In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Bratislava’s public transport is run by Dopravný podnik Bratislava (DPB) under the regional IDS BK system. Within the city (Zones 100 and 101) tickets are priced by time, not by zone. A 30-minute journey costs €1.09 when tapping a contactless payment card or using the IDS BK app (€1.20 on paper), while a 24-hour city network pass costs €4.85 (€5.40 paper). Red low-floor trams connect the central pedestrian squares to the railway station and across the Danube to Petržalka, while trolleybuses climb the hills to Slavín and buses reach Devín Castle. Or book a tour: the Bratislava CARD with a public transport option and walking tourad is sold on GetYourGuide from €27.
The historic core of Staré Mesto is pedestrianised and best explored on foot. You need public transport for the Slavín War Memorial, for crossing the Danube, and for Devín Castle and Danubiana.
Ticket prices and fare categories
All public transport in the city runs on the integrated IDS BK tariff. Bratislava has two central zones: Zone 100 (the historic centre and inner boroughs) and Zone 101 (outer suburbs including the airport and Devín). Within the city the two count as one territory, so you choose a ticket by duration only.
| Ticket type | Duration | Contactless tap or IDS BK app | Paper ticket (kiosk/machine) | Concession, electronic / paper (children 6–15, students, 62+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short trip | 30 minutes | €1.09 | €1.20 | €0.55 / €0.60 |
| Standard transfer | 60 minutes | €1.60 | €1.80 | €0.80 / €0.90 |
| Extended journey | 90 minutes | €2.12 | €2.40 | €1.06 / €1.20 |
| 24-Hour Pass (City) | 24 hours | €4.85 | €5.40 | €2.43 / €2.70 |
| 72-Hour Pass (City) | 72 hours | €9.68 | €10.70 | €4.84 / €5.35 |
| 24-Hour Pass (All Zones) | 24 hours | €7.80 | €8.60 | €3.90 / €4.30 |
Children under six travel free of charge across all lines. Concessions apply to youth aged 6 to 15, university students with ISIC credentials, and seniors aged 62 and older upon presenting valid photo identification.
How to buy and validate your ticket
There are three ways to buy a ticket, and each has its own validation rule.
Modern low-floor Škoda tram crossing the Old Bridge over the Danube. Photo: Paul Korecky, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
1. Contactless Card Tap (Tap-to-Pay Onboard)
Tap your credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro) or mobile device (Apple Pay, Google Pay) directly inside the vehicle.
- Where: Mounted beside every passenger entrance door is a yellow validator terminal equipped with a colour touchscreen and a contactless card reader.
- How it works: Touch your card to the reader icon. The terminal sounds an audible chime and displays a green checkmark confirming an electronic 30-minute ticket purchase (€1.09).
- Transfers: If you change to another tram or bus within the 30-minute validity window, tap the exact same payment card on the validator of the second vehicle. The system recognises your card, extends your journey time validation, and does not charge a second fare.
- Card inspection: You get no paper receipt. If inspectors board, show the card or phone you tapped with; their handheld reader checks the payment.
2. The IDS BK Mobile App
The official smartphone application, IDS BK (available free for iOS and Android), suits multi-day passes and regional tickets.
- The app allows you to purchase single tickets, 24-hour passes, and multi-zone regional tickets at the discounted electronic rate.
- Activation countdown: Purchased tickets must be activated inside the app before stepping onto the vehicle. The app displays an active security countdown timer with a rotating QR code that you present to inspectors.
Interior of a Škoda 30T tram showing the yellow contactless card validators. Photo: Tramhendi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
3. Paper Tickets from Stop Machines
If you prefer physical tickets, red automated ticket vending machines stand at all tram stops, train stations, and central bus interchanges.
- Machine payment: Modern red machines accept both euro coins and contactless bank cards; older orange machines accept only euro coins.
