With 423,737 inhabitants, Bratislava is the most populous city in Slovakia. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. Bratislava deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Bratislava in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 26.6 °F, with an average temperature of 32 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 2.8″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Bratislava, with an average rainfall of 1.2″.
When flying to Bratislava, you’ll arrive at Bratislava - M. R. Štefánik (BTS), which is located 5 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Bratislava from the United States departs from Denver and takes around 19h 05m.
ÖBB is the most popular train carrier serving Bratislava, followed by Regiojet. The train journey from Bratislava to Vienna takes 0h 59m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Budapest, expect to pay about $44 for a 2h 25m trip. Located 0.7 miles from the city center, Bratislava Hlavná is the busiest station in Bratislava. Another popular train station is Bratislava Petržalka, located 1.9 miles from the center.
Another option to get to Bratislava is to pick up a car rental from Košice, which is about 194 miles from Bratislava. You’ll find branches of Budget and Wheego, among others, in Košice.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bratislava, including FlixBus, Regiojet and Slovak Lines. From Vienna, the bus ride to Bratislava takes 45 miles and will cost you around $14. From Budapest, the ticket costs about $26 for a journey of 140 miles. The most popular bus station is Bratislava Bus Service, located 5 miles from downtown Bratislava. Bratislava Einsteinova is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 miles from the city center.
From 5-star hotels such as the Roset Boutique Hotel to great affordable options like the Hotel West, Bratislava offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $86 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $134 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bratislava, with prices from $15 to $208 per night. Staré Mesto is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bratislava are about 18% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Staré Mesto - In Bratislava’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Art Hotel William, Hotel Danubia Gate and Park Inn by Radisson Danube Bratislava.
Ružinov - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as NH Bratislava Gate One, Aviator Garni Hotel Bratislava and Hotel Bratislava. The average nightly price for a double room in Ružinov is $58.
Renting a car in Bratislava costs $30 per day, on average, or $60 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 26% more expensive than at Bratislava - M. R. Štefánik.
Expect to pay $6.81 per gallon in Bratislava (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $81.76 and $109.02. The most frequently booked car type in Bratislava is Compact (Skoda Fabia or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Hyundai i20 or similar) are, on average, 77% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.