This page explains how to travel comfortably by train from Bucharest to other key European cities, and how to buy the cheapest tickets. Click here if your journey starts in another city. Train information current for 2021. COVID-19 update.
I want to go from Bucharest to...
Brasov,
Sighisoara, Constanta & other destinations within Romania
Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo &
Bulgaria
All other destinations: London,
Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Spain
Before you buy your
tickets...
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a 35 point-to-point ticket online?". Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
At Bucharest Gara de Nord, international tickets are bought from ticket window 1 in a room marked Case de Bilete with a large blue sign, not far from the information kiosk in the centre of the station, see the photos here so you know what to look for.
European train travel
FAQ...
How to buy tickets for trains within Romania...
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Domestic trains within Romania can be booked online at the Romanian Railways website www.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click the UK flag top right for English. This is easy enough to use and normally happily accepts non-Romanian credit cards, although it only books the compulsory-reservation mainline trains, not local trains. You print your own ticket. Local tickets should just be bought at the station. Feedback is always appreciated!
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The privately-run Wasteels ticketing office at Bucharest has closed.
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Private operator Astra Trans-Carpatic... A swish new night train with sleepers & couchettes is now running between Constanta, Bucharest, Simeria & Arad run by private operator Astra Trans-Carpatic, see www.astratranscarpatic.ro (change RO to EN top left for English). They are the best choice for travel between these cities.
Bucharest to Budapest & Hungary...
Option 1, by sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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A sleeper train called the Ister leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 17:45, Ploesti Vest 18:23, Brasov 20:21, Sibiu 23:05 & Simeria 01:35, and arrives at Budapest Keleti at 08:50 next morning.
It has a safe, comfortable and civilised Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.
A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe and snug, although couchettes are fine. A bar-bistro is attached between Bucharest and Simeria, serving inexpensive drinks, snacks and hot dishes - or take your own picnic and bottle of wine. In spring & summer when it's light, the scenic ride through the Carpathian mountains between Ploesti & Brasov is wonderful.
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Fares start at 39 with couchette in 6-berth or 59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, at limited-availability advance-purchase rates. At standard tariff it costs 85 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or 163 in a single-bed sleeper (I have yet to see any special fares in these accommodation types).
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Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. For Bucharest enter Bucuresti. Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback appreciated!
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo. |
The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) of the Ister at Budapest Keleti. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. |
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The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the Ister, at Budapest. Always book a couchette, not just a seat. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats for day use. |
4 & 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo. |
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Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound. The bar-bistro is attached between Simeria & Bucharest. Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry. |
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Option 2, by daytime train from 29...
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There are a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity trains between Bucharest, Brasov & Budapest. These Bucharest/Brasov-Budapest trains take most of the day, but take a bottle of wine and a good book and enjoy the great scenery on an adventure across Romania, through the Carpathian mountains and into Transylvania.
The Traianus leaves Bucharest Nord at 05:46, runs via Craiova, Timisoara & Arad and arrives Budapest Keleti at 19:50.
The Fogaras leaves Brasov at 05:23, runs via Sibiu & Simeria and arrives Budapest Keleti at 17:50.
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Advance-purchase fares in 2nd class start at 29. Standard tariff is approximately 49 in 2nd class or 74 in 1st class.
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Buy tickets at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback appreciated.
Tip: As of December 2020 you can also buy tickets at the revamped Hungarian Railways (MAV) website jegy.mav.hu from 26.30 and load them into the MAV app on your smartphone (tickets cannot be printed out). At the time I write this it will only book seats, not couchettes or sleepers on night trains) but it will now work even in this 'inwards' direction towards Budapest.
Tip: Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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The morning train from Budapest to Bucharest at Budapest Keleti, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages... |
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On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti... |
Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage. Larger photo. |
Bucharest to Vienna & Austria...
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The Dacia Express leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 14:00, Ploesti Vest 14:37, Brasov 16:23, Sighisoara 19:23, Simeria 22:02, arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:21.
The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet, and a couchette car with 4 & 6-berth couchette compartments. A bar-bistro is attached between Bucharest and Arad, serving drinks, snacks and hot dishes, or take your own picnic and bottle of wine along. The scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Ploesti & Brasov is wonderful!
