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journey between Serbia and Greece

  • February 23, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 86 views
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I'm planning an Interrail trip from Bologna, Italy, to Istanbul, Turkey, passing through Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Greece, and Turkey.

Since Albania and North Macedonia aren’t included in the Interrail pass, does anyone know if the train journey between Serbia and Greece is covered? Also, for those who’ve traveled this route, do you think the Interrail pass is worth it for these destinations, or would other transport options be better?

Would love to hear about your experiences and tips!

Best answer by eurocity101

Theres a very good overview about train travel in the Balkans:

Interrail is valid in North Macedonia. But in the whole region, international trains often don’t exist so you have to rely on buses.

I also think that Interrail is no good value for large parts of the Balkans as train tickets are rather cheap.

If you want to reach Turkey entirely by train, I suggest to travel through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria instead. I’m also in an early stage to plan a similar trip by the way.

    4 replies

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    Railly clever
    Forum|alt.badge.img+3
    • eurocity101
    • Railly clever
    • Answer
    • February 23, 2025

    Theres a very good overview about train travel in the Balkans:

    Interrail is valid in North Macedonia. But in the whole region, international trains often don’t exist so you have to rely on buses.

    I also think that Interrail is no good value for large parts of the Balkans as train tickets are rather cheap.

    If you want to reach Turkey entirely by train, I suggest to travel through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria instead. I’m also in an early stage to plan a similar trip by the way.

    I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
    ralderton
    E
    E
    • Ema
    • Author
    • Rail rookie
    • February 23, 2025

    Thank you very much for your response, but I would really like to find a way to travel through the Balkans to Turkey, even if the Interrail pass is not the best option.. 

    ralderton
    Railmaster
    Forum|alt.badge.img+8
    • ralderton
    • Railmaster
    • February 23, 2025

    Thank you very much for your response, but I would really like to find a way to travel through the Balkans to Turkey, even if the Interrail pass is not the best option.. 

    As it says in that guide, there are two good routes to Turkey - via Bucharest or via Belgrade. It also says there are no international trains to Greece.

    C
    • Caspar201
    • Right on track
    • February 24, 2025

    If you also want to travel by bus, you could travel from Croatia to Bosnia by bus (for example Zagreb to Sarajevo, or Dubrovnik to Mostar and from there by train to Sarajevo), then to Montenegro by bus, from Bar in Montenegro by train to Belgrade, from Belgrade by bus to Skopje, from Skopje by bus to Thessaloniki, from Thessaloniki by bus to Sofia, and from there by train to Istanbul. It depends on the Italy-Croatia part of the journey, but just for the Bar-Belgrade and Sofia-Istanbul train an interrail pass probably isn’t worth it.

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