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When you’re visiting Budapest, the chance to tick off another European city can be temping. Most travellers will see Vienna so close and instinctively choose it. However, there is a faster, cheaper and incredibly wonderful alternative just across the Slovak border.
The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. A city that gets only 25% of the amount of international tourists as Vienna and only 1% of the amount of international tourists as London. This makes it an absolute gem and I’m here to show you how you can add Bratislava to your Hungary trip and what to do in the city.
As both Hungary and Slovakia are in the Schengen zone with open borders, it means that crossing between the two is super simple. You can choose to take either the train or the bus:
Option 1 – Train (Most Common)
Time: 2hr 25m
Cost: approx. £19/€22 one way
Pros: no traffic, more spacious
Cons: more expensive
Booking: via official railway sites (Hungarian – MÁV or Slovak – ZSSK)
Option 2 – Bus (Budget)
Time: 2hr 30m
Cost: approx. £12/€14 one way
Pros: cheap
Cons: possible traffic delays
Booking: via FlixBus
Important: You MUST carry your physical passport or official national ID card. The bus conductor will check your passport before boarding and you’ll be denied if you don’t have it. Random police checks are also possible and do occur more commonly on buses.
Currency Change: The Hungarian Forint (HUF) is only used in Hungary so it’ll be no good to you once you leave. Slovakia conveniently uses the Euro. Whilst they accept contactless card as standard across the city, it’s always good to keep some small coins on hand for bakeries, restrooms or souvenir stands.
Passport on Hand: As noted earlier, both countries are in the Schengen Zone so there are no physical borders. However, it’s important that you carry your physical passport or an official EU national ID card. A driver’s license is not valid. Bus conductors legally require you to present your passport before boarding.
City Transport: Although the city is highly walkable, if you need to take a tram or bus then make sure to follow the rules. You must download the IDS BK app on your phone – tickets are almost 10% cheaper than on street machine. Then you must activate the digital ticket in the app before boarding the transport or you may face a €50 fine on the spot (inspectors sometimes wear regular clothes to catch people out).
Slovakian Language: There’s no need to worry about a language barrier or rush around trying to learn Slovakian for a day trip. As Bratislava is a bustling capital city, English is widely spoken by the majority of people you will interact with.
Morning: The Old Town
After arriving in Bratislava, start by wandering though the pedestrian-only historic centre. Look out for the city’s famous resident, Čumil the Watcher – a small bronze statue of a little communist-era worker peeking out of a street manhole. Browse shops for souvenirs and continue through the gorgeous streets towards the beautiful Michael’s Gate to explore the cobblestone alleys further.
Lunch: Traditional Slovak Meal
Skip the tourist cafes and stop by a local pub for a local draft beer and to try Bryndzové Halušky – a dish made of small potato dumplings covered in a creamy, sheep’s cheese. I can confirm that this combination is elite, and a perfect traditional lunch that will cost no more than £15/€17.50.
Afternoon: Big Buildings
Now you’re refuelled, wander by the Grassalkovich Palace (Presidential Palace) and head towards the main event. The impressive Bratislava Castle sits on the hilltop with a unique solid white square shape. On a clear afternoon, it’s possible to look out and see over Slovakia, Austria and Hungary from the castle. Enjoy the views and explore the grounds of the castle for free.
Before Leaving: The Blue Church
Before catching your return bus or train, be sure to check out St. Elizabeth Church, also known as the Blue Church. With its pale blue glazed ceramics and unique style, it looks like nothing I’ve ever seen before, in the best way. A wonderful end to a wonderful day trip.
When booking my trip to Hungary, I had a spare day and using it to go to a country that I’ve wanted to go to for a long time made perfect sense.
I opted to take a FlixBus both ways and then did exactly the same as the itinerary I’ve given above and everything works really well. It doesn’t feel rushed at all and you get to see all of the main spots.
The great thing about this day trip is that it’s budget-friendly. Other than transport and food, all of the sights are free. That’s a full day of heading to another country, exploring, eating great food and heading back all for less than £60 / €70.
Exploring Bratislava was incredible and make me so excited to head back to Slovakia and explore more of the country. And yes, a day trip to Bratislava is 100% worth it.
If you have a spare day in Budapest, like I did, then Bratislava is the perfect choice. It gives you the chance to experience a completely different culture, language and cuisine within one low-stress day trip that won’t break the bank.
Looking at a trip to Hungary? Check out some of my other related posts below:
Welcome to The Untold Journeys, a travel blog with a focus on raw, authentic travels and finding those exciting hidden gems.
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