Booked online in advance, fares start at 49 with couchette in 6-berth, 59 with couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 150 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Change in Vienna for Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck,
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Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania), for Vienna you should use the German spelling Wien. Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback would be appreciated.
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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Alternatively, daily all year round, you can take the daily Ister from Bucharest to Budapest as explained above and change at Budapest Keleti onto a smart Austrian railjet train for Vienna. Railjets leave Budapest for Vienna every couple of hours taking just 2h45.
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A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo. |
The Dacia Express at Sighisoara. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry. |
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The Dacia Express at Vienna Hbf. Always book a couchette, not just a seat. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats for day use. |
4 & 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo. |
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Enjoy an evening beer in the bar car, as a bar-bistro is attached in Romania to both the Ister & Dacia Express. Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry. |
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Bucharest to Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo & Bulgaria...
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A train leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:00 every day and arrives Sofia central station at 20:05.
In summer from 4 June to 4 October 2021 this is a direct 2nd class through car.
At other times of year you must change at Ruse (arrive 13:45, depart 14:15), taking a modern air-conditioned diesel unit from Bucharest to Ruse then a Bulgarian train from Ruse to Sofia.
A separate portion runs from Bucharest Gara de Nord to Veliko Tarnovo arriving at 20:41 (a direct train June-October, but you must change trains at Ruse & Gorna Orjahovitsa at other times)
There's no catering so bring a picnic and some wine or beer. It's a lovely scenic ride, crossing from Romania into Bulgaria over the Danube between Giurgiu & Ruse on Europe's longest steel bridge, 2.5Km long, then meandering at slow speed through the valleys of Bulgaria.
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The fare is 34 standard tariff, bought at the station or online.
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You can book this journey at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro, at least when the direct train runs.
Click EN top right for English. For Bucharest, enter Bucuresti. Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback would be appreciated.
It'll book the direct train when that runs, it may or may not work for the off-season service with the change of train in Ruse. If it doesn't work, use it to book the 11:00 Bucuresti to Ruse, then buy the onward ticket at Bucharest station, or at Ruse or even on the train.
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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Money saving tip: You can save over 10 if you split the booking, if you don't mind grappling with two websites. First book from Bucuresti to Ruse at bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro on the 11:00 departure, this should cost around 12. Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord. Now go to the Bulgarian Railways website bileti.bdz.bg, register, then buy from Ruse to Sofia on the same train, 14:15 from Ruse train 463, which should only cost 10 or so. You may have to switch seats at Ruse of course, if you book this way! The Bulgarian ticket should be print-at-home, but might need to be collected at Ruse. Feedback appreciated.
Bucharest to Thessaloniki, Athens & Greece
Option 1, via Sofia...
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Step 1, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train, as shown above.
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Stay overnight in Sofia. The Hotel Favoritan is inexpensive with great reviews just 10 minutes walk from Sofia station.
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Step 2, travel from Sofia to Thessaloniki by daytime train as shown on the Trains from Sofia page.
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Step 3, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by Greek Intercity train, these run regularly, see the Trains from Athens page.
Option 2, direct sleeping-car, once a week in summer...
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In previous years a direct sleeping-car has operated from Bucharest to Thessaloniki once a week in the summer months. 2021 dates and running not yet confirmed.
Bucharest to Istanbul..
Summer season 5 June to 5 October 2021...
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A direct Bucharest-Istanbul couchette car runs in summer, 5June to 5 October 2021, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:00 every day, arriving Istanbul Halkali at 05:20 next morning.
The train has a modern air-conditioned Turkish couchette car with comfortable 4 berth compartments. Tip: Departure screens at Bucharest Gara de Nord will show this train as destination Sofia, as this couchette car is attached to the Bucharest-Sofia train.
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The fare is 37.20 for a ticket + 14 supplement for a couchette in 4-berth compartment.
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It's a great journey, a scenic trundle across Romania and Bulgaria. You'll cross from Romania into Bulgaria over the Danube between Giurgiu & Ruse on Europe's longest steel bridge, 2.5Km long, then meander at slow speed through the valleys of Bulgaria, including a descent of the lush green Shipka Pass, calling at Veliko Tarnovo (the ancient capital of Bulgaria, well worth a 24h stopover) at 17:49, see photos & an account of the journey on the London to Turkey page. There's no catering car, so bring a picnic and some wine or beer. Be prepared to get off the train at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to buy a tourist visa and get your passport stamped and put your luggage through an X-ray machine, the train arrives Kapikule at 00:32 Turkish time & departs around 01:45.
