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Bratislava has a very pleasant medieval inner city with narrow, winding streets, a hill-top castle next to the river Danube, and many historic churches and buildings to visit. The old town is centered on two squares, Hlavne namestie (main square) and Hviezdoslavovo namestie (Hviezdoslav square, named after a famous Slovak poet). Of a rather different architectural character are some of the communist-era buildings found in the modern parts of the city; a prime example is Petrzalka housing estate, the biggest Communist-era concrete block housing complex in [wiki=b92df66e0c57f704b93ebf8d26ab7cd5]Central Europe[/wiki], which stretches on endlessly just across the river. Move further east and there are plenty of rural places to explore. Farms, vineyards, agricultural land, and tiny villages are situated less than 50 kilometres to the north and east of Bratislava.
Today, Bratislava and its surroundings form the most prosperous region (NUTS-2 Region) in Central and Eastern Europe, with a per capita GDP of around 186% of the EU-27 average and it is the fifth most prosperous region in EU.
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History
After the fall of the Great Moravian Empire, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of [wiki=fa79c3005daec47ecff84a116a0927a1]Hungary[/wiki] from the 10th century until the end of the First World War when the Treaty of Trianon created Czechoslovakia, a country which Slovaks are widely proud of - for example, some Czechoslovakian representatives, such as Alexander Dubček and Gustáv Husák, were ethnically Slovak.
Between 1939 and 1944, Slovakia was a [wiki=d8b00929dec65d422303256336ada04f]German[/wiki]-controlled state. Then, it was conquered by the Soviets to recreate a new Czechoslovakia, but one that would be pro-Soviet and Communist this time.
This lasted until the fall of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, during the Velvet Revolution of 1989. In 1993, peaceful differences between Czechs and Slovaks when rebuilding their nation after the fall of Communism led to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two separate and independent nations: the Czech Republic, and of course Slovakia (Slovak Republic). To this day, Slovaks and Czechs have generally friendly relations, and the two nations cooperate together frequently on international issues.
Bratislava was the capital (1536-1784), the coronation city (1563-1830) and the seat of the diet (1536-1848) of the Kingdom of Hungary for many years. Since 1960, it has been the capital of the federal state of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia and, since 1993, it has been the capital of independent Slovakia.
Although today, Bratislava's population are mostly Slovaks, from the 13th to the early 19th century, the majority ethnic group in the city were the Germans, who remained the largest ethnic group until the First World War (in 1910, 42% were German, 41% Hungarian and 15% Slovak out of a total population of 78,000). Hungarians formed another important group in the city in the 19th century, but after the First World War, many Germans and Hungarians left for Austria and Hungary respectively, and the remaining Germans were expelled at the end of World War II.
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By train
Most international trains stop at the main train station (Bratislava hlavná stanica) that has a good connections to buses. To get to the city center from the central train station, take Bus line 93 (exit 2nd stop "Hodzovo nam." next to the presidential palace or 3rd stop "Zochova" and go through the underpass by foot into the center) or Bus line X13 (exit 3rd stop "Namestie SNP" right by the pedestrian zone). The other principal station is Bratislava-Petržalka, situated in a residential district, south of the river Danube. The station serves as a terminus for some of the trains from Vienna. Bus 80 (direction: Kollárovo námestie) departs from outside the station building or use the underground passageway in the station hall then hop on any of the buses that leave from the opposite side of the road. Buses 91 and 191 (direction: Nový most), 93 and 94 (direction: Hlavná stanica and Vazovova respectively) all go directly to city centre.
* [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki]: 1h. There are two regional express services leaving from different stations in Bratislava - one from Bratislava Hlavná stanica (Main station) via Marchegg and the other from Bratislava Petržalka station via Kittsee - each operating in hourly intervals, with first daily service leaving at 05:21 and the last train leaving at 22:21. As of November 2015 trains leave at 21 minutes past the hour and return at 43 minutes past. There is no service either way at 21:00 though. Both services terminate at Wien Hauptbahnhof in Vienna. Tickets are valid for both routes. A return ticket called EURegio purchased in Vienna costs €16, is valid for four days and also allows use of all public transportation in town on the first day of validity.
* Prague: 4¼h, EC trains every 2 hours. Online tickets are much cheaper than the tickets purchased at the station, but you should buy them at least 3 days in advance. It is possible to get on a through sleeper car, attached to train R 719, however the journey only takes 6½ hours meaning you won't get too much sleep.
* [wiki=ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395]Berlin[/wiki]: 9h, three direct EC trains, another two with change in Prague and through sleeper cars attached to EN Metropol. Online ticket [url=http://www.bahn.de]]is much cheaper than ticket bought at station, but you should buy it at least 3 days in advance.
* [[Budapest[/url]]: 2¾h, six EC trains a day, departing from Budapest Keleti and Budapest Nyugati station. The train shuttles every 2 hours from both stations. The first train from Bratislava departs at 5:50 and the last direct one at 19:54. From Budapest, the first one departs at 5:25 and the last direct one at 15:25. Price 18€ one way. An alternative route is to take a domestic train from Keleti station to Komarom and walk across the border (bridge over the Danube) to Komarno in Slovakia and take a domestic Slovak train from there to Bratislava. Cost 6,5 plus 4,5 = 11€ (considerably less as there is no surcharge for 'international' trains). Recommended if you want to get an impression of rural life in both countries.
* Warsaw: 7¼ in two daily connections with change at Břeclav; 8¾h in through sleeper cars attached to train Chopin. There is a limited offer (SparDay for daytime trains, SparNight for sleepers) of discounted tickets to Budapest via Bratislava, they're much more cheaper that normal tickets to Bratislava.
* [wiki=c5c12fffd30a23e3468076da2e046b90]Kiev[/wiki]: 28 hours, daily night train with through cars from Moscow (42 hr). The train is often delayed.
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By bus
Coach lines connect Bratislava with all of Slovakia, a high number of Czech cities and a number of EU destinations, including [wiki=59ead8d1e124ccfb79f3ace06f43e703]London[/wiki], [wiki=e20d37a5d7fcc4c35be6fc18a8e71bfa]Paris[/wiki] and daily buses also depart to [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/travel/budapest-bratislava/bratislava-budapest-bus]Budapest[/url], [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/travel/prague-bratislava/bratislava-prague-bus]Prague[/url]. The most frequent international coach connection by far is [wiki=601f9226a92f0a314068aa4395f65528]Vienna[/wiki] though, with two lines running almost every hour from Vienna's Sudtirolerplatz near Hauptbahnhof via Vienna International Airport: Blaguss [url=http://www.blaguss.sk/pages/en/timetables.php?lang=EN]]has tickets sold by the driver priced at €7.20, with stops in central Bratislava (beneath Nový most bridge) and Bratislava Airport. Slovak Lines [url=http://www.slovaklines.sk/coach-line-bratislava-vienna.html[/url]]has buses that stop at the Coach Terminal and Bratislava Airport, for a cost of €7.70. The tickets can be purchased from the driver or booked online [http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/travel/vienna-bratislava/vienna-bus[/url]). A trip from/to Vienna takes 1½ hours.
The Central Coach Terminal (Autobusová stanica) is at Mlynské nivy, at the eastern border of the city centre. To get to/from the main railway station (Hlavná stanica), take trolleybus No 210. If you need to get to/from the city centre, take trolleybus No 205 or 202 (the terminus is behind the Tesco department store at Kamenné námestie) or buses No 50 (geting on/off at Šafárikovo námestie, close to the banks of the river Danube) or 70 (getting off at Nový most, the New Bridge).
The bus terminal has a left-luggage office where you can store your bags for ca. €1 per item per day. There is also a bakery, a bar/canteen, a newspaper kiosk and several shops on the upper floor.
