Budapest to Tehran by Rail — Self-Launched

Arrive and check into a hostel in District VII (Jewish Quarter) — the cheapest central area with kitchens and lockers. Buy a 72-hour Budapest transit card at the airport (or use the 100E airport bus, ~£2). Spend the evening wandering the ruin bars on Kazinczy utca and stock up on groceries for train days.

🚌Airport bus 100E ~£2.20

🛏Hostel dorm in District VII (~£14/night)

• →Airport bus/train into centre
• →Evening wander of the Jewish Quarter ruin bars
• →Groceries for onward train legs

Self-guided morning walk: Buda Castle funicular, Fisherman's Bastion and the Danube promenade, then across to Pest for Great Market Hall (free entry, cheap langos ~£3). Optional thermal bath at Széchenyi or the cheaper Lukács Baths (~£8-12). In the evening visit a community café such as Nem Adom Fel (the social enterprise G Adventures uses) before catching the overnight sleeper train from Keleti station to Sibiu via Bucharest — book a 2nd-class couchette on Romanian Railways (CFR) in advance.

🚌Budapest–Sibiu overnight train via Bucharest ~£35-45

🛏Overnight sleeper train (couchette)

• →Buda Castle & Fisherman's Bastion walk
• →Great Market Hall food stop
• →Thermal baths (optional)
• →Community café visit

Arrive in Sibiu mid-morning, drop bags and do a 2-hour wander of the Large Square, the Bridge of Lies and the Stairs Passage. Take the regional train (3 hrs, ~£6) to Sighișoara and check into a guesthouse inside the medieval citadel. Climb the Clock Tower (~£1) and walk the cobbled lanes in the evening.

🚌Sibiu–Sighișoara regional train ~£6

🛏Guesthouse in the citadel (~£20/night)

• →Sibiu old town walk
• →Clock Tower climb
• →Medieval citadel wander

Hire a local taxi driver for a half-day loop through Saxon villages (Viscri, Biertan and Criț) — €50-60 for the car shared via a hostel noticeboard, or join a small-group village tour from Sighișoara (~£35). Viscri's fortified church is the highlight. In the afternoon take the bus/train onward to Brașov (~£4) and stay in a pension near the old town.

🚌Shared taxi + Sighișoara–Brașov train/bus ~£15

🛏Pension in Brașov old town (~£22/night)

• →Saxon fortified villages half-day tour
• →Viscri fortified church
• →Evening in Brașov old town

Take bus 20/21 from Brașov's Livada Poștei to Bran (~£1.30, 45 mins) and buy an entry ticket at the gate (~£9, book on the official brancastel.ro site or via GetYourGuide to skip queues). Return by mid-afternoon for the Black Church (8 RON), Catherine's Gate and a walk up Tâmpa hill on the free trail for sunset views.

🚌Local bus Brașov–Bran ~£2.60 return

🛏Pension in Brașov old town (~£22/night)

• →Bran Castle ('Dracula's Castle')
• →Black Church visit
• →Tâmpa hill sunset hike

Take the intercity train to Bucharest (2.5 hrs, ~£12). Do a free walking tour of the old town (tip-based, ~£5-8 tip) to see the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Monastery and the Arch of Triumph. Join a free-tour meetup in the evening to start building your own travel crew for the next legs.

🚌Brașov–Bucharest intercity train ~£12

🛏Hostel dorm in Lipscani (~£14/night)

• →Free walking tour of Bucharest
• →Arch of Triumph & Parliament exterior
• →Craft beer evening in old town

Morning free in Bucharest, then take the bus to Ruse (2 hrs, ~£7) and cross the Danube by bus/minibus to Veliko Tarnovo (~£4 more). Book the entire route on a Romanian/Bulgarian bus app (Autogara or Omio) or just buy at the station. Evening wandering the steep medieval lanes below Tsarevets Fortress and a cheap Bulgarian dinner (~£7).

🚌Bucharest–Ruse–Veliko Tarnovo buses ~£12

🛏Guesthouse near the fortress (~£18/night)

• →Danube border crossing
• →Veliko Tarnovo medieval quarter walk

Walk the marked trail from Veliko Tarnovo up to the hilltop village of Arbanasi (2-3 hours, free) — visit the Church of the Nativity frescoes (6 BGN). Return via a different path, then visit Tsarevets Fortress in the late afternoon (6 BGN). Optional mountain bike hire in town (~£7).

🚌Walking

🛏Guesthouse near the fortress (~£18/night)

• →Arbanasi village hike
• →Church of the Nativity
• →Tsarevets Fortress

Bus to Sofia (3.5 hrs, ~£9). Do a free walking tour of the centre, then self-explore Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free), Vitosha Boulevard and the quirky Ladies' Market. Join a Sofia pub crawl or hostel social night (~£12) for cheap local wine and new travel companions.