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The train terminates at Halkali, a suburban station 25km west of Istanbul. Buy a local ticket and take a frequent Marmaray suburban train from Halkali to Sirkeci (meaning the new underground Marmaray platforms at Sirkeci station, beneath the historic but now trainless above-ground station). These Marmaray trains run at least every 15 minutes, journey time Halkali-Sirkeci around 35 minutes, fare around TL 11 (1.70). The Marmaray trains continue beyond Sirkeci through the Bosphorus rail tunnel to Sφğόtlόηeşme, starting station for the high-speed YHT trains to Ankara & Konya. Tip: Halkali station only accepts cash and there's no ATM or money-changer nearby, so have some Turkish lira with you. If you prefer to go direct to your hotel by taxi, it will cost around 60 YTL (16) from Halkali to central Istanbul but have Turkish lira with you as there is no ATM at Halkali. There is no longer any TCDD transfer bus, this ceased in September 2019, you must now take a Marmaray train.
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Buy tickets online at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
This can normally book this journey in summer when the direct couchette car operates. Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania), for Istanbul you should enter/select Halkali (Turkey). Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback would be appreciated.
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents.
Off-season, until 4 June & from 6 October 2021...
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Step 1, travel from Bucharest to Dimitrovgrad in Bulgaria on a series of connecting trains, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:00 on an air-conditioned express railcar, changing at Ruse (arrive 13:45, depart 14:15) & Gorna Orjahovitsa (arrive 16:10, depart 17:30) to arrive Dimitrovgrad at 21:50.
Don't worry, it should all run like clockwork. Just before Ruse the train crosses the Danube between Romania & Bulgaria on the world's longest steel girder bridge, 2.5 km long. You then meander through the lovely scenic valleys of Bulgaria into Turkey. Bring your own supplies of food and beer as there's no catering car. But it's a lovely ride, have your camera handy. If you want to stop off at Veliko Tarnovo, the ancient Bulgarian capital for 24 hours, the train calls there at 17:49 and it's well worth a 24h stop.
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Step 2, travel from Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul on the Sofia-Istanbul Express, leaving Dimitrovgrad at 22:40 and arriving Istanbul Halkali at 06:20 next morning. This train has comfortable Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned sleeping-cars with 1 & 2 bed compartments and a Turkish TVS2000 air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments.
You can approach the sleeper or couchette attendant to ask if there are any beds free, there almost always will be, 12 should cover a couchette supplement in a 4-berth compartment. Be prepared to get off the train at the Turkish border at Kapikule late at night to buy a tourist visa and get your passport stamped and put your luggage through an X-ray machine, the train arrives at Kapikule 01:32 Turkish time and leaves again at 02:45.
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Step 3, the train terminates at Halkali, a suburban station 25km west of Istanbul. Buy a local ticket and take a frequent Marmaray suburban train from Halkali to Sirkeci (meaning the new underground Marmaray platforms at Sirkeci station, beneath the historic but now trainless above-ground station). These Marmaray trains run at least every 15 minutes, journey time Halkali-Sirkeci around 35 minutes, fare around TL 11 (1.70). The Marmaray trains continue beyond Sirkeci through the Bosphorus rail tunnel to Sφğόtlόηeşme, starting station for the high-speed YHT trains to Ankara & Konya. Tip: Halkali station only accepts cash and there's no ATM or money-changer nearby, so have some Turkish lira with you. If you prefer to go direct to your hotel by taxi, it will cost around 60 YTL (16) from Halkali to central Istanbul but have Turkish lira with you as there is no ATM at Halkali. There is no longer any TCDD transfer bus, this ceased in September 2019, you must now take a Marmaray train.
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How much does it cost?
Bucharest to Dimitrovgrad costs around 32. Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul costs around 19 for the basic 2nd class ticket + either 10 for a couchette in a 4-berth compartment or 15 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper. Sole occupancy of a sleeper costs around 28 for a 1st class ticket + 35 sleeper supplement.
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To buy tickets...
