Bratislava Travels

Bratislava is the largest city of Slovakia, and when Czechoslovakia dissolved after the end of the communist rule, it became the capital of the separate state of Slovakia. I first became attracted to the city when I read about its long and eventful history, and so I have included it on my four-months trip around Europe.

Bratislava became a large town as early as 12th century, but it was founded several hundred years earlier than that, as far back as the year 907. The14th and 15th centuries signaled the flourishing of Bratislava, after trade rapidly developed in the region. In 1467, the Hungarian King Hunyadi founded the city’s university. Afterwards, in 1541, Bratislava became the capital of Hungary, if that is not a joke of history. This, however, meant that 18 Hungarian monarchs were crowned here in the St. Martin’s cathedral, thus enriching the city’s history.

Bratislava surprises with the sheer amount of Baroque architecture in the streets, and, indeed, most of the city’s sights refer to that architectural style, having been built in the second half of the 18th century. This, however, does not mean that there are no earlier ones: the City Hall, which now houses the historical museum; the Roland Fountain; and the Gothic Church with a unique tower of five angles, as well as the Hrad (the medieval castle that has historically been the heart of the city) are just four of the examples.

Bratislava is rich not only in architectural sights, but also in famous names that are linked to it. The great Hungarian composer Ferencz Lizst came to the city as many as 15 times, Napoleon signed a peace deal in the palace in the year 1808, piano player and composer, Johan Hummel, had a house in Bratislava on Klobucnicka, 2. So, if you wish to have a great adventure there, just as I did, take your train or plane, get yourself a copy of the local information guide, Kam v Bratislave (or, "Where is Bratislava"), and plan your holiday, however long or short it may be.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transport is your best bet, since streets are crowded and parking places are scarce in the city center. Municipal transport, however, is pretty efficient and very cheap by Western standards, so you should be OK with that. Walking is, of course, the best option for the historic center.

I was on a rather tight budget on my first trip, so I visited CKM, the local student travel center, to find myself a place to sleep. Their travel specialists, explained to me that I was very lucky and directed me to the Sputnik Hostel, advising me to buy the Youth Hostel Association Card beforehand at their offices for what was approximately $6. Their advice proved valuable - for YHA members, the cost is $15, while for non-members, it can be several times higher. It depends on the season, since during the high months, it is fully booked by organized tour groups.

Admittedly, the location is not brilliant, since the eastern outskirt of Bratislava is not the prettiest place to stay. However, there are good transportation connections, with trams nos. 8, 9, and 12, as well as bus nos. 34, 38, and 54. But the price is more than reasonable, and the setting acceptable, given that it is a high-rise building on the shores of an artificially created pond.

Rooms are simple and can accommodate two people. The most basic amenities are present, and bathrooms can be either shared between several rooms or included en-suite. The rooms with en-suite bathrooms can cost significantly more. Sometimes the hostel staff might refuse to book a double room for a single person when the hostel is overbooked. But that is a rare occasion, and even if you have no travel companion, you should be able to settle yourself in comfortably. When booking the hostel (and, due to the fact that it can get overbooked, I strongly recommend making reservations at least a fortnight before arrival in summer), check out whether the breakfast is included, which is again rather simple, but nutritious.

The hostel itself has an Internet connection point (rather expensive by local standards), a bar with sports coverage, and a mess where you can purchase some of the cheapest food in the Slovakian capital. When I stayed there, no credit cards were accepted, so keep some cash close at hand.