I know the Budapest -Belgrade train is suspended as they upgrade the track and trains are only running Novi Sad - Belgrade.

So coming from Budapest and thought Pecs is SW Hungary could be a fun spot to add and overnight in, then it should be fairly quick/easy to continue on to Novi Sad, Serbia. Apparently not. R2R tells me its under a 2.5 hour drive. But public transit has bad options - 2 buses via Szeged which is a long loop out of the way. The theoretically more direct route is via Croatia and involves connecting buses that don't run daily!

I don't want to drive as I'm not returning to Hungary. Are there any sort of long-distance shared shuttle style services that I'm missing?

We are a couple travelling in September.

Pecs deserves more than an overnight:

https://flic.kr/p/Jyt1Us https://flic.kr/p/K4TFLQ https://flic.kr/p/KkBjZs https://flic.kr/p/JyC49Z

Hi, your best choice is to replace Pecs with Szeged especially that Szeged is on the way to Serbia. Szeged is no way a less riveting place than Pecs, it boasts some of the finest examples of art noveau architecture (even a huge synagogue, 5th biggest in the world) and offers plenty of opportunity to relax and to sightsee Definitely worth a visit.

Agree with zalap. I loved both Pecs and Szeged, but I would give a slight edge to Szeged. See:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com.../super-szeged/

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...d-time-around/

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/pecs/

You've both convinced me - Szeged it is!