Greece - Bruxelles

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

Hi kounoupidi,

here is how I would do it:

1. OSE (Greek Railways) to Patra (for example, from Athens by train and bus, change at Kiato). Information on how to book can be found here:
[ux]https://rail.shop/ose[/ux]

2. Ferry boat from Patra to Venice. Ferry boat companies on the Patra-Venice line include ANEK lines and Minoan lines.

3. Thello sleeper train from Venice to Paris (Grade de Lyon station): [ux]https://rail.shop/thello[/ux]

4. Thalys high speed train from Paris (Grade du Nord station) to Bruxelles

The journey should be doable in 3 days and 2 nights:

Day 1: Athens/Greece - Patra by train or bus (OSE)
Night 1 and Day 2: Patra - Venice
Night 2: Venice - Paris by sleeper train (Thello)
Day 3 (morning): Paris - Bruxelles by Thalys high speed train.

Remember to leave several hours (3 hours minimum in Patra and Venice) for changes in case of delays. The Venice - Bruxelles journey can be booked in one go at [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux]

For example, here is a search for July 25th: [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/Venezia-Santa-Lucia/Bruxelles/2507/2000[/ux]

On the ferry, I would book a private cabin (depends on your personal privacy needs, you can also just book passage and "sleep rough"), and on the Thello night train at least a 6-person couchette, although a sleeper compartment is even better. Don\'t just book a coach seat on the night train, it\'s difficult to sleep because you will be disturbed by other passengers.

Best,

Quenzon

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

P.S. Always remember: The earlier you book, the cheaper the prices!

Peter
Traveller
9331 comments

Hi Kounoupidi and welcome to rail.cc

Quenzon explained you already the route via Italy. :)

So my question is: where do you start in Greece ? It is also possible to travel via Serbia, Hungary and Germany.

Thessaloniki (departure in the evening) to Belgrade, Serbia (arrival in the morning)
Ticket bought at the station, couchette car, 2nd class: ~ EUR 42
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/thessaloniki-belgrade-b-334/415[/u]
Blog: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/belgrade-skopje-thessaloniki-train/[/u]

Belgrade to Budapest, Hungary by day train
Buy the Budapest special at the station for about EUR 15, 2nd class.
Blog: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/budapest-belgrade-train/[/u]

Then you have different options, I personally would prefer to use the night train via Munich... an other one is to travel from Budapest to Vienna. And from Vienna you continue by night train to Cologne. Both tickets available at [ux]https://rail.shop/oebb[/ux]. From Cologne then to Brussels: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/cologne-to-brussels[/u]

Here the option via Munich:

Budapest to Munich, Germany by night train
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/budapest-munich-en-462/56[/u]
2nd class available from EUR 29
Book at [ux]https://rail.shop/mav[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn/Budapest/Munich-Hbf[/ux]

Munich to Brussels, Belgium by saver price ticket on a day train starting from EUR 39
Book at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn/Munich-Hbf/Bruxelles-Midi[/ux]



Additional information for Greece.
Easy online booking on [ux]https://rail.shop/ose[/ux]
I also attached a travel blog about Greece.

Schedules

Athen - Kiato:
[ux]http://www.trainose.gr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/%CE%94%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BB%CF%8C%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%91%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CE%9A%CE%B9%CE%AC%CF%84%CE%BF.pdf[/ux]

Kiato - Patras: [ux]http://www.trainose.gr/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/%CE%94%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%9B%CE%B5%CF%89%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%9A%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%A0%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1-%CE%91%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CE%A0%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-16-05-2016.pdf[/ux]

Pete :)

kounoupidi
Traveller
4 comments

hello.thx everyone for your replys i really apreciate it.i want to be in belgium for tommorowland an my start point will be from thessaloniki.how many days before i have to start to be there until friday 21/7/2017?



THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP
KOUNOUPIDI :)

Peter
Traveller
9331 comments

Hi.
What about the Interrail pass. Especially if you want to return back home as well by train: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail[/u]
And you should think about the route via Serbia and Hungary, as less extra Interrail reservation fees.
With some stops in-between, not to only "rush trough", you are fine with five days one way - but can do it faster of course. See "calculations" in the topics before and follow the links. :)
Pete :)

kounoupidi
Traveller
4 comments

hi pete.THANK YOU AGAIN.I was thinking interail pass but is my 1st time travelling so long distance with train so i have a ton of questions.Could you please explain to me how it works?
Kounoupidi :)

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hi!

We have everything explained in Greek language here: [ux]https://rail.cc/gr/first-time-interrail[/ux] and here: [ux]https://rail.cc/gr/how-to-interrail[/ux] - this should answer all your basic questions. :)

Since you are starting from Thessaloniki, you have to take the night train to Belgrade first: [ux]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/thessaloniki-belgrade-b-334/415[/ux] - attention, currently bus replacement between Thessaloniki and Idomeni/Gevgelija. To be able to use the 1900 rule for night trains (explained in the links above) and only use one travel day I recommend to buy an additional ticket from Thessaloniki to Idomeni and start using your Interrail pass only from there.

From Belgrade you can continue by train to Budapest and take the night train from Budapest to Munich there - reservation required! [ux]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-munich-en-462/56[/ux]

From Munich you can then travel through Germany to Bruxelles, using ICE high speed trains (no reservation required); from Bruxelles you can also continue to Boom by train for Tomorrowland.

For schedules from Belgrade to Boom, you can use the schedule planner: [ux]http://plan.rail.cc/[/ux]

I would recommend to order your Interrail pass via [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail/[/ux] as soon as possible; you have to leave Thessaloniki on the evening of July 19 the latest - you would then arrive in Boom two days later in the afternoon of July 21.

Flo

kounoupidi
Traveller
4 comments

Hi
Thank you for your help flo i apreciate it!!!I will read and check out everything.Also i would like to know how much money this trip will cost?
thank you again
kounoupidi :)

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

5 in 15 Interrail ticket: [ux]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-global-pass[/ux]
Reservation for night train Budapest - Munich from 14€: [ux]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train/budapest-munich-en-462/56[/ux]
Addtional ticket Thessaloniki - Idomeni: a few €€

So overall at least about 250€ overall.

kounoupidi
Traveller
4 comments

Thank you again for your help flo :D .