This page explains how to travel from Sarajevo to other European cities by bus & train. Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.
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Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
European
train travel FAQ
Sarajevo to all destinations
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Here's the problem:
Until 2016 there was a daily direct train from Sarajevo to Zagreb using elderly communist-era carriages. It was about to become a modern Bosnian Talgo train service, but a disagreement between Bosnian and Croatian Railways torpedoed that plan and there are currently no trains across the border from Bosnia into Croatia. Bosnia is now cut off from the rest of the European rail network. However, initially the train journey remained possible if you took a taxi across the Bosnia/Croatia border.
But it got worse in 2025: Now there's a gap in train service within Bosnia. ŽFBH (www.zfbh.ba) now only runs as far as Maglaj, one stop short of Doboj, from where the other Bosnian train operator, ŽRS (zrs-rs.com), runs through Banja Luka to Dobrljin near the Croatian border. And you wonder where the word 'Balkanisation' came from? I'd really like to give these so-called railway managers a kick up the backside.
So unfortunately, you need to take a bus. There are few or no buses to Belgrade, and a direct bus to Budapest would take a nightmare 15+ hours. The best way to most destinations is by bus to Zagreb, then by comfortable & inexpensive train to your destination.
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Day 1, travel from Sarajevo to Zagreb by bus
You'll usually find these buses from Sarajevo to Belgrade every day:
Leave Sarajevo bus station at 09:30, arriving Zagreb bus station 17:00.
Leave Sarajevo bus station at 12:30, arriving Zagreb bus station 20:55.
The fare is around €40.
Buy tickets at www.flixbus.com.
The afternoon bus can also be booked at www.thetrainline.com.
From Zagreb bus station it's an 18 minute 1.3 km walk to Zagreb station.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb
If you take the morning bus, a same-day connection with the sleeper to Stuttgart/Zurich is possible, if there are no delays. Personally, I'd play safe and spend a night in Zagreb, a lovely city to visit. Then travel onwards next day.
I suggest the historic Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Zagreb to all other destinations
Travel from Zagreb to all other European destinations by train, as shown on the Trains from Zagreb page.