Damascus Travel Forum

Hey everyone,

I'll be arriving in Damascus early in July, and I'll be staying for quite a while. Anyway, I've been visiting Damascus every summer now for a couple of years, and I thought I might try and travel a bit outwards this time. So, my plan is to take a train, the Taurus Express (Toros Exkspresi), from Damascus to Istanbul. As much as I've been to Syria, I've never really traveled anywhere else by train so I have no idea how to go about this. I know my way around the city very well but I was wondering how and where I could buy tickets? Should I buy them while I'm still here in the U.S. or will it be okay if I buy them when I arrive in Damascus because I will be arriving in July but I am not planning on traveling to Istanbul until August? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

- Dana

This website

http://www.seat61.com/Syria.htm

will probably be able to answer all your questions.

hi

there is 1 train route per week from Damascus to Istanbul Via Aleppo and it take about 36 hours and cost about 80$ per way . and you must pay it in Syria and can buy it in the main train station in Kadam area .
if you preffer other way their is bus go every day from Damascus to Istanbul via Antakia it take about 24 hours and cost about 40-50$ per way

hope this help you
best wishes

According to The Man in Seat 61 (an absolute mine of information on worldwide train travel)
" IMPORTANT: ISTANBUL-ALEPPO SLEEPER TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED...

Due to construction of the new high-speed line in Turkey, the Istanbul-Aleppo Toros Express was cancelled from 15 June 2008 until further notice. The Istanbul-Gaziantep part of the Toros Express was also suspended from that date. This train was originally due to resume operating in September 2008, which became 'October 2008' then 'early 2009' then 'April 2009' or according to one source, 'May 2009'. There's still no sign of the Istanbul-Aleppo sleeper resuming. Even Turkish Railways themselves don't seem to know when it will resume. I'll post updates as soon as I get any, SO ASSUME IT STILL ISN'T RUNNING UNLESS YOU SEE AN UPDATE HERE. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't run again this year (2009)."

Check here for his suggested alternatives

http://www.seat61.com/Syria.htm#Alternative%20trains%20to%20Syria

Yes, I'm very familiar with the website. I've read it up and down, and I was worried about that still being true. Well, I know it's a long trip so I'd definitely prefer the train. I guess the only option now is to fly if anything. Thanks so much for everyone's input. I really appreciate it :).