Step 1, go to the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro, click EN for English, and book from Bucharest to Dimitrovgrad (it won't book all the way to Istanbul when the summer-only direct train isn't running). Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). If it refuses to book to Dimitrovgrad, simply book from Bucharest to Gorna Orjahovitsa instead and buy an onward ticket at Gorna.
Step 2, you've plenty of time at the station in Gorna to buy a ticket from Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul - it's reported that the international ticket office at Gorna platform 1 can sell this, feedback appreciated. At Dimitrovgrad you'll need to approach the sleeper or couchette attendant to pay for a free berth and (if you weren't able to buy it at Gorna) a Dimitrovgrad to Istanbul ticket. Don't worry, outside the July & August peak summer period there are almost always places available even on the day.
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Bucharest-Istanbul couchette car: Between June & September there is a direct air-conditioned Turkish couchette car between Istanbul Halkali and Bucharest with 4-berth compartments, as shown above. The seats convert to flat bunks with rug, sheet and pillow. |
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Across Bulgaria... Lush green scenery as the train descends the Shipka Pass... |
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Good morning Turkey! Dawn breaks as the train speeds east towards Istanbul... |
Bucharest to Belgrade & Serbia...
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The incompetent Romanian & Serbian Railway managers have had a disagreement, and since August 2017 the Timisoara-Vrsac trains have been terminating one station short of Vrsac, meaning there are currently no trains at all across the Serbian/Romanian border, completely destroying this international route. Until or unless this incompetence is resolved, you are advised to travel from Bucharest to Budapest then Budapest to Belgrade. I'll keep the original advice below in case the situation is resolved:
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There is no longer a direct train between Bucharest & Belgrade, but it's easy to travel between these cities in comfort by train. It's difficult to find online as www.bahn.de/en doesn't recognise the local route via Vrsac, so listen up!
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Daily except Sundays, two local trains link Timisoara in western Romania with Belgrade's lesser-known Dunav station. The journey involves one easy change at the border at Vrsac.
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Timisoara Nord depart 07:48, arrive Vrsac 08:52, change at Vrsac, Vrsac depart 09:40 arriving Belgrade Dunav 11:23. But see update above!
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Timisoara Nord depart 16:36 arrive Vrsac 17:35, change at Vrsac, Vrsac depart 18:25, Belgrade Dunav arrive 20:08. But see update above!
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To connect with these trains, either take a day train or the overnight sleeper train from Bucharest to Timisoara Nord, you can book this section at www.cfrcalatori.ro.
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Buy tickets from Timisoara to Belgrade at the station in Timisoara, fare 42 RON (about 9), no reservation needed for this bit, and no online or advance booking possible.
Bucharest to Chişinău & Moldova
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A comfortable and inexpensive sleeper train called the Prietenia leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 19:15, calling at Ungheni (the Moldovan frontier) from 05:02 to 06:49 and arriving at Chişinău at 09:27.
It has 2-berth 1st class (spalny vagon) and 4-berth 2nd class (kupι) sleepers of the Russian style. There is a bar car selling snacks and drinks, but no restaurant, so take your own provisions along. This train runs every day, although it has had periods of running less than daily in recent years.
In the return direction it leaves Chişinău on at 16:56, arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 06:07.
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The fare is only 134 Romanian Lei (around 25) one-way at standard tariff with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper, or around 155 Lei (about 34) in 2-berth sleeper or 282 Lei (61) in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. Booked in advance online, you may find special fares for a bed in a 4-bed sleeper from just 89 Lei (19).
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The Bucharest-Chişinău train can be booked online in two places:
Option 1, it can now be booked at the Romanian Railways website, bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Chisinau is listed as Kishinev (Moldova). Tickets must be collected from the station ticket office at Bucharest Nord (so don't use it for one-way journeys starting in Moldova).
Option 2, it can also be booked at the Moldovan Railways site on.railway.md:10000/?lang=en, now available in English.
It can book the train in either direction with print-your-own tickets, it accepts foreign traveller passport numbers, and it has now been confirmed by several travellers that it works fine with international Visa & MasterCard credit cards. Further feedback always appreciated.
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Alternatively, you can book the Bucharest to Chişinău train in person at the international booking office at Bucharest Nord station as there are almost always plenty of places available even on the day.
