BELGRADE - ISTANBUL - train

krasmussen
Traveller
25 comments

This train is NOT running. It is still in alle the international travelplaners, byt at the station i Belgrade there is a small note (in Serbian) says it does not run. At 07:50 there is still the train til Skopje, and you can use this until Nis and then go to Sofia by bus.
There is still a train in the evening to Sofia, and the Balkan express (D491) will run from Sofia to Istanbul, leaving Sofia 19:15

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Thank you for your post.
there are currently construction works on the route Belgrade to Sofia.
Only the night train Belgrade-Sofia is currently running:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/belgrade-to-sofia[/u]
Then you have to wait the whole day in Sofia for the train to Istanbul, leaving in the evening.
Then the next problem: again construction works around Istanbul. So you will have to change to the bus at the border. The bus is included in the rail ticket.
Option is a direct bus from Sofia bus station (just 200 meters beside the railway station) to Istanbul: EUR 25.
Peter :)

nltrainer
Traveller
1404 comments

there are-by season- at least 8 or up to 10/12 through buses to IStanbul-some from the very new Otogar beside, some from the shoddy boxes in station forecourt-these leave from aside near the Novotel. You will surely-if you do not want to visit Sofia, find a much earlier bus and maybe be in IST by eve same day coming off the night train. NO-you pay and your precious IR is not valid there-again showing wthat in these areas this pass is mostly just misery.
METROturizm is a good company with about 4-5 buses daily, but the ohers are just fine too.

mejhna
Traveller
1 comments

hello all,

I have read all the info about the train connection Belgrade-Istanbul and found it VERY helpful (I just wish I came across this site a bit earlier in our planning). though I've now learned a lot I'd just like to run something by you obviously well-infomed people: so, the night train to Sofia is still running, which means that if one is willing to spend the day in Sofia, there's still the option of getting on the Orient Express to Turkey, right? which will, as I now know, only take us to the border and then we will have to take the bus. we were planning to buy Balkan Flexipass tickets, do you think the bus connection to Istanbul would still be free? and if not, do you have any idea about the price? also the train back leaves from Kapikule just after 4 am. do the buses from Istanbul run at that early hour?

*EDIT: oh, I just noticed that the ETA for Kepikule on the way to Istanbul is 1:45 am, so also very early in the morning. so, I guess the buses run 24h?

if it still seems possible with that extra day in Sofia, we might still try her. and I'll be sure to let you know how it went. :D

thank you for any new information and of course much thanks for the ones you've already given us!

*Edit 2: just felt like I should add my name... so... Nina ;)

magogar5
Traveller
1 comments

Good morning,

Please Could someone inform me actually what is the timetable Belgrade-Sofia-Istanbul??

What line is working?

Thank you

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/belgrade-to-istanbul[/u]

edundas
Traveller
1 comments

Hi,

Can someone please tell me if the Belgrade- Istanbul overnight train (with the day stop in Sofia) is still running? And any ideas whether it would count as 1 or 2 days of travel on an interrail pass?

Thanks
edundas

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

No, the train runs only from Sofia to Istanbul for several years now.
There is only the night train remaining between Belgrade and Sofia.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/belgrade-to-sofia[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/sofia-to-istanbul[/u]

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Thank you! :)


Flo 8)