🚌Veliko Tarnovo–Sofia bus ~£9

🛏Hostel dorm in central Sofia (~£15/night)

• →Free walking tour of Sofia
• →Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
• →Ladies' Market
• →Hostel social night

Morning train or bus to Plovdiv (2.5 hrs, ~£6). Explore the hilly old town on foot: Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis (3 BGN), the Ethnographic Museum (5 BGN), and Kapana creative district for dinner. Buy your Istanbul bus ticket at the station today to lock in a seat.

🚌Sofia–Plovdiv train/bus ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm in Kapana (~£14/night)

• →Plovdiv old town walk
• →Ancient Theatre visit
• →Kapana district dinner

Day in Plovdiv — hike up Nebet Tepe for views and visit the Roman stadium remains under the main street. Catch the evening Metro Turizm or Pamukkale bus to Istanbul (8-9 hrs, ~£22-28). Book on the operator's site or at the bus office; buses have reclining seats and WiFi.

🚌Plovdiv–Istanbul overnight coach ~£25

🛏Overnight bus

• →Nebet Tepe viewpoint
• →Roman stadium
• →Overnight coach to Turkey

Arrive early morning at Esenler or Harem otogar, take the metro to your hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy (~£1). Rest, then take a Bosphorus sunset ferry on the public Şehir Hatları line (~£2) — the cheapest boat tour in town. Grab a cheap balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by the Galata Bridge.

🚌Metro into centre ~£1

🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet/Karaköy (~£16/night)

• →Public Bosphorus ferry
• →Galata Bridge & Karaköy wander
• →Turkish breakfast

DIY walking route between the big three: Hagia Sophia (timed entry ~£20), Blue Mosque (free), and Topkapi Palace courtyard (~£25 or skip for the free views from Gülhane Park). In the evening use the Istanbulkart on trams and ferries and eat at a lokanta in Eminönü (~£6). A licensed local guide for a 2-hour old city walk can be booked via GetYourGuide for ~£25 if you want the context.

🚌Istanbulkart tram/ferry ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet (~£16/night)

• →Hagia Sophia
• →Blue Mosque
• →Topkapi Palace exterior/park
• →Local food walk

Morning high-speed train (Yüksek Hızlı Tren) Istanbul–Ankara (4.5 hrs, ~£12), stop at Anıtkabir (free), then second high-speed train Ankara–Kayseri (2 hrs, ~£7) and a dolmuş to Göreme (~£2). Book a cave guesthouse dorm. Evening homestay-style family dinner in a village guesthouse or via your hostel's advertised community dinner (~£10).

🚌Istanbul–Ankara–Kayseri trains + dolmuş ~£21

🛏Cave guesthouse dorm in Göreme (~£15/night)

• →Anıtkabir visit
• →High-speed rail across Anatolia
• →Village family dinner

Self-guided hike of the Red and Rose Valleys or the Pigeon Valley trail (free, marked, 3-5 hrs). Visit the Göreme Open Air Museum (₺ ticket ~£9) with an audio guide. Optional cheaper alternative to a balloon flight: sunrise from the Uçhisar or Lover's Hill viewpoints watching balloons rise (~£0). Book balloon flights only if you want the splurge (~£150) — well ahead.

🚌Walking + local dolmuş ~£2

🛏Cave guesthouse dorm in Göreme (~£15/night)

• →Red/Rose Valley hike
• →Göreme Open Air Museum
• →Sunrise balloon spotting

Dolmuş to Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground city (~£6 entry), then back to Kayseri for the evening train/bus east. If the direct Van train isn't running, take the overnight bus Kayseri–Van (~14 hrs, ~£25) in a reclining coach. Book 1-2 days ahead at the otogar.

🚌Dolmuş + overnight coach to Van ~£32

🛏Overnight bus

• →Underground city visit
• →Overnight coach east across Anatolia

Arrive in Van; check into a central hotel/guesthouse. Take a dolmuş to Gevaş and the seasonal ferry or small boat to Akhtamar Island to see the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross (~£5 boat + entry). Dinner of Van's famous breakfast spread in town (~£8).

🚌Dolmuş + island boat ~£10

🛏Guesthouse in Van (~£18/night)

• →Akhtamar Island church
• →Lake Van shoreline
• →Van breakfast

Morning at Van Castle and the ancient Urartian rock tombs (free/small entry). Afternoon shared minibus day trip toward Doğubayazıt for views of Mt Ararat and the Ishak Pasha Palace (~£30-40 shared tour, bookable through your guesthouse or GetYourGuide), or overnight in Doğubayazıt to break the journey east.

