We know where to go for tickets within Belarus and neighboring countries. But what if the task is: a tourist visa, no tourist package, the need to buy a ticket in advance, and the inability to find a trip through the usual Infobus, Bosphorus, and other aggregators? There may be several solutions to this problem. Read about them in our publication.
General aggregators
There are several large aggregators that seem to know everything about transport schedules in any country in the world and offer cheap buses across Europe. They don't transport you themselves, but offer options from different companies. After choosing the option you like, you will be redirected to the seller's website, where you will complete the transaction.
Omio (GoEuro)
For 10 years now, this website has been helping millions of travelers. Its database includes more than 10,000 bus stations, more than 20,000 train stations, and 207 airports. For any of these destinations, the travel search engine will offer several travel options: the shortest, the cheapest, and the most comfortable. A nice bonus is the ability to book ferry tickets in Italy, Spain, Greece, and the UK.
Omio has a Russian-language version. Together with its user-friendly interface, it makes the process from searching to booking a ticket simple. Omio charges a small commission (usually a few euros) for its intermediary services at the booking stage. If you do not want to pay this, you can find the ticket you want and go to the carrier's website to purchase it there.
Rome2Rio
My introduction to the world of travel planners began with this remarkable assistant — Rome2Rio. It offers the widest possible range of travel options: from buses to hitchhiking. It's like an auditor in a company: what others haven't found, Rome2Rio will find.
Each offer comes with a price range "from to." Once you have decided on your travel dates, you will receive specific offers from several companies. All you have to do is choose the one that suits your plans and budget and go to the website to make a commission-free booking.
Trainline
This app for purchasing tickets positions itself as the leading European platform for planning and booking train and bus tickets. There is no Russian language option, but the website is easy to navigate. Enter your "from" and "to" locations, set the date and your preferred mode of transportation, bus or train. Trainline will offer available trips from leading carriers and recommend which one to choose.
You can also find a railway discount card on the website. However, British options prevail there, but some are available to foreigners as well.
WanderU
Simple but cute appthat is still relatively unknown to local consumers. Nevertheless, it is powerful enough to take you anywhere in Europe and America using buses and trains.
The website does not sell tickets, but only redirects users to the service provider. Upon request, you can also enable a search for cheap hotels and airline tickets. One drawback is the lack of a Russian-language interface.
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Buses
Buses remain the most budget-friendly way to get from point A to point B. And the most common. However, international travel, especially to remote corners of Europe, can sometimes be problematic. Either there are no routes, or tickets are not sold online. Below are a few websites that will solve this problem and ensure you can travel by bus throughout Europe.
Busbud
The app is a recognized expert in the world of bus travel planning. It combines two million routes in more than 80 countries around the world. As you can see, it's not just Europe.
Busbud operates on the same principle as other aggregators. It is based on simplicity and speed. It also allows you to compare several travel options in terms of cost and travel time. Another convenient feature is that the calendar shows nearby dates with prices.
Once you have decided on your priorities, you can buy a ticket either on Busbud itself, or it will redirect you to the carrier's website. I recommend using the second option, as there are many negative reviews about the booking process on the aggregator itself. In addition, there is no customer service.
GetByBus
Speaking of bear corners, there is a region in Europe where it is extremely difficult to purchase tickets remotely. And you don't want to play the lottery called "buy on the spot." This region is the Balkans. And, as luck would have it, it is very accessible and popular with our population. What should you do if you are planning to travel there on your own?
An indispensable assistant in this matter GetByBus. Initially, it specialized in bus tickets specifically for the countries of the former Yugoslavia, but now its geography has expanded. I won't even analyze the pros and cons of this aggregator. Its main and undoubted advantage is the ability to obtain scarce tickets in the Balkans — that says it all.
The interface is in English, but it's simple. The reliability of the booking system has been verified by our own experience.
Flixbus
This is not an aggregator of different carriers, but actually a bus company whose routes spread across Europe like the tentacles of a giant octopus. So why is it on our list if it's not an aggregator? The fact is that two out of three bus trips in Europe are made using the distinctive green buses of Flixbus or its partners. Therefore, it makes sense to start your search for cheap tickets directly on the Flixbus website.
Flixbus is moving towards complete domination of the bus transport market. Not only is Flix present in almost all European Union countries, but now it has also set its sights on North America.
Rest assured that the tickets offered by Flixbus are among the cheapest. And the schedule is the most comprehensive. Thanks to its extensive route network, the search engine on the website will connect the individual parts of your trip into a single route, plan transfers, and indicate the cheapest and fastest options. Personally, I don't find Flixbus very convenient, and I don't like their refund policy (most often vouchers rather than money back into your account), but often there is no other choice.
Trains
Who wouldn't want to stretch out on their own shelf in a sleeper car during a night journey and fall asleep to the steady clatter of the wheels? If the romance of train travel and comfort are your priorities, it's worth checking out some useful aggregators for train tickets and trains across Europe.
Rail Europe
The most comprehensive search engine for train tickets in Europe. The website collects options from all leading European operators — SNCF, SBB, Eurostar, Thalys, Trenitalia, Italo, DB, Renfe, ÖBB, and others. Both high-speed and regional trains are available. However, there may be problems with trips in Central and Southeastern Europe. For example, Romanian and Hungarian carriers are not displayed in the search results.
Rail Europe offers not only single tickets, but also Rail Passes for different countries, which allow unlimited travel in one or more European countries. And for the most devoted train fans, there is the Eurail Pass. It allows you to travel by train without buying tickets in 33 countries, including those outside the EU. Buy a Eurail Pass, register for the trains you need, and set off on your journey, bypassing all ticket offices. The cost is not insignificant, however: €700 for a month of unlimited travel or €250 for four days.
OBB
Our transport review concludes with one of the best railway companies in Europe — Austria's OBB. The Austrians themselves do not have a very large transport network. However, its website allows you to plan a route through many countries of the European Union. It doesn't matter whether it passes through Austria or not.
For example, in the screenshot, you can see the options offered for a trip from Budapest to Dresden. The interface is in English. It allows you to see which sections of the route will be covered by which carrier. Leave it to the smart system to connect the transfers. You can find websites for searching for airline tickets using the same principle.
If you have decided to leave the planning of your trip to the professionals, we suggest you simply choose a tour. Your trip is guaranteed to be comfortable, and you can spend the time you save on searching for routes on enjoying your vacation! Still not sure? Then check out the pros and cons of bus tours.
