Train or car Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest
 

As recommended by some of you, we are stopping at Bratislava on our way from Vienna to Budapest. We're not sure if we should take the train and stop, or rent a car and drive. We'll only be able to spend the day in Bratislava, not an overnight. Any ideas?

We took the train and really enjoyed it. You can walk through the city and cover a lot in a day.

Rent a car if you want to explore the countryside in between.

Do NOT rent a car if you want to simply travel between the cities, as cars and city centres don't mix in Europe.

Half a day is more than adequate for the average tourist in Bratislava - i did it as a day trip from Vienna - about an hour each way by train and had plenty of time to leisurely explore this immaculately restored Danube town. Plenty of places to exchange euros or dollars for Slovakian currency - little kiosks all over the town centre with very little charges - carry some small bank notes so don't have to change too much. Of course there are ATMs too but for a few-hour visit i just changed $20 and that was way too much. I did stock up on some supermarket goods at prices lower than Austria on the way back.

I would recommend the train!