From Budapest to Bratislava

How can you get from Budapest to Bratislava (and vice versa)?

The distance between these cities is 161 km as the crow flies, by road it's about 200 kilometers. Basically, transport options are: by train, by bus or by car (taxi or car sharing). Probably the most convenient means of transport  - except taking a taxi - is a train, yet regular buses shuttle between the two cities, too.

You can try to hitchhike or get there e.g. by bike, of course, but we suppose these options are rather rare ways of transport between these two cities. :) However, if you want to make the trip more adventurous or you are a great sports lover, the Bratislava - Budapest journey by bike can be a really pleasant experience, as the route goes along the Danube and the landscape is rather flat, so it should not be so exhausting.

Given the distance, it is obvious that flying is out of the question, it would be much more expensive and needlessly complicated.

Regarding traveling by car, it's possible to use a worldwide sharing service such as BlaBlaCar or any similar car sharing provider. There are some private companies offering private transfers from one city to another. It's fast, comfortable, but with this tailor-made service you have to take into account significantly higher costs and so consider “cost-to-performance ratio”.

Budapest to Bratislava: Find the best way 

Wondering which mode of transport to choose when getting from Budapest to Bratislava or from Bratislava to Budapest? It partially depends on individual preferences. However, the table below should make it easier for you to decide. 

Table: Comparison of transport options from Budapest to Bratislava and vice versa

Already decided? Great! Then book your ticket directly!
👉 BUS TICKETS - RegioJet (via Omio) or Flixbus
👉 TRAIN TICKETS - via ZZSK (Slovak company) or MÁV (Hungarian company)

Interested in a more detailed comparison according to the criteria mentioned above? Then read on!👀

🕐Travel time:
How long does it take to get from Budapest to Bratislava?

In terms of duration, all transport options are almost comparable, there are no significant differences (except bike, of course). By train and bus you can be there in about 2,5-3 hours, by car even in 2 hours. However, by bus and car (taxi), it's necessary to take into account traffic conditions, which can significantly affect the arrival time. If you choose an indirect train connection, the travel time is expected to be much longer as well.
 

🛣️Is there a direct connection between Budapest and Bratislava?

No matter which means of transport you choose, by all of them there are direct connections to be chosen from.
 

📍Flexibility:
Where can you get on / get off?

There is no doubt that a car or taxi offers the highest flexibility in terms of time or place of departure, as well as the destination. On the contrary, logically, the train is the most limited in this respect, and there are not many bus stops either in Bratislava nor Budapest (meaning on these particular routes provided by bus companies). However, both train and bus stations are located close to the city centre and/or are easily accessible by public transport.
 

📶 Frequency:
How often is there any connection from Budapest to Bratislava?

When comparing the train and bus in terms of the number of  connections during the day, the train is undoubtedly a winner. Trains shuttle during the day almost every two hours, night time is the only exception. By bus it depends on the bus provider - the one departs throughout the day, the second offers only 2 buses per day, but with a night bus as well.
 

💲Price:
How much does the ticket from Budapest to Bratislava cost?

Travelling by bus seems to be the most budget-friendly option as a one-way bus ticket costs on average €8. By train it's mostly €14 for a one-way ticket, depending on date and point of purchase. Moreover, this price applies when using the Europa Express special offer. Transfer trains can be significantly more expensive. Taxi or private car transport might be acceptable in case you travel in a group. BlaBlaCar is cost-effective, however you can never be sure in advance that someone will offer to share his/her route with others.
 

Getting from Budapest to Bratislava. Do you need to know more?

Of course, there are many other criteria by which we could compare all the possible ways of getting from Budapest to Bratislava. However, we think that some areas are highly subjective, and what is very important to someone may be completely irrelevant to others (e.g. possibility to transport animals, bikes, extra luggage, comfort, overall experience…). Therefore we recommend going through the detailed information we've prepared for you on train, bus and taxi and we believe, with our guide it will be easy to choose the best option according to your preferences.  All the information is valid also for ways from Bratislava to Budapest. 

👉From Budapest to Bratislava by train
👉From Budapest to Bratislava by bus
👉From Budapest to Bratislava by taxi

Tip: Do you prefer organized tours? Our partner offers a one-day trip from Budapest to Bratislava including stops at some interesting places in Hungary along the route. Check it here and book your date!
 

In conclusion

Do you already know everything you need about the transport between Bratislava and Budapest? Great, but there is much more that is good to know before visiting Bratislava. Don´t worry, our BratislavaGuide is here for you. Just browse through our website and you can´t be better prepared for your trip. And in case you don't find something you would be interested in, just let us know!