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By boat
Regular tourist boat lines operate on the Danube from spring through fall on routes from Vienna. You can find routes and schedules here [http://www.lod.sk/en/Default.aspx?CatID=38].
Since 2006 it is possible to get to Vienna using a high speed ferry boat [http://www.twincityliner.com] as well, yet the rates are higher compared to other means of transport. A one-way ticket from Vienna to Bratislava by Twin City Liner costs about €25-30 (whereas a return train ticket is less than €15). The Twin City Liner's boats travel at 60 kmph and the journey takes about 1 hour 15 minutes from Vienna to Bratislava and about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Bratislava to Vienna (almost as much as the train). Unlike the train though, which stops at stations distant from the center (about 2-3 km), the boat stops are in the very centres of both Vienna (Schwedenplatz) and Bratislava (Novy Most).
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By kayak and canoe
Danube river is getting very popular for multi-day tours. Some people do their paddling all the way from Germany to Black Sea (more than 2516 km / 1563 mi), also known as TID. Bratislava is well developed for paddling. There are several paddling clubs at "Karloveske rameno" at river km 1872, near "Stary most" at r.km 1868. Free camping is possible along river shore; good places are around km. 1872 right, 1864-60 left.
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By car
Bratislava lies on the border of two other countries and has a relatively good road system. The town can be accessed by motorways (i.e. limited access highway) from northern Slovakia and Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary as well as Austria. As a result, you can pass the town without having to leave the motorway at all. Similar as in Austria or Czech Republic it's required to have a sticker (vignette) on your windshield to drive on motorways. Stickers can be bought at any regular gas station - it's recommended to stop at the first gas station after crossing the border. Cheapest vignette costs €10 and it is valid for 10 days.
After entering the city, a parking information system is in place to lead you to the next free parking spot. In the center of town you either can use one of the paid underground garages or buy a parking card from vendors in yellow vests and try to find a free spot in the streets. The former is recommended on weekends as finding a parking place in the one-ways can turn into a real head breaking puzzle. If you do find a spot in the street and it's a weekday between 8AM and 4PM, a parking card may be necessary. You need them in the center of the city only, parking on the streets is free otherwise. You can purchase parking cards from vendors in yellow vests or in newsstands; they cost €0.80 and are valid for 60 minutes.
It may be a good idea to leave the car at the Aupark parking lot which also serves as a "Park and Walk" facility for tourists (note that the indoor parking facilities as well as parts of the outdoor parking lot are closed from 11PM to 10AM, the rest of the parking space is free to use 24/7). You can leave your car here and walk through the park and across the Danube to the city center, which is a 10 minute stroll, or just use public transportation. It is not recommended to leave the car in residential areas outside of the city center to avoid paid parking, as foreign cars may attract car thieves. Please make sure that Aupark's parking lots are open only from 10:00AM
Renting a car is also an option, especially if you are visiting destinations outside of Bratislava. All major rental companies have a stall at the airport but most have a city office as well.
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By Bike
Bratislava has nice surroundings for biking and an international bike route leads along Danube river (EuroVelo 6). The route from Austria via Bratislava down to Hungary is well marked but the town itself has not many biking routes and they are mostly ignored by car drivers. There are milions of ways though to bike in the Carpathian hills and along the rivers Danube and Morava. [http://www.cyklotrasy.sk/] Read some more in "Do" below.
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Generally, Bratislava is a walking city. The center is very small and cosy and you can easily walk from one side to another in a few minutes. The city center is a pedestrian area, however, be aware of cyclists and occasional cars.
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Public transportation
If you need to travel outside of the center, use the trams or trolley buses if you need to get from one point to another quickly. Bratislava has a rather good public transportation system although a lot of the vehicles are quite old. Buses tend to be the slowest means of transportation. Stops normally don't need to be requested unless stated otherwise - request stops are marked "zastávka na znamenie" at the bus stop sign as well as on electronic information displays in most buses/trams. Bus doors are usually opened by the driver, except for the new buses; tram and trolleybus doors usually have to be opened by yourself by pushing a green or yellow button at the doors.
A single-journey ticket costs €0.70. It's valid for 15 minutes and doesn't allow change - you need to stamp a new 15 min. ticket every time you change bus/tram. There is a transfer ticket available for €0.90 (valid for 60 minutes on weekdays and 90 minutes on weekends and holidays), which you can use for any number of travels within the specified time period. If you are staying for a holiday, consider buying one from a choice of longer term tickets valid for 1, 2, 3 and 7 days for €4.50, €8.30, €10 and €15 respectively.
You must validate your ticket in the validation machines on the bus/tram immediately after boarding (via any door). When it comes to proving that you have not exceeded the time stated on your ticket (e.g. 15 minutes on a 15-minute ticket), official schedule times are decisive - not actual travel times (do not give in to unfriendly ticket inspectors claiming the contrary). You can find out the scheduled travel times in the left-most column of the schedules, left of the stop name or via the internet (see below).
Bus, tram and trolleybus drivers in Bratislava do not sell tickets, therefore you need to obtain a ticket prior to entering a bus or a tram. There are ticket vending machines at most stops in the town. No bills or credit cards can be used at the machines (which can be quite frustrating if you need to buy a longer term ticket). SMS tickets are also available, but only if you send a text message from a cell phone with a Slovak SIM card, which rules out all short-term foreign tourists. If you purchased a return ticket in Vienna, it also serves as a pass for all public transportation and does not need to be validated.
Besides vending machines, tickets are also sold in many newsstands and - very conveniently for travelers arriving by train, late in the evening or at weekends - in railway stations at the ticket counters (ticket counter 16 at the main railway station). You can also purchase tickets for public transport in every tourist information bureau [url=http://www.bkis.info/index.php?lan=en&content=hlavna].]Try asking for the Bratislava City Card [url=http://www.bkis.info/index.php?lan=en&content=main&rozbal=128[/url]]which combines a 1 to 3-day ticket with various discounts and is available at information bureaus.
There are 3 main interchange points in the close city center where you can get a bus or tram to nearly anywhere else:
* Hodžovo námestie (Presidential palace) for northwest- and east-bound bus connections (to Petržalka, Dúbravka, Lamač, Devínska Nová Ves).
* Poštová (pedestrian area at Obchodná street) for trams (Ružinov, Rača, Nové Mesto, Zlaté Piesky, Karlova Ves, Dúbravka).
* Most SNP (close to St. Martin's Cathedral and the Danube banks) for trams and for south- and west-bound buses (Petržalka, Karlova Ves, Dúbravka, Podunajské Biskupice).
Main tram, bus and trolley lines operate from 4:30AM until approximately 11:30PM. If you need to travel by bus at night, go to the main railway station which is the main night line interchange point or use the bus stops at Presidential palace (Hodzovo namestie). All night lines have common departure times from the main railway station at 11:30PM and then every 60 minutes for every line and outbound direction until 3:30AM. Some lines have an extra outbound departure at midnight. You will need a night ticket for €1.40 in night lines. When traveling by night lines, please remember that every stop needs to be requested. Also note that especially around midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, the buses tend to be very crowded on some lines as young people return from clubs.
You can get all relevant information about public transportation in Bratislava (including schedules, maps and an online route planner) at imhd.sk [http://www.imhd.zoznam.sk/ba/?lang=en[/url]. Although this is not the site of the transportation company, it always contains official and up-to-date data.
