Hello,
When I look at train tickets online it appears I can't buy train tickets from Ljubljana to Zagreb online....? The only website that has tickets available for purchase for the entire route is Trainline. 1. If I go to the actual train station will I be able to get tickets for the entire journey? 2. Is trainline reputable? If I buy from them will I cross the border into Croatia and it's lilke "surprise! you can go no further."
The Man in Seat 61 is often helpful: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Ljubljana.htm#Ljubljana-Zagreb
"Tickets cannot be bought online, but you can easily buy tickets at the station, there are always places available."
It may sound strange, but buying train tickets at the station is still pretty much how the system works. Buying tickets on line in advance is new, and yes, not yet everywhere possible. Where can you buy tickets for the New York Subway online? For Metra?
Trains are mass transit. Going to the station, buying a ticket, and traveling is still how lots of people do it. Buying tickets as I go is something that I have done on quite a few occasions.
There's also bus service between the two cities. The buses seem to take a few minutes longer (and of course are subject to the vagaries of traffic), but they are considerably more frequent. I haven't traveled directly between those two cities, but the bus station in Zagreb was a busy place. Trams from the city center stop there, and there always seemed to be taxis as well. Although a map shows the Zagreb stations side by side, it's something of a walk between their entrances. In Ljubljana the two stations are very close together.
Thank you to everyone who posted. I am American, outside of DC and I don't know that I've ever travelled without purchasing transportation online- I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the right website. Now that I know that purchasing tickets in person is just how it's done in Europe, at least Eastern Europe- I feel more comfortable waiting until we get there.
I wouldn't say buying train tickets in person is necessarily the way it's done in Eastern (or Central) Europe. It's the way it is done for that particular route. If you wait to buy your train ticket in Poland until you're ready to depart, you may end up just waving goodbye to the train, because it may already be sold out. I tried to buy a ticket the day before departure and round all the trains were sold out; I believe it was an international train I was looking at, and they often don't run terribly often.
The Seat61 website has tons of excellent information about trains in Europe (and elsewhere). If you're not seeing what you expect online, that's a good place to check to see what might be going on.
Yeah, the train system still has that Tito era flavor on it. Which is not necessarily bad, the train ticket itself is €9. I bought the ticket at the station the day prior with no fuss.
I do need to warn you, I had a miserable experience on this train. It was the early train, first week of July, and was absolutely jammed. Standing room only and unbearably hot. Flixbus might be the better option, and is reservable online. The bus station in Zagreb is a quick taxi from Jelevic square (there’s also tram service.)
Hi. Good advice above for this particular route. Just to answer your question about Trainline... I have used it several times and it has worked great. Reliable and user friendly. Have a great trip!
