Silver Travel Book Club

February 2025 – Slow Trains to Istanbul

We’ll explore a different destination for each Book Club, and a lucky Silver Travel Book Club reader can win a free copy of that month’s book.


This month, the Silver Travel Book Club invites you to board Slow Trains to Istanbul: A 4,570-Mile Adventure on 55 rides by Tom Chesshyre. From London via Paris, Naples, Nuremberg, the Swiss Alps, Budapest, Athens and into the furthest corners of Eastern Europe across Romania and Bulgaria, join Tom Chesshyre on his fascinating journey to Istanbul and back.

Ever dreamt of dropping everything and adventuring cross-country to the edge of Asia? That’s just what rail enthusiast Tom Chesshyre did, hitting the tracks for a 4,570-mile adventure on 55 rides, shadowing the old Orient Express route.

Interrailing was once the realm of young backpackers setting off to “find themselves” – and for many, it still is. But it’s also a joyful and eco-friendly twenty-first century adventure that’s open to us all, no matter our age or agenda. Dodging striking train drivers in Germany, getting stuck by the Bulgarian-Greek border, and negotiating tricky passport officials in Turkey is all part of the fun in this illuminating and meandering journey around Europe.

Europe by rail awaits. The freedom of the lines awaits. Why not hop on board?

For advice on planning your next journey—whether by train or beyond—contact our team on 0800 412 5678.


How to win a copy of Slow Trains to Istanbul

Comment below and tell us what’s the most memorable journey you’ve ever taken by train, or what slow travel experience is on your list? Share your story for a chance to win a copy of Slow Trains to Istanbul!

A winner will be chosen at random in early March 2025.
The competition closes on 28 February 2025.

Read more about all our Silver Travel Book Club reads.

  1. The Book Club is open to residents of the UK, aged 18 years or over, except employees of Silver Travel Advisor and their close relatives, partners or friends and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation of the prize draw.
  2. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter.
  3. By entering, an entrant is indicating his/her/their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  4. This competition is not in any affiliation with any other company.
  5. The prize is as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prize is non-transferable and is subject to availability.
  6. If a winner does not claim their prize within one week, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.
  7. By entering each entrant accepts that the winner’s name and city of residence may be used for promotional purposes by Silver Travel Advisor.
  8. No responsibility is accepted for entries, notices, acceptances, tickets, goods or other documentation lost or delayed in the post.
  9. Winners will be solely responsible for any tax liability incurred as a result of this offer. The organisers’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered.
  10. Entries will be accepted until the closing date as stated.

Share Article:

36 Responses

  1. The unforgettable rail journeys in Norway including the Artic express and the famous Flam is seeing us back again this year to sample some of the trains in Norway and Sweden. This time in the winter for a whole new experience.

  2. My most wonderful train journey was a trip from Wales to Wales via Scandinavia. Norway was spectacular and the overnight trip from Narvik to Stockholm was quite memorable as we leapfrogged the enormous iron ore trains. I think a future trip would be nearer home, taking the Caledonian sleeper en route to the Highland railways.

  3. My slow experience by train would be to go through cape town and table mountain and end at kruger national park

  4. My husband and I traveled to Australia in 2016 and rode on the Kuranda scenic railway through the spectacular Barron Gorge National Park in Queensland Australia.
    It was undoubtedly one of the most spectacular railway journeys you could ever wish to take. Travelling in vintage timber carriages through the world’s oldest tropical rainforest…. Through ravines, past mountains, waterfalls, through tunnels, across man made wooden bridges, the sounds, smells and sights send your senses into overload…. I so need to go back 😫

  5. We travelled by train through Switzerland and I spent my whole time looking out the window at the Alps – wonderful.

  6. Now the children have grown up I am really interested in doing the Rockies by Train but also would love to do the Orient Express

  7. A long train journey to Calabria. I spoke a little Italian but at the end of that journey all the people in our carriage were translating English/ Italian. I made new friends.

  8. I once took The Canadian train from Toronto to Vancouver. It was a fantastic journey that I would recommend to anyone.

  9. As a child on the steam train from Glasgow to Inverness – trying to secure a table to put up in our carriage so my Mum and sister and I could play games.

  10. We saw the Bar to Belgrade train from our coach when we were in Montenegro so would love to go on that – or the Glacier Express

  11. I love long train journeys, such a relaxing way to travel, though my most memorable one was very stressful, travelling from London home to Copenhagen after my year as an au pair, so still very young and so afraid of missing one of the many stops for changing trains or not being able to find the connecting train on time, that I didn’t sleep at all for over 24 hrs – but I did get home safely and much more cheaply than flying

  12. I have my sights set on one of the Rocky Mountaineer train routes in Canada. I have driven part of the route but being able to just relax and marvel at the stunning scenery from a more elevated position would be wonderful.

  13. We spent 10 glorious days in Istanbul last September and promised ourselves that we would return in 2025! Winning this prize would help us fulfil our promise to ourselves! Help us!!

  14. Most spectacular was probably the Kuranda railway near Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
    Many happy memories of train travel to Bavaria/Austria/Italy when I was a child. We didn’t have a car and always went abroad by train for our annual holiday. . As a child, I loved the night travel tucked up in my couchette berth and peering out of the window at the stations we stopped at.

  15. The first time I took the East Coast train line from Edinburgh to London which takes in the spectacular coast line before Berwick upon Tweed, the Tyne Bridge, York and Durham and Peterborough cathedrals.

  16. Day trip to Pisa, returning to Florence during our honeymoon. A beautifully hot, late afternoon. We were on the train with extra stops & snoozily enjoyed the stunning landscape view together.

  17. A night train from Shanghai to Beijing.
    My husband and me were placed in a bunked sleeping compartment with 2 Chinese school girls. Their parents came in to stare at us. The toilet at the end of the carriage was an experience I never want to revisit.

  18. The Lemon Express from Benidorm as so beautiful scenery and a wonderful guitar maker in a small village was fascinating.

  19. The train from Nice to Monaco, although short is very pretty – especially with the glass roof (if I recall correctly)

  20. I’ve yet to take a long rail journey and looking to be inspired. I’ve been returning to travelling overseas after a long gap , rail would be new and I think I’d love it

  21. In the 50’s we had to travel by train from Cape Town to Johannesburg. It took 3 days and I was only 8. Don’t remember it too well as I had boils on my arms and wasn’t too well!
    You did ask for a memorable journey!!!

  22. My most memorable train journey was through the Rockies on an authentic stream train from Silverton to Durango. On the way we had a rock fall that crimped the line and had a wonderful half hour delay where better to stop than half way up the Rocky mountains! Spectacular views and scenery.

  23. The Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Calgary in Gold Class, spread over two days with an overnight hotel stay in Kamloops. Wonderful views in the panorama coaches very attentive staff and superb cuisine cooked from scratch in the galley in the coach.

  24. My most memorable train journey was taking the Eastern and Oriental Express from Bangkok to Singapore over Christmas. Everything about it was sumptuous and it probably cost and arm and a leg at that time of year, but it was so long ago, I’ve fortunately forgotten.

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.