The Orient Express is a bucket list item for any railway enthusiast, but with one-night sleeper journeys starting at £3,100 per person, and fares for the entire five-night Paris to Istanbul journey from £20,000, it’s not exactly a cheap option.

But there are ways to enjoy parts of the Orient Express line via sleeper train for a fraction of the cost. You ride the same rails and enjoy the same incredible cities as the iconic train, and if you can bear to live without afternoon tea served by men in white gloves, you can enjoy one of the best parts of the journey from just €38 (about £33).

The Bosphorus Express night train certainly doesn’t have the glamour or the wow factor of the Orient Express. It’s run by CFR Calatori, a Romanian railway operator, and the focus is on function rather than evoking the golden age of travel. Romania has a number of sleeper trains, and due to the relatively low speed of its rail network, they remain an easy, if relatively basic, way to get around.

Starting at the vast Bucharest North station, the largest in Romania, the train crosses the Danube via the Danube Bridge, passing scenery such as mudflats, marshes, and historic villages. The train then passes through the Bulgarian countryside, passing through miles of green mountains and pretty historic stations.

The train then heads to Kapıkule, on the Turkish-Bulgarian border, representing the final part of the 19 to 21 hour long journey. After a late night passport check, passengers get back on board for some sleep and the final leg of their journey. By mid-morning, the train pulls into Istanbul’s Halkali station just in time for a day of sightseeing. Most passengers take a local train to Sırkecı, a grand station long associated with the Orient Express, which is on the city’s historic peninsula.

Step outside the station and you’ll see the curving waterway known as the Golden Horn, which once protected the Byzantine and Ottoman trade ships that would pass through the city. You’re also close to the treasure-packed Topkapi Palace, full of Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts, elaborate embroidered robes, and delicately painted porcelain.

From here, you can explore the old town of Sultanahmet and many of the popular tourist attractions from the Hagia Sophia to the Basilica Cistern. There are also underground trains that run below the Bosphorous, taking you to the Asian side of Istanbul.

The route has a number of sleeper car options, including one or two berth private cars, or for the cheapest option, you can book space in a couchette shared between four. Sleeper cars are very basic, with seats that turn into beds, and you’re given a simple sheet set to make up your own bunk in the evening.

Don’t expect butlers or a turn-down service. In fact, the train doesn’t even have a buffet car, so you’ll need to bring plenty of snacks to keep you going. However, packing your own picnic makes it an even more budget friendly option.

Tickets can be purchased on the CFR website directly or at the station before departure, and the service runs during the summer months, generally from June to October.

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