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The Prietenia from Chişinău to Bucharest about to leave Chişinău. Photos courtesy of Malcolm B & Peter Brogdale. |
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1st class 2-berth compartment. Larger photo. |
Destination board in car 4. |
Bucharest to all other destinations...
Option 1, using the Bucharest to Budapest sleeper train Ister...
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Step 1, travel from Bucharest to Budapest on the sleeper train Ister, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 17:45, Ploesti Vest 18:23, Brasov 20:21, Sibiu 23:05 & Simeria 01:35, and arriving Budapest Keleti at 08:50 next morning.
It has a safe, comfortable and civilised Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.
A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe and snug, although couchettes are fine. A bar-bistro is attached between Bucharest and Simeria, serving inexpensive drinks, snacks and hot dishes - or take your own picnic and bottle of wine. In spring & summer when it's light, the scenic ride through the Carpathian mountains between Ploesti & Brasov is wonderful.
Fares start at 39 with couchette in 6-berth or 59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, at limited-availability advance-purchase rates. At standard tariff it costs 85 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or 163 in a single-bed sleeper (I have yet to see any special fares in these accommodation types).
Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. For Bucharest enter Bucuresti. Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback appreciated!
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to other European cities, as shown in more detail on the Trains from Budapest page. I'd allow at least 2 hours between trains in Budapest, just in case of delay.
For Bratislava, a EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 11:40 and arrives Bratislava Hlavna at 14:03. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 9.50.
For Prague, a EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 11:40 and arrives Prague Hlavni at 18:13. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 20.
For Zagreb, a train leaves Budapest Deli at 15:35 and arrives Zagreb at 21:05. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 20, or buy at the station.
For Krakow & Warsaw, spend the day in Budapest. A sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:25, arriving Krakow Glowny at 05:41 and Warsaw Centralna at 08:33. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu although at the time of writing this won't book sleepers or couchettes (this may change, feedback appreciated)
For Munich, a railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 11:40, arriving Munich Hbf at 18:31. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 27.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. Change in Munich for Stuttgart & Cologne.
For Berlin, a railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 11:40, change at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train, arriving Berlin Hbf at 00:31. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 39.90, tickets are sent by post to any address worldwide for a small fee. Alternatively, spend the day in Budapest and travel from Budapest to Berlin on the overnight sleeper train Metropol, as shown here.
For London, see the London to Romania page.
Option 2, using the Bucharest to Vienna sleeper train Dacia Express...
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Step 1, travel from Bucharest to Vienna by Dacia Express, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 14:00, Ploesti Vest 14:37, Brasov 16:23, Sighisoara 19:23, Simeria 22:02, arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:21.
The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet, and a couchette car with 4 & 6-berth couchette compartments. A bar-bistro is attached between Bucharest and Arad, serving drinks, snacks and hot dishes, or take your own picnic and bottle of wine along. The scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Ploesti & Brasov is wonderful!
Booked online in advance, fares start at 49 with couchette in 6-berth, 59 with couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 150 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania), for Vienna you should use the German spelling Wien. Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback would be appreciated.
Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to other European cities, as shown in more detail on the Trains from Vienna page. I'd allow at least 1½ to 2 hours between trains in Vienna, just in case of delay.
For Bratislava, a regional train leaves Vienna Hbf every hour at xx:37 minutes past each hour for Bratislava Hlavna, taking just 1h07. The fare is 11.20, either buy at the station or at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). You print your own ticket.
For Prague, a railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 11:10 arriving Prague Hlavni at 15:13. Fares start at 14, book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). You print your own ticket.
For Munich, a railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 10:20, arriving Munich Hbf at 14:32. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 27.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. Change in Munich for Stuttgart & Cologne.
For Berlin, a ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf at 10:15, arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:58. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 37.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.
For Nuremberg & Frankfurt, an ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf at 11:15, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:36. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 27.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. Change in Frankfurt for Hamburg, Cologne, Dόsseldorf.
For Zurich & Switzerland, a railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 13:30, arriving Zurich HB at 21:20. Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). You print your own ticket.
For Venice & Italy, a railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:25, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 20:04. Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). You print your own ticket.
For Paris, an ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf at 11:15, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto an ICE3 train running daily except Saturdays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:52. Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee), you print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or smartphone.
