Sirkeci Station is the historic railway terminus that opened in 1890 and received trains from Europe, including the legendary Orient Express. Designed by the German architect August Jasmund, it combines horseshoe arches, stained glass and a clock tower with a small railway museum inside. The Sirkeci stop on the T1 tram is right outside.
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Where the journey from Paris ended
The Rumelian railway linking the Ottoman capital to Europe reached Sirkeci in the 1870s, running along the Marmara shore under the old sea walls. Its tracks even cut through part of the Topkapı Palace's seaside gardens, a striking collision between the imperial past and the industrial age.
The present building went up between 1888 and 1890. From the late 19th century, passengers who had boarded the Orient Express in Paris stepped down onto these platforms. For diplomats, merchants, writers and adventurers, Sirkeci was the gateway to the East, and Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express draws on the romance of this very route.
A European station in Oriental dress
Jasmund paired the practical layout of a European terminus with motifs borrowed from Ottoman and Islamic architecture: horseshoe arches, bands of coloured stone and brick, corner turrets and large rose windows. The clock tower and stained glass are still favourites with photographers.
When the station opened, the sea came much closer and the waterside facade played a starring role. Later landfill and coastal roads changed that relationship, and today you enter from the street where the tram runs.
What to see
- The waiting hall: High ceilings, stained-glass windows and woodwork that still carry the atmosphere of the golden age of rail travel.
- The railway museum: A small collection inside the station with old tickets, signalling equipment, silver service from dining cars, photographs and documents.
- The old platform area: Easy to imagine the steam, porters and trunks of the station's busiest days.
- The facades: Step across the street to take in the rhythm of arches and windows along the front and sides.
Sirkeci today
The Sirkeci stop of the Marmaray line, which runs in a tunnel beneath the Bosphorus, lies deep underground close to the old station. Mainline trains no longer depart from the historic building as they once did, and it is now used mainly as a museum, exhibition and event space. The former suburban route has recently been reorganised as an urban rail line, so check current services before relying on it. Our Istanbulkart and public transport guide explains the wider network.
The station makes a good covered stop on a rainy day in Istanbul. From here, walk toward the shore to see the Sepetçiler Pavilion, or continue a few minutes west to the Spice Bazaar.
Getting there from Sareban Hotel
Walk to the Sultanahmet or Çemberlitaş stop and take the T1 tram toward Kabataş. Get off at Sirkeci and the station is directly opposite. It is also a pleasant downhill walk along Alemdar Caddesi past the gates of Gülhane Park, which makes a nice stop on the way.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Orient Express still arrive at Sirkeci?
Scheduled Orient Express services ended long ago. Occasional private luxury tour trains still come to Istanbul, but there is no regular service. Today the station is visited mainly as a historic building and museum.
Is the railway museum free?
The museum has admitted visitors free of charge for many years, but policies can change, so it is worth checking current information.
Who designed Sirkeci Station?
The German architect August Jasmund designed the building, which opened in 1890.