If necessary, it is also possible to walk to Petrzalka station from the city (some 25 minutes). The path is clearly marked now but note that Petržalka is just a little more than the biggest block flats housing estate in Central Europe. Head for the bridge with the UFO-like looking tower atop it (Most SNP). Once you reach the bridge, you will notice that there is a walkway running along the underside of it, for pedestrians. Once on the other side of the Danube river, follow the right hand-side of the bridge with a walkway made of red paving. This will lead you to the station. Alternatively, you can walk through Bratislava's equivalent of the Central Park called Sad Janka Kráľa and visit the Aupark Shopping Mall at the park. Once exiting Aupark on the other side, turn right and follow the street to get to the pavement mentioned above. The route is very safe during the day, but for typically western-looking tourists, it might be dangerous at night (although not more than in any other European "panelák" (see above) housing estate). Take a guide, if needed. If you want to walk from the station to the city, turn right outside of the station building and follow the path described above in reverse direction.
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St. Martin's Cathedral [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/st-martins-cathedral]](Dóm sv. Martina [url=http://dom.fara.sk/[/url])]- the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, situated below Bratislava Castle. The Gothic cathedral, formerly the coronation-church of several Hungarian kings, begun in 1204, and reconsecrated in 1445, was restored in 1861-80. The tower is surmounted by a pyramid bearing a gilded Hungarian royal crown. Monday - Saturday 9:00 - 11:30 & 13:00 - 17:00, Sunday 13:30 - 16:00.
*Bratislava Castle [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/bratislava-castle[/url]](Bratislavský hrad [url=http://visit.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/o_utvar.asp?id_org=700014&id_u=1591&p1=3268[/url])]- the castle itself is already opened after reconstruction and hosts the expositions.
*The SNP Bridge (Most SNP; previously called Nový most - The New Bridge) - a bridge over the Danube river, with its flying saucer-shaped structure housing a restaurant called "UFO" [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/ufo-tower[/url].]There is an observation deck on its roof, open from 10:00 - 23:00 daily, offering great views of the old town, as well as the apartment blocks in Petržalka. Entrance costs €6.50, but is free of charge if you eat in the restaurant.
*Slavín monument [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/slavin[/url]]- on the top of the hill behind the castle, overlooking the entire city. This is a monument in memory of Soviet casualties in the liberation battle of Bratislava in World War II. It is the highest place in the city, and thus the best place for viewing the city. Slavin actually is a cemetery and thus rather quiet. On warm nights it's a very romantic place, allowing you to sit in the shadows of the monument and look at the traffic below. To get there, take trolleybus no. 203 from Hodžovo námestie (in front of the Presidential Palace) in the direction Búdková and get off in 9 minutes at the last stop, then walk 500 m along Stará vinárska and then Pažického streets. Slavin is near an embassy district.
*Devín Castle (hrad Devín) - ruins of the large castle next to the confluence of the Danube river with the Morava river. It is about 20 minutes from the SNP Bridge with bus no. 28 or 29. The place is nice for walks and there are many monuments and statues.
*Eurovea - the shopping centre situated just next to the Danube river. There is a promenade close to the river where people like to relax in the grass. Next to the Eurovea there is a new building of the Slovak National Theatre (nová budova Slovenského národného divadla) as well as The Warehouse no. 7 (Sklad č. 7) - an example of the industrial architecture in Bratislava.
*St. Clare's Church (Kostol sv. Kláry) - a Gothic church on Klariská street, in the historical center; currently used as a concert hall.
*Church of the Annunciation (Kostol Zvestovania / Františkáni / Františkánsky kostol).
*Church of the Holy Savior (Kostol Najsvätejšieho Spasiteľa).
*Maximilian's Fountain (Maximiliánova fontána, also now as Rolandova fontána - Roland's Fountain) - built by stone cutter Andreas Luttringer and commissioned by Hungarian king Maximilian in 1527, this was the first fountain in Bratislava.
*Primate's Palace (Primaciálny palác) - currently the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava.
*Old Town Hall (Stará radnica) - next to Primate's Palace, on Primaciálne Square 3.
*Grassalkovich Palace and gardens [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/presidential-grassalkovich-palace-garden]](Grassalkovičov palác) or the Presidential Palace (Prezidentský palác) - a Rococo/late Baroque summer palace with a French garden, used as a seat of the President of Slovakia. In one of the garden's alleys you will see a row of trees planted by famous people such as Juan Carlos I (King of Spain). In front of the Palace you will see the Slovak National Guard.
*The Church of St. Elisabeth (Kostol svätej Alžbety), nicknamed The Blue Church (Modrý kostolík) - a beautiful art nouveau church finished in 1913, a must see. Located on Bezručova street.
*Grösslingová High School (Gymnázium Grösslingová) - the art nouveau high school just next to The Blue Church.
*Mirbach Palace (Mirbachov palác).
*Palffy Palace (Pálffyho palác).
*Academia Istropolitana - the oldest historic University in the area, which is now occupied by the state of Slovakia, from the 13th century.
*The historic building of the Slovak National Theatre (Slovenské národné divadlo) - the theatre was built in 1886 and is on Hviezdoslavovo square
*Michael's Gate [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/michaels-gate-tower]]with Tower (Michalská brána) - 51 m tall tower above the gate with its green copper roof is one of the best known and the oldest buildings in Bratislava. It was built in the 14th century as one of the four gates to the city [http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/places/sightseeing/michaels-gate-tower[/url].
*Laurin's Gate (Laurinská brána).
*Pharmacological Museum (Farmaceutické múzeum).
*Slovak National Gallery (SNG) [http://www.sng.sk].
*Bratislava City Gallery (GMB) [http://www.gmb.sk].
*Milan Dobeš Museum [url=http://www.muzeum.sk/defaulte.php?obj=muzeum&ix=mmd]]- a small museum featuring modernist Op-art. It lies in the city center and is recommended to all interested in the development of modern art.
*Main Indoor Market (Tržnica at Trnavské mýto) - one of the few examples of Slovak high-tech architecture. One can buy high-quality fruit and vegetable inside.
*Slovak National Museum (SNM) [url=http://www.snm.sk[/url]]- in front of the museum there is a statue of the first president od Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
*Bratislava City Museum [http://www.muzeum.bratislava.sk[/url].
*Chatam Sofer Mausoleum [url=http://www.chatamsofer.sk]]and the Jewish Cemetery - one of the world's most sacred places for the Jewish community.
*Jewish Community Museum and the only Sinagogue in Bratislava - situated in the Heydukova Street [http://www.synagogue.sk[/url].
*The Slovak Radio Building (Slovenský rozhlas) - Its main building is a peculiar 60 meter high reversed pyramid from the communist era and a landmark in sharp contrast with the building of the Slovak National Bank just across the street.
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Take a stroll through the centre of the town. Bratislava has one of the smallest historical centers around but the charm is more concentrated. The streets have been completely renovated over the last ten years, bringing life back here. Since then a multitude of cafes, bars and restaurants of all kinds have opened here, accompanied by a few souvenir shops and fashion stores. On warm days almost every cafe has an outdoor seating section in the street, bustling with life and giving the city a unique cozy feeling.
When it comes to sightseeing, Bratislava Castle generally is a must and is already opened after the reconstruction. You can visit also Slavin memorial for some really astounding views of the city. It's a calm and romantic spot but beware, it can get really windy up there. The City Museum located in the Old Town Hall offers visitors climbing up the steep stairwells of the clock tower or seeing the town's historical dungeons, an exhibition that was quite outdated but still scary in 2008.
In summer, you can also visit Bratislava Zoo [http://www.zoobratislava.sk/?home], providing a nice walk between the animal enclosures, the latest addition being some rare white tigers. The facilities of the zoo are slowly being renovated to attract more visitors and the zoo is a favourite for families on sunny days. A DinoPark has been constructed near the last part of the zoo where you can look at interesting prehistoric facts and large models of dinosaurs. You can also go to the Botanical Gardens of Comenius University (Botanická 3, take trams No 1, 4, 5, 9 or 12 to stop Botanická záhrada) for quiet and peaceful strolls in this green space.