For Brussels, an ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf at 11:15, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto an ICE3 train arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 49.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.
For Amsterdam, an ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf at 11:15, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto an ICE3 train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:58 (22:30 at weekends). Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 49.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.
For London, see the London to Romania page.
For Barcelona & Spain, first travel to Zurich as shown above, and stay overnight. Next day, travel to Geneva, Lyon then Barcelona as shown here.
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Tip: The Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro will - remarkably - book journeys from Romania as far afield as Paris, but it usually applies expensive standard-tariff fares for parts of such journeys outside Romania. You're usually better off using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro to book from Romania to Budapest or Vienna, then using a site such as www.thetrainline.com to book from Budapest or Vienna to Germany, Paris and so on.
Option 3, using a daytime train from Bucharest to Budapest, overnight stop in Budapest, then onward train...
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Step 1, travel from Bucharest to Budapest by daytime Intercity train.
The Traianus leaves Bucharest Nord at 05:46, runs via Craiova, Timisoara & Arad and arrives Budapest Keleti at 19:50.
The Fogaras leaves Brasov at 05:23, runs via Sibiu & Simeria and arrives Budapest Keleti at 17:50.
Advance-purchase fares in 2nd class start at 29. Standard tariff is approximately 49 in 2nd class or 74 in 1st class.
Buy tickets at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord or Brasov, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania. Feedback appreciated.
Tip: As of December 2020 you can also buy tickets at the revamped Hungarian Railways (MAV) website jegy.mav.hu from 26.30 and load them into the MAV app on your smartphone (tickets cannot be printed out). At the time I write this it will only book seats (not couchettes or sleepers on night trains) but it will now work even in this 'inwards' direction towards Budapest.
Tip: Alternatively, tickets can be arranged at local prices by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com. They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Feedback would be appreciated.
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Stay overnight in Budapest. For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. More hotels in Budapest
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to other European cities, as shown in more detail on the Trains from Budapest page.
For Vienna, a railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:40, arriving Vienna Hbf at 10:21, or there are later departures every hour. Book this at the Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 13 or if you have any problems, www.thetrainline.com.
For Bratislava, a EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 05:40 and arrives Bratislava Hlavna at 08:03, or there are trains at 07:40, 08:40, 09:40 and every 2 hours through the day. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 9.50.
For Prague, a EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 05:40 and arrives Prague Hlavni at 12:13, or there are trains at 07:40, 09:40 and every 2 hours through the day. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 20.
For Zagreb, a train leaves Budapest Deli at 15:35 and arrives Zagreb at 21:05. From June to early September there's a morning train too, leaving 06:35, arriving 12:51. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 20, or buy at the station.
For Ljubljana, a train leaves Budapest Deli at 09:00 and arrives Ljubljana at 16:37. In summer there's a morning train too, leaving just after 06:00. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu with fares from 20, or buy at the station.
For Krakow & Warsaw, a train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 08:40, with a portion for Krakow Glowny arriving 17:39 and a portion for Warsaw Centralna arriving 19:03. Book this at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu.
For Munich, a railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:40, arriving Munich Hbf at 14:32, or there are later departures roughly every 2 hours. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 27.90, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. Change in Munich for Stuttgart & Cologne.
For Berlin, the EuroCity train Hungaria leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:40, arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:42. Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, fares from 39.90, tickets are sent by post to any address worldwide for a small fee, or try booking at the Hungarian Railways website egy.mav.hu.
For Switzerland, a railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 06:40 and arrives Zurich at 17:20. Change in Zurich for anywhere else in Switzerland. Book at www.thetrainline.com and print your own tickets.
For Italy, catch the 07:40 railjet train to Vienna from 19.90 and take the afternoon 12:25 railjet to Venice from 29.90, book each train at www.thetrainline.com and print your own tickets.
For all other destinations, see the Trains from Budapest page
Hotels in Bucharest & other cities
Other hotel sites worth trying...
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www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
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www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & VPN
Always take out travel insurance...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
In
the UK, reliable insurers include
Columbus Direct.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
www.JustTravelCover.com
- 10% discount with code seat61.
You
can use
Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If
you live in
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
Columbus Direct's other websites.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.
Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.





















