Belgrade Travel Forum

Hi all,

I am taking a couple of weeks trip round some of eastern europe this summer and wondered if anyone had any experience of the Belgrade to Budapest overnight sleeper train?

In particular, how much does it cost, where to get tickets and how far in advance should we get them? any other tips welcome (must see's do's in either city etc)

cheers,

Chris.

> I am taking a couple of weeks trip round some of
> eastern europe this summer and wondered if anyone
> had any experience of the Belgrade to Budapest overnight sleeper train?

Yes.

> In particular, how much does it cost
15 Euro exactly on Cent

> where to get tickets
Wasteels office in Belgrade will do it fine. They are just inside the main entrance to the station.
Also inside the station there is one international counter. Eneter the station, turn right, enter the hall where the tickets are sold and in the farmost left corner is the international desk.

> and how far in advance should we get them?
It's OK to buy a few minutes before departure but probably a day or two before is better.

> any other tips welcome (must see's do's in either city etc)
I restrict myself on the tickets. As everything it is not that simple. First, there are three kind of sleeper cars on the night trains:
- Austrian couchette
- Bulgarian sleeper if you are lucky
- Austrian sleeper

Bulgarian sleper is a mere 11 Euro in T3 and 16 in T2. You need 2nd class ticket. The biggest problem is - it may not arrive on-time in Belgrade with the train from Sofia. There is construction on-going between Dimitrovgrad and Nis (catenary wire installation) and also the Nis-Beograd leg is constantly under reapir (guess, why!) If the Bulgarian car does not arrive, the train to Vienna via Budapest will still leave on-time and the late Bulgarian car will be put aside on the station and go till Budapest only with the morning train. Thus, it may happen the evening train will have only Austrian sleeper and Austrian couchette, both more expensive than the Bulgarian sleeper. The supplement in Austrian sleeper is 28 Euro, for couchette is somewhat under 20 Euro. The breakfast is included, but honestly I can eat like a king for 5 Euro.

On the other side for 28 + 15 = 43 Euro you will save a hotel and have a historic CIWL car which used to go on the REAL Orient Express in late 70-s. These cars are all-steel sleepers and they last forever.

As Bulgarian sleeper.... well uh-oh... it's OK for a night. I would rate it easily the worst in Europe but it's worth the 11 Euro, still much better as couchette.

Here some pictures I made last year in Budapest:

1) http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/7404/bdzwlab1ps5.png (Bulgarian car outside)
2) http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/444/bdzwlab2by3.png (the inside of Bulgarian car)
3) http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7236/bdzwlab3ci1.png (the compartment of Bulgarian car)
4) http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/6764/kelebiadw0.png

The No. 4 requires a bit more explanation. This is the Hungarian side of the border, the station is called Kelebia. The same train (on time!) is on the other track. It has (no surprise!) one car less than expected: the Bulgarian sleeper did not "made" it to Belgrade again on-time, so the train left. It has three cars: one Serbian couch, one Austrian couchette and one Austrian sleeper.

Hi

can you tell me please what we see in the picture T2 OR T3
thanks in advace

david

p.s. I like to read your response about train (-:

ones I take the bus ISTANBUL - ADIRNE , then I take a bus to kapikule I pass the border by foot then I stop a car and go with him antil svelingrad there I take the 22:00 night train to ruse, in ruse I wait to the train who came to istanbul with this train I pass to giurgiu and in giurgiu I take the minibus to bucharest.

it was long but magnificent trip for me (-:

all the best to you

>can you tell me please what we see in the picture T2 OR T3

See, that is a part of problem. We did buy two T2 supplements for two "old" adults and three T3 for a grown-up kid and smaller ones. What you see on the picture is a T2 compartment which the Bulgarian attendant refused to convert to T2. There is nothing new I never had a Bulgarian sleeper which was converted to T2 properly. They always just let two people in and say it's up to you what bed you use :-O

Well, you pay 11 Euro, that's it I guess. But it's worth the money.

Thanks for all your help guys, reassured me alot. One final question, does anyone know if the sleeper supplement is compulsary? or can you just sit in a seat for the whole journey with a stadard 2nd class ticket?? Cheers.

You can seat of course. You won't enjoy it tough....

thanks for the details
david