KreuzbandTom
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Dear travellers and railway experts,
I am planning to do a little roadtrip this summer. As this will be my first interrail journey I don´t have any experience with the routes in Western Europe and Balkan region. The final destination will be Alexandropoulis where I will meet my girlfriend and spend 2 weeks in Greece. But as flying is kinda boring for me, and there are so many interesting and new (I have never visited these countries) countries for me, a interrail roadtrip is more fun. I will have time for about 10 days to do the trip. As I live in Munich (Germany) I think the start in Ljubljana(Slovenia) is not a bad option. I would arrive there by bus from Munich. The trip should cover the following countries and citys although I am open for recommendations.
Slovenia (Ljubljana) - Croatia (Zagreb) - Bosnia (???) - Montenegro (Podgorica - Bar) - Macedonia (Skopje - other recommendation?!) - Greece (Alexandropoulis)
Do you think this route is possible with the 10days (5 travel days with train) interrail pass? ||
I would also love to go down to the Croatian beaches, but I think I will have to skip that to a separate trip to Croatia when I have a look on the interrail map with the train connections. Do you have any recommendations for Bosnia and Macedonia?
Thanks a lot for the responses in advance!
8)
Thomas
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hej Thomas,
just go with regular tickets, the 5in10 IR pass does not pay off on your route, especially since you are over 26.
A possible route could be Ljubljana - Sarajevo - Ploce, then by bus to Montenegro. From Montenegro by train again to Beograd, then Skopje and by bus to Lake Ohrid (either by bus all the way from Skopje or by train to Bitola or Kicevo and continue by bus or taxi). Same way to cross the border to Greece as there are currently no through trains.
Flo 8)
KreuzbandTom
Traveller
2 comments
Hello Flow,
Thanks a lot for your answer!
I have some questions regarding your recommendations:
- How can I find a train connection from Sarajevo to Ploce? I can only find one in the other directions...
- What are the regular prices for trains in that region that you say the the 5in10 IR pass does not pay off on that route?
- Can I buy the train tickets at site or do I have to make a reservation before, especially on the frequent routes?!
- Where can I find a good webside for bus connections in that region?
Thanks a lot in advance for your answer!!!
Tom
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi Tom.
Here more information. The prices are for 2nd class tickets and calculated with the exchange rates of today.
You can buy the tickets directly at the railway stations, it is the common way there and easy to do. :)
[b]Ljubljana - Zagreb[/b]: EUR [b]14,60[/b] - [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/ljubljana-to-zagreb[/u]
[b]Zagreb - Sarajevo[/b]: EUR [b]30[/b] - [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/zagreb-to-sarajevo[/u]
[b]Sarajevo - Ploce[/b]: EUR [b]12[/b] - [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/sarajevo-to-ploce[/u]
If you like, have a stop in [b]Mostar[/b] as it is on your way to Ploce. Interesting place! Sarajevo - Mostar: EUR 5; Mostar - Ploce: EUR 8.
[b]Bus[/b]: when travelling there, I always just went to the bus stations an bought tickets at the day of the departure. The hostels where I stayed, always had a lot of information about. Bus travel is the common way there. Here you will find schedules: www.buscroatia.com
Peter :)
KreuzbandTom
Traveller
2 comments
Dear Peter,
Thank you so much for your answer! ;)
I am planning my trip right now so I have some more questions to you as it seems that you hace travelled this route before?!
- What place would you prefer for 1 day: Ploce or Dubrovnik? Or both? Or none?! Any other recommendations?
- Do you know a connection between Dubrovnik and Kotor? On the website www.buscroatia.com
unfortunately I cannot find one. As well as Dubrovnik-Bar. I mean they have it as a selection but they dont show any connection.
- Isn´t there a faster way to go from Podgorica/Bar to Skopje than via the train to Belgrad? I know the train ride must be fantastic due to the spectacular scenery. But maybe I would skip it if there would be a faster way to come to Skopje.
- I would like to go to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia after Skopje. Is it better to go with the train or by bus? If you go by train is it better to go via Kicero or Bitola and then by bus?! After Lake Ohrid I have to cross the boarder to Greece and go to Alexandropoulis where I will meet my girlfriend. Do you have any idea if there is any other opportunity to cross the boarder but with the taxi or the train from Skopje to Thessaloniki?! I would like to avoid going all the way back to Skopje due to the time loss.....
Thank you so much in advance for you answers and recommendations!!!
Have a nice weekend! :)
Flo
Traveller
10723 comments
Hej,
some answers:
- Stay at Dubrovnik
- There should be a bus connection Dubrovnik - Ulcinj, at least once daily which runs via Herceg Novi - Kotor - Budva - Bar...unfortunately, information is scarce and the best thing would be to phone up Dubrovnik bus station if you want more detailed information beforehand.
- Well, there should be bus connections Podgorica - Skopje...but I would not want to miss the train ride! The only problem is, that the day train _can_ be delayed quite heavily still which would mean the connection to the night train to Skopje from Belgrade is not 100% guaranteed. So you should better plan with a night's stay in Belgrade and then take the day train to Skopje.
- If you want to go by train to Ohrid, I would think the better option would be to go to Bitola and change there to a bus to Ohrid.
- Well, the best option to get to Greece from Ohrid seems to be to go to Bitola again, the cross the border by taxi and get another taxi to Florina from where you can take a train to Thessaloniki via Edessa.
Flo 8)
PS: Oh, and whichever way you finally go, we would be very grateful to get a short report on the situation, especially regarding the buses Dubrovnik - Montenegro and around Ohrid and the Greek border to help future travellers. ;)