In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Go by train. The REX 8 leaves Wien Hauptbahnhof hourly at :14 and reaches Bratislava in 56 minutes; the last train back leaves Bratislava at 23:50. RegioJet’s bus is €4.90 or €5.90 and takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The Twin City Liner boat takes 1 hour 15 minutes down the Danube for €34 to €39 plus a €3 fuel surcharge, on a summer timetable that ends on 2 November 2026, and sailings depend on the water level. Austria has border controls on its Slovak border until 15 March 2027: carry a passport or national ID card. Bratislava Castle is €14 and its history museum is closed on Tuesdays. Or book a tour: Bratislava Day Trip Like a Localad is €66 for 9½ hours by bus, which adds a licensed guide for the old town (GetYourGuide).
Getting there on your own
Train times are for the timetable valid until 12 December 2026.
| Option | Journey | Fare | From and to |
|---|---|---|---|
| ÖBB REX 8 | 56 minutes, hourly at :14 | Priced when you book at oebb.at | Wien Hauptbahnhof to Bratislava hlavná stanica |
| RegioJet bus | 1 hour 30 minutes | €4.90 or €5.90 | Hauptbahnhof (Südtiroler Platz) to Nivy bus station |
| Twin City Liner | 1 hour 15 minutes down, 1 hour 30 minutes back | €34 to €39, plus €3 | Schwedenplatz to Bratislava Old Town |
| DDSG day trip | 13 hours, about 4 hours in Bratislava | From €102 | Vienna marina |
| Slovak Lines bus | 1 hour 30 minutes | From €9ad | Includes a stop at the airport |
The train
56 minutes · hourly at :14 from Hauptbahnhof, 05:14 to 23:14 · back hourly at :50
The REX 8 is a regional express and runs direct. Back from Bratislava, it leaves hourly at :50 from 05:50 to 23:50, also in 56 minutes (ÖBB timetable).
The bus
€4.90 or €5.90 · 1 hour 30 minutes · about every 1 to 2 hours
RegioJet’s buses leave Hauptbahnhof (Südtiroler Platz) at 08:50, 09:50, 10:50, 12:50, 14:50, 16:50, 18:50, 19:40, 20:50 and 22:50, and reach Nivy bus station. Back from Nivy they leave at 06:30, 07:30, 08:30, 10:30, 11:20, 13:30, 14:30, 16:30, 17:30 and 19:30, taking 1 hour 25 minutes at €4.90 or €5.90, and there is a night bus at 01:45 for €11 to €13 (regiojet.com).
The Twin City Liner
Economy €34 Monday to Friday, €39 at weekends and on public holidays, plus €3 · 1 hour 15 minutes
The boat leaves Schwedenplatz at 08:30, 12:30 and 16:30 and arrives at 09:45, 13:45 and 17:45. Back from Bratislava it leaves at 10:30, 14:30 and 18:30 and arrives at 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00. That is the summer timetable, which runs until 2 November 2026. Advent cruises run from 27 November to 20 December 2026 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, leaving Vienna at 10:30 and Bratislava at 16:30. Children under 2 are free and ages 2 to 11 pay half price. Boarding is 30 minutes before, and a valid travel document is required (twincityliner.com). Sailings depend on the water level; when the Danube is low the boat does not run, and the operator’s status board shows what sails.
The Twin City Liner catamaran passing under a footbridge in Vienna. Photo: Peter Haas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The DDSG day trip
From €102 · 13 hours · about 4 hours in Bratislava · set dates
DDSG Blue Danube’s MS Kaiserin Elisabeth leaves the Vienna marina at 07:00 and gives about four hours in Bratislava, from 12:00 to 16:00, with catering on board. A reservation and a valid travel document are required (ddsg-blue-danube.at).
The border
Austria has border controls on its Slovak border, on land and on the river, from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027. The Twin City Liner says river crossings are possible only at Bratislava Port and Vienna Schwedenplatz, and only with a valid passport or an EU, EEA or Swiss ID card (twincityliner.com).
Tours from Vienna
A tour fixes the day and adds a guide. Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices.
