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Europe Trains Guide Forum  |  General discussion  |  Travel plans, routes and timetables  |  From Bucharest to Athena
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Author Topic: From Bucharest to Athena  (Read 8091 times)
luticus
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« on: November 27, 2012, 03:32:00 pm »

Please inform me how I can travel by train from Bucharest to Athena with Balkan Flexipass ? How I can cross the Bulgaria/Greece border, by train or by bus ?
Thanks
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tUt
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« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2012, 11:38:07 am »

Trains from Sofia to Thessaloniki are still not running (and it doesn't look like will run any time soon). So as of now you can get train to as far as to Kulata (Bulgaria-Greek border), then it is possible to cross the border and catch Greek bus towards Thessaloniki. But maybe more convenient way will be to take train only till Blagoevgrad, while change there for direct bus to Thessaloniki. Legs Bucharest-Sofia and Thessaloniki-Athens are easy, so you won't have problems there
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luticus
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« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2012, 03:41:53 pm »

Thanks. Can I use Balkan Flexipass for the leg Thesaloniki to Athena ?
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tUt
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« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2012, 08:35:12 pm »

Can I use Balkan Flexipass for the leg Thesaloniki to Athena?
Yes, no problem here. Balkan Flexi Pass is still valid on all the OSE network, though remember that for the daytime InterCity trains from Thessaloniki to Athens you'll need to purchase additionally seat reservation
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arrivans
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« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2012, 10:14:06 am »

much better to use direct bus from Sofia-compare prices, as going onward to ATH may not cost much more. Sofia has a good new busstation-all signposted, left of main BDZ and also still the humble-jumble of 3d world offices in front of station. Compare both for departures and best price.
IF you can preplan your train trip by OSE then prebook-and hope+pray its possible- as they have now the advance sale tactic-singles from 9 eur- or 19/29 etc. May work out cheaper as that railpass.
That changing to GR bus from border across KUlata-well-do that only if you have seas of time.
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tUt
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« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2012, 07:32:11 pm »

much better to use direct bus from Sofia-compare prices, as going onward to ATH may not cost much more.
Don't know about scenery from the bus window, but train ride Thessaloniki-Athens is pretty scenic on some parts of the route, it's not a major factor, but still. If look at bus options, then there is also plenty of not very expensive buses (official and semi-official) directly to Athens from Romania 
IF you can preplan your train trip by OSE then prebook-and hope+pray its possible- as they have now the advance sale tactic-singles from 9 eur- or 19/29 etc. May work out cheaper as that railpass.
Well, if luticus intends to use daytime InterCity trains, then indeed 9 euro tickets will be cheaper compared even to plain seat reservation obligatory for pass holders. Although then it is a good idea to allow some extra time for change (both in Sofia and Thessaloniki), since not just train from Bucharest to Sofia can be late, but also buses from Sofia to Thessaloniki aren't always on time
That changing to GR bus from border across KUlata-well-do that only if you have seas of time.
This option was proposed more as for rail fans  ;D Obviously if timing is an issue, then it's not worth it
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