International CIFE Alumni Meeting in Istanbul
26 to 28 September 2025 

Provisional Programme: On the Trail of the Orient Express
 

16.30 - 18.00 h

Ceramic tile workshop at Kurşunlu Han

Start your Istanbul discovery weekend with a ceramic tile workshop in an old caravanserai, in the historic quarter of Kurşunlu Han. Ceramic handcraft is a century-old regional tradition. Choose your motif and work on your tile in a small group. At the end of your stay take your tile back home with you, as a souvenir of a memorable experience..

Venue: Kurşunlu Han
 

19.30 h

Opening event: Dinner at the historic Orient Express restaurant

This is where the famous and wealthy arrived after their 3-day-long journey from Paris to Istanbul. Meet and dine in style in a setting filled with history!
Come in your best Orient-Express attire and compete for the prize for the best look!

Welcome speech by Matthias Waechter, Director General CIFE

Venue: Orient Express Restaurant, Sirkeci Train Station

10.00 - 12.00 h
(Parallel event)

Meet and exchange with representatives of Turkish associations

From energy transition to human rights, climate change, defence, philanthropy ... Many Turkish NGOs are actively engaging to strengthen ties between the EU and Türkiye and are keen to exchange views. For Alumni interested in such an exchange, we will be arranging specific sessions.

Register and indicate your field of interest and we will get back to you to organise a meeting.
 

10.00 - 12.00 h
(Parallel event)

Guided Walking Tour: In the Footsteps of Agatha Christie

Join us for a guided walking tour and follow in the footsteps of Agatha Christie and other famous passengers of the Orient Express. Starting from the Sirkeci Train Station, the arrival point to the old city of Istanbul, the tour takes you along the Egyptian Bazaar up to the Pera Palace Hotel. You’ll also enjoy a ride on the famous one-stop and second-oldest metro in the world!

Venue: tbc
 

10.00 - 12.00 h
(Parallel event)

Ceramic tile workshop at Kurşunlu Han

Start the day with creativity! For those that cannot participate on Friday afternoon, we are offering a second slot to take part in a ceramic tile workshop in an old caravanserai, in the historic quarter of Kurşunlu Han.

Venue: Kurşunlu Han
 

14.00 - 15.00 h

Keynote speech: The EU in the Current Geopolitical Turmoil.Between Trump’s America, Russia and China

Speaker tbc

Venue: Istanbul Policy Center at Karaköy
 

15.00 - 17.00 h

Round table: Türkiye and the EU: A new Approach to EU-Turkish Relations

Panel in collaboration with the Istanbul Policy Center of Sabancı University
Speakers tbc

Venue: Istanbul Policy Center at Karaköy 
 

19.00 - 22.30 h

Dinner on the Bosphorus
Come aboard our privatised boat and enjoy the sunset navigating between the Asian and the European continent! For some of you a cherished memory, if you have celebrated your graduation in Istanbul. For all the others an experience not to be missed! 

Venue: Departure of the boat from Karaköy port. Precise location tbc

11.00 - 13.00 h

Istanbul Biennial Guided Tour
We’re lucky, our Alumni meeting corresponds with the famous Istanbul Biennial! And we managed to prebook a small tour for our group.
Register in advance to secure your spot. 

Venue: tbc
 

12.00 - 14.00 h

Istanbul Street Food Tour Lunch
Istanbul is a centuries-old story of passersby and cultural threads and it is home to a very complex food scenery. The street food tour will start from the historic Istanbul and take you to various local and small shops that have existed for centuries, as well as recently established ones like the Syrian neighbourhood.