The Sultans Trail is a long-distance footpath from Vienna to Istanbul. It is long. The path passes through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, East Macedonia and Thrace in northern Greece, and Turkey.
Sultans Trail (recte Sultan's) takes its name from Sultan Süleyman Kanuni, Suleiman the Magnificent, of the Ottoman Empire who led Ottoman armies to conquer Belgrade and most of Hungary before his invasion was checked at the Siege of Vienna. The main path follows the route of Suleiman the Magnificent on his way to Vienna. He started on 10 May 1529 from Istanbul and arrived on 23 September 1529 in Vienna (141 days). It was to be the Ottoman Empire's most ambitious expedition to the west, but the Austrian garrison inflicted upon Suleiman his first defeat. A second attempt to conquer Vienna failed in 1532. In 1566, at the age of 72, the sultan led his army for the last time; he died close to Szigetvár in Hungary.
In contrast to its past, the Sultans Trail nowadays forms a path of peace and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures. The trail starts at St. Stephen's Cathedral in the centre of Vienna; the bell of this church is made from the melted iron of Ottoman cannons. It ends in Istanbul at the Süleymaniye Mosque, a religious complex that includes the mausoleums of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan.
The Sultans Trail was developed by volunteers from the Netherlands-based NGO Sultans Trail â A European Cultural Route. It follows part of the E8 European long distance path. Apart from the Bulgarian mountains, the trail can be walked all year round. Most parts of the route have ample accommodation such as hotels, pensions or private rooms. In parts of Hungary and Bulgaria a tent is recommended.
In 2020, the BBC broadcast series three of Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul which was about the Sultans Trail.
Austria Main route: Vienna-Simmering, Schwechat, Rauchenwarth, Trautmannsdorf an der Leitha, Wilfleinsdorf, Bruck an der Leitha, Rohrau, Petronell-Carnuntum, Hainburg an der Donau, Wolfsthal.
Austria â Purbach route (under development): Wien-Simmering, Schwechat, Rauchenwarth, Trautmannsdorf an der Leitha, Sommerein, Breitenbrunn am Neusiedler See, Purbach am Neusiedler See, Donnerskirchen, Eisenstadt, St. Margarethen im Burgenland, Mörbisch am See, in Hungary Fertà Ârákos, Sopron, Brennbergbánya, back again in Austria, Ritzing, Lackenbach, Weppersdorf, St.Martin, Kaisersdorf, Drassmarkt, Weingraben, Karl, Oberrabnitz, Piringsdorf, Mannersdorf an der Rabnitz, Klostermarienberg.
Slovakia Main route: Bratislava, ÃÂunovo, Vojka nad Dunajom, GabÃÂÃÂkovo, Malé Kosihy, Komárno, Ià ¾a, Radvaà  nad Dunajom-à ½itava, Radvaà  nad Dunajom, MoÃÂa, Kravany nad Dunajom, Obid, à  túrovo.
Hungary Main route: Gyà Âr, Esztergom, Szentendre, Budakalász, Budapest, Százhalombatta, Székesfehérvár, Dunaföldvár, Szekszárd, Bátaszék, Mohács, Sátorhely, Udvar.
MATS Balaton route (till Mohács):: Sopron, Brennbergbánya, to Austria, Ritzing, Lackenbach, Weppersdorf, St.Martin, Kaisersdorf, Drassmarkt, Weingraben, Karl, Oberrabnitz, Piringsdorf, Mannersdorf an der Rabnitz, Klostermarienberg, back to Hungary Köszeg, Sárvár, Sümeg, Keszthely, Szuliman, Csertà Â, Szigetvár, Pécs, Mohács, Sátorhely, Udvar.
Croatia Main route: Topolje, Draà ¾, Podolje, Popovac, Beli Manastir, Karanac, Kneà ¾evi Vinogradi, Grabovac, Darda, Osijek, ÃÂakovo, Vinkovci, Vukovar, à  arengrad, Opatovac, Ilok.
Serbia Main route: BaÃÂki Breg, Bezdan, BaÃÂki Monoà ¡tor, Sombor, Apatin, BaÃÂ, BaÃÂka Palanka, Novi Sad, Petrovaradin, Sremski Karlovci, Stari Slankamen, Stari Banovci, Novi Banovci, Zemun, Belgrade, Grocka, Smederevo, Smederevska Palanka, Svilajnac, Despotovac, ParaÃÂin, Kruà ¡evac, Nià ¡ka Banja, Nià ¡, Bela Palanka, Pirot, Dimitrovgrad.
Bulgaria Main route: Kalotina, Dragoman, Sofia, Vitosha, Samokov, Rila Monastery, Rila, Velingrad, Borino, Trigrad, Mugla, Smoljan, Madan, Ardino, Kardzjali, Madzharovo, Ivaylovgrad.
Bulgaria alternative route (from Sofia to Edirne, through the Maritsa Valley): Sofia, Novi Han, Ihtiman, Pazardzhik, Stamboliyski, Plovdiv, Sadovo, Parvomay, Mineralni Bani, Haskovo, Harmanli, Lyubimets, Svilengrad.
Greece Main route (all located in East Macedonia and Thrace): Ormenio, Dikaia, Marasia, Kastanies.
Turkey Main route: KaraaÃÂaç, Edirne, HñdñraÃÂa, Ortakça, Kavaklñ, YaÃÂcñlñ, SüloÃÂlu, Büyük Gerdelli, Dolhan, Paà Âayeri, Koyunbaba, Kñrklareli, Kñzñlcñkdere, ÃÂsküpdere, Karñncak, Kaynarca, Pñnarhisar, Poyralñ, DoÃÂanca, Develi, Vize, , , ÃÂakñllñ, Kavacñk, Saray, Küçük Yoncalñ, Safaalan, Binkñlñç, Aydñnlar, Yaylacñk, Gümüà Âpñnar, ðhsaniye, Akalan, DaÃÂyenice, Boyalñk, Dursunköy, Pirinçci, Eyüpsultan, Fatih, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Topkapñ Palace in Istanbul.