Country info: Slovakia (Slovensko)

Rail companies: ZSSK (Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko)

Slovak Rail Network Map 

Currency: Euro

Train travel in Slovakia: train types, tickets, fares, discounts & other useful info

National Train Service:

Train types in Slovakia: Local, Regional, Express, Fast, InterCity & EuroCity/EuroNight trains

• Local (marked as 'Os' and 'Zr' on ZSSK website) – Osobný (Os) and Zrýchlený (Zr) trains mainly serve local regional short distance routes, no seat reservation required

• Regional (marked as 'REX' on ZSSK website) - domestic and internation (Bratislava-Vienna connection) trains serving regional routes, no seat reservation required
• Fast (marked as 'R' on ZSSK website) - Rýchlik (R) trains serve long distance routes between major destinations in Slovakia, seat reservation not required, but can be made
• Express (marked as 'Ex' on ZSSK website) - express service on domestic and international (mainly to Czech Republic) connections, seat reservation (1 euro) not required, but can be made
  
• InterCity (marked as 'IC' on ZSSK website) – intercity service between Bratislava and Kosice, seat reservation required & special tariff supplement (1.5 euro) applies
• SuperCity  (marked as 'SC' on ZSSK website) - pendolino tilting trains serving Zilina-Prague route (used to serve Bratislava-Prague route), seat reservation required
  
• EuroCity/EuroNight (marked 'EC' and 'EN' on ZSSK website) – international daytime and overnight trains, seat reservation not compulsory, but can be made & special tariff supplement (1,5 euro) applies
  

Seat Reservation on domestic train journeys in Slovakia cost only 1 euro (possible on 'R', 'Ex', 'IC', 'EC' or 'EN' trains)

Sleeper Reservations on ZSSK domestic connections:

Couchette reservations on Slovak trains within Slovakia:

• 6 berth - 5 euro
• 4 berth - 6 euro

Sleeper reservation on Slovak trains within Slovakia:

• 3 bed (Tourist) - 8 euro
• 2 bed (Double) - 12 euro (with 1^st class ticket required)
• Single - 25 euro (with 1^st class ticket required)

Validity of Trains Tickets in Slovakia: tickets (one way & return) for distances <100 km are valid on the day shown on them and on the next day till 4 a.m. Tickets for distances >100 km are valid on the day shown on them and on the next day till 12 p.m. Return tickets for distances >100 km are valid until the 24th hour of 3rd day of their validity

Discounts, special offers & ways to save money for passengers traveling in Slovakia (ZSSK):

1. Passengers purchasing domestic tickets via Slovak Railways website receive additional 5% discount from the standard ticket price
2. Passengers traveling in groups receive additional discount (offer 'Skupina Mini') - first passengers pays 100% of the fare, other adult passengers in group only 75% (thus receiving 25% discount), while children <15 years old only 40%
   
3. Passengers planning short trips within Slovakia (up to 60 km) can take advantage of ZSSK offer for regional journeys - when using local & regional trains (Os, Zr, REX) passengers receive 15% discount from standard fare on any tickets <60 km
4. Passengers planning to visit couple destinations in Slovakia can take advantage of ZSSK ticket validity period and possibility to make a stopover. Idea is rather simple - passenger purchases through ticket from destination A to destination C via destination B and makes a stopover on the way. Because of the regressive nature of ZSSK domestic tariff such trick with one through ticket can save quite a lot
5. On some domestic routes ZSSK offers special fares (cheaper than the standard ones): from Zvolen to Banská Bystrica (1,2 euro), from Banská Bystrica & Zvolen to Bratislava (9,2 euro), from Presov to Bratislava via Kosice & Zvolen (18,76 euro)

International Train Service:

a) Regular discounts

• 60% off Slovakia-Hungary return tickets
• 60% off Slovak & 50% Czech part on return tickets between Slovakia and Czech Republic (also available special tariff for one way tickets)
  
• 60% off Slovak part & 40% Polish part on return tickets between Slovakia and  Poland

Though at the same time potential passengers need to be careful and also consider possible bilateral agreements between Slovak Railways (ZSSK) and rail companies in other countries (those might be cheaper at the end). In case of Slovakia it's cheaper to purchase tickets to Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic with a help of other discounts (Bilateral agreements for Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and  Citystar to Serbia)

b) Special offers (SparSchiene)

