TWO train stations in Istanbul will become ‘cultural islands’ by 2026, featuring museums, galleries and public gardens.
Authorities in the Turkish city are working to transform Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa train stations into cultural venues.
The Culture and Tourism Minister, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, detailed restoration plans for Haydarpaşa Train Station, which closed in 2010 following a fire.
According to the local newspaper, Hurriyet Daily News, he said: “Both Haydarpaşa and Sirkeci will feature public gardens as well as art and culture [buildings and events] and railway transportation activities will continue in both of the stations.
“However, these stations will not feature shopping malls or hotels.”
Haydarpaşa Train Station, which was a former calling point of the Orient Express, will become Istanbul‘s first “art and culture island” once the renovation project is completed.
The grand building will feature exhibition spaces, a performing arts centre, a library, two museums and art and design studios.
Further details will be revealed in the near future, according to the Turkish minister.
Built by German architects Otto Ritter and Helmuth Cuno in the early 20th century, high-speed train services will operate again after renovation work is complete.
Art galleries and themed museums will also open at Sirkeci Railway Station in the coming years.
The former Orient Express terminus will house a museum dedicated to migration.
This is because Sirkeci Railway Station is where Turkish nationals used to migrate to Europe.
The minister added: “Traces of the area’s heritage on Istanbul’s European side will be preserved for future generations after the project concludes at the Sirkeci station.”
An advisory board of curators, archaeologists and engineers has been formed to oversee the project.
Because of its ties to the Orient Express, Sirkeci Railway Station is already a popular spot with rail enthusiasts.
The building has been given a 4/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from hundreds of reviews.
One person wrote: “Amazing place and this was our third visit. We love it there and fantastic place of Ottoman architecture.”
Another added: “If you’ve been a fan of Agatha Christie and her Murder on the Orient Express, then this is the place to surely visit as the real train used to come here.
“We only saw the exterior, and did not have the time to go in, but it was still a lovely moment to be there.”
Sirkeci Railway Station is within walking distance of the Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar.
Suburban trains still call at the railway stations, with no plans to end services when the cultural attractions open in 2026.
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
Earlier this year, a new sleeper train launched from the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Another new train service is set to launch in the UK next year, and it will travel to some of the country’s prettiest towns.
