sietsepiets
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi there!
In about three weeks I'm leaving again from Brussels to visit my friend in Istanbul. I'm making my way through Switzerland and Italy first to visit some friends, and would then like to get to Turkey from there.
After a good look at the map I decided that traveling through Greece - over Thessaloniki - would be perfect, but then I read that there are currently no international trains running - don't know if it's still the case but I suppose so. Ugh. :|
What about going through Albania, Macedonia? I'm guessing that this is very complicated. I also read the news that Istanbul is cut off from the railway network... grr. I am refusing to take a plane though!
So if anyone has some helpful tips for me, it would be very much appreciated :) It's not a big deal if it involves non-Interrail traffic since I'm thinking about taking the 5-in-10 days pass and realised that I might not have a day left at the end of my trip anyway.
Many thanks!
Sietske
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
Hej Sietske!
- There still are no connections to/from Greece at the moment, but you wouldnt need to go there anyway if you are heading to Turkey.
- Sadly, going to Turkey/Istanbul is rather complicated as well. Due to construction works the direct train from Belgrade/Sofia/Bucarest to Istanbul is suspended for most of its way in Turkey and you will have to change to replacement buses between Kapikule and Istanbul. Arrival in Kapikule is scheduled at 0120, from where you will have to travel the rest of the night in buses. :os
- I would recommend to go Bruxelles - Luxembourg - Strasbourg - Zürich; how to proceed from there depends on how much time and money you want to invest in Switzerland and on where you have to go in Italy.
If you want, you could go from Zürich to Graubünden and travel via the Berninabahn :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/st-moritz-to-tirano[/u]
Stay overnight at Ospizio Bernina at over 2200 metres, very beautiful! :)
The next the on to Milano and to your Italian friends...two travel days used so far.
From Italy it will be a little tricky to continue as the best way would be to go to Slovenia next - but there are currently no cross-border trains! However, there are other possibilities, either via Trieste and the by bus to Sezana to continue towards Ljubljana or to Gorizia, then across town to Nova Gorica and continue by train from there.
Next stop would be Belgrad...from there you can continue via Sofia to Istanbul. As said above you will have to change to a bus at the end but this is the only rail connection to Istanbul from Western Europe. :(
Going via Albania makes no sense as it is not included in InterRail and has no international rail services. Similar situation with Macedonia, although it is included in InterRail its only international link at the moment is to Serbia so it makes no sense to go there if you are heading for Tureky.
Flo 8)
nltrainer
Traveller
1478 comments
ge zei daar niet/you did not say how far south in IT you wanted to go.
The alternative that IRers have used since the card exist are the direct ferries IT(bari/brindisi)-GR (patrai, can make stop at Kerkyra=|Corfu.
Of coruse you can go via ALb and it really is not very complicated|: ferry from same ports to there (NOT incl in IR-the IT-GR ferry is, but you pay porttaxes), and then ANY major and most minor ALB towns have direct buses to GR-incl. Athinai, from Tirana quite a few daily. Simply let your Ir be shorter-end at IT and pay the rest as you go. Book NOW a cheap EZ or jetairfly back home from some GR island. ALB is quite an experience.
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
The ferries to Greece are no great help since travelling within Greece is not very convenient at the moment, and of course the Filia/Dostluk to Istanbul does not run at the moment...
sietsepiets
Traveller
4 comments
The title of my post said Napels, but I just realised my friend won't be there so I won't have to go through Italy after all, which makes it a lot easier really. I'll most probably go from Switzerland to Belgrade and take the train from there. And get transferred onto a bus when I reach the border... I'll be half dead once I arrive in Istanbul, but whatever :)
I'm also going to look into your Swiss train suggestions Flo, thanks!
Sietske xx
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
Hej,
OK, I overlooked Naples in the heading... OK...you could get the Zürich - Belgrad overnight train now :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/zurich-to-belgrade[/u] I recommend to get a couchette or sleeper for the overnight journey as it is much more comfortable and not very expensive.
However you could still make a round trip through the Swiss Alps if you want and enter the night train to Belgrad in Sargans, have a look at the map here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train-ticket-railmap-of-europe[/u]
Flo 8)