greeceskopje
Traveller
3 comments
Posted 8 years ago
Hello,
I am arriving at Athens International Airport on a Sunday afternoon at 2pm and need to get to Skopje bus station by 12.30pm on Monday latest. What is the simplest and cheapest way to make this trip? Safety is also a priority for me. I will be carrying a 20kg luggage bag with me too so will there be an extra cost for this?
Thanks!
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hi!
By train you wont be able to make it in time, as there is only a single train from Thessaloniki to Skopje, leaving Thessaloniki at 1830, requiring you to leave Athens at 1218 to get that train.
As far as I can see it, you would have to make an overnight stop at Thessaloniki and taking the earliest bus in the morning to Skopje, however this only reaches Skopje at 1300: [ux]http://www.ms.mk/?id_page=3[/ux]
The other bus operator also arrives at around 1300 in Skopje: [ux]http://www.simeonidistours.gr/tours/topic.php?Article_ID=44[/ux]
Flo 8)
greeceskopje
Traveller
3 comments
Thanks Flo. Can I pre-book the Thessaloniki- Skopje tickets or will I have to pay in person at the bus station?
Which train/bus should i take from Athens airport to catch the 8.30am bus from Thessaloniki to Skopje? Does the train have a carry on luggage limit? And is it safe for me to sleep on a night train by myself?
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
You should be able to buy them online at the links I posted above - however, as we are focuses on rail travel I cant give you further details.
To get to Thessaloniki, I would recommend to take a train in the afternoon to Thessaloniki and spend the day there. The night train has only regular seats so wont be very comfortable - but safe (however standard safety measures such as putting your money, tickets, passport close to your body are recommended as on any train). You can buy the tickets online at the website of Greek railways at trainose.gr
greeceskopje
Traveller
3 comments
Ok thank you.
How much does it cost to check in 20kg luggage on the train? Or do i take it on the train with me?
If I have to check in, how long before the train arrives can i check in? It would be nice to get dinner at a nearby shop without carrying my luggage with me.
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Ah sorry, I forgot.
You dont need to check in your luggage and wont have any problems with a 20kg bag. :)
greeceskopje
Traveller
3 comments
And just another question. Is there any luggage storage space at Larissa railway station?
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
As far as I know there is no luggage storage...
ntrain
Traveller
123 comments
Other remark re this train: August 2015-from newspapers here.
As anyone who follows news probably has seen, there are thousands of refugees trying to cross GR into the more whealthier parts of EURope, mostly Syrians, also Iraqi's, Iranians, Afghani's etc.
They now (also) use this sinlge daily train to travel onward. MAC issues them with a kind of temporary transitpasses to do so. ON many stations, mostly Gevgelija (=on the border) they have to wait-days-for that and this makes conditions rather dire. Pictures show utter vandalised and graffitied traincars crammed full of people.
Decide yourself if you want to be part of that or rather avoid it.