For a relaxed afternoon in the park, head either to Sad Janka Kráľa park (on the right bank of the river Danube and next to Aupark shopping centre), the oldest public park in central Europe, relax at the embankments on both sides of the river or head to Horský park (Forest Park) north off Slavin memorial for a civilized stroll through the forest. There's a small café here as well as a pub, the latter mostly populated by students from the nearby campus. For a more outdoorsy experience, hop on bus No 203/213 to Koliba and walk up to Kamzík (takes about 30 minutes uphill - if you are there, definitely visit the last buffet on the left ("Bufet Kamzik") for some old school buffet meals and "Kamzicek" - mulled wine with some spirits to warm you up) or try the newly renovated facilities of Partizánska lúka and Snežienka, all with extensive picknicking areas and loads of fireplaces for grilling. The area is several kilometers long and you can either walk here from the terminal station of bus No 212 (Vojenska nemocnica) or take a bus to Patronka and use bus No 43 driving up the area and back every 15-30 minutes (depending on time of day/year as well as weather). Only cars with a permit can enter the area but there is a parking lot at the entrance, close to a bus stop. However during weekdays the parking is often full quite often - nearest parking is Tesco HM Lamac (approx 700m from there). Snezienka's grass fields and the top of Kamzik hill are connected with a chairlift, operating (weather permitting) Thursdays through Sundays and on holidays, the price for one ride being approx. €3.
In December, be sure to indulge in the scents and flavours of the traditional Christmas Market in front of Old Town Hall and on the Hlavne namestie (main square). The market - compared to the ones in Prague and Vienna - is smaller, but has a much friendlier, almost family-like atmosphere and feels much more traditional and less overtly commercialized than others in the region. The people of Bratislava love to meet here for a drink and a bite to eat; try the 'varene vino' (mulled wine).
*If you are looking for unconventional way to see the city, try vintage Skoda car tours organized by Authentic Slovakia. Tour takes you to off the beaten track places out of the Old Town - includes nice views from the hills, socialist architecture, good local knowledge and stories.
*Popular & lively Free walking tour covering the city's sights, culture & history. Every day at 11am & 3pm (www.befreetours.com)
*Enjoy the beautiful view of Bratislava and the unique nature surrounding the river Danube right from the deck of a speedboat.
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Culture
Bratislava is the home of the world famous Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra [url=http://www.filharm.sk/]]so if you love classical music, you should consider attending one of the concerts in the historic Reduta building. For more cultural indulgence, the Slovak National Theatre [url=http://www.snd.sk/?home[/url]]offers a wide selection on ballet, opera and theatre performances. Although most of the activities have been moved to a city-district-in-the-making on the banks of the Danube, some performances are still being held in the historical theatre building, which gives them a unique feeling but a higher price tag as well. The old theatre building is right in the middle of the city at Hviezdoslavovo namestie. The new theatre is accessible by bus No 88 from the Coach Terminal at Mlynske nivy (get off at Landererova) or by buses No 50, 70 and 78 (stop is called Wüstenrot). None of these stop directly at the theatre though, so you should count on a 5-10 minute walk from the bus stop to the theatre. You cannot miss the building as it is of unmistakably communist megalomaniac design covered in white marble. The entrance is facing the Danube so you need to walk around the building to get in. Note that the riverside is currently being developed and the whole area is one big - although very clean, hats off - construction site and will remain that way at least until end of 2009.
For museum-goers, Bratislava is the place to go, with some bigger and loads of small museums around town (see a listing here [url=http://www.muzeum.sk/?obj=mesto&ix=ba[/url]).]The most recommended ones are:
* Natural Science Museum, Vajanského nábrežie 2, phone {+4212} 59349122 [url=http://www.snm.sk/?lang=eng§ion=home&org=2[/url]]- echoing the communist era, the natural science exhibitions have an interesting collection of artifacts and is slowly being transformed into a modern era exhibition,
* National Museum at the foot of Castle Hill, Žižkova 14, phone {+4212} 59207273 [url=http://www.snm.sk/?lang=eng§ion=home&org=3[/url]]- a unique exhibition on ancient Egypt was held here until end of August 2008, together with permanent archeological collections and more,
* Bratislava Castle, phone {+4212} 54411444 [url=http://www.snm.sk/?lang=eng§ion=home&org=4[/url]]and the Museum of City History in the Old Town Hall, phone {+4212} 59205130 [url=http://www.muzeum.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=700016&id=1011&p1=52[/url]]- including the museums of history and music as well as the city dungeon and the exhibition on medieval justice.
* Gerulata, Gerulatska ul. [url=http://www.muzeum.bratislava.sk/en/vismo/dokumenty2.asp?id_org=700016&id=1026&p1=52[/url]]- this is an ancient Roman military camp with archeological findings on display. If you're into all things Roman, you should also consider a visit to the nearby Carnuntum [url=http://www.carnuntum.co.at/content-en/news?set_language=en&cl=en[/url]]which has a large archeological site and is only a few minutes by car from Bratislava,
* Museum of Transport, Šancová 1/a, phone {+4212} 52444163 [url=http://www.muzeumdopravy.com[/url]]- with a display of historical vehicles, situated in the first railway station in the city, very close to the current Main Railway Station, surprisingly interesting if you are interested in the topic
* Museum of Trade, Linzbothova 16, phone {+4212} 45243167 [url=http://www.muzeum.sk/?obj=muzeum&ix=mo[/url]]- this museum has some remarking pieces of historic advertising plates and other artifacts.
* Jewish Community Museum, Heydukova 11-13, phone {+4212} 5441 6949 [url=http://www.synagogue.sk[/url]]- rare Jewish ritual tools, gold-embroidered mantles protecting the holy biblical scrolls, unique photographs of students who had attended the famed Bratislava rabbi school that reveal even to this day the atrocities of the Holocaust.
It is situated in the Heydukova Street Synagogue, which is the only synagogue in Bratislava. Constructed in 1923-1926, it is a Cubist building designed by the Bratislava-based Jewish architect Artur Szalatnai-Slatinský and is listed as a national cultural monument. Orthodox in orientation, the synagogue still serves as an active Jewish house of worship. The Jewish Community Museum with a permanent exhibition “The Jews of Bratislava and Their Heritage” is installed upstairs and during the summer season is open to the public up till September, every Friday 1 till 4pm and every Sunday 10 am till 1pm.
* Museum of Czechoslovak fortification system [url=https://plus.google.com/107736753538028561370/about?gl=sk&hl=sk[/url].]One of the most sophisticated fortification system ever built that used to defend sovereignty of prewar Czechoslovakia. You can get to know every day routine of Border Guards on the Iron Curtain boundaries during the Communist era. A ride in a historical cars along fortification system is possible.
For a taste of visual arts, pay a visit to the National Gallery [url=http://www.sng.sk/en/uvod[/url]]at the embankment between Starý most and Nový most with permanent collections of Slovak and European medieval art pieces, although the temporary exhibitions tend to be far more interesting. Bratislava City Gallery [url=http://www.gmb.bratislava.sk/[/url]]is also a good pick to see displays of historical fine arts, paintings and sculptures along with interesting temporary exhibitions. If you like modern art better, pay a visit to the Danubiana Art Museum [http://www.danubiana.sk/[/url] on the southern edge of Bratislava. A bus service (#90) has recently been set up which runs from the Slovakian National theatre and terminates at the art museum however the times are infrequent so it is best advised to check the timetable first. There is currently no machine or vendor to purchase a bus ticket for the return journey so buy an extra on your way to the museum.
Every year in the weekend around 24 April Bratislava celebrates a festival called "Bratislava for All", giving locals and visitors alike the possibility to visit most of the facilities governed by the city for free or a reduced fee, this including most of the museums and galleries. In May, the city's museums and galleries keep their gates open to visitors until late at night, this being called the "Night of Museums and Galleries".
