Trains in the Slovak Republic are a safe and comfortable way of travel. There are several different types of trains:

How to find a connection and buy a ticket

The websites of the Slovak Railways provide information on timetables prices, duration and whether you have to switch the trains at any point.

The websites www.cp-online.sk provide a complex travel itinerary. Here you can choose the means of public transport (bus, train, local public transport), but also search for the optimal combination of them to find the shortest journey.

Tickets can be bought at the train station ticket offices, online via official railway websites or mobile applications, and at selected ticket machines. If applicable, the teller may ask what type of train you would prefer (see the table above). To guarantee a seat, it is possible to buy a seat reservation (“miestenka”), since the trains may be crowded, especially on Fridays and Sundays, when students travel to and from schools.

International trains run several times a day from several train stations in the country. For some international and long-distance trains, seat reservations may be mandatory or recommended. For some trains, it is also possible to buy a ticket online.

Zero fare public rail transport services in Slovakia

Children, students, seniors and other eligible groups may use selected free-fare public rail transport services operated by the Slovak Railways (Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko – ZSSK) if they meet the applicable conditions.

The current free-fare system applies mainly to:

• children and young people up to 18 years of age,
• students up to 26 years of age,
• seniors aged 62 and over,
• holders of a valid disability pension or other eligible categories according to current regulations.

Eligible passengers are required to register with ZSSK at ticket offices or through online services. Upon registration, they obtain a customer card or electronic registration that allows them to use free-fare tickets.

Students from EU/EEA and non-EU countries studying at Slovak higher education institutions can apply for free-fare transport after providing confirmation of enrolment for the current academic year and a valid identity document. Foreign-language documents may need to be accompanied by an official Slovak translation.

Zero-fare tickets are passenger-specific and apply to selected trains operated by ZSSK. They do not apply to InterCity trains and may not apply to trains operated by private carriers (e.g. RegioJet).

Passengers travelling with a zero-fare ticket may still need to pay supplements for certain services, such as seat reservations or international sections of journeys.

For more information, visit the website of Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK).