Traveling in Europe is an opportunity to see different cities, get to know different cultures and see a lot of interesting things. And for such trips it is not necessary to buy expensive tours. In Europe, you can easily and safely move independently. Let's talk about how to get from Bratislava to Budapest cheaply and quickly.
Geography
The capital of Slovakia is located in Eastern Europe, near the border with Austria. The closest capitals to it are Vienna and Budapest. Therefore, most tourists seek to combine the inspection of these cities in one trip. Thinking about how to get from Bratislava to Budapest and whether it is possible to do it yourself, it is worth remembering that these two cities are separated by a total of 200 kilometers. Which is quite a bit by Russian standards. You can overcome this distance in a variety of ways: by plane, bus, train, car.
Air traffic
The very first answer to the question of how to get from Bratislava to Budapest is by plane. The capital of Hungary and Slovakia is connected by air. But the cost of such a trip starts from 50 euros, and the travel time, including the road to the airport, can vary from 4 hours to a couple of days. Therefore, this method is completely inappropriate.
Railway connection
The second answer to the question of how to get from Bratislava to Budapest is by train. This is one of the most convenient ways. Trains depart for the capital of Hungary from the Bratislava Main Station. All trains going in the direction of Hungary passing. The frequency of train traffic is high; there are 10-15 flights a day. The trains are comfortable, they have 2 passenger classes. The first class involves more spacious compartments, tables, a TV, Wi-Fi is available in such cars, passengers are offered hot drinks during the trip. The second-class cars are more modest; the compartment has 6 seats (soft chairs) and a small table. The structure includes a restaurant car, where at inflated prices you can drink tea or coffee, eat a sandwich. Trains are clean and comfortable. Travel time is from two and a half hours. Sometimes you may encounter late trains. In Budapest, trains can arrive at the Nyugati or Keleti train station.
Buying a train ticket
When thinking about how to get from Bratislava to Budapest, it is worth remembering that you can save a little when buying tickets in advance. A ticket from the capital of Slovakia can be purchased directly at the station, at the box office or at the machine, but there may be a risk of a lack of seats. The station in Bratislava is small, very crowded, and buying a ticket can take quite a while. It’s easier to purchase a ticket via the Internet, you can do it both on the website of the Slovak and Hungarian railways. Surprisingly, a round-trip ticket usually costs less than a one-way ticket. The price in both directions starts from 17.50 euros. One way the cheapest fare will cost 28 euros. The received electronic ticket needs to be printed out, this can be done in the machine. A receipt sent to the mail is not considered a ticket, you need to remember this. The conductor checks the barcode of the ticket with his data. The cheapest tickets do not require specific seats, you have to pay extra for this service, the price is 3 euros. Also, the ticket is not tied to a specific flight, it is valid for a month on all trains except express trains.
Bus service
Another answer to the question of how to get from Bratislava to Budapest is by bus. This is a more economical way than a train, but to some it seems less convenient. Between the two capitals runs about 20 flights per day, the routes are served by different companies. Travel time starts from 2 hours 40 minutes, the slowest bus goes a little over 3 hours. Buses for all carriers are very comfortable: soft chairs, the Internet, sockets for recharging, some buses have televisions, during the trip some companies offer hot drinks, there is a toilet. Buses from Bratislava mostly leave from the Mlynske Nivy station, there is an additional stop under the SNP bridge. Buses usually arrive at Kelenföld Station. This station is convenient in that the metro line starts from it, which will deliver passengers to anywhere in the Hungarian capital. Some buses arrive at Népliget Station, which is also connected to the metro stop.
Major carriers
When thinking about how to get from Bratislava to Budapest by bus, you need to understand the difference between the companies that service these flights. The main carrier companies are several:
- Flixbus. This is one of the cheapest carriers, with the quality of service they have at a decent height. The minus is that buses usually make many stops, so the travel time is delayed. There are also flight delays, which can ruin the whole impression of the trip. - RegioJet. This company has some of the lowest prices, but the bus to Budapest comes from Prague, so tickets for it are not always on sale. The bus is convenient, there are night flights.
- Orange Ways. A well-established, proven carrier with quality service, the fare is slightly higher than that of competitors.
- Eurolines. This company is represented by French, Czech and Slovak divisions. Each branch has its own pricing policy, has its own flights and buses. The famous carrier offers a variety of price options for travel.
Buying a bus ticket
Having decided to go to Budapest by bus, you should think about a ticket, it is advisable to do this in advance. All carriers for early booking offer lower prices, moreover, as the travel date approaches, tickets become less and less. All carriers have the opportunity to purchase tickets online, the most convenient site is from Flixbus. Tickets can be of different categories, mainly regarding the possibility of return. It is usually pointless to return cheap tickets, as the carrier tries to give money for them. When buying a ticket, you can print a receipt sent by mail, or save a ticket on your smartphone and just show it to the controller.
Bus service
Another answer to your question is the Bratislava - Budapest road link. How to get cheaper: by car or by bus? It depends on how many people are traveling. With a full landing in the car you can save. However, it should be remembered that most of the European roads are paid. Therefore, you need to carefully choose a route to drive on free roads. The presence of such paths is reported by the navigator. Typically, such routes take longer, on average, the entire route takes 3 hours. A car trip can be cheaper than a bus if the car is your own or taken at an inexpensive rental service.
Cheapest way
And another answer to the question about how to get from Bratislava to Budapest cheaply is the service of fellow travelers. On the BlaBlaCar website you can find cars that are heading in the right direction, and for a very small price, get to the right place. In addition to the obvious advantage - cheapness, this method also has disadvantages. First of all, this is a trip guarantee. The driver can cancel the flight, can change the route and warn about it in a very short period of time. In addition, the car may not have very comfortable conditions, the driver does not care about the convenience of passengers. There is also a risk of falling on a unprofessional driver, and there will be no insurance against the risk of an accident. But then it’s an opportunity to meet new people and really cheap to get to the right place.