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Vienna to Bratislava every hour, €11.90
Every hour, a Regional Express (REX) train links Vienna Hbf with Bratislava Hlavna in just 56 minutes, run jointly by the Austrian & Slovakian national railways. No reservation necessary or possible, it can't sell out, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on - easy!
Train times from 11 October 2025
Electrification work has been completed and the direct line reopened on 11 October with journey time cut from 1h06 to 56 minutes.
REX8 = Regional Express line 8, 2nd class only, running via Marchegg, the cheapest & shortest route. No reservations necessary or possible, fixed price.
Check times for your date of travel at www.thetrainline.com.
Vienna to Bratislava is 66 km (41 miles) by train via this route.
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How much does it cost?
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€11.90 one-way.
Fixed price, unlimited availability, can be bought on the day. Good for any train that day or the following day.
Children under 6 go free. Children under 15 go for €5 each way.
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For a round trip starting in Vienna, a Bratislava Ticket (also known as EuRegio Slovakia) costs €18.
You can travel outward on any train on the first day of validity and can travel back on any train the same day or the next 3 days. These tickets have unlimited availability so cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. With a Bratislava Ticket you also get free use of buses & trams in Bratislava city all day on the first day of validity, a bargain.
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For a round trip starting in Bratislava a Vienna Special ticket (also known as EuRegio Wien) costs €18.
The outward journey must be made on the first day of validity, return any time within 16 days if you buy the ticket at the station ticket counter, but must be made the same day if you buy it online at www.zssk.sk.
How to buy tickets
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You can easily buy at the station from self-service machines or ticket office. It can't sell out, no reservation needed, just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the train, finding any empty seat, of which there are usually plenty.
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Alternatively, you can buy one-way tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Remember that in the search results you'll also see hourly trains on the more expensive REX6 route to Bratislava Petrzalka station via Kittsee, look for the cheaper hourly REX8 trains to Bratislava Hlavna via Marchegg.
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Bratislava Tickets for round trips starting in Vienna can be bought at www.oebb.at, but you must find the special page by going to their home page and clicking Menu top left. then More services, then Tickets for our neighbouring countries.
Route map
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What are the trains like?
Each train should consist of three air-conditioned Austrian Railways (ÖBB) intercity cars and two air-conditioned Slovakian Railways (ZSSK) intercity cars. The train is 2nd class only, there is no first class. The train has toilets and luggage racks, there are also bicycle spaces, but no catering as it's only a regional train on a one-hour journey. Like almost all European trains, these trains are all non-smoking. There are power sockets for laptops & mobiles in both the ZSSK and ÖBB cars. The ZSSK cars should have free WiFi, but the ÖBB cars don't.
Above, Austrian intercity cars of the sort used on the Vienna-Bratislava REX8 service.
A Slovakian intercity car on a Vienna to Bratislava train.
Travel tips
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Other trains & routes
In addition to the hourly Regional Express (REX8) trains between Vienna Hbf & Bratislava Hlavna via Marchegg, there are also hourly regional trains (REX6) between Vienna Hbf and Bratislava Petrzalka via Bruck an der Leitha & Kittsee taking 0h59, see the route map.
However, Bratislava Petrzalka is less convenient for the city centre than Bratislava Hlavna and the route via Kittsee is further and costs more, so stick with the REX8 trains shown on this page.
You'll also find one daily railjet (RJX) linking Vienna Hbf & Bratislava Hlavna en route to/from Salzburg, Innsbruck & Zurich. Higher fares apply to this train, the regional fare isn't valid.
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Finding and boarding the train
There's no check-in and free access from street to platform to train, no reservation needed. Just walk into the station, glance at the departure boards to see which platform the next hourly train leaves from, go to that platform and step onto the train.
Sit in any empty seat, there are usually plenty to choose from. Make sure you have a ticket before boarding, there's a fine if you don't. See Vienna Hbf station guide. See Bratislava Hlavna station guide.
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Luggage
In principle, you can take anything you like as long as you can carry it or pull it behind you. Nobody weighs or measures it! You take it with you onto the train and put it on the luggage rack or simply on the floor. More about luggage on European trains.
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WiFi & power sockets
Both Slovakian and Austrian cars have power sockets, 230v 2-pin standard European type. The Slovakian cars should have free WiFi, but there's no WiFi in the Austrian cars.
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Food & drink
There's no catering, but you can bring your own food & drink. There are plenty of food outlets at Vienna Hbf & Bratislava Hlavna.
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Bicycles: There are several designated bike spaces in both the Austrian and Slovakian cars, see the biking by train page.
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Interrail & Eurail holders can use these trains freely, without reservation.
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In Bratislava, the city centre is 15 minutes walk from the station or there are trams & buses, see the station guide for Bratislava Hlavna.
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Recommended hotels in Vienna and in Bratislava.
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Vienna to Bratislava by Danube river boat?
You might consider a river trip along the Danube instead of the train. Vienna-Bratislava fast ferries and hydrofoils runs at least once a day in winter, up to 5 times a day in summer, 80 minutes. At least two companies operate, see www.twincityliner.com or www.lod.sk. Pay attention to their luggage arrangements, both companies will accept larger bags, but you must pay an extra fee.