The capitals of Austria and Slovakia are separated by only 80 km, and when choosing a way to get from Vienna to Bratislava, travelers most often stop at transport companies that perform bus transportation. A taxi for a company of four or a family with two children will cost about 80 euros.
By train
Despite the small distance separating the two European capitals, a considerable part of foreign tourists also prefer to travel from Austria to Slovakia by train.
The developed railway network of Europe has comfortable trains equipped with class 1 and 2 carriages departing at very different times of the day. This allows any passenger to choose the most suitable time and ticket price for the trip:
- A one-way trip from Vienna to Bratislava in a class 2 carriage will cost an adult passenger 22 euros. A seat in a 1st class compartment will cost about 35 euros.
- Travel time will be about two hours.
- Trains run between the two European capitals approximately every two hours.
The Vienna station, from which trains leave for Bratislava, is called Hauptbahnhof Wien. In the capital of Slovakia, passengers arrive at the Bratislava-Petržalka station.
Train timetables, ticket prices and availability can be found on the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
How to get from Vienna to Bratislava by bus
Many carriers offer passengers to travel from Austria to Slovakia by bus, and therefore the flight schedule here is quite tight. Approximately every 30 minutes, a bus leaves from Erdberg Station in Vienna, arriving an hour later at Bratislava's Novy Most or Einsteinova stations, depending on the carrier.
An adult ticket costs just over € 5 one way.
On the website www.infobus.eu there is detailed information about the schedule of upcoming flights, the availability of tickets and their cost. The site has a Russian version.
All buses in Austria and Slovakia are equipped with air conditioning, coffee machines, television systems and dry closets.
Danube waves
It makes no sense to fly from Vienna to Bratislava by plane, because 80 km is easy to overcome by any land transport. But in summer, when shipping is open on the Danube, most tourists prefer to use the services of river boats. They run along the river from March to October and daily transport everyone from Vienna to Bratislava.
Every day the Vienna river port schedule includes several flights to the capital of Slovakia. The first ship leaves at about 8.30 am and the last one at about 6 pm. On the way, passengers will have to spend about an hour and a half, during which they will be able to enjoy the picturesque views of the Danube banks.
Motor ships and catamarans arrive at the Bratislava river pier, located a couple of minutes walk from the old center of the capital.
Adult tickets cost around € 30. They are sold at the Vienna pier or online. Websites where you can purchase tickets and find useful information for passengers - www.twincityliner.com and www.lod.sk.
The car is not a luxury
When going on a trip by car, remember the strict observance of traffic rules in Europe, where the fines for violating them look very solid, and there is practically no chance of avoiding their payment.
To travel by private car, do not forget to buy a toll road permit. The cost of a vignette is about 10 euros for 10 days of stay in the state. Each country has its own permission and vignettes are sold at gas stations, in convenience stores right at the border or online through specialized Internet portals.
You can rent a car for travel at numerous rental offices. Almost all firms have their own offices at Vienna Airport, and therefore you will be able to get the keys to your rented car right upon your arrival in the Austrian capital.
The cost of one liter of gasoline in Slovakia and Austria is 1, 25 and 1, 17 euros, respectively. The price of an hour of parking in the cities of Austria is 2 euros. In Bratislava, you can leave your car for only 0.7 euros per hour in street parking and for the same 2 euros in underground garages.
All prices in the material are approximate and given as of January 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of the carriers.