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Sports
If sports are your thing, know that ice hockey is the national sport of Slovakia. The local hockey team, HC Slovan Bratislava. HC Slovan has been playing since 2012 in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Matches are played frequently throughout each year beginning in September and concluding in the spring of the following year. Home games are played at Slovnaft Arena (also known as Ondrej Nepela Arena or Orange Arena), Odbojárov 9. Many Slovaks are passionate about both watching and playing ice hockey. The stadium can be reached easily by public transport. Many other sports are also played in Slovakia such as football, volleyball, or tennis. Football is the second most favorite sport in Slovakia. Many players play in international teams all over the world such as Marek Hamšík in SSC Napoli. The most beloved football team is Slovan Bratislava. Since Peter Sagan took part in the world famous Tour de France, cycyling has become another favorite sport for the Slovaks that they like to watch and support. Slovaks also like to engage in some more adventurous sports activity such as bungee jumping from the Lafranconi bridge [//jairo.sk/#/jump/] or target shooting in Bratislava [http://www.bratislavashootingclub.com/] and in it's vicinity.
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Meet People
Over the last two decades, many foreigners have been moving to Bratislava to study and work at the many international companies that created new jobs. After work, many expatriates and their Slovak friends hang out at casual events where everybody speaks English and enjoys the evening together. For travelers to Bratislava, joining these usually free events is an excellent and fun opportunity to meet local people and learn from them about what one should see or do in Bratislava next day.
A few recommendations are:
Bratislava Language Exchange Meeting, where people from different countries get together at tables and teach each other a foreign language.
Toastmasters Club Bratislava, a speech club where people practice their public speaking skills.[http://bratislava.toastmasters.sk]
Bratislava Expat Meetup and Internations Meetings for the more business-oriented crowd that seeks to expand their network while having a glass of Martini in a stylish sky bar.
International Students Parties, where the foreign exchange students dance the night away and knock out their brains.
Upcoming events can be found in this calendar of international events [http://www.inevents.org/bratislava/events/categories/international-meetings].
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There are multiple universities that have courses and classes for foreigners, too. You can also study Slovak language for foreigners at one of the universities or at private school.
You can also find some basic phrases listed here with a pronunciation: [http://www.bratislavaguide.com/slovak-language-basic-phrases]
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Slovakia is a member of the European Union, therefore, any citizen of a European Union, European Economic Area country or Switzerland can work and live there without restrictions.
The most popular website to search for a job is [url=http://www.profesia.sk/en/]profesia.sk[/url].
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Tourists seeking duty-free goods should be warned to make their purchases before returning to the airport as duty-free goods available in the departure lounge are roughly double the cost of identical goods purchased in local supermarkets.
Shop in the large and expanding [url=http://bratislava-slovakia.eu/bratislava-shopping]shopping centers[/url]:
*Aupark [url=http://www.aupark-bratislava.sk/W/do/centre/accueil]]- located on the Petržalka side of Danube, posibility to relax in Sad Janka Kráľa - a green strip just behind the shopping mall. You can either walk here from the city along Nový most or Starý most or use public transport (buses 50,83,84,91,93,191)
*Polus City Center [url=http://www.poluscitycenter.sk/[/url]]- located in the NE part of the city (buses 50,51,98, trams 2,4)
*Avion Shopping Park [url=http://www.avion.sk/[/url]]- located near the airport and a motorway (buses 61,63,65,96)
*Shopping Palace Zlaté Piesky [url=http://www.shoppingpalace.sk/[/url]]- near the "Zlaté piesky" lake in the NE part of the city (buses 53,56,65, tram 4)
*Eurovea [url=http://www.eurovea.sk/[/url]]- walking distance from the city, right next to the river Danube with quite nice promenade along the river
*Central [url=http://www.central.sk/sk[/url]]- located in the city borough Nové Mesto, near the transport junction Trnavské Mýto (trams 2,4,8,9, buses 31,39,51,53,61,63,68,74,78, trolleybuses 201,204,209)
*Bory Mall [http://www.borymall.sk/sk/uvod[/url] - in the western part of the city between the city boroughs Lamač and Devínska Nová Ves (buses 21,25,92)
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Drink and eat in one of the many restaurants in Old Town, or take a short walk from city centre to Danube promenade, where you can also choose from various restaurants in Riverpark or Eurovea. As everywhere else in the world, "Typical local restaurants" located near the tourist spots and in the busiest streets downtown are aimed at overpricing tourist for mediocre (at the best) food - use common sense to distinguish tourist trap from a normal eatery. There are more places in Bratislava, opened in recent years, that aim for fresh and quality gastronomy with touch of traditional, but also modern cuisine. Prices are very reasonable compared to other popular tourist locations in Europe.
* Provides very nice atmosphere and surrounding thanks to its location in Riverpark- right on the bank of river Danube. Restaurant has opened outside terrace operating whole year. Opened kitchen gives you feeling of cleanliness and transparency. Owner is present systematically and ensures warm ambience and consistent quality. This is surely one of few "no problem" restaurants in Bratislava- if you desire for something not listed in menu, they will do their best to fulfill your wish anyway.
* In case you prefer to have a picturesque panoramic view of the historic city center you would like Sky bar & restaurant on the roof of one of the Old Town houses located on Hviezdoslavove square, very near to historic Opera House and St. Martin's Cathedral. View from the roof terrace is very nice also for taking photos. It operates as a mediterranean restaurant and in the evening and night also as a bar with wide selection of e.g. vodkas (70 types) and long drinks. For table in night reservation is needed.
* You can enjoy Danube embankment and promenade or even little shopping in Eurovea after lunch. This restaurant is typically full of residents and regular customers, which is a reliable marker for good not "tourist thievery" oriented place. In summer season (approx. may-september) you can enjoy lunch or house made lemonade and nice selection of wines on the pontoon terrace right over the water- unique and pleasant experience especially in hot months.
* This restaurant is also located in the city centre and has nice and cosy atmosphere. It presents thai cuisine (awarded by Thai Select) for reasonable price and offers fit dishes and tasting menus. They organize musical evenings with live music (jazz, soul), you can start your night out here with dinner and later decide whether you'd stay, or move to one of many bars and discos in downtown area. Downstairs from the restaurant is a Rum club, where you can enjoy rums from all over the world and cigars.
* If you are used to Michelin like restaurants this one is probably the closest. It is not directly in the city centre, so preferably take a taxi, which should be about 4euro. They offer asian cuisine with many modern and uncommon recipes and also a variety of house made products. The place gives you feeling of tranquility and purity, food looks and tastes fantastic and staff is very polite and helpful.
* Try the biggest pizza in town (you can order a pizza up to 50cm in diameter).
* For all gourmets and high-quality cuisine lovers. Menu is built maily abour various types of meat.
* is restaurant which offers typical regional specialities inspired by the times when Bratislava was a part od Austro-Hungarian Empire. You can try typical foods from this region but with standards of modern culinary art.
* Probably one of the best burger restaurants in town, all burgers are freshly made with a lot of passion, originally the owner wanted to give his friends a proper alternative to all the well-known fastfood restaurants, but nowadays it is popular by all burger lovers in Bratislava, they only serve burgers, classic burger starts from 6€, english speaking staff. They opened a second shop in foodcourt in Eurovea shopping mall (not on the promenade but inside in food court).
* The best old Pressburger restaurant in town. Just few steps from Michalska street (turn left directly after Michalská tower). Really authentic frequented by locals. With hidden inner garden.
Luckily it is no longer that hard to find Slovak restaurant among all the Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Indian and other eateries as it was few years ago. Bryndzové halušky (small, spaetzle-like dumplings with sheep's cheese called bryndza and topped with pieces of meat) is the national dish of Slovakia and recommended to try. Potent garlic soup (but perhaps not on a date) and Slovak white wine (due to its cooler climate, Slovakia's reds pale in comparison with some of Europe's other offerings), schnitzels, goulashes and other typically Central European foods. Fresh vegetables are more common here thanks to the large amount of land given over to agriculture.