- CRITICAL VALIDATION RULE: A paper ticket is not valid until it is mechanically stamped. Immediately upon stepping inside the vehicle, insert your ticket face-up into the mechanical slit of the yellow validator by the door. The machine stamps the date, time, and vehicle number.
- You must stamp your ticket on the first vehicle only. If you transfer to another bus or tram within the ticket’s time limit, do not stamp the paper ticket a second time (restamping invalidates the timestamp).
Main station tram stop. Photo: Robert von Oliva (naruciakk), Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Ticket inspectors and fines
Ticket inspectors (revízori) wear plain clothes.
- How inspections work: Once the doors close and the vehicle is moving, inspectors show a badge or electronic credentials and block the validator terminals.
- Fines: Passengers without a valid stamped paper ticket or electronic tap pay a penalty fare set in the IDS BK tariff, by card or cash to the inspector. If it is not paid on the spot, the fine increases, plus the fare.
- “I could not find the machine” and “I am a tourist” are not accepted. Stamp or tap as you board.
Network overview: Trams, trolleybuses and buses
The city’s vehicles are red and low-floor, with digital stop displays and bilingual voice announcements.
The Tram Network (Električky)
Trams are the backbone of urban transport. They operate from 05:00 to 23:30 daily, with daytime frequencies every four to five minutes during peak hours and every seven to ten minutes off-peak.
- Line 1: Links Hlavná stanica (Central Railway Station) directly to the city centre (Námestie SNP, Šafárikovo námestie), crossing the green steel superstructure of Old Bridge (Starý most) over the Danube to the southern terminus at Jungmannova in Petržalka.
- Line 3: Connects northern suburban Rača through the transport hub at Račianske mýto, passing the Grassalkovich Presidential Palace and the city centre down into Petržalka.
- Line 4: Runs east-west from Zlaté Piesky lake recreation area through the central core to the western suburb of Dúbravka.
- Line 9: Links the eastern commercial district of Ružinov with the university campus and botanical garden in Karlova Ves.
Trolleybuses (Trolejbusy)
Bratislava operates an extensive network of electric trolleybuses powered by overhead catenary wires, primarily serving the steep hills northwest of the centre where trams cannot climb.
- Line 44: Departs from Hodžovo námestie (in front of the Presidential Palace), climbing the residential embassy slopes to the Búdková terminus, the gateway for visiting the Slavín War Memorial and Horský Park.
- Line 40: Connects Bratislava Hlavná stanica with the modern Nivy commercial bus terminal and the Eurovea riverfront.
Municipal City Buses (Autobusy)
Buses connect the suburbs, regional transport hubs and outlying monuments.
- Bus 29: Departs from the sheltered platforms beneath the northern pylon of Most SNP, running along the Danube gorge directly to the village and clifftop ruins of Devín Castle in 21 minutes.
- Bus 61: Runs directly from the forecourt of Bratislava Airport (BTS) to Bratislava Hlavná stanica in 25 minutes (see our full Airport to City Guide).
- Bus 90: Departs from the Nové SND bus stop behind Eurovea, running south to the Danubiana Art Museum in 34 minutes.
Night Transport (Nočné Linky)
Between 23:30 and 04:30, daytime routes cease and a dedicated night bus network (routes N21 to N99) takes over. Night lines depart every 30 to 60 minutes, with the central interchange located at Bratislava Hlavná stanica. Standard city transit tickets apply to night buses; there is no nighttime surcharge.
The Bratislava Card
The official tourist Bratislava Card bundles museum admissions with public transport. It is run by the Bratislava Tourist Board and comes as a physical card (sold at tourist information offices and hotel desks) or in a mobile app.
| Card duration | With unlimited public transit | Without public transit |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Hour Card | €30.00 | €27.00 |
| 48-Hour Card | €36.00 | €32.00 |
| 72-Hour Card | €39.00 | €35.00 |
What the Bratislava Card includes
- Unlimited free travel (with-transport cards): All DPB trams, trolleybuses, buses and regional train lines across Zones 100 and 101 and the outer zones of the Bratislava region.
