Passenger Transport Companies in Slovakia – Travelling in Comfort

Slovakia has beautiful countryside and a convenient location in the centre of Europe, so trips around the country and to neighbouring cities are genuinely enjoyable journeys. Carriers do their best to make the trip comfortable and safe. In this article we look at the main passenger transport companies in Slovakia, their routes, and the rules on luggage, travelling with children and carrying animals.

Slovak Lines — buses across Slovakia and into Europe

A Slovak transport company providing passenger services within Slovakia, across Europe and beyond.

Thanks to Slovak Lines and its partners you can travel quickly and comfortably to Vienna (including Schwechat international airport), Prague, Brno, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Udine, Padua, Bologna, Florence and Athens, as well as to cities in Ukraine (Uzhhorod, Mukachevo).

Besides its scheduled routes, the carrier also runs coach trips to concerts and festivals in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Bratislava — Schwechat airport — Vienna route

This is one of the most popular routes: buses connect Bratislava with Vienna’s Schwechat airport and the centre of Vienna. Check the carrier’s website for the current timetable and fares — they change with the season and with how far ahead you book.

The «Departure Guarantee» service

If you want to be sure of catching your flight from Schwechat airport, you can buy the «Departure Guarantee» service together with your ticket. If something goes wrong, the company undertakes to arrange a timely transfer, and if you miss your flight through the carrier’s fault, the cost of the ticket is compensated up to 1,500 euros.

Travelling with children and carrying animals

Slovak Lines buses have seats for children aged 3 to 9, as well as child seats for those under 3. A folded pushchair may be carried free of charge. On routes to Vienna and Schwechat, anyone under 16 may travel only when accompanied by an adult.

Animals weighing up to 10 kg may be carried in a cage, and the approximate fare for a pet is around 3 euros. For more on the rules for bringing animals into the country, see our article Travelling to Slovakia with a pet: rules and requirements.

RegioJet — buses and trains across the Czech Republic and Slovakia

A Czech transport company operating domestic and international bus and rail services. The carrier offers connections to dozens of cities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Europe.

Buses

RegioJet buses come in three classes: Fun&Relax, Relax and Ekostandard. Depending on the class, passengers get air conditioning, adjustable seats with built-in screens, Wi-Fi, power sockets and USB ports, large tables, a toilet, and free hot drinks and newspapers. You can also reserve a specific seat and change or cancel your ticket shortly before departure.

Rail services

RegioJet trains run scheduled services on routes across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company offers several carriage categories with different levels of comfort: Business, Relax, Standard, Low cost, a children’s compartment, a quiet compartment and sleeping cars.

The company offers reduced-price tickets for both bus and rail travel, including free travel for young children and discounts for schoolchildren, students and people with disabilities. Tickets can be bought on the carrier’s website, in the mobile app, at sales points, directly on the bus or through partners.

Luggage and animals with RegioJet

The bus fare includes hand luggage of roughly 15×25×35 cm and one item of luggage in the hold (about 30×60×80 cm, up to 30 kg). Extra and oversized luggage, including bicycles, skis and snowboards, is charged separately — online, at a sales point or on the bus.

On bus routes in Slovakia and the Czech Republic animals up to 10 kg may be carried in cages. Carriage is also allowed on a number of international routes, among them Berlin–Dresden–Prague–Brno–Vienna, Prague–Brno–Bratislava–Budapest, Prague–Brno–Vienna, Krakow–Ostrava–Brno–Vienna and Bratislava–Vienna–Budapest.

Children under 3 must travel on the bus only in a child car seat. The carrier warns that child seats are not standard bus equipment, so parents need to arrange one in advance.

FlixBus — the largest bus network

One of the biggest passenger carriers in Slovakia, Ukraine and across Europe. The list of Slovak cities served, along with departure and arrival times, is available on the company’s website.

