How to Get to Bratislava from Budapest

If you want to travel from Budapest, the capital of Hungary, to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, you first need to locate both cities so you can plan your trip. For example, around the Danube. Before you set off, you should also know that Bratislava is the largest city in Slovakia and is full of attractions and charm.

While the Danube crosses Budapest, Bratislava is also located along this river. This is very useful information for finding your way around. With this in mind, all you have to do is read the options for getting there listed below and choose the one that suits you best.

An organised excursion from Budapest to Bratislava is a great option and is generally the most popular, as it offers more convenience than any of the other alternatives, such as the possibility of a return trip if your holiday and hotel are in the Hungarian city.

In addition, booking an excursion is always a good alternative to avoid the hassle of booking everything separately. Some even offer lunch or dinner options, which is ideal for rounding off the package and not having to think about everything.

I think that if you are looking for things to see and do in Budapest, taking a little detour to visit Bratislava is an option you won't regret. Of course, if it wasn't in your plans, I think it's always better to do it as a day trip rather than going on your own and then regretting the wasted time.

My recommended option

One of the best options for this is the private day trip to Bratislava from Budapest with lunch. It lasts ten hours. The journey from Budapest takes two hours, and then you can explore the Slovakian city on foot. There, you will also stop for lunch, and then embark on a relaxing return journey.

The tour also includes a guide, in Spanish, so you can explore the Slovakian capital. You will even be given the option to make the itinerary more flexible. Once there, you will discover its most impressive attractions, such as Michael's Gate and Bratislava Castle.

Between visits, you will learn about history from your tour guide, who will take you to lunch at a restaurant in the city centre to round off a great experience. At this point, you can relax and enjoy some free time to explore any part of the city that particularly interests you.

There are numerous options, so it's a good idea to think about it in advance so you can go straight there and not waste time wondering what would be best. Well, that's what would happen to me. That's why I recommend you consider Bratislava's cafés as an option: they are all beautiful! And then you'll return with the peace of mind of knowing that you don't have to rush or wait for buses. A real pleasure.

As both Budapest and Bratislava have airports, this is a very popular option, although it is one of the most expensive. To get from the centre of Budapest to the airport, which is the largest of the five airports in Hungary, you will need to take a bus or a combination of metro and bus.

Once at Bratislava airport, you can take a bus from the airport to the city to explore and get to know the city. It is less than an hour's journey on direct flights, as the distance between Budapest and Bratislava is relatively short.

Prices

Prices range from £18 to £150, depending on the option you choose or find available on the date you are travelling. The truth is that, unless you can get that £18 ticket I mentioned as the minimum price, I don't really recommend this option.

Duration

Although the journey takes less than an hour, you have to get from the airports to the cities, check in and wait for your luggage.

These things take time. In short, in my opinion, you'll end up spending much more money than necessary and won't save any significant amount of time. Are you planning a holiday in Budapest? Find out all about the Budapest Card in this article!

Whether it's a good or bad option, we'll see. What I can tell you from the outset is that it's one of the least popular options. By car, getting from Budapest to Bratislava is not particularly difficult. It can be done.

The journey takes a few hours on the motorway. However, the traffic leaving the centre of the Hungarian capital is a bit chaotic. This is a major disadvantage if you are travelling to relax or simply want to get there quickly and without complications.

In any case, travelling by car has one major advantage that no other means of transport can match: when driving to other cities, you are in control of where you go, and you can take advantage of excursions or activities that are not so central, thanks to the fact that you can do as you please. If you want to experience such a personalised adventure, this is definitely a great option.

Extra costs: road taxes

As it is a short trip, you will not need to make any stops. However, you should be aware that you will have to pay a road tax for the motorways. This applies in both cases: both Hungary and Slovakia will ask you to pay their own.

• The Hungarian vignette costs €13 and is valid for 10 days. You can buy it online or at most petrol stations in the country.
• The Slovakian vignette costs €10 for the same number of days. You can also buy it online and at petrol stations. You do not need to put a sticker on your car, just register your number plate to avoid fines.

If you want to know everything you need to know for your trip to Budapest, be sure to read our article with 10 tips to follow on your trip to Budapest

By bus, you can get from Budapest to Bratislava in between two and three and a half hours. This is one of the cheapest options, and it's direct.

For example, the FlixBus company has seven daily departures, with tickets ranging from £8 to £12. We recommend booking online and in advance to take advantage of promotions and avoid missing out on seats.

Other companies offering this journey include RegioJet. Both run frequent coaches to Bratislava from Budapest. Tickets also start at £8, but can cost up to £24.

Tips for travelling by coach

Buses leave from Budapest Kelenföld station, which is a little far from the city centre, but can be reached in half an hour by metro on the green M4 line or by several bus lines.
As there are two bus stations with departures like this in Budapest, you should pay attention, especially if you buy your ticket online, to check where your bus is leaving from.

You don't want to buy a ticket and then find yourself waiting at the other end of the city, do you? If you like travelling by bus and are planning your next trip to Budapest, be sure to read our article on the best tourist buses in Budapest so you can plan a holiday tailored to your needs.

If none of the above options are what you're looking for, you're probably wondering if you can travel by train. And yes, you can.

It is possible to travel by train from Budapest to Bratislava. And, although it's not our most recommended option, it is a good choice. Especially for those who love the nostalgia of railways and their tracks.

The train journey from Budapest to Bratislava takes approximately two and a half hours. If you travel by train, you have the advantage of the station being closer to the city centre than other means of transport.

Most trains depart from Nyugati station, which can be reached from the city centre by taking the blue M3 metro line. When you arrive at Bratislava train station, you will need to take tram line 1 to reach the city centre. They run quite frequently.

Prices

If you plan to go to Bratislava from Budapest and then return, you should know that the price of a train ticket is £12, but if you buy a return ticket, it will cost £17.50 in total. So, it's actually a convenient option for day trips. However, you will lose a lot of time travelling, and you probably won't enjoy it very much. You might want to spend the night. That's why I prefer other options to this one, despite my love of trains.

How to buy tickets

You can buy train tickets online, but it's not necessary. You still have to pick them up at the ticket office, so it's best to buy them there, as they won't run out. There are seven direct trains a day covering this route. You won't be left behind, if that's what you're worried about.

If you decide to go to Bratislava for the day and then return to Budapest for the night, don't miss our article on the ten best ruin bars in Budapest, which will help you choose the perfect plan: fun, picturesque and ideal after a tiring day.