If you are looking for a real Slovak meal, head either to the
* A slightly plebeian but very vivid restaurant offering many traditional dishes. The place is furbished with loads of authentic interiers taken from all over the country. Frequented by local students. Since its first appearance in an official tourist guide the quality deteriorates slowly.. Or try one of the local breweries which usually offer some traditional dishes.
* Microbrewery featuring a nice bitter lager. Out of traditional Slovak dishes try bryndzové halušky, bryndzové pirohy, šúlance s makom, or a duck served with lokša (a potato-dough pancake).
*Another microbrewery featuring, among other beers, also their own lighter lager. They serve also many traditional slovak dishes. The place offers Demikát - a rarely seen traditional soup made of Bryndza.
* Not necessarily a traditional slovak restaurant (rather a pub). Nevertheless it offers traditional slovak food in the daily menu, which is mostly cheaper than in restaurants located in the old town. Moreover you can get slovak beer and draft kofola. Frequently visited by locals, mostly because of the good price.
Of course, junk food can be found in Bratislava, too. Try Bratislava's special form of junk food - a richman which is a big bread roll filled with cabbage and cheese and/or meat with mayonnaise. Richman stands can be found on Kamenné námestie, in front of the Tesco building, and in Safarikovo square. You can also try a sub sandwich from one of the many cafeterias in the city, a good one is found in Šafárikovo namestie. Another excellent cafeteria is on Zelená Ulica between Ventúrska Ulica and Hlavné námestie. A big sandwich, a bageta (from the French baguette) with cheese, ham and eggs would cost you about €1.50. McDonalds and Subways are also present.
Another specialty in Bratislava (but also available in other regions of Slovakia) is treska. It is a cold salad made of Codfish with mayonnaise. There are vegetables like onions and carrots in the salad too. It has a very distinct taste, somewhere between sour and bitter - you should try it! You can buy it fresh in most "Lahôdky" shops, which means something like "delicacies", but generally stands for old-fashioned fast food shops - they sell salads, soups, etc instead of hamburgers or French fries. Treska tastes very good with rolls. If you like the taste of Treska, you can also buy it packed to take home.
If you're low on cash and want to self-cater, there's a huge Tesco supermarket on Kamenné námestie (at the junction of Štúrova and Špitálska) directly in the city. You could easily have lunch consisting of a couple of bread rolls, ham, cheese, fruit and maybe a cake or two, for three or four Euros. New American-type shopping malls with big cinemas and of course food courts within reach of the center are Eurovea - right on the river bank, with nice surroundings (just 3minutes walk from centre- from Safarikove names tie) and Aupark on the opposite bank of the Danube (next to Sad Janka Kráľa park, some 10 minutes from St. Martins's Cathedral) and Polus City Center on Vajnorská Street to the north of the city (some 10-15 minutes from the city by tram).
Another option to have a cheap meal (4 to 5 Euros) is to go into one of many restaurants in Bratislava that serve daily menus (Mon-Fri usually 11:30 to 14:00). For a fixed price you will get a soup and a main meal (usually you get to choose the meal out of 3 to 5 options), drinks are rarely included. It is hard to recommend a good one - just go where you see most locals having their lunches and you'll have a chance to get a good lunch too.
If you feel like something healthy there are several places serving fresh made salads (in the centre as well as near office building - quite busy during lunch). However be prepared that the salad will cost you more than a full meal.
You can get a nice view and can meet some local celebrities at the übercool and very expensive UFO restaurant and disco [http://www.u-f-o.sk/intro.html] on top of Nový most bridge.
In December, don't miss the Christmas market in front of the Old Town Hall. The traditional foods of the Christmas market are roasted pork or chicken sandwich burgers ("ciganska pecienka") with mustard and onions, potato pancakes ("loksa") with various fillings ranging traditionally from plain ones with goose fat, with garlic or goose liver to poppy seed, nut or chocolate. Bread with pork fat and onions is also popular. Also there are a few stands which offer specialities from other european countries. You can wash down the food with a cup of red or white mulled wine or a small cup of honey wine, also tea with or without rum is available, as well as grog or other "hot mixed drinks" like the Červený medveď (red bear).
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Bars
Try Kofola, a Slovak & Czech soft drink with a similar colour to Coca Cola, but lower in sugar and caffeine (and carbonation). Some places serve "draft Kofola" which indeed is draft from a barrel in a way similar to beer (until recently it was actually co-produced by a Bratislava brewery). Some Slovaks say draft Kofola is even better than the bottled version and that it is best enjoyed outside in the sun, for example after a hike or a bike or rollerblade ride. Kofola is a popular alternative to beer if you want to hang out but don't want to drink alcohol. Vinea is another genuine Slovak soft drink made from grapes, offered in "white" (green grapes), "red" and "rose" varieties (red grapes). A rather sweet and maybe not-so-tasty "soft" version without carbon dioxide is also available.
There are quite a few Slovak beer brands, e.g. Zlatý Bažant, Šariš, Smädný Mních and Topvar. Stein beer is a local Bratislava variety which until very recently was brewed practically in the city centre. There are five micro-breweries offering beer in Bratislava: Meštiansky Pivovar, Richtár Jakub, Patrónsky Pivovar, Starosloviensky Pivovar, and Zámocký Pivovar.
If spirits are more your thing, perhaps you will enjoy Slivovica, a fruit-plums brandy of high quality that is associated with Slovakia.
The best pubs offering Slovak beers can be found in the Old Town: Kristian in Michalska street, Bar Parada in Hviezdoslavovo square, or AeroPressoDepresso in Venturska street. All of them are quite cheap (about €1 per half-liter glass of beer).
* KC Dunaj, Nedbalova
* Pod kamennym stromom, Sedlarska
* Great beer, very tasty food and fun.
*A must place for every Bratislava visitor. The best local and indian dishes in town, purely Slovak wines and historical setting of a traditional wine cellar.
*Music club near the riverside popular with younger crowd. Good selection of beers including Belgian specialty beers.
* GMT Bar. Very nice cocktail menu with waitress service if you can find a table. Ensure you wear a shirt at the weekends!
*If you want to go for extraordinary, visit UFO. It looks like real U.F.O. and it is mounted high above the Most SNP bridge (member of great-towers.com), and you have to use a lift to go there. There is a good restaurant and lounge bar and observation deck. The view is incomparable.
*Pub offering 8 different craft beers - offer is changed regularly every few days. Most other alcoholic drinks are available, as well as food (but keep in mind that kitchen is closed on Sunday). Le Šenk gets overcrowded on some days and they don't serve people without table - so it's advisable to make a reservation by simply calling them at 0948 129 877.
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Clubs
Larger clubs in Bratislava include Loft [url=http://www.klubloft.sk/],]KC Dunaj [url=http://www.kcdunaj.sk/[/url],]Duplex [url=http://www.musicbar.sk[/url]]and SubClub [url=http://www.subclub.sk/[/url],]the latter a former nuclear bunker located under Bratislava Castle. There are many smaller bars with dancefloors closer to the centre, such as Radost [http://www.mojaradost.sk/[/url] on Obchodná Street, next to the Slovak Pub.
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Gay/Lesbian
Although some cafes are considered gay inclusive, there are several bars, clubs and saunas dedicated to the gay and lesbian crowd in Bratislava, all of them in the city center, close to the Presidential Palace:
*Apollon Gay Club on Panenska 18 (the entrance is in the dooryard of a townhouse), +421 915 480 031, [http://www.gdisco.sk].
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Accommodation prices usually do not include city tax. For the year 2012 the city tax is €1.65/person/night. Students up to age 26 and youths up to 18 do not need to pay city tax.