Bus stops in Bratislava

The main FlixBus stops in Bratislava are the SNP bridge, Petržalka (Einsteinova / Viedenská cesta) and the Mlynské Nivy bus station. FlixBus services also run to Vienna’s Schwechat airport and to the Vienna bus station.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets can be bought on the carrier’s website, in the FlixBus app, in FlixShop stores and from official distributors. The app sometimes has exclusive discounts, delay notifications and directions to your stop. You can also buy a ticket directly from the driver on the bus.

Luggage, children and animals

Hand luggage of up to 7 kg and one item of hold luggage of up to 20 kg are included in the fare. Excess and oversized luggage is carried for an extra fee, the cost depending on the route, the timing and how you book. Bicycles weighing up to 25 kg can be carried, but must be booked when you buy the ticket; electric bicycles are not allowed.

Children aged 0 to 3 may travel only in child seats. Under-10s must be accompanied by an adult, children aged 10 to 14 may travel unaccompanied with written consent, and from the age of 15 they may travel on their own.

Only guide dogs are allowed — no other pets may be carried on FlixBus services.

Turancar — scheduled services across Slovakia and to the Czech Republic

This transport company runs scheduled bus services within Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Its regular domestic routes include Bratislava — Nitra, Bratislava — Banská Bystrica and Bratislava — Komárno. On the Bratislava–Nitra route Turancar runs up to 50 services a day.

Internationally, the company provides a daily connection to Prague: the bus leaves from Banská Bystrica and calls at Bratislava.

Tickets and discounts

Tickets can be bought on the carrier’s website or at the company’s offices; in Bratislava, at the Mlynské Nivy bus station. Discounts are available for pensioners, students and children. Check current fares on the carrier’s website, as prices are revised regularly.

Luggage and animals

Hand luggage (roughly 20×30×50 cm) is carried free of charge. Passengers are also entitled to one item in the hold (about 60×90×40 cm, up to 25 kg). Oversized and bulky luggage — a pushchair or a bicycle, for example — counts as additional and can be accepted only if there is space. The maximum total luggage weight per person is 50 kg. This carrier does not allow animals to be carried.

How to choose a carrier: a short comparison

If you need a transfer to Vienna airport, Slovak Lines and FlixBus are the most convenient. For trips to the Czech Republic with a high level of comfort and the option of going by train, RegioJet is a good choice. For domestic routes such as Bratislava — Nitra, Turancar works out cheaper. If you are travelling with an animal, note that FlixBus and Turancar do not allow pets on board.

Planning to travel further afield or to another country? You may find our articles Airports in Slovakia and From Slovakia to Ukraine and back: choosing a transfer without border delays.

If you drive your own car, our guide to compulsory motor insurance (PZP).

Frequently asked questions

Which carrier runs from Bratislava to Vienna airport (Schwechat)?

Slovak Lines and FlixBus both serve this route. Slovak Lines additionally offers the «Departure Guarantee» service, with compensation if you miss your flight through the carrier’s fault.

Can I take a pet on the bus?

Slovak Lines and RegioJet allow animals of up to 10 kg in a cage for an extra fee. FlixBus permits guide dogs only, and Turancar does not carry animals at all.

How much luggage is included in the fare?

Usually hand luggage plus one item in the hold. The exact dimensions and weights differ from carrier to carrier: with FlixBus it is up to 7 kg of hand luggage and up to 20 kg of hold luggage, with RegioJet up to 30 kg in the hold. Extra luggage is charged separately.

From what age can a child travel alone?

With FlixBus, children under 10 travel only with an adult, those aged 10 to 14 need written consent, and from 15 they may travel alone. With Slovak Lines, an adult must accompany anyone under 16 on international services to Vienna and Schwechat.

Where is it cheaper to buy tickets?

As a rule it is cheaper to book in advance online, on the carrier’s website or in its app. Buying from the driver is usually more expensive, and seats may have sold out.

Important. The information in this article has been gathered from publicly available online sources and is accurate at the time of publication. Conditions and rules change. Before making any decisions, check the current information and consult a relevant specialist.