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-   -   Travel by Bus from Skopje to Bucharest (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/travel-by-bus-from-skopje-to-bucharest-825321/)

costaz Feb 6th, 2010 05:06 PM

Travel by Bus from Skopje to Bucharest
 
I've heard that there is a bus line from Skopje to Bucharest. Has anyone taken this bus tour? I would be interested in details such as itinerary, travel duration, cost, frequency, and quality of the bus line. Thanks.

treplow Feb 6th, 2010 06:58 PM

I haven't aken the bus, but having driven in the area, I would try to avoid it. It's really rough.

flanneruk Feb 7th, 2010 03:28 AM

I've never seen buses to Skopje in Bucharest, or heard of anyone using one: most people these days would drive. There's no sensible train, and flying involves an extortionate circular tour of most of SE Europe. There's no bus listed on the Skopje bus station website (www.sas.com.mk)

There's regular bus services from Skopje to Sofia, and from Sofia to Bucharest. Timetables at www.centralnaavtogara.bg Then select English.

valtor Feb 7th, 2010 04:33 AM

By train it will take 23 hours , with 2 stops. Probably by bus it is also a very long trip.

Try to find a cheap flight.

costaz Feb 7th, 2010 06:37 PM

flanneruk,

Thanks for the info. Initially I wanted to rent a car, but car companies in Skopje apparantly prohibit taking the car to Bulgaria. That leaves me with little choice, since flying is very expensive.

valtor,

Why does it take 23 hrs by train from Skopje to Bucharest? Appareantly there are only 290 miles between the two cities. Does it make frequest stops?

Thanks all for trying to help.

flanneruk Feb 7th, 2010 07:40 PM

"Appareantly there are only 290 miles between the two cities."

Yes, but there's no railway. You have to go up to Nis in Serbia, then change to a train for Sofia, then change for a train to Bucharest. Since there's no commerce worth talking about between these places, yuo've then got to wait hours for the connection. And the Sofia-Bucharest train still runs on communist-era principles, which mean hanging round the border half the day.


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