For sixty-five years the Orient Express ended here. Sirkeci Station was built in 1890 to receive it, and the architecture was meant to impress passengers arriving from Europe: stained glass, a high vaulted hall, and a clock that has not moved from its place.
The romance of the route has been written about endlessly, but the building itself is quiet now. Suburban trains use the platforms, a small museum occupies one room, and the restaurant beside the tracks has been serving since the station opened.
Entry is free and it takes twenty minutes. From Romance Istanbul Hotel it is a five-minute walk, and it pairs naturally with a ferry from Eminonu afterwards.
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Entertainment