Istanbul to Tehran by train
Travel from Istanbul (Turkey) to Tehran (Iran) by train (2038km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.
To travel by train from Istanbul in Turkey to Tehran in Iran, please read the following information and blog posts.
Your travel route could be like that.
2038 km
How to use the following information: we show you the best routes and where to buy tickets. On longer routes you may need more than one ticket. Book your tickets step by step as explained. If you have questions about the route from Istanbul to Tehran, please ask in our forum. Of course, sometimes there are as well other travel routes possible.
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections : popular connections travelled by other users
Tehran - Istanbul / Ankara - Isfahan / Ankara - Mashhad / Ankara - Tabriz / Istanbul - Isfahan / Istanbul - Mashhad / Istanbul - Tabriz / Izmir - Tehran / Van - Tabriz1 Istanbul (Turkey) - Tehran (Iran)
1a Travelling from Istanbul (Turkey) to Tehran (Iran)
Travel from Turkey to Iran by "Trans-Asia Express" on the route from Ankara via Tatvan, Van and Tabriz to Tehran. The travel distance is 3.000 kilometres with a total travel time of 80 hours. The train ticket price is 55 EUR in a 4-bed compartment.
The journey starts in Ankara by a train of Turkish railway. The train offers 4-bed compartments with fours seats in day-position and four beds at night. You get a pillow, sheet and blanket to make your bed by yourself. Toilets and washrooms are available at the end of the corridor of the wagon. A train restaurant is available.
In Tatvan the train ends and you change to the ferry to Van. The journey time of the ferry is six hours and included in your train ticket. The train directly arrives at the ferry pier of Tatvan and departs as well directly from the ferry pier in Van. No need to walk or have transfers by bus or taxi.
From Van you continue by a train of Iranian railways which also offers 4-bed compartments including pillow, sheet and blanket. You get free water, juice and cake. You can order meals which are served to your compartment.
The train schedules from Ankara to Tehran is as follows.
- Ankara departure at 14:25 on Wednesday
- Tatvan ferry pier arrival at 14:25 on Thursday
- Ferry crossing to Van ferry pier
- Van ferry pier departure at 21:00 on Thursday
- Kapıköy (border station in Turkey) arrival at 23:30 on Thursday
- Razi (border station in Iran) arrival at 02:00 on Friday
- Tabriz arrival at 09:50 on Friday
- Tehran arrival at 23:20 on Friday
Find train schedules and buy your tickets via the given booking links.
Where to buy a ticket from Istanbul to Tehran?
Check times&prices 
The following links could be interesting for you.
train connections: popular connections travelled by other users
Tehran - Istanbul / Ankara - Tehran / Izmir - Tehran / Ankara - Tabriz / Istanbul - Tabriz / Tatvan - Tabriz
Need a cheap place to sleep? We recommend booking.com
Find a cheap flight! Compare prices on Kiwi.com
Do you have questions about the connection between Istanbul and Tehran? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.
