Bucharest - Lisbon with 5 travel days in 10 days

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Yes it is possible to travel Bucharest - Amsterdam - Lisbon with 5 travel days into 10:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-global-pass[/u]

For example...

[b]1 Bucharest - Munich[/b]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/bucharest-to-budapest[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/budapest-to-munich[/u]

[b]2 Munich - Amsterdam[/b]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/munich-to-amsterdam[/u]

[b]3 Amsterdam - Paris[/b]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/amsterdam-to-paris[/u]

[b]4+5 Paris - Lisbon[/b]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-lisbon[/u]

If you are wondering about the use of night trains, have a look at the 1900-h-rule:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]

And if you like the railcc project, support it and buy your official Interrail pass here [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] - thank you. :)

Peter :)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Thank you so much, Peter! Very appealing route. I've never been to any of those cities, so that's great!

I don't think I can buy at your shop, because I'll be leaving in two days and the pass is not printable, but shipped to an address, right? Also on that, can I buy the pass at every main station of a given city?

Thanks!

All the best!

nltrainer
Traveller
1405 comments

again-it has been told a few 100 times now; WHERE they sell INTERnational tickets they should be able to also sell IR-passes-right on the spot. IN the country where you live, it is NOT valid (ROMania?)- but most times you get discount on full fare-it may work out cheaper still with youth or other ticket. But if you live in that country-you should now better what is cheap as the people here.

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Thank YOU!

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Hello again!

I need help once again. Let's forget Amsterdam. Not enough money. Could you help me find the cheapest possible route to Madrid? Is it doable with fees amounting to a maximum of 25 euros?

Two notes: german trains seem to have high fees, at least if, say, a get a train from Bucharest directly to Paris (if I'm not mistaken, that's something like 17 euros on the cheapest fees); Barcelona trains likewise.

Thanks in advance.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

From where do you want to go to Madrid? Bucharest?

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Yeah, that's it. Bucharest-Madrid.

Thanks!

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Can you help me, then?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yes,

but I am not 24/7 online... ;)

5 travel days, maximum 25€ reservation fees:

1) Bucuresti - Budapest with night train, 3€ for a regular seat :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/bucharest-to-budapest[/u]
2) Budapest - Wien with Railjet, spend the day in Wien and go with night train to Bregenz, no reservations required :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/vienna-bregenz-en-246/47[/u]
3) Bregenz - St Gallen - Zürich - Geneve - Lyon, no reservations needed as long as you dont enter a TGV between Geneve and Lyon :D Use regular TER instead; spend the night in Lyon
4) Lyon - Montpellier - Perpignan - Portbou - Barcelona, no reservation required; then either stay in Barcelona overnight and use a AVE to Madrid the following day (10€ reservation) or take the Estrella night train from Portbou :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/portbou-to-madrid[/u]
5) Barcelona - Madrid, as explained above


Flo 8)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Thank you very much! And sorry for the insistence.

There's a problem, though. My fault. Only now have I realized that I can get a discount if I use the InterRail pass to get to my home country (which is Portugal). Therefore I need to get on the following train:

[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/madrid-to-lisbon[/u]

I think a bit over 25€ maximum on fees is necessary, now. What I need, then, is to make it to Madrid and still have a travel day.

Kind regards!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej,

that's no problem:

Take the 1900 departure from Bucuresti, that way you can make use of the 1900 rule and you will have a travel day left for Madrid - Portugal.


Flo 8)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Awesome! Thanks!

Something like this, then:

Bucharest - Budapest
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/bucharest-to-budapest[/u]

Budapest - Vienna
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/budapest-to-vienna[/u]

Vienna - Bregenz
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/vienna-to-bregenz[/u]

Bregenz - Zurich
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/munich-to-zurich[/u]

Zurich - Barcelona
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-barcelona[/u]

Barcelona - Madrid
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/barcelona-to-madrid[/u]

Madrid - Portugal (Marvão)
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/madrid-to-lisbon[/u]

? Fees of more than 30 euros, but that\'s fine!

One question (the final one, I think) about that last route: from my reading of the 7 pm rule, it is only counted as one travel day if I depart after 7 pm and arrive at a given station after 4 am of the next day; what if the same train - the night train I take - arrives at its final destination after 4 am of the next day, but I get out at an intermediary station at, say, 3 am? Does it still count as one day only? If not, has anyony done this and got away with it?

Again, thanks!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Well, up to Bregenz is is alright; what are you planning to do then? Stay overnight in Zürich?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

You could do this:

[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/bucharest-to-budapest[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/budapest-to-munich[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/munich-to-paris[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-madrid[/u]

:)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Much better! Particularly because I don't have money to stay at a hostel. The route I planned before your suggestion involved much sleep at the train stations.

Instead of taking the Paris-Madrid you referenced, I'll take one departing later, so that I can check out Paris. One thing I'll miss, though, is getting to see Vienna. I don't know much about it, but I think I'd like it. This way I get to Portugal sooner and better rested.

Another question (I stopped betting it being the final one): in info on the route from Munich to Paris you suggested there's this On Saturday, until 14.04.2011 starting from Innsbruck (Austria), departure at 1954; does it mean the train only works on Saturdays throughout the whole year or that on Saturdays it departs at 19:54 from Munich or from Innsbruck?

Thank you once again! Keep up the the good flow! (Amazing joke, hum?)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej,

regarding the München - Paris CNL train: During the winter season, the train is extended to/from Innsbruck on the given dates; it runs daily all year München - Paris. :)

If you want to have a look around Wien, you can get an earlier departure from Budapest at 0910 if the night train from Bucuresti is on time; from Wien the latest train to catch the night train to Paris in München leaves at 1814 :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/vienna-to-paris[/u]
So you would have enough time to enjoy Wien! :) Basically, Budapest - Wien - München is possible every two hours with Railjet trains.

