Unlike some central or west European cities, Bratislava has a relatively cheap and convenient system of taxis. With a little knowledge of how the taxi service in Bratislava works, tourists can avoid high prices and various traps. Simply follow our advice about taxis in Bratislava and nothing will surprise you! The first thing you will notice is that taxis here are not unified as for example in New York.
Almost any car can be registered as a taxi and gets a yellow taxi light on the roof. In Bratislava there are registered about 20 licensed taxi companies and over one hundred additional independent taxi drivers who are not signed up with any company and work independently.
Taxis that carry a sign with the name of a taxi service on the side of the car are generally a cheaper and safer option than unmarked cars with only a yellow taxi light on the roof. The reason? Drivers working with a taxi firm are usually held accountable for complaints while independent drivers are accountable to no one. Large taxi companies are in most cases cheaper than hotel taxis as well. Ensure that inflated rates are not charged when taking a taxi from a hotel.
We recommend you to order a taxi over the phone or via an app. It's much cheaper than stopping a taxi in the street or getting one at taxi stands places that are rented by a specific taxi company , because they usually have really high rates.
Note that some companies charge higher rates for pickups at accommodations, too. If you're in a hurry and stopping a taxi is unavoidable, discuss and try to negotiate the price with the driver in advance. Beware tourist traps! A similar situation can be around the main train station Bratislava Hlavna stanica , the central bus station Mlynske Nivy , outside of major hotels or when travelling from the airport.