• SparDay offer (discounted tickets for daytime direct trains between Slovakia & Czech Republic): from Zilina to Prague (from 16 euro), from Kosice to Prague (from 22 euro), from Bratislava to Pragie (from 15 euro), from Bratislava to Brno (from 6 euro), from Bratislava to Usti nad Labem (from 20 euro), from Bratislava to Ostrava (from 12 euro), from Zvolen & Nove Zamky to Prague (from 20 euro) etc. SparDay tickets are sold in limited number per each departure & should be purchased at least three days in advance
• SparNight offer (discounted tickets for the overnight direct trains between Slovakia & Czech Republic): from Kosice, Humenne, Poprad-Tatry, Žilina to Prague, Cheb, Usti nad Labem (6 berth couchettes for 27 euro, 4 berth couchettes for 30 euro & 3 bed sleepers for 32 euro); from Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Zvolen to Prague, Usti nad Labem, Cheb (3 bed sleepers for 30 euro). SparNight tickets are sold in limited number per each departure & should be purchased at least three days in advance
• EURegio 'Wien Ticket' - special return tickets offered for connections between Slovakia and Austria - from Bratislava to Vienna (13 euro), from Leopoldov, Trnava to Vienna (18 euro), from Nitra to Vienna (24 euro), from Nove Zamky to Vienna (22,6 euro), from Zvolen to Vienna (31 euro), from Kosice, Presov to Vienna (49 euro). EURegio 'Wien Ticket' are sold in unlimited number per departure and no in advance purchase required. Also available EURegio 'Wien Ticket' with Z 100 (pass for Vienna city transport within first zone), for instance 'Wien Ticket'+Z 100 for Bratislava to Vienna (17, euro), for Zvolen to Vienna (35,3 euro), for Kosice to Vienna (53,3 euro) etc.
  

c) Citystars

• Austria: ZSSK<100km & OeBB>400km (for instance from Bratislava to Innsbruck) - 55,7 euro
  
• Greece: from Bratislava to Athens (166 euro, via Hungary, Serbia and FYR Macedonia or 214 euro via Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) etc.
• Croatia: from Bratislava to Split (via Hungary) - 122 euro 
• Serbia: from Bratislava to Belgrade - 82 euro  
• Slovenia: from Bratislava to Ljubljana - 78 euro 
• Belarus: from Bratislava to Minsk (via Ukraine) - 171,2 euro 
• Czech Republic: from Bratislava to Prague - 37,5 euro 
• Switzerland*: from Bratislava to Zurich (96,5 euro), from Bratislava to Bern (140,9 euro), from Bratislava to Geneva (180,5 euro)
  
• Germany*: from Kosice to Berlin via Czech Republic (189,4 euro), from Bratislava to Nurnberg via Austria (116,9 euro)
  
• Ukraine: ZSSK>300km and UZ<500km (94,80 euro for 2 adults); ZSSK>300km and UZ<500km (132,60 euro for 2 adults) etc.
• Russia (via Ukraine):  less than 1500km in Russia – 98,40 euro (one adult), 147,60 EUR (two) etc; >1500km in Russia - 134,40 euro (one adult), 201,60 EUR (two) etc.
• Russia (via Belarus):  more than 1500km in Russia - 245,5 euro (not offered since 9/12/2012)
  

* N.B. ZSSK-SBB and ZSSK-DB CityStars must be purchased at least 3 days before the first day of travel

Cross-border fares to neighboring countries:

• Czech Republic: for short cross-border journeys (<45km in Slovakia & <50km in Czech Republic) ZSSK offers special fares, so even for maximum allowed journey (45km on ZSSK & 50km on CD) passengers will pay only 4 euro
• Poland: from Čadca to Zwardoň (3,2 euro for return tickets valid for 3 days), from Skalite to Zwardoň (2 euro for return tickets valid for 3 days)
• Hungary: from Štúrovo to Szob (1,8 euro for return tickets valid for 2 days), from Štúrovo to Vác (3,8 euro for return tickets valid for 2 days)
• Austria: from Bratislava to Marchegg (4 euro for return ticket), from Bratislava to Kittsee (3,2 euro for return ticket), from Bratislava to Gänserndorf (5 euro for return ticket), from Bratislava to Parndorf Ort (6 euro for return ticket), from Bratislava to Bruck a.d. Leitha (6,6 euro for return ticket) etc.

How to Buy Train Tickets in Slovakia:

National (domestic) & discounted international tickets (SparDay/SparNight) can be purchased online via Slovak Railways website - www.slovakrail.sk
 

For a good choice of hotels with discount prices visit Hotel in Bratislava for more information

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