By Boat, Bratislava

Along the Danube, you'll notice these large tourist-oriented cruise boats. You can arrange an evening cruise or even a more extended cruise, but many require booking at least a week in advance. Prices are relatively inexpensive to similar services that I've seen elsewhere in Europe. Check out the website below for an example from one local company.

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Several people suggested that the best way to get to Bratislava from Vienna was via the Twin City Liner, a hydrofoil that goes along the Danube. The service runs 4-5 times a day in each direction and takes 1 1/4 hours, the current cost is between 16E and 26E each way, the cheaper fares on the early morning boats from Bratislava-Vienna and the late evening boats from Vienna-Bratislava. Tickets can be reserved in advance on the attached website, our boat was full or nearly full so it's a good idea if you have your heart set on taking it. If you reserve online, you should exchange your printout for a ticket at the booth on the pier, we didn't and they still let us on but they said we should have exchanged it.

I didn't think the scenery along the way was anything special, you saw some fishing cottages and foliage along the way but nothing in the way of sights until you approached Bratislava. For me it wasn't worth the 26E ($40US) per person we paid for it, the only good part about it was that the dock is closer to town than the train station, you could easily walk from the dock to the tourist areas.

If you do decide to take the hydrofoil, get to the dock early if you want a window seat, there was already a line forming 45 minutes before the departure time. The best seats, in the front window, were by reservation only. Bring your passport just in case, they didn't check ours either way but signs (maybe they were old) suggested that they were needed. Unless you've got money to burn, consider taking the train back, it was 304sk (around $16US) round trip which was actually less than a 1 way ticket which was 400sk.

For personal transportation the port is used especially for excursion and recreational trips to the water dam Gabcikovo, to Devin castle but also to close situated towns Vienna and Budapest .
Dear Mark something for you:D
But you missed your boat:)

For exploring Danube river you should take a ride on this boat. However, there are also normal routes to Devin from the Bratislava center, you can arrange it very easily because the building of the boat company is next to the National museum on Vajanskeho nabr.
This little one is local taking tourists just from the Devin Castle to the nearby area.

Grab the hydrofoil from Vienna. It leaves from the Reichsbruecke (U1 Vorgartenstrasse) and tickets can be got there or from the Tourist Information Centre next to the Secession and Naschmarkt.

Prices are currently EUR 22 per person single - it is not as cheap as the train, but is a lot more scenic.

There is a ferry link between Devin and Hainburg operating daily except on Mondays from 1st April to 31st of October at the following times:
Departure Hainburg 10, 12, 14, 16, 17.15
Departure Devin 9, 11, 13, 15, 16.45
The price is 4 Euros for a return ticket plus 2 Euros if you take a bike. (Free for children younger than 6 years) There is also a transfer bus to and from Bratislava included. The bus operates between Devin harbour and Bratislava ship station, leaving Bratislava at 10.20, 12.20, 14.20, and 16.00

International Consulting & Marketing
Regina Zuliamis
B?cklingstra?e 47, 1020 Wien
Tel: 0043-(0)1-7283100
E-Mail: zuliamis@chello.at

We arrived on the hydrofoil from Vienna. Exciting journey and not expensive. This is a daily service from Vienna to Budapest, if not scheduled to call at Bratilava ask and they will, we did!
Public transport is good, many trams and busses. Buy tickets from the machines at the stop and stamp them once on board.

A good idea is to stay in Vienna and decide for one day Bratislava by hydrofoil. Boatride takes 1 1/2 hrs on the river Danube which is quite a beautiful way to take.

Hydrofoil boat tours
It's possible to visit the old town and the castle in one day by foot.