How to Get Around Slovakia

Trains run by ZSSK connect Bratislava, Zilina, Poprad and Kosice along the main west-east line, and are cheap and reasonably quick. The branch lines into the valleys are slow. Note that trains are free for Slovak and EU students and pensioners, which makes them busy.

Buses reach the villages and the trailheads that trains do not, and are how you get around the mountains. RegioJet and Flixbus cover the intercity and international routes well.

Driving is the best way to reach the castles and the eastern villages. A motorway vignette is required and is electronic, bought online. Mountain roads need winter tyres from November to March, which is a legal requirement in winter conditions.

In the Tatras, an electric tram runs from Poprad up to Stary Smokovec and a rack railway climbs to Strbske Pleso — both scenic and useful. Cable cars reach Lomnicky stit and Skalnate pleso.

Bolt works in Bratislava and Kosice.