We will be going Budapest-Pecs-Zagreb-Beograd/Novi Sad-Timosoara-Oradea-Budapest. The entire thing is about 2 weeks, and there are 4-5 days in Zagreb.
So, rent a car for the 2 weeks or take buses? Buses in Croatia are good, but I'm not sure about the Zagreb-Novi Sad or Belgrade part. We are also considering train from Budapest-Pecs-Zagreb, and then private driver (if he weill respond to email) for parts.
I currently find no attractive train schedules online between Pecs and Zagreb. Perhaps this could change in the summer. Rome2Rio thinks that Croatia rail has two direct trains per day between Gyekenyes and Zagreb, and I think I saw such a route about a year ago, but currently you might have to take a taxi from Gyekenyes to Koprivnica before reconnecting with train. Of course, the international tickets are not sold online by the national railway.
Maybe you already saw the news that trains between Belgrad and Novi Sad are suspended until further notice.
I would be tempted to drive, if the car rental agency allows this specific mix of countries.
I would be tempted to drive, if the car rental agency allows this specific mix of countries.
Looking at the TI for Beograd, I saw a daytrip using a TI driver from Beograd to Timosoara for 71E. That may be a way to go as well.
I think I took a bus from Beograd to Novi Sad in 2015. (I'm traveling and can't consult my notes.) If the regular trains aren't running, I'm sure there's bus service. Based on my limited observations--I bussed from Szeged (Hungary) to Subotica (Serbia) last year--the Serbian buses on such minor routes are not of the same calibre as buses used farther west.
There's some very nice Art Nouveau architecture in Oradea, though some buildings (as of 2015) looked as if they needed some restoration.
You've set yourself quite a challenge with that itinerary, time-wise. I hope you've been to Budapest before and will not need the recommended 4 to 5 days there. I'm a big fan of public transportation, but I think you will do a lot better if you drive in Serbia and Romania. I figured I covered about 30 mph on trains and buses in Romania, and I wasn't making connections.
@acraven: We have been to Budapest 2 times before, so we have done the major things in the city. We will probably do a day trip to the Danube bend. We've been 4 times to Zagreb, and also 1 time to Beograd and 1 time to Novi Sad. I am aware that there are some short times here. We will be in Zagreb for 4-5 days, and will have a week to do the trip through Romania. A little rushed, but not too bad.
@tyrker: Thanks for your very detailed comments. Are you Hungarian? A visit to Osijek would be of interest. It was, I believe, a city which saw some action in the war. There is a memorial there, I believe.
