Train Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul Experience

We went on that route in September, Istanbul north to Stara Zagora, Bulgaria then on to Bucharest. It looked like Stara Zagora was a good half way point to stop for a few days so we bought a ticket to there. We chose third class because we had already bought an expensive global pass and didn't want to spend too much more on transportation. Big Mistake. The car was from the nineteen fifties or earlier. The trip was fifteen and a half hours and stopped wherever there were milk cans along thr railroad. We had a six person couchette with three other people. It went way out to the Black Sea and back. You already know about the stop at both sides of the border. On the Bulgaria side the cops took the passports of only the Americans into the strain station for a half hour before returning them. We were going to Bucuresti (Romanian spelling) so we could bus out to Constanta. The train ride from Istanbul to Stara Zagora was the worse one we have ever had. There may be a straight shot from Istanbul but we missed it if there was. Our's was night train. We can give you some specifics about the Istanbul station, Stara Zagora and Bucuresti if you wish. use private email: [email protected].

Thx Monte. Based on your info and other feedback, I've taken Istanbul off my list. I may do Bucharest and possibly Brasov, but I won't do the Istanbul train trip at all. Too many hassles, track repair in Turkey requiring the Turkish part by bus, not train, yada yada yada...

You will like Bucuresti. Its an elegant old city if you strip off the socialist era concrete buildings. Nice museums. Good beer. Good food. We met a young woman there we still correspond with. Hop on hop off bus tour is very interesting. We went through Brasov on the train and wished we could have stayed a few days. Its in the mountains. There are a number of small towns along the tracks on both sides of Brasov. Its one of those places you describe as "I'd like to live here". Again, let us know about specifics, hotel, train station, etc in Bucuresti.

Thx again Monte! I love those hop on hop off bus tours! thx for telling me there's one in bucuresti!

We picked it up by the Museum of the Romanian Peasant. There's a well marked stop along the sidewalk.

if you have time i suggest you add bulgaria, so you can stop by either sofia or plovdiv, both worth an overnight (with sofia you add 1 more day for rila monastery), and from either city you have an overnight train to IST. I was on this route last April and can say bulgaria's transportation is pretty good, and the sites are cool, so if you're in the hood and skip it can be a shame.

Hey David, the Bulgaria idea is a good one. I'll Google it and maybe add it to my list. OTOH, I have also read, elsewhere, bad experiences with the Sofia-Ist trains. I guess you pays your money and you takes your chances. I appreciate hearing favorable experiences, to balance the negatives!