If you want to have a look around Paris, think about this:

:arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-madrid[/u]


Flo 8)

PS: Yeah, heard that joke already... :D

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Again, thanks!

That's the train from Paris that I was thinking about. railccs always nail... Wait! Ram it! :D

I'll consider the Vienna tour, if I have enough money. Thanks for the tip on the route.

I'll make a proper InterRail at some point and I'll then buy the pass and the reservations from [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] . Until then, I'll try to promote it and always advise train-travellers to check it up. Perhaps we meet some day in Austria or some place else and I'll buy you a beer (if you do enjoy beer)!

Anyway, thank you very very much. You were of great help.

Kind regards,
António

And good railing! If you come to Portugal and need some tips, do ask! I do tell.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej António,

if you want you can also support railcc by adding content

And thank you for recommending us to other travellers! I\'m sure we could meet at some point.

Enjoy your trip and if you want share with us how it turned out. :)


Flo 8)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Thanks!

I'll add some content, if I do find something useful.

I'll post let you know how it turned out when I arrive home! Or during the trip.

Take care.

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

A doubt just came up, hours before departing. What's the time zone used in the train schedules? The one from the departure country? And the arrival time is the one from the time zone of the country of destination?

Thanks once again!

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
Times given in train schedule planers are always local times.
Peter :)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Hello again!

Thanks for the reply. I need help once again. I'm in Munich right now and tried to book a reservation for the train from Paris to Madrid departing tomorrow at 21:53 ([u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-madrid[/u]) and I was asked 50€ for a seat. Why is this? If normal, given the fact that the reservation would be made only one day prior to the travel or given some other thing, can you help get from Paris to Madrid with only 15 euros or so?

If possible, do reply until 10 pm today, because I don't know if I'll be able to view the reply after that.

Kind regards!

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Ok, I get it. She definitely thought I was talking about the Ellipsos.

Thanks anyway! Kind regards!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yup, she was talking about Elipsos. The reservation for your night train should be 6€ only. You have two options, either the Paris - Latour de Carol train or the Paris - Portbou train. :)

srantonio
Traveller
14 comments

Hi!

I have arrived. A few days ago, actually. But only now have I arranged some time to write something here. It was a cool trip. I left on the 4th from Bucharest and arrived home (Marvão - now included in the listed cities/places of railcc) on the 8th. It all went as planned - Bucharest-Budapest, Budapest-Munich, Munich-Paris - until I got to Paris and tried to book a reservation for a train departing to Madrid. All full except for the Elipsos, which had one seat only, for a reservation fee of 50 euros (it was a sunday and presidential elections day in France. Go figure). My goal of getting home with the small amount of money I had (around 35 euros for reservations and food) therefore perished, I decided to check in at a hostel relatively close to the station I saw online costed 22 euros a night (money I still had) and ask my parents to deposit some money the next day. Got there, it was 27 euros cash only (the name of the hostel is Peace & Love and the manager is a weird character and not particularly nice, albeit a good English speaker). Went back to the station and after a long talk with someone at the ticket bureau on night trains with cheap reservation fees, decided to book a train to Hendaye, near the border with Spain. My idea being to spend the night at the station, which would be open according to the guy at the ticket bureau. Nope. Closed 10 minutes after my train's arrival, which was the last train. Went to an outside bar and was told by the barman that all the bars were about to close (midnight). Back on the street I met a nice man walking with his dog and asked him about a hotel. I think all are closed at this hour, but check the [can't remember the name]. Closed. Walked a bit more, crossed a small bridge and got to some area with bars still open and people talking in spanish. Spotted a hotel, the concierge greeted me in spanish and I asked if they accepted payment at the check out, to which he replied they didn't because of having done that in the past and people having just ran off without paying. Unless [after some where-am-I-gonna-go facial expressions of my great acting self] you leave something of valor here at the desk. Done. Ipad. 49 euros to be paid at the check out. Pretty decent room. Wifi (I then got him - the concierge - accept my wallet and InterRail pass instead of the iPad, so that I could surf the web and realize where I was and which trains I could get and so on). That's when I realized I was in Spain. That small bridge I crossed was the border between the two countries, basically. I was in Irun. Looked up the trains departing to Madrid and one left at 8 something in the morning and the other (only two there are, dear padawan) departed at 3 in the afternoon or something and arrived at Madrid only 20 minutes before the departure of the train to Lisbon I needed to get. Too risky. So I decided to take a train directly to Lisbon and then take a bus home. Spent the day in Irun, very cute town near the mountains in the Basque Country (At. Bilbao had recently qualified to the Europa League final, so some flags could be spotted at the windows), with very nice, helpful people (if you plan to leave your luggage somewhere while you visit the town, there's a restaurant near the train station which keeps it for 2 euros the whole day. The staton doesn't have lockers. Plus, it was very easy to get good vegan food (I'm vegan) both at restaurants and at shops. Quite an enjoyable day. At night I took the train to Lisbon (mad people on the train btw. 3 in the morning and everyone up talking and drinking. Two of them were pretty drunk. Hard time to get some sleep. All of them portuguese...), got to Lisbon, took the bus and got home at last! The best train I took was the one from Budapest to Munich. None of them had wifi, which I found slightly weird.

Once again, thanks for all the help, railccs!

I have some photos of train stations and so on. I'll see what's updatable and accordingly update. And if I remember some other useful information, I'll let you know.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Well, InterRailing is always an interesting experience! :) Thanks for sharing, pity though that you had no luck with finding a place on the cheap night trains towards Spain...did you try the Abo Forfait method to get a seat?

I'd be great if you would share some photos as well as potential updates to reservation costs etc...if you have time. :)


Flo 8)