Bratislava to Budapest
 

What is the easiest and cheapest way for a solo traveller to get from Bratislava to Budapest? The train seems to cost around 40 Euro - is this correct, and is it cheaper/more expensive to buy it on the day?

And is there a bus?

Thanks.

There's a bis that runs from Bratislava airport through town then direct to Vienna airport and on into downtown Vienna, Central station. Good service I used it last year. Think it costs about 10 EUR

See timetable:

http://www.viennaairport.com/jart/pr...1195_de_en.pdf

May I ask where you see the €40 train fare? The round-trip fare from Bratislava to Budapest is €17.50 (second class). This is a walk-up fare, valid for one month. The round-trip fare is cheaper than the one-way fare, because Hungary and Slovakia have a bilateral agreement which gives significant discounts on second class round-trip tickets.

Google is your friend: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...0to%20budapest

Yields a few choice links:

Train EUR 18: http://www.seat61.com/international-...va_to_Budapest

Bus: EUR 9 with power socket and drinks (hot=free, cold=pay): http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=12766

Found 40 euro on OEBB website, and on UK.voyages sncf.

Thanks for the heads up, will just buy ticket on the spot if its €17.50

I was checking one-way, so that may explain the price.

Wrong direction, OP wants to go down, not up River Danube ;)

Agree with other posters, original price is ridiculous. Walkup price is rather reasonable for train, though buses tend to be even cheaper. But train is more comfortable, so I would recommend that. OTOH, I think you're more likely to have WiFi on bus than train if that's important.

Eurolines, IIRC, among several that travel from Bratislava to Budapest to answer if there's bus service. For me though, being able to walk around on train beats the slight saving as well as having WiFi for a few hours. And if you can get in a German wagon, chances are good that you will have WiFi as well, maybe even one of Czech wagons.

No German trains on this route, only Czech and Hungarian. The only chance of getting free wifi between Bratislava and Budapest is if you are on a Hungarian train in Hungarian territory; so the second half of the journey between Szob and Budapest.

From Bratislava to Budapest you can usually find cheap seats with Student Agency buses. That will cost around 7 EUR, and you get a cup of coffee in the price! Buses depart from Bratislava's main bus station (Bratislava AS) and the journey takes about 2h 45min. Internet is free and you can select a seat when buying on the internet. I would recommend buying online as these buses are popular.

https://www.studentagency.eu/en/

JUST FOR ANYBODY WHO IS TRAVELLING BETWEEN BRATISLAVA AND VIENNA:
They've just reduced the cost of a single bus ticket between the two cities. That will now cost 5 EUR.
http://www.slovaklines.sk/main-page.html
These buses will only provide internet whilst in Austrian territory (which is the majority of the journey).

Wow, that is cheap :eek:

And if only 2 and a half hours, IIRC that's faster than train. It's just that the train is so much more comfortable.

And a note to those not familiar with Student Agency, you don't need to be a student to use it. It is a very established company.

Exactly! The name is a bit deceptive!

I used them once and the journey was fine. Legroom is a bit tight but for that price you can't complain! The usually give you a newspaper to read and they have audio entertainment. I just checked the times and it shows 3 hours, but I think my journey took about 2h 45min.

This is why I love living in Eastern Europe...it's cheap! :D

40 Euros??? :confused:

I have a DB Bahn Card with RailPass discount, and my walk-up tickets between Bratislava and Budapest are around 14,50 or 14,90 EUR, IIRC. So a regular priced ticket would be less than 20 Euros.

It has been my experience that Student Agency's wifi works only in the Czech Republic, but it is a small sample size. Hot drinks, coffee and hot chocolate, are free but cold drinks cost money.