anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Posted 12 years ago
My wife and I wish to travel from Istanbul to Budapest stopping off for one night in Bucharest during late August.
We realise that due to engineering works we will have to travel by bus from Istanbul to the Turkish border then join the train.
As this takes place early in the morning can we travel / book a 2 berth sleeping compartment for the onward leg to Bucharest from the Turkish border. If so do we do this booking in Istanbul?
After one night in Bucharest we wish to travel again overnight in a 2 berth compartment to Budapest. Can this be booked in advance or do we do this when we arrive in Bucharest?
We will probably travel mid week and wonder if the trains will be busy and therefore unable to book a 2 berth compartment.
Any other advice would be welcome.
Many thanks
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Hi.
We just got an update on the route Istanbul to Bucharest today. A sad one...
All is doable by train ticket (point to point or Rail Pass) but like you know, there is on the first part a replacement by bus from Istanbul to Kapikule (border Turkey/Bulgaria).
[b]Istanbul - Bucharest[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/istanbul-to-bucharest[/u]
Booking is possible in Istanbul - but ask before if it makes sense to pay for an expensive compartment or if there are simple seats sold due to the bus services.
A bit complicate - but currently the train connection is like that.
[b]Bucharest to Budapest[/b] is possible by several direct trains:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/train/bucharest-to-budapest[/u]
I am not sure if you can book it on the Romanian railway website, but best option here like in most Eastern European countries is directly at the railway station.
Peter :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Peter , Many thanks for the information. Looks like it would be better to postpone our trip until next year when the engineering works are complete.
Thanks again
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
It is an absolutely interesting route. A bit the nostalgic way with old trains. :)
I personally like it a lot!
Due to the new train tunnel connecting both parts of Istanbul, there are these infrastructure works in the Istanbul area. Maybe as these on the route to Romania, currently as well on the way to Belgrade (at least for some trains).
But I think it will be very interesting to watch the development of rail travel in this are.
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej,
as Peter said, the current situation of international train links in SE Europe is quite bad, sadly. Bucuresti - Beograd sleeper withdrawn, Beograd - Sofia day train withdrawn (which would provide the direct connection to Istanbul), Bucuresti - Istanbul train additional bus replacement...going there would require a bit more organising than usual.
We try to keep our informations up to date, the situation might quickly change except for the Kapikule - Istanbul bus replacement which will last until 2012. :|
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Thanks Flo. This journey is something I must do so any future updates would be most welcome.
:D
rachelm
Traveller
1 comments
Hello Guys
I, too, am trying to figure out the best way to get from Budapest to Istanbul. At the train information centre here we were told that it is impossible to get a direct train from Bucharest to Istanbul, and it requires about 5 stops and changes! Any help in that regard? And if there is a direct bus, where do you get it from?
Thanks!
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Hi.
The connection Bucharest to Istanbul is available.
Bus replacement in Bulgaria on Stara Zagora to Dimitrovgrad (journey time: 1:30h) and in Turkey from the border station Kapikule to Istanbul.
Both bus replacements are included in a train ticket.
Direct bus for example Eurolines leaving Bucharest at 16:00h arriving in Istanbul at 04:00h: EUR 35
Peter :)
Hubinator0815
Traveller
5 comments
Hey, we also want to travel from istanbul to bucharest in september. I would like to know if the bus to Kapikule drives everyday and where and when it starts in Istanbul. How long will it take between each station (istanbul - kapikule - dimitrovgrad - stara zagora - bucharest)?
Thanks
Markus
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Hi Markus.
The current information is still the same. Bus replacement Istanbul to Kapikule, then go on by train to Bucharest. The rail track works in Bulgaria seems to be completed. The bus in Turkey is running to the same times like the train.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/istanbul-to-bucharest[/u]
If I get updates, I will publish them immediately.
Peter :)
Koelejs
Traveller
1 comments
Hi,
I want to go to Budapest as well.
Maybe someone knows how much costs ticket from Bucharest to Budapest?