Hi,
I tried searching for this as I'm sure it has been asked many times, but to no avail.
Now that the Bucharest - Belgrade night train has been suspended, what are the options for getting from Brasov to Belgrade? Would prefer to avoid Bucharest, if possible. We'll be travelling with a toddler, so don't mind a few changes as it breaks up the journey for him.
Thanks in advance.
Kula
You can take a train or bus from Brasov to Timisoara, then one of the two daily trains to Vrsac (a town right across the border in Serbia) and finally a bus to Belgrade.
Unless you go to Bucharest and take the expensive and unreliable night train, the only other option is to head to Timisoara from Brasov. The easiest option once there is to take the shuttle bus with GMA tours. It costs 25e, and offers door-to-door services, check their website. Call their office to organise a pick-up, and then you pay to the driver once picked up. Its very fast, and the driver will stop briefly at a money changer if you ask. I also remember there being a once or twice daily train service from Timisoara to a town in Serbia near the border, from where you can take buses or trains to Belgade. Check the respective Romanian and Serbian bus/train website, they're both quite reliable for domestic departures.
Consider stopping in Sibiu on the way for a day to break the journey, its a beautiful old historic city. Timisoara also has a delightful central plaza, and is well worth a few hours of wandering.
You are right, I remember responding to the exact same questions at least twice before, but those posts have been lost. Try looking for anything on Romania to Serbia.
I thought the whole point of this post if because you wanted to go to Belgrade? Belgrade isn't a very beautiful city, but it has a lot of history, great places to eat and drink and excellent nightlife. Getting there from Brasov will take some time, never easy with small kids in tow. Personally, I'd say its worthwhile to see it for 2 days. Timisoara is ok, but 1 night or even a few hours there looking around is enough.
Btw, in my initial post, that 'town across the border in Serbia' is indeed Vrsac, as #1 mentioned, sorry repeating information there.
Hi guys, thanks for the replies.
Can I just ask. Given the travel involved is Belgrade worth making the detour for? I will only have 2 days there before flying home. Would I be better spending the extra 2 days in Romania, perhaps in Timisoara? I have already got Sibiu on my itinery.
I can fly back to the UK from a number of airports in Romania, so its not a big deal to change my plans. I'm just thinking that as I have the baby with me, I might be better not trying to see too much, unless Belgrade is really outstanding??
I was just looking at places that are possible to get to from Brasov as I have a few days spare and that's where we'll have been based up to then! Obviously the nightlife isn't a draw as we have the baby!
As a Romanian guide, let me recommend you a few things to see:
- Brasov is really beautiful and quiet: you can see many things there, too: Black Church, City Council, the gates and towers of the old city, the oldest Romanian school, Rope Street (one of the narrowest streets in East Europe); at only 11 km by bus, there is the beautiful POIANA BRASOV ("Brasov Meadow" - a winter-resort excellent for skiing, skating, horse riding, snow mobiles,...)
- Bran's castle ("Dracula's Castle") - not scary at all, no vampires there... There you can try our Romanian smoked cheese - absolutely fantastic - and also some delicious sweet and HOT "barbecued chimney-cake" - Kurtos kalacs, a Hungarian recipe (with wallnuts, cinnamon, cocoa,...)!
- Sighisoara - the only medieval citadel still inhabited nowadays - you can visit the old citadel, with tower and protection walls, History Museum,...
- Sibiu - a wonderful city - Cultural European Capital in 2007 (Brukenthal Museum, Huet Square, churches, the Liars' Bridge...)
Hi Alexa,
thanks for the reply. I do plan to visit all the places you mentioned apart from Sibiu, which I was originally planning to see, but then changed my mind! But maybe I should reconsider? Is it possible to get to Sibiu and back in a day from either Brasov or Sighisoara? I'd much prefer to be based in one or two places as its much better for the baby, and then see places nearby on day trips.
Brasov to Timisoara: bus or train
Timisoara to Belgrade by bus/ shuttle - daily service:
http://www.geatours.rs/eng/temisvar.htm
E-mail: gea@eunet.rs
Phone - Timisoara office: (011 4) 0316 300.257
Phone - Belgrade office: (011 381) 11 26.86.635
More info transportation to / in Romania:
http://www.romaniatourism.com/transportation.html
Enjoy your travels !