- By train
- How to get from Prague to Bratislava by bus
- The car is not a luxury
Czech Republic and Slovakia were once cities of a single state, but in 1993 Slovakia declared its own independence. Now foreign tourists, having covered a little more than three hundred kilometers between their capitals, find themselves in another state with their own language, customs and cultural attractions. If you want to travel from the Czech Republic to Slovakia and are considering options for how to get from Prague to Bratislava, pay attention to land transport. The short distance between cities eliminates the need to book flights.
By train
Every day the Czech and Slovak capitals are connected by at least eight train runs of the České dráhy company. They depart from the main train station in Prague and stop additionally within the city limits at the Prague-Holesovice station. The cost of a full adult one-way ticket is 30 euros in a 2nd class carriage, 40 euros in 1st class and about 60 euros if you want to get a berth. Supplement for the night tariff is 6, 9 and 18 euros, respectively.
RegioJet has recently become a direct competitor to České dráhy. There are three trains daily from Prague to Bratislava, the cost of which for an adult is only 15 euros. The journey also takes about four hours.
The main railway station of the Czech capital is located at Wilsonova, 8. For passengers at the station there is a cafe, a pharmacy, a hairdresser and a round-the-clock storage room, the cost of one place in which is about 2 euros per day. You can get to the station by the Prague metro. Take the red line C, the stop is called Hlavní Nádraží.
How to get from Prague to Bratislava by bus
About a dozen daily flights of the Eurolines carrier connect Prague and Bratislava. The first bus leaves at 5 am, the last one at 11 pm. The cost of a one-way trip is from 10 to 20 euros, depending on the day of the week, time of day and whether you have chosen a holiday or a regular one. On the way, passengers of the bus from Prague to Bratislava spend just over four hours.
For everyone who has chosen a bus as a means of transportation, there are sockets for recharging phones, a TV set, a coffee machine, an individual air conditioning system and a dry closet. The suitcase can be placed in the luggage compartment.
Necessary information for tourists:
Buses leave from the UAN Florenc Praha station in the Czech capital. It is located at Křižíkova 6 near the Florence metro stop and is open from 4 a.m. to midnight. Passengers are provided with free wireless internet, a left-luggage office, a public toilet and a cafe. The cost of one place in the luggage room is about 1.5 euros per day.
You can also get from Prague to Bratislava from Vaclav Havel Airport. Buses leave from the Praha letiště Václava Havla stop located at the exit from the international terminal. The first flight is at 7.30 am, the last one is at 21.30.
If you prefer a private transfer and are willing to pay for the appropriate comfort, use a taxi to get from the Czech Republic to Slovakia. The cost of a passenger taxi on this route will average 250 euros. You can order a car at a hotel, airport or train station.
The car is not a luxury
If you love to travel by car, Europe is ideal for any of the most daring itineraries. You can get from Prague to Bratislava either by your own car or by driving a rented one. Rent-car offices are open at every European airport, and all well-known European distributors offer their services for tourists both in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia.
Starting from Prague, follow the E50 highway in a southeast direction. In total, you have to drive about 330 km, spending about 4 hours.
Useful information for autotourists:
The cost of one liter of gasoline in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is about 1, 2 euros. When setting off on your own car, do not forget to purchase vignettes - permits to travel on the toll roads of the countries you are going to visit. Both in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia, their price for 10 days for a passenger car is about 11 euros. Permits are sold at border checkpoints, petrol stations and points of sale marked with a special logo. For an hour of parking in most European cities you will be asked from 1 to 2 euros, but from 6 pm to 8 am on weekdays and around the clock on weekends you are guaranteed to be able to park Car is free. In both countries, it is forbidden to drive even with a minimum amount of alcohol in the blood. Penalties for breaking this rule start at 200 euros.
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.
