Day tripping to Bratislava?

The river shuttle between Vienna and Bratislava does not operate in winter, but I would not recommend it anyway. It is expensive compared to the train or bus offerings, and the cruise is boring because the land is flat on either side of the river, i.e. you see only the trees at the banks most of the time.

Going by bus has the advantage that the bus stops in Bratislava right at the historic center.

Using the "Bratislover" train ticket you can choose between two different routes, ending at train stations on either side of the Danube in Bratislava. Included is one day of free use of public transport in Bratislava. You go by bus then from the train stations to the historic center, as well as elsewhere during the day by tram or bus.

Most American tourists prefer the bus because they are reluctant to get acquainted with a public transport system in a foreign city.

Given that there is not much daylight in December, I would not go to Melk and the Wachau Valley, although I would prefer it over Bratislava, but it is too far away.

You might consider staying in Vienna, visiting some of the Christmas markets.

I'd stay on n Vienna and fully explore the Christmas market scene.

Thank you for the replies!

We will have already been in Munich and Salzburg, so I think we may be Christmas-marketed out by that point (although I know there's one in Bratislava too) :) Thanks for the info. on the river cruise - that's one less decision to have to make. I'm leaning toward Bratislava just for the chance to visit one more country, but it also looks charming - a bit of fairy-tale-lands-meets-communist-bloc.

If Melk is ruled out due to travel time - any other suggestions for Vienna day trips? We're not at all afraid of public transportation :)

Get an early morning start and run down to Budapest for the Christmas Markets.

We took the train from Vienna to Bratislava Petrzalka station (south of the Danube) two weeks ago. From there you can take any of three bus lines: 93 and 94 depart from the back of the station, 80 in front of the station. Go out at station »Zochova« (4 stops with lines 93/4, 5 with line 8, six to eight minutes). Very easy. The name of the station before Zochova is »Aupark« for all three lines.

Trains depart from Wien Hbf (main train station) about every half an hour alternating to Bratislava Hl.st. (main station) and Bratislava Petrzalka. The latter is on the right side of the Danube river in an area not worth visiting (communist style apartment blocks).

But it may be interesting to try both routes (one to Bratislava, the other back to Vienna).

If you buy the "Bratislover" ticket at the train station in Vienna, ask for the folder which should go with the ticket. It contains a little map of the most important bus lines which connect to the two train stations in Bratislava.

If i were flying into Vienna, i might be inclined to go straight from the airport to Bratislava. Since the Vienna airport is sort of the major airport serving Bratislava, there should be good transportation. Then after a night or two there go on to Vienna and settle in for how ever long you are going to be in Vienna. By the way, I really enjoyed Melk a lot.

I haven't done in in December but I did it during the summer - train, not boat. There is also a bus that will drop you right in old town so you don't have to take a bus from the train station. I thought it was well worth visiting just for the experience and even without a Christmas market it was worthy of several hours exploration and a nice lunch.