Express) is an Turkish overnight train connecting Ankara with Kars, a city near Turkey’s borders with Armenia and Georgia. It runs daily, passing through the Anatolian steppes and winding between gorges and mountain slopes near Erzincan. The 1,310 km journey takes approximately 25 hours (some sources claim up to 32 hours) and includes 52 stops. The most important stations are Kırıkkale, Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan, and Erzurum.
Currently, the train consists of:
- Seating cars
- Couchette cars (4-bed compartments)
- A restaurant car
History
The first Doğu Ekspresi train departed in 1936 from Haydarpaşa Station in Istanbul to Çetinkaya.
In 1939, it was extended to Erzurum.
In 1962, the broad-gauge Erzurum – Kars – Akkaya railway was converted to 1435 mm (standard gauge), allowing the train to reach Kars.
Popularity and Ticket Availability
The Doğu Ekspresi is extremely popular, and Turkey’s tourism board frequently invites journalists and influencers to promote the journey from Ankara to Kars. As a result, you’ll often see travel reports from famous content creators. Tickets sell out very quickly, but with some luck, you might find last-minute availability if another passenger cancels their reservation.
Alternative: Tourist Doğu Ekspresi
Besides the standard Doğu Ekspresi, there is also the Tourist Doğu Express, which consists only of sleeper cars with two-person compartments.
This train runs seasonally twice a week.
It stops at 25 stations, with longer stops (up to 3 hours) at popular tourist destinations, such as Sivas and Erzurum.
Tickets for this train are significantly more expensive, but still affordable for European travelers.
Related articles:
Train travel in Turkey – a comprehensive guide
