WHY VISIT BRATISLAVA
Bratislava is perhaps one of the few cities in the world, if not the only one, whose name has been decided by a public competition.
The inhabitants did not like the German name of Pressburg with which it was called when it was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary under the rule of the Habsburgs. In reality, the thousands of Austrians who pour into Bratislava every weekend continue to call it like that. The Slovak capital, in fact, is located 60 km from Vienna, but also 200 from Budapest and 300 from Prague.
It is therefore an inevitable stop on a tour of the big cities of the East. Until a few years ago considered a passing city for those who wanted to go to Vienna or Budapest and looking for a low-cost flight, today the Slovak capital is a top destination for those looking for a city nice, tidy, clean, quiet, full of things to see, many young people and nice nightlife.
WHAT TO SEE IN BRATISLAVA
Top attractions not to be missed are:
- Old Town
- Bratislava Castle
- Cumil
- Devin Castle (hrad)
- Hlavne Namestie
- Hviezdoslavovo Namestie
- Michael’s Gate (Michalska brana), St. Michael’s Tower & Street
- St. Martin’s Cathedral (Dom svateho Martina)
- UFO Observation Deck
- Building of Slovak Radio
- Bratislava City Museum (Mestske Muzeum)
- Sigismund Gate
- St Elizabeth’s / Blue Church
- Stara radnica
- Kapitulska Street
- Fountain of St. George and the Dragon
- Grassalkovich Presidential Palace
- Church and Monastery of the Poor Clares (Kostol Klarisiek)
Following instead some hidden spots of the city that only locals know!
- The Medical Garden (Špitálska 24)
- Pisztoryho palác (Štefanikova 25)
- Soviet block flats (Kmeťovo námestie 4)
- Gaudì’s influence in the Commemoration Gaudí building on Bazová Street
- for a out-of-town trip: Kaštieľ Rusovce or Devínska Kobyla
WHEN TO GO TO BRATISLAVA
The best period to visit Bratislava is from April to September.
Following a list of main events and typical festivals and celebrations of Bratislava.
- Bratislava City Days (April)
- Bratislava Rag (May)
- Bratislava Coronation Days (June)
- Viva Musica! (August)
- Summer Shakespeare Festival (August)
- Cultural Summer and the Castle Festival (September)
- Bratislava Music Festival (September – October)
HOW TO REACH AND MOVE IN BRATISLAVA
The main airport is the Bratislava Airport, but the most common to reach is the Vienna International Airport
download the transportation map
download the transportation APP
WHAT TO DO IN BRATISLAVA
typical dishes of Bratislava are:
- Bryndzové haluisky: national food, small potato dumplings with sheep’s cheese (bryndza).
- Zemiakové placky: potato pancakes fried in oil with garlic and flour.
- Granadír: pasta with potato.
- Siroke Rezance: pasta.
- Fried cheese: cheese fried in bread crumbs.
- Lokse: potato pancake.
- Bean soup: beans and various root vegetables such as carrots and parsley.
- Garlic soup: usually cooked in chicken broth.
- Goulash soup: using beef, paprika, marjoram, and potatoes.
- Treska v majoneze: salad containing cod, mayonnaise, and various vegetables.
- Klobasa: sausage from pork with salt, garlic (cesnak), and pepper.
- Kapustnica: a thick soup made of sour cabbage and smoked pork sausage, variations can be by adding mushrooms or plums.
- Mutton with sauerkraut: flavored with prunes, mushrooms, and apples.
- Cabbage Leaves: filled with minced meat, served with a milky sauce.
- Sulance: potato dough turnovers filled with plum jam.
- Polievka: soup infused with garlic (cesnaková) or sauerkraut (kapustnica).
- Párok: hot frankfurter, a typical morning snack.
- Jaternica: blood sausage from slaughtered pig and rice.
- Langoše: deep-fried dough topped with crushed garlic, cheese, ketchup or sour cream.
- Parené Buchty: steamed buns.
- Bryndza: sheep’s cheese that’s light and salty.
- Parenica: traditional Slovak semi-soft, unripe, steamed sheep cheese with a very delicate taste.
- Oštiepok: traditional Slovak Walachian product from sheep cheese.
- Žemľovka: a sweet pudding made from apples and white bread steeped in sweetened milk or eggs.
- Dolky: smaller and thicker variety of pancakes.
- Ryzovy Nákyp: sweet baked rise cake.
- Parene Buchty: steamed dumplings filled with jam with a sweet topping.
- Perky: jam-filled pasta with a sweet topping.
- Sisky: fried dumplings.
- Valassky Trdelnik: wives hollow cake.
- Bábovka: pound cake.
- Borovicka: strong gin.
- Slivovica: plum brandy.
typical souvenirs of Bratislava are:
- Šúpolienka corn husk dolls
- Majolica ceramics
- Valaška shepherd’s ax
- Košik braid long baskets
- Paličkovanie, lace works
- Rapkáč, traditional Slovak extremely loud tool made from wood
- Mineral Ore from Banská Štiavnica
- Tatranský čaj herbal liqueur, Medovina honey wine or Slivovica alcoholic beverage made of fermented plums
- Fujara long, deep-bass folk flute of Slovak shepherds
- Pijacka Poharik leather covered glass to be worn around the neck
- Veľkonočné Kraslice hand-painted easter eggs
The main theatre of Bratislava is the Slovak National Theatre.
