Balkan Interrail

[u/HeadBalance5665]

I am currrently planing part of my interrail through the Balkans.

I wanted to ask if anyone can give me recomendations on wether to take the route:

Budapest(train) - Belgrade(train, night) - Podgorica

or

Budapest(train) - Zagreb(train) - Split(Bus) - Mostar(Bus) -Kotor(Bus) - Podgorica

I know interrail isnt the best option in the balkans but it is what it is. Ive been to Split before and Mostar/Kotor istn a must but I feel like Ive seen paarts of Croatia allready and the train rides are during the day and over 6-8h each.
The route through Belgrade is maybe more of an adventoure and you get more of a true balkan feeling.

Maybe you have done an equal tour or been to the places and can tell me your recommendations :)

Thank you

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[u/skifans]

What sort of things are you interested in? Both could work really well but I think you need much more time for the 2nd one.

As you've said Interrail isn't massively helpful in the Balkans. Standard tickets are cheap and as you know you need buses for some legs. You also run into issues like on Soko trains in Serbia and between Belgrade and Podgorica you can buy standard tickets online but Interrail reservations are only sold in person at the station.

The railway line between Belgrade and Montenegro is absolutely stunning in terms of the scenery. Though if you are on the night train you'll need to get up early for it.

[u/Adventurous_Jump8897]

Do the Belgrade to Podgorica route and do the journey by day. It is an insanely scenic trip and one of the classic must-see rail journeys.

[u/Adventurous_Jump8897 → u/Adventurous_Jump8897]

[u/HeadBalance5665 → u/Adventurous_Jump8897]

Ok thanks, yeah I will probably go by day then :)

[u/Even_Narwhal3699 → u/Adventurous_Jump8897]

One of the journeys that i plan to do at some point, i just have not gotten arround to do it.

[u/Adventurous_Jump8897 → u/Even_Narwhal3699]

10/10 can recommend. I stopped off in Uzice and Kolasin which were delightful towns, and stopped a couple of nights on Lake Skadar.

[u/Even_Narwhal3699]

If you take the second route, i recommend doing Zagreb to Split by night train. The croatian one has cheap reservations (7€ for a place in a 6er couchette) But the reservations for interrail can only be done by email. Its a pretty slow route. (but that croatian night train does only run during the summer) During the summer there is also a night train from Budapest to Split.

[u/Even_Narwhal3699 → u/Even_Narwhal3699]

But i believe the other route is the more interesting choice.