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Budget
Patio Hostel, Špitálska 35, tel. +421 2 529 257 97, [url=http://www.patiohostel.com].]Very popular, located in the center, close to the train & bus stations, easily reachable from the airport. Dorms and privates, free Internet, parking lot, laundry. From €11 plus tax (low season).
*Downtown Backpackers Hostel [url=http://www.backpackers.sk/en/[/url],]Panenská 31, phone +421 2 5464 1191. Dorms from €12 per night per person, double rooms from €21.90 per night per person (plus tax). 18 minutes walk from the central station.
*Hostel Blues, Špitálska 2, +421 905 20 40 40, [url=http://www.hostelblues.sk/[/url],]central location and dorm beds from €12.90 (plus tax).
*Hotel Junior [url=http://www.juniorhotel.sk/[/url],]Drieňova 14, phone +421 2 4333 8000. Double rooms from €64 per room per night.
*Hotel Turist Bratislava, Ondavska 5, phone +421 2 5557 2789 or 5541 0509, fax +421 2 5557 3180, Email: hotel@turist.sk, [url=http://www.turist.sk/en-hotel.html[/url].]Double rooms at €40, triple rooms at €45, near Ice rink (Zimny Stadion), 10 minutes by bus to city center.
*Hostel Juraj, Karpatska 28, phone: +421 902 305711, [url=http://hostel.eu.sk/[/url].] A small cozy hostel located really close to train station and less than a 15 minute walk from the city center. Juraj, the owner, is a friendly man who speaks amazing English and will pick you up from the train station, offer to do your laundry, and provide a great atmosphere. Bed €16,5 in private room (included tax), dorm bed €12,5; €10 for students.
*Hostel Possonium, Šancová 20, +421 2 2072 0007, [url=http://www.possonium.sk/[/url].]Stylish hostel in the centre. Only 3 minutes by walk from main railway station. Free breakfast, wifi, internet, free laundry, cozy bar, great chill out in garden. Dorm bed from €17, double from €48.
*Hostel Red Star, Botanicka 25, +421 905 120 514, [url=http://hostelinbratislava.com/[/url]]Seasonal. Dorm bed from €14.
*Hostel Remy, Stará Vajnorská cesta 37/a, +421 2 444 550 63, [http://www.remy.sk/[/url] A small, however fully air-conditioned hotel with friendly staff, surrounded by nice garden with little lagoon where you can sit and rest.
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Mid-range
Hotel Arcus [url=http://www.hotelarcus.sk/],nice]family hotel, big rooms and bathrooms, fresh cooked breakfast, 10 min walk from the old town. Moskovská 5, phone +421 2 5557 2522, fax +421 2 5557 6750, bratislava@hotelarcus.sk, Rooms from €54/night/include breakfast.
*Hotel Echo [url=http://www.hotelecho.sk/en/index.php[/url]]Prešovská 39 +421255569170
*Hotel Holiday Inn [http://www.holidayinn.sk/[/url]
*Hotel Ibis, Zamocka 38, [url=http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3566-ibis-bratislava-centrum/index.shtml].]Double rooms from €48, recently built hotel in central location, just a short walk from the Old town.
*Hotel Mercure, Zabotova 2, [url=http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-6840-mercure-bratislava-centrum-hotel/index.shtml[/url].]Double rooms from €55, recently built mid-scale business hotel near the main railway station.
*Botel Marina, +421 (2) 5464 1804, [http://www.botelmarina.sk[/url].
*Venturska Residence, [url=http://www.venturskaresidence.com],]Venturska 3, phone +421 2 5441 1240, Email: residence@venturskaresidence.com The newly refurbished holiday apartments located in the very heart of the Old Town. From €68/night.
*Aston Business Hotel, [http://hotelaston.sk/[/url].
*Apartments Bratislava,[url=http://www.apartmentsbratislava.com],]mobile +421 918 397924, email:info@apartmentsbratislava.com. Fully equipped modern apartments for short term stay. Efficient alternative of hotel accommodation in Bratislava Old Town. Price from €49/night/apartment.
*Abba Hotel, Stefanikova 4, [url=http://www.abbabratislavahotel.com/en/index.html[/url].]Clean and modern hotel - walking distance to central train station & historic district: just behind presidential palace.
*Hotel Ponteo, Starorimska 1a, 851 10 Bratislava - Rusovce, [url=http://www.ponteo.sk[/url].]We would like to bring you an ideal combination of pleasurable stay and complex offer of services which will meet all desires and expectations.
*My Bratislava Apartments [http://www.mybratislavaapartments.com/[/url], fully-equipped comfortable family-run apartments in the city center and suburbs, recommended for families with kids and big groups. Prices from €40/night/2persons. mobile: +421 915 498909 e-mail: info@mybratislavaapartments.com
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Splurge
Kempinski Hotel River Park, Dvorakovo nabrezie 6, a highest category hotel, faithful to reputation of the Kempinski chain. It is located in wider city center in newly built pleasant area on the Danube river bank- Riverpark. Provides deluxe atmosphere and services. It offers luxurious spa services located on the top with breathtaking views (Zion Spa) [url=http://zionspa.sk/en/prevadzky/zion-spa-hotel-kempinski-river-park/]]as well as quality restaurant [http://www.kempinski.com/bratislava[/url].
*Albrecht, Mudronova 82, [url=http://www.hotelalbrechtbratislava.com/].]Five star design hotel with 12 rooms and suites nestled on hill above Bratislava castle and Old Town. The Albrecht features flagship restaurant and lounge bar as well as lavish urban spa - unique of it's kind in Bratislava.
*Arcadia, Františkánska 3, [http://www.arcadia-hotel.sk/en/home/[/url]
*Devín, Riečna 4, [url=http://www.hoteldevin.sk/].]4 star traditional hotel with 100 rooms and suites. Located in the historical centre of Bratislava, walking distance to all main attraction. It provides accommodation, restaurant, conference services and relaxation center with pool.
*Gate One, business and conference hotel near airport, [url=http://www.hotelgateone.sk/[/url].]
*Marroll's, Tobrucka 4, phone +421 2 57784600, [http://www.hotelmarrols.sk/[/url].
* Central location overlooking the Danube and the Bridge with swimming pool, gym sauna and whirlpool. Free for guests.
*Perugia, near the main square, [http://www.perugia.sk/].
* Located in the heart of Bratislava, has been fully renovated and retains many of its original features.
*Sheraton Bratislava Hotel, Pribinova 12, [url=http://www.sheratonbratislava.com/].]Located in Bratislava's sophisticated new city center EUROVEA, the first Sheraton hotel in Slovakia offers five star service, 186 stylish guest rooms and 23 suites and Shine Spa - wellness center with indoor swimming pool, saunas, 24/7 gym and many different massages.
*Falkensteiner Bratislava Hotel, Pilarikova 5, [url=http://www.falkensteiner.com/sk/hotel/bratislava[/url],]located close to city centre, new four star business hotel.
*Michalská Brána, in the very city center - no car access, [http://www.michalskabrana.sk/[/url].
*Hotel Hradná Brána, Slovanské nábrežie 15, phone +421-2-601 025 11, [http://www.hotelhb.sk/pages/hotel_e.htm]. First class, newly opened hotel has a panoramic view over the Devín castle. It provides accommodation, restaurant, congressional and relaxation services.
*Top-quality hotel in the city core of Bratislava. Exclusive design suites by London and Prague duo Jestico+Whiles. Equipped kitchenettes, fitness and sauna centre, business centre, babysitting services and much more.