Like a Local
From €66 · 569 reviews · 9½ hours · small group
From Vienna: Bratislava Hidden-Gems Day Trip Like a Localad takes a round-trip bus and tours the old town with a licensed guide, past Michael’s Gate and St Martin’s Cathedral. You choose an option with lunch, with coffee and cake, or with a beer tasting.
Michael’s Gate at the end of Michalská street. Photo: Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Bratislava and Devín Castle
From €97 · 300 reviews · 8 hours · pick-up listed
Vienna: Guided Bratislava & Devín Castle Tour via Hainburgad adds stops in Hainburg and at Devín Castle.
By bus there, boat back
From €99 · 1,528 reviews · 11½ hours
From Vienna: Guided Tour to Bratislava with Speed Boat Ridead goes by bus, strolls through the old town, and returns on the Twin City Liner. The boat leg depends on the water level.
From Bratislava: Devín Castle cruise
From €30.50 · 1,323 reviews · 4 hours
Bratislava: Cruise – Devín Castle Round Tripad leaves from Bratislava, for a reader already there.
Bratislava and Budapest in one day is a 12 to 13 hour coach tour: see Vienna to Budapest.
What to see in Bratislava
The castle is above the old town, so go up first and walk down.
- Bratislava Castle. €14, children and students €7, seniors 62 to 69 €8 · daily except Tuesday, 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:00. The ticket covers the castle interior, the Treasury and the Northern Walls. The grounds are open 08:00 to 22:00, and the Baroque garden 09:00 to 17:00 in October and 09:00 to 16:00 from November. From Hodžovo Square, trolleybus 44 or 47 stops at Hrad or Zámocká; on foot it is up Zámocká Street or the Zámocké schody steps (snm.sk).
- The Old Town. Free. Michael’s Gate and St Martin’s Cathedral are the stops the tours name.
On a Tuesday the history museum is closed; the grounds, open 08:00 to 22:00, and the Old Town stay open.
Bratislava Castle above the Danube. Photo: Uoaei1, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A day, hour by hour
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 09:14 | REX 8 from Hauptbahnhof, arriving at 10:10 |
| From 10:30 | The castle, which opens at 10:00; trolleybus 44 or 47 from Hodžovo Square, or on foot |
| Midday | The Old Town, lunch |
| 16:50 or 17:50 | Train from Bratislava at :50, arriving in Vienna 56 minutes later |
Before you go
- Passport: carry a passport or national ID card, until 15 March 2027.
- Twin City Liner: summer timetable ends 2 November 2026; Advent cruises 27 November to 20 December.
- Tuesdays: the castle’s history museum is closed.
- Timetables: ÖBB changes its timetable on 13 December 2026.
Coming from Budapest instead? Vienna and Bratislava from Budapest covers the trip from the other side. Bratislava is one of the day trips from Vienna. Vienna to Budapest is the longer train, and Vienna public transport covers the way to Hauptbahnhof. What to book before you go to Vienna has the city tickets, 3 days in Vienna shows where a day away fits, and where to stay in Vienna compares the areas.
Common questions
How long is the train from Vienna to Bratislava?
56 minutes on the ÖBB REX 8 from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Bratislava hlavná stanica, hourly at :14 from 05:14 to 23:14. Trains back leave Bratislava hourly at :50, from 05:50 to 23:50.
Do I need a passport to go from Vienna to Bratislava?
Yes, carry a passport or, if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, a national ID card. Austria has border controls on its Slovak border, land and river, from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027. The Twin City Liner accepts only a valid passport or EU, EEA or Swiss ID.
How much is the bus from Vienna to Bratislava?
RegioJet's bus from Vienna Hauptbahnhof (Südtiroler Platz) to Bratislava's Nivy bus station is €4.90 or €5.90 and takes 1 hour 30 minutes, about every one to two hours from 08:50 to 22:50. The bus back from Nivy takes 1 hour 25 minutes.
Does the Twin City Liner run from Vienna to Bratislava in winter?
Its summer timetable runs until 2 November 2026, with three sailings a day from Schwedenplatz. Advent cruises run on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 27 November to 20 December 2026. Sailings depend on the water level on the Danube.
How much is Bratislava Castle?
€14 for an adult, €7 for children and students and €8 for seniors aged 62 to 69. The history museum is open daily except Tuesday, 10:00 to 18:00, with the last entry at 17:00.