- Free entry to museums, castles and galleries: Including the Slovak National Museum Historical Museum inside Bratislava Castle, the Old Town Hall City Museum and clock tower climb (saving €8), Devín Castle ruins (saving €8), Červený Kameň Castle (saving €13), and the Primate’s Palace (saving €5).
- Free guided walking tour: A complimentary 1-hour licensed walking tour of the historic Old Town centre (departing daily at 14:00 from the Tourist Information Centre at Klobučnícka 2).
- Discounted attractions: 20% discount on entry to the UFO Observation Deck, 15% discount on Danube river sightseeing cruises, and discounts at selected traditional restaurants and craft breweries.
Tours and transit packages
The Bratislava CARD is sold on GetYourGuide with a public transport option and a walking tour.
Bratislava CARD with Public Transport Option & Walking Tour
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The official Bratislava tourist card, sold with a public transport option and a walking tour. Bratislava CARD with Public Transport Option & Walking Tourad
Transit options and passes compared
| Option | Cost per adult | Transit coverage | Museum admissions included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Transit Taps | €1.09 per 30 min | Pay per ride on trams/buses | None |
| 24-Hour Transit Pass | €4.85 (app/tap) | Unlimited rides for 24 hours | None |
| Bratislava Card (24h) | €30.00 | Unlimited transit for 24 hours | Free sights entry + walking tour included |
| Bratislava Card (72h) | €39.00 | Unlimited transit for 72 hours | Free sights entry + walking tour included |
Practical tips for riding public transport
- Request stops (Na znamenie): Many suburban bus and trolleybus stops are designated Na znamenie (stop on request). When waiting at a platform, stand visibly near the kerb so the driver sees you. When travelling inside the vehicle, press the red STOP button mounted on the grab poles well before your stop to signal the driver to pull over.
- Door opening buttons: Doors on trams and buses do not open automatically at every stop. Press the illuminated green tactile button in the centre of the glass doors or grab pole to release the door mechanism.
- No tickets from drivers: Bus drivers do not sell tickets. Tap your bank card or use the IDS BK app, or buy a paper ticket before boarding.
- Bicycles and strollers: Low-floor trams and buses have spaces marked with wheelchair and bicycle pictograms. Prams and wheelchairs travel free and have priority over bicycles.
What to see next
- Bratislava Airport to the City Centre: using bus 61 and express airport shuttles.
- Money in Bratislava: card payments, ATMs, and currency advice.
- Devín Castle Day Trip: using bus 29 to reach the clifftop fortress.
- Danubiana Art Museum Guide: navigating bus 90 to the Danube peninsula.
- Where to Stay in Bratislava: hotels near the tram lines.
Common questions
How much is a single ticket on Bratislava public transport?
Within municipal zones 100 and 101, transit tickets are based entirely on journey time rather than distance. A 30-minute ticket costs €1.09 electronically (tapping a contactless card or using the IDS BK app) or €1.20 on paper. A 60-minute ticket costs €1.60 electronically or €1.80 on paper.
Can you pay with a contactless bank card on Bratislava trams and buses?
Yes. Every tram, bus, and trolleybus in Bratislava features yellow electronic validators at each entrance. Tap your debit/credit card or smartphone on the screen as you board; a green checkmark confirms your €1.09 electronic 30-minute ticket.
Do you need to validate paper tickets?
Yes. Paper tickets purchased from machines or kiosks are invalid until inserted into the mechanical slot on the yellow validator on your first vehicle. Failure to stamp a paper ticket carries an on-the-spot penalty fare.
What does the 24-hour transit ticket cost?
An all-day (24-hour) transit pass covering city zones 100 and 101 costs €4.85 via the IDS BK app or electronic card purchase, and €5.40 for a paper ticket. A 72-hour pass costs €9.68 electronic or €10.70 paper.
