Approximate Border Location
Border Cities
🇸🇰 Hodonín
🇨🇿 Holíč
Coordinates
48.85°N, 17.15°E
Border Type
Land crossing via road
Operating Hours
Open 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wait Times
15-60 min for pedestrians/vehicles
Peak Times
Mornings (7-10 AM)
Crossing Types
Pedestrians, vehicles
Daily Crossings
~3500 travelers/vehicles
Languages Spoken
Slovak/Czech
Currency Exchange
Limited near Hodonín (EUR, CZK)
Accessibility Features
Ramps, assistance
Safety Information
Rural, minimal crime
Google Maps Location
Country Information
About Hodonín & Holíč
A Seamless Crossing Between Twin Towns
The border crossing connecting the Czech city of Hodonín with the Slovak town of Holíč is a journey that highlights the deep integration of the post-Schengen era. This is not a motorway crossing, but a main road that directly links two historic towns separated by the Morava River. Since both Slovakia and the Czech Republic are members of the European Union and the Schengen Area, there are no permanent border controls. To cross here is to travel from one town to another as if they were part of the same country. The former border posts, if they are even still standing, are now repurposed or abandoned, silent relics of a time when this was a formal international frontier. It is a crossing that feels less like a border and more like a local bridge, a testament to a restored, centuries-old connection.
Operational Details
This checkpoint connects the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic with Slovakia’s Trnava Region. It is a major regional road, open 24/7, and used by a constant flow of local traffic, commuters, shoppers, and tourists. The crossing is on a bridge over the Morava River, which historically formed the boundary between the lands of the Hungarian and Bohemian crowns. Traffic flows freely, and the only signs of the border are the standard blue EU signs indicating the change of country. The deep integration is evident in the daily life of the two towns, which function almost as a single cross-border metropolitan area, with residents frequently crossing for work, leisure, and shopping.
Before Crossing
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A History of the Velvet Divorce
The history of this crossing is the history of Czechoslovakia. For 75 years, this was simply a bridge between two towns in the same country. Holíč and Hodonín shared a common history, economy, and culture, both being important centers in the Moravian-Slovak borderlands. This changed on January 1, 1993, with the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the “Velvet Divorce.” The bridge was instantly transformed into a full-fledged international border. For over a decade, it was a place of passports, customs checks, and queues, a formal and often frustrating barrier in the middle of a deeply connected community. This all changed again in 2007 when both countries joined the Schengen Area, and the physical border controls were dismantled overnight, restoring the seamless connection that had been lost for fourteen years.
The Seamless Border Procedure
Today, there is no border procedure for the vast majority of travelers. You simply drive, cycle, or walk across the bridge. There are no passport checks and no customs inspections. This is the reality of the Schengen Area. However, it is important to remember that both Czech and Slovak police and customs authorities can and do perform random checks on vehicles anywhere in their territory, including near the former border. You are still required to carry a valid passport or national ID card with you at all times. For local residents, the crossing is now as simple as it was before 1993, a routine part of their daily lives.
The Surrounding Region: Czech Side
On the Czech side, Hodonín is the birthplace of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the philosopher, sociologist, and first president of Czechoslovakia. The town has a Masaryk museum housed in the local castle, a gallery of fine arts, a zoo, and is a center of the Slovácko ethnographic region, known for its vibrant folk traditions, music, and wine. The entire area is part of the “Moravian Tuscany,” a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and vineyards, dotted with picturesque wine cellars (`sklípky`) that are open for tastings. The nearby Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a short drive away.
The Surrounding Region: Slovakia Side
On the Slovak side, Holíč is famous for its magnificent, though currently dilapidated, Habsburg-era Holíč Castle, a former imperial summer residence of Maria Theresa. The town also has a beautiful baroque church, a series of unique megalithic stones known as the Holíč Megaliths, and a well-preserved historic windmill. Nearby is the historic town of Skalica, known for its perfectly preserved town center, its Romanesque rotunda, and a delicious local pastry called `Skalický trdelník`, which has a protected geographical indication from the EU.
Practical Travel Information
Practical planning for this route is very simple. The most important thing is to have the required motorway vignettes if your journey involves motorways in either country. Both Slovakia and the Czech Republic use an electronic vignette system (`elektronická diaľničná známka`), which must be purchased online in advance. The official currencies are the Czech Koruna (CZK) in the Czech Republic and the Euro (EUR) in Slovakia. Both towns offer all necessary services, including banks, restaurants, and shops. Many businesses in the border area may accept both currencies, but it is always wise to have some local currency for smaller purchases.
Final Considerations
The Hodonín–Holíč border crossing is a powerful symbol of European integration at the local level. It is a journey that is remarkable for its complete lack of formality. The free movement between the two towns has allowed them to restore their historic relationship, creating a vibrant cross-border region where culture and commerce flow freely. It is a place where the benefits of the Schengen Area are not an abstract political concept, but a tangible, everyday reality. It is a border that has been effectively erased, a bridge that once again connects a single, unified community.