| The old train that runs from the Oriental-style Sirkeci | | | | train rounds Seraglio Point and Topkapi palace before |
| station in Eminonu to Istanbul's suburbs has seen better | | | | stopping at Cankurtaran. Nice views of the Asian Side |
| days. The train is old, the doors may or may not close | | | | and the start of the city's "secondary walls". |
| all the time, and it's used mostly by Istanbul's lower | | | | Kumkapi: Nearby Balik Sokak, (Fish Street) comes alive |
| classes, but the route and stations have a hidden | | | | at dusk with lively restaurants serving fish, meze, and |
| glamorous past, for they make up the last minutes of | | | | raki, Expect live music, singing and dancing performed |
| the famed Orient Express' historical journey across | | | | by tipsy Turkish men with big mustaches! |
| Europe to Turkey. | | | | Yenikapi: At the moment, Yenikapi is the site of a huge |
| Train tips: The trip to Bakirkoy takes about 25 minutes | | | | archeological excavation pit. While digging the tunnel for |
| and costs 1.40ytl (1.15 USD). A seat on the right hand | | | | the new metro and metro station in the area, what is |
| side, (not the sea side) is more interesting as you'll get | | | | believed to be the original harbor of Constantinople |
| good views of the excavation pit at Yenikapi, some | | | | was uncovered. Ships, anchors and gold coins are just |
| local houses and mosques around Kocamustafa | | | | a few of the artifacts that have been found here.The |
| Pasha, as well as a breathtaking view of the city walls | | | | site is best viewed from the train platform. For those |
| and old cemetery. | | | | interested in seeing what's getting unearthed here, |
| It's not recommended to take this train late at night, and | | | | there is an excellent exhibit at the Archeological |
| you should keep your valuables tucked away. If you | | | | Museum in Gulhane Park showing artifacts and relics |
| get stuck in Bakirkoy later than you expect, the 94a | | | | found at the site. |
| Beyazit bus leaves from the square above the train | | | | Koca Mustafa Pasha: This is the station to grab a seat |
| station every 15 to 20 minutes. It's safe and the last | | | | if you haven't got one, big exchange of passengers. |
| stop is the Grand Bazaar. | | | | Yedikule: Three things are going on here: |
| The Stations | | | | - Trains are stored here in old derelict buildings which |
| Sirkeci: The Orient Express and its journey have | | | | belong to the Turkish Train Transportation Department. |
| become the stuff of myth and legend. Immortalized in | | | | - The Yedikule Dungeons and Golden Gate are |
| countless, films, books and other bits of pop culture, the | | | | located here. The dungeons are open to visitors. |
| train still makes one trip into Istanbul every summer. | | | | - A major construction site is found here for the future |
| Many train buffs wait at the station to witness its | | | | metro that will run through the area. As you leave |
| arrival. | | | | Yedikule Station and the old city, look out the right side |
| - Sirkici station was built in 1889 especially for the | | | | and as you pass through the city walls, there's a great |
| Orient Express. | | | | view of the walls, an old graveyard and the old moat |
| - The train ran from 1889 up until 1977. | | | | which is now full of vegetable gardens. |
| Cankurtaran: The closest stop to Sultanahmet. The | | | | |