The Touristic Eastern Express: Ankara to Kars by Train
Turkey’s winter sleeper train across eastern Anatolia
In short: the Touristic Eastern Express (Turistik Doğu Ekspresi) is a winter-only sleeper train between Ankara and Kars, run by TCDD Taşımacılık, the Turkish state railway operator. It covers about 1,360 km in about 33 hours, with long sightseeing stops on the way. The 2026–27 season runs from 21 December 2026 to 10 March 2027 (Ankara→Kars) and from 23 December 2026 to 12 March 2027 (Kars→Ankara). Tickets for the season went on sale on 26 October 2026.
Last checked: 11 November 2026. Timetables and stops can change; always check TCDD Taşımacılık before you travel. We don’t list fares.
Two trains on the same line
- Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi): the regular train runs daily, all year, in both directions between Ankara and Kars. It stops at many stations, including Kırıkkale, Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum, and takes about 25 hours for roughly 1,310 km. It has seats (pulman), four-berth couchettes (kuşet) and a dining car.
- Touristic Eastern Express (Turistik Doğu Ekspresi): launched in 2019, it runs only in winter, three times a week in each direction. It has sleeper cars only, with two-bed compartments (ten compartments, 20 passengers per car), plus a dining car, and it makes long stops so passengers can explore. The journey takes about 33 hours.
The 2026–27 season
- Ankara → Kars: 21 December 2026 – 10 March 2027, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Kars → Ankara: 23 December 2026 – 12 March 2027, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- Trips: 70 in total, 35 in each direction.
- Sightseeing stops: going east, the train stops at Erzincan and Erzurum; going west, at İliç, Divriği and Sivas. Last season these stops lasted between two and a half and four hours each.
Map: Ankara to Kars and Lake Çıldır
Red: the two ends of the line. Orange: sightseeing stops of the Touristic Eastern Express. Blue: Lake Çıldır. The line is drawn straight between stations, so it only roughly follows the real track. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Highlights along the way
- Divriği: the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Divriği is one of the stops on the Kars → Ankara journey.
- Kars and Ani: at the end of the line, the medieval city of Ani near Kars has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
- Winter scenery: the route crosses the snowy uplands of eastern Anatolia, which is a big part of the train’s appeal.
Near Kars: Lake Çıldır
On the Ardahan–Kars border, Lake Çıldır usually freezes from about December to March. Visitors who arrive on the touristic train often go there for a horse-drawn sleigh ride across the ice and to watch local fishermen fishing through holes in the ice. Go onto the ice only with local operators.
How to book
- Individual tickets: sold through TCDD Taşımacılık’s own sales channels: its e-ticket website, mobile app and station ticket offices.
- Package tours: sold by authorised travel agencies.
- Book early: tickets have sold out quickly in previous seasons.
- Bring ID: carry your passport or ID card when you travel.
For more train routes, see scenic train journeys in Turkey. For other ways to travel, see getting around Turkey and the best time to visit Turkey.
Sources we checked (November 2026): Hürriyet Daily News: 2026–27 season · Habertürk: ticket sales date (Turkish) · NTV/AA: 2026–27 dates (Turkish) · Hürriyet Daily News: 2025–26 season · Daily Sabah: Eastern Express winter season · Türkiye Today: Touristic Eastern Express · Ministry of Transport (Turkish) · Go Türkiye: Eastern Express · Wikipedia: Touristic Eastern Express · Habertürk: tickets sold out (2024, Turkish) · UNESCO: Ani · UNESCO: Divriği
Touristic Eastern Express: questions
What is the difference between the Eastern Express and the Touristic Eastern Express?
The regular Eastern Express runs daily all year with seats, couchettes and a dining car and takes about 25 hours. The Touristic Eastern Express runs only in winter, three times a week, with two-bed sleeper compartments and long sightseeing stops, and takes about 33 hours.
When does the 2026–27 season run?
Ankara to Kars from 21 December 2026 to 10 March 2027, and Kars to Ankara from 23 December 2026 to 12 March 2027.
Where does the touristic train stop for sightseeing?
Going east it stops at Erzincan and Erzurum; going west it stops at İliç, Divriği and Sivas.
How do I buy tickets?
Through TCDD Taşımacılık’s official channels (e-ticket website, app and station ticket offices), or as a package through authorised travel agencies. Book early: tickets have sold out quickly in past seasons.
Is there food on board?
Yes. Both the regular and the touristic train have a dining car.
Header photo: the Eastern Express in the snow. Photo: Oyuncubaba, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).