🚌Shared minibus tour ~£35

🛏Guesthouse in Van or Doğubayazıt (~£18/night)

• →Van Castle & Urartian tombs
• →Mt Ararat viewpoint
• →Ishak Pasha Palace

Dolmuş to the Kapıköy/Razi border, cross on foot, then a shared taxi to Tabriz (~£15 total). This is the most bureaucracy-heavy day — have your Iran visa and printed documents ready. Check into a budget hotel or traditional guesthouse near the bazaar and try Tabrizi küfte and a bowl of Abgoosht (~£6).

🚌Dolmuş + shared taxi across border ~£15

🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Tabriz (~£20/night)

• →Turkey–Iran land border crossing
• →Tabriz bazaar wander

Morning at the Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex and the Blue Mosque (both free/cheap). Book a 1st or 2nd-class sleeper on the Raja overnight train Tabriz–Tehran (~£10-15) using the Iranian Railways (raja.ir) site or a local booking office — bring your passport. Sleeper train south across the Iranian plateau.

🚌Tabriz–Tehran sleeper train ~£12

🛏Overnight train (sleeper)

• →Tabriz Historic Bazaar
• →Blue Mosque
• →Overnight sleeper to Tehran

Arrive Tehran; check into a budget hotel near Baharestan or Valiasr. Visit Golestan Palace (small entry), the National Museum of Iran and the Carpet Museum (~£3 total), and the Sa'd Abad complex if time allows. Walk the Grand Bazaar and finish with a cheap kebab or dizi dinner (~£5). Note: for UK/US/Canadian passport holders a registered guide is mandatory throughout Iran — arrange via your visa agency.

🚌Metro ~£1

🛏Budget hotel in Tehran (~£20/night)

• →Golestan Palace
• →National Museum & Carpet Museum
• →Grand Bazaar

Free morning for the Jewel Museum (limited opening hours, check locally) or Darband hillside walk. Late afternoon board the Raja overnight sleeper Tehran–Shiraz (~£12-18). Book tickets a few days ahead online or through your hotel reception.

🚌Tehran–Shiraz sleeper train ~£15

🛏Overnight train (sleeper)

• →Darband walk / optional museum
• →Overnight sleeper to Shiraz

Explore Shiraz on foot: Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Mosque and Vakil Bazaar, the Hafez and Sa'adi tombs, and Nasir al-Mulk (Pink) Mosque early for the light (~£6 total entries). Traditional Shirazi dinner in a courtyard restaurant (~£7).

🚌Walking + taxi ~£3

🛏Budget hotel in Shiraz (~£20/night)

• →Karim Khan Citadel
• →Vakil Mosque & Bazaar
• →Hafez & Sa'adi tombs
• →Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

Hire a taxi for the day (share with other travellers for ~£20-25 each) for the classic loop: Persepolis ruins (~£4 entry), the rock tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam, and the tomb of Cyrus at Pasargadae. A licensed local guide at Persepolis costs ~£15 and is well worth it. Return to Shiraz for dinner.

🚌Shared taxi day hire ~£22

🛏Budget hotel in Shiraz (~£20/night)

• →Persepolis guided visit
• →Naqsh-e Rostam
• →Pasargadae

Morning bus or shared taxi (Savari) to Isfahan (5-6 hrs, ~£7-10). Check into a traditional guesthouse near Imam Square and spend the evening on the Si-o-se-pol bridge with locals — free and unforgettable.

🚌Bus/shared taxi Shiraz–Isfahan ~£9

🛏Traditional guesthouse in Isfahan (~£22/night)

• →Road transfer to Isfahan
• →Si-o-se-pol bridge evening

Self-guided walk of Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square: Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah mosques, Ali Qapu Palace and the bazaar (~£4). Visit the Armenian Vank Cathedral quarter in Jolfa in the afternoon, then try gaz nougat and cheap local food in the bazaar (~£6).

🚌Walking + taxi ~£3

🛏Traditional guesthouse in Isfahan (~£22/night)

• →Imam Square monuments
• →Vank Cathedral
• →Bazaar wander

Morning bus or overnight sleeper back to Tehran (~£8 bus / ~£12 train). Spend the final afternoon shopping in the Grand Bazaar for saffron and souvenirs, revisit anything you missed, and enjoy a farewell dinner with anyone you've travelled the last legs with.

🚌Isfahan–Tehran bus ~£8

🛏Budget hotel in Tehran (~£20/night)

• →Bus back to Tehran
• →Grand Bazaar souvenir hunt
• →Farewell dinner

Depart at any time — metro to Imam Khomeini Airport (~£1). Book your outbound flight independently (London–Budapest and Tehran–London fares vary hugely; budget around £180-300 one way if booked well in advance). Airlines serving Tehran change with sanctions and airspace rules, so check current routes close to departure.

🚌Metro to IKA ~£1 (international flights excluded from total)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Airport transfer
• →Departure