Taxis - How not to get cheated
Bratislava's taxis are not as bad of a nightmare as those in some other cities of the region. Simply follow our advice and you will find the taxi service convenient and even cheap.
Bratislava has about 20 separate taxi firms with over 1,000 vehicles and at least one hundred additional drivers who are not signed up with any firm. Taxis that carry a sign with the name of a taxi service are generally a cheaper and safer option than unmarked cars with only a yellow taxi light on the roof. The individual firms usually hold drivers accountable for complaints. These are usually also cheaper than hotel taxis at large hotels.
The drivers not signed up with any taxi firm often prey on unsuspecting tourists at major tourist spots: be careful if taking a taxi at the Hviezdoslavovo square in front of the Slovak National Theatre, from the Train Station, Bus Station or from the Airport. One of our visitors recently wrote that while the trip from the station to the centre cost him € 3.30, the trip back was € 16. Either negotiate the fare with them in advance or ask someone to call you a taxi if you can.
If you are taking a taxi from the train station, airport or bus station, pick one, which is affiliated with a company (it will usually have a sign with the company name on the door, some names are ABC Taxi, BP Taxi, FUN Taxi, Hapl Taxi, Hello Taxi, Lady Taxi, MB Taxi, Merci Taxi, Otto Taxi, Profi Taxi, Super Taxi, Taxi BP Servis, Taxi Caribic, Taxi Bratislava, Taxi Taxi, Trend Taxi, VIP Taxi, Yellow Taxi). Before taking a hotel taxi make sure it does not charge inflated rates.
All taxis have several rates: a lower rate (about € 0.40-€ 0.70 per kilometer) when ordered by telephone and a higher rate (€ 0.60-€ 1 per kilometer) when hailed in the street or a taxi stand (the ones that are rented by a specific taxi company). Some taxi firms automatically charge the higher rate to pickups at tourist accommodation.
When you enter a taxi, the running meter always shows, which rate you are being charged. It will show two numbers: the total price and rate (1 usually corresponds to a taxi hailed in the street, 2 is ordered by telephone, 3 and higher are usually rates for out-of-town trips). Insist on the meter being used and check that the correct rate is being applied. If taking a taxi in the street try to negotiate the fare in advance.
The total fare is usually composed of a € 2.20-€ 3.20 starting fee (the starting fee may be higher for outlying localities such as Cunovo, Devin, Devinska Nova Ves, Dubravka, Jarovce, Raca, Rusovce, Vajnory, Zahorska Bystrica), waiting fee of € 0.13 to € 0.30 applied while the car is at a standstill and distance fee depending on distance in kilometres multiplied by the rate applied (about € 0.40 to € 1 per kilometre).
Some taxi companies have a minimum rate of € 3.32 per journey. In some busy periods, notably at Christmas and on New Year's Eve, many taxi companies apply surcharges to regular prices.
Approximate total prices (depend on whether the taxi was ordered by phone, hailed in the street or picked up at a taxi stand, whether it is signed up with one of the companies or independent):
Airport to City Centre from about € 8 for telephone-ordered local radio taxi, through € 15 discounted flat-rate charged by pre-ordered official Airport Taxi up to multiples of these prices ocassionally charged by rogue taxis waiting at the airport.
Within the Centre about € 3 to € 6 for telephone-order local radio taxi, up to € 8 for a taxi hailed in the street
Train Station to Centre about € 3.50 for telephone-ordered local radio taxi up to multiples of these prices ocassionally charged by taxis waiting at the station
It is customary but not required to leave taxi drivers a small tip - usually by rounding up to the nearest 20 or 50 cents.
Drivers may accept major foreign currencies such as US dollars, but at a significant surcharge. It is usually both cheaper and easier to pay with Euros.
You are always entitled to be issued a receipt (usually hand-written and stamped), which must contain: price, where from and where to, licence plate number of car, identification number of driver or company.
Virtually anyone in Bratislava will be happy to call their favourite taxi company for you, when you ask them. Do not hesitate to ask to for a taxi to be called by hotel or restaurant staff anywhere in the city as this will save you hassle and money.
Here are the names and telephone numbers of a few taxi companies we like (with a little bit of luck, when you call the person will speak English):
Fun Taxi 16777 or +421216777 from your mobile
Hello Taxi 16321 or +421216321 from your mobile
Profi Taxi 16222 or +421216222 from your mobile
Trend Taxi 16302 or +421216302 from your mobile
Waiting times for taxis ordered by telephone vary but are generally under 15 minutes in most of the central areas.
Note: Unlike in most cities, a lit Taxi light on the roof of the car does not automatically mean that a taxi passing by in the street is vacant.
Related articles:
Comments from our visitors:
thomas bracquemond wrote on 20.05.2009 at 18:45:42:
I took the twin city liner from vienna to bratislava and when i got out ,to take one of the 3 taxis,to go to aupark shopping center,which is about a 10 km trip,i paid 19,60 eu.
I was told that the normal fare is around 8 to 10 euros at the most.
The fact is that I was cheated badly.
I could have argued,but i had a meeting and not much time.
It seems that the meters are adjusted at random by the driver and not ,like in a civilized country ,by the authorities.
So ask before you go and DO NOT pay what is on the meter,if you feel that it was not just.
Unsatisfied Customer wrote on 19.10.2008 at 14:23:59:
Saturday 18th October 2008 at about 21:30 we got ripped off by a taxi driver in an expensive silver colored Mercedes with a TV set in his dashboard. He charged us a fare from the center to Hotel Junior with 480sk. 200 more than another cab. We gave a bill of 1000sk, he returned us a bill of 500 Hungarian sh*t plus 20sk. The Hungarian money is less than 50sk and useless. 500 Hungarian bill doesn't even look close to a 500sk bill, no honest mistake here.
So better watch out. Pay attention to what you get in return. Even if you are driven in a luxurious, expensive cab with a friendly driver who was waiting in line at a premium taxi spot.
@ stealing cab drivers in Bratislava, why the hell are you doing this?!? You need 1000sk so badly? Just CHARGE it. Most people from abroad don't give a damn. People simply don't like to get ripped off.
The next time some smart ass thinks he can steal from us or our clients his company will be reported to the authorities. So keep on gambling with your license for some pocket change. Welcome in the EU, Slovakia.
colin wrote on 04.03.2008 at 00:32:16:
i recently returned from bratislava and very bad experiences with taxis in the city. i particular taxi charged me 29euro for a 10 minute taxi ride. i got a receipt but he would not put either the milage nor the area travelled on the receipt. i advice any one not to travel to that city as i found it to be a city that will rip you off at any opportunity.
ofer wrote on 04.04.2007 at 01:43:51:
Most taxi drivers in Bratislava cheat and steal from the tourists
every ride I had ended with an argument
yano floyd wrote on 13.09.2006 at 12:02:16:
best one taxi in slovakia is missing on your list yellow taxi 00421244441111 only one that works on line www.paladio.sk