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Getting around in Eastern Europe
4Guest post by Sebastian Canaves-Börner
Traveling in eastern Europe is cheap compared to many other countries. The best way to travel is by bus but there are also good railway connections between popular cities.
Old and German
Most of the buses you find in Eastern Europe are old German buses who served as school buses and are “too old” and depreciated in the books. In Eastern Europe they are reborn and serve perfectly. Some are rusty and may take a little bit until they are ready to drive but they are mostly save to use.
On average a 50 km ride costs you 1-2 Euro.
Trains are rare but getting better
They have started to build more railway tracks in Eastern Europe since most of the countries joined the EU and they subsidize them with a lot of funds to improve the infrastructure.
Between popular cities trains travel frequently. It is more expensive if you travel overnight and if you cross countries like between Budapest and Bucharest. But prices are still cheaper compared to Western European countries.
A train ride in Romania for 150 km’s is about 14 Euro.
Most train and bus stations are next to each other but in bigger cities you will often find separated bus stations for national and international buses. Do your homework and check where they are situated before you travel.
Here is a list of some websites to find operators, prices & timetables:
Sofia Bus Station: http://www.centralnaavtogara.bg/index.php
Budapest Bus Station: http://www.volanbusz.hu/
Skopje Bus Station: http://www.sas.com.mk/
Podgorico Bus Station: http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com/en/
Sarajevo Bus Station: http://www.centrotrans.com/loc/
Bucharest Information: http://www.romaniatourism.com/bucharest.html
About the author:
Sebastian traveled through Eastern Europe while studying in Bulgaria. He traveled thousands of kilometers with buses and trains through the Balkan Countries. He blogs regularly about his adventures on Off-The-Path.com and just returned from an amazing year in South East Asia. You can find his best photos at Worth-a-Journey.com
Good info! I also just want to add that Student Agency busses are a great way to connect major Eastern and Central European cities like Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin when you are traveling to the next major destination. Although, these cities are all well-connected by train as well. I had a great experience riding SA from Vienna to Prague, for a fraction of the cost it would have been by train. I understand this post is more geared toward local transport, but for the all-over backpacker, it’s good to have both in mind.
I went to Romania and Moldova this past July and my local guide was telling me how the train systems in the former Soviet republics nearby (so Belarus, the Ukraine and Moldova) are not as good a way to travel. Though certainly cheap, the train rides are horribly longer than geography and topography may dictate. I am assuming that other Eastern European countries (read: the ones in the EU) would have better train systems because of the infrastructure investment you mention. So… just remember that it may depend on which Eastern European country you are traveling through!
All that said, I like train travel for the enjoyment of the views it affords and because I get, for once, to avoid an airport!
Great information! I just think Croatia is one of the best destinations in Eastern Europe, and should have been mentioned here. Just a thought..