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Telephone
When making international calls, you need to dial 00, then the country code of the country you are calling. The international code of Bratislava is +421 2, the national one is 02. You don't need to use any of these when making local calls. There mostly are cardphones in phone booths, coin phones are located e.g. in front of the telecoms office (T-Centrum) on Namestie SNP (Dunaj department store) or at Kolarska ulica. You can purchase phone cards at most newspaper kiosks and in any of the T-Centers.
Phone numbers beginning with 090, 091 or 094 are mostly mobile numbers. All of Bratislava is covered with a GSM network, the operators being Orange[url=http://www.orange.sk/en_orange/default.dwp],]T-Mobile[url=http://www.t-mobile.sk[/url]]and O2[url=http://sk.o2.com[/url].]In parts of Bratislava (mostly up on the hills), mobile phones sometimes switch to Hungarian or Austrian providers, so it is better to check the network name before dialing. For best mobile roaming rates, check [http://www.roaming.gsmeurope.org/[/url].
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Internet
If you have a laptop or smart phone, you can use multiple wireless hotspots throughout the city. There is a free to use wireless internet available (SSID: fo_magistrat) in the city center (Hlavné námestie, Františkánske námestie, Primaciálne námestie). Most of the cafes, restaurants and hotels also provide Wi-Fi access free of charge, just ask at the bar or at the reception.
Some of the newest public transport buses (the red ones with five doors) have an free on-board Wi-Fi.
Alternatively, you can buy a cheap 3G SIM card from Orange, T-Com or O2 with prices ranging from 6 EUR (O2, 2G / unlimited) up to 20 EUR (Orange, 3G / 5 GB of data)
For longer stays, it is recommended to rent an internet service from one of the providers such as Orange (fiber, up to 100 Mbit/s / up to 25 EUR per month), UPC (metallic or fiber, up to 100 Mbit/s / up to 30 EUR per month) or T-Com (DSL or fiber).
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Bratislava is generally very safe by Western standards: it is quite small and the crime rate is low. There is a significant police presence in the city, especially the historical parts, and it is generally not a problem to walk through the city at night. Use common sense when walking alone at night. Stay away from larger loud male groups and you should be fine. If some problem occurs, it is recommended to call the police (dial 158 or 112 (but the first number is faster)), they will come quickly. There are many of them deployed in city centre in late night.
Parks may be abandoned at night and should therefore be avoided.
Use caution when entering pedestrian crossing and check if the cars are slowing down. Under Slovak law, drivers are obliged to give way to pedestrians on a crossing, but the practice is often different.
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Ruins of Devin castle are located about 12 km from city centre. You can take buses 28 or 29 (from Most SNP - ask someone where to get off as the castle is not visible from the bus stop!) or walk through the forest (about 2-2,5 hrs walk - routes start in suburbs Karlova Ves, Dubravka). You will be rewarded by a beautiful view of Austria and two rivers (Danube and Moravia) joining each other. From here walk north to Sandberg (literally hill made of sand) and find some sea-fossils from ages ago. From Sandberg its just a short walk to Devinska Nova Ves from where buses 21 or 28 will take you back to the city.
*The castle Červený kameň [url=http://www.castles.sk/cerveny-kamen.php]]is located about 30 km north-east of Bratislava; it can be reached by bus from Mlynske Nivy bus terminal.
*Do like the locals and hike in the Small Carpathians mountain range. Bratislava lies on the southeast slopes of these mountains. Hiking routes are well indicated. You can buy a map in any bookstore or check the routes online on Hiking.sk[http://mapy.hiking.sk/[/url]
*Visit the [wiki=3d839cdf834ed97d78f468bd1f565f03]Small Carpathians Wine Region[/wiki]; on the southern slopes of the Small Carpathians there are extensive vineyards and typical wine villages and towns like [wiki=d9bc4bd55abc0c1f6ca3d429c0b79398]Rača[/wiki], [wiki=04b0c186da04e5dde4c03472cfebf020]Pezinok[/wiki] or [wiki=3c4192ccd788602d187c29ff28e5cde0]Modra[/wiki]. If you are more interested in local wines, follow the Little Carpathians Wine Route.
*Visit Cachtice castle, associated with the blood-thirsty deeds of countess Bathory. It is a large and picturesque ruin set on a hilltop above the small village of Visnove. Take the train north from Bratislava to Nove Mesto nad Vahom (75 minutes), and then change to a small local train for the short journey west to Visnove (15 minutes).
*The [wiki=79a82a8b16e98f18634a923461dcc826]Mutěnice Wine Region[/wiki] near the Slovak border in the [wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]Czech Republic[/wiki] is well worth a weekend visit. It has some of the best wine in the Czech Republic and many great small cellars to visit. You'll need to take a train to [wiki=15032084757c6ec1108d6ad959cec915]Břeclav[/wiki] and then from there to [wiki=d7c803704f30ddcc9151c3c72e1409fb]Hodonín[/wiki].
*Take the train to Trenčin (one hour and forty minutes), a Slovak town to the north of the capital with a towering hill-top castle and a picturesque old town centre spread out below it.
*The Carnuntum archaeological park [url=http://www.carnuntum.co.at]]is located 25 km from Bratislava, across the [[Austria|Austrian[/url]] border. The site offers the chance to see the excavations of an ancient Roman city. It is worth a one-day visit together with a stop in the old walled city of Hainburg, the first major town in Austria after crossing the Slovak border.
*[wiki=af843fd95e6f5e1c17112c082a6ec0ec]Lednice-Valtice[/wiki] in the south-eastern corner of the Czech Republic is a [wiki=255f23d5f5774408a90d290f4d8f6aac]UNESCO World Heritage[/wiki] site containing one of Europe's largest Palacial parklands.
*[wiki=4732f7b6dd7efc1e7b250515bf7f7919]Senec[/wiki] is a small town 30 km to the west of Bratislava, with the lake resort "Slnečné jazerá" ("Sunny Lakes"). It is a cool place to swim or relax at the beach in the summer months.
*The public transport company of Bratislava (DPB) runs a cross-border bus line no. 901 between Hainburg an der Donau (Austria) and Bratislava, with a stop in the Austrian town of Wolfsthal. In Bratislava, the terminus is the stop Nový most. Price is 1,50€/one way or 2,90€/return.
*Another cross-border bus line is no. 801 between Bratislava and Rajka (Hungary). In Bratislava, the terminus is between the New Slovak National Theatre and "Eurovea" shopping mall. Price is 1,50€/one way or 2,90€/return when bought in Slovakia or 420HUF/one way or 810HUF/return when bought in Hungary.
[wiki=e09be26814c34fba5150ff609d970dde]de:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=148b450b212afcecd679a87c614171a1]eo:Bratislavo[/wiki]
[wiki=75c1d728ea06faf5042cdb4b2b6768e7]fi:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=63455ee791e207ed5f7c06cd46995a58]fr:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=bb69dcce8e917bb87c1a2c62dbf854ea]hu:Pozsony[/wiki]
[wiki=65b0e84dad003c9c56ef6bd8c52ff95f]it:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=2bc1dc7822286a78275ba6359da0529f]ja:ブラチスラヴァ[/wiki]
[wiki=e26bbc66f728150a60ad4aa0cae3476f]nl:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=c78edea658c0c62b541457b17e32a019]pl:Bratysława[/wiki]
[wiki=d5a5fe3658fd39475431e9ca6264b267]pt:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=34c28255fa8889748abe898d9d0078f0]ro:Bratislava[/wiki]
[wiki=0771dcf364ad14e653b16302f123d547]ru:Братислава[/wiki]
[wiki=972ad3151dade61f35516a44bd40652f]sv:Bratislava[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Bratislava]]
[wiki=a7938afbaf15919b8f02132a69d83623]Dmoz:Europe/Slovakia/Localities/Bratislava/[/wiki]
[wiki=0dd3f08d5c1595d43f1b69da40065486]World66:europe/slovakia/bratislava[/wiki]
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