MONTENEGRO BY TRAIN FROM VIENNA OR ISTANBUL??
 

Planning a week long trip to Montenegro around June (for the beaches & the pristine mountain hikes). It'll be my introduction to "backpacking w. dad" for my young Ahmad (14 yr old) & Omar (11 yr old) so it'll be on a budget (not a 5 star trip).

My idea is to fly to Istanbul for a two day stay (top Qapi & the sights) then take train through Bulgaria straight into Montenegro, or, fly to Vienna (again, two day sightseeing blitzkrieg)) then train to Montenegro (ideally through Serbia for a hop on the Belgrade - Bar railway). Recommendations anybody (budget, train routes and travel time, lodgings, attractions etc...)??

You need to do some research here: seat61.com

You might also find my Balkan TRs of interest, as I recently took trains in Serbia and Bosnia - click on my name.

You will be more likely to get other responses by posting on the Europe board.

Thursdaysd, I'm a fan already... Thx for the link & I'll be sure to post on Europe board as you suggest.

If you were forced to decide on train trip to Montenegro through Serbia or through Bulgaria, which one would you choose??

Probably Bulgaria. Both are interesting but I thought Bulgaria was more comfortable - of course, I was with a tour group in Bulgaria, but it seemed to have a better tourist infrastructure and to be more welcoming to older single women.

Vienna to Belgrade www.oebb.at, dirt cheap.

Belgrade to Podgorica there are day and night trains with sleepers, a fantastic scenic run. Www.bah.de should give times, buy tickets in Belgrade.

From Vienna will be the best option.