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Bratislava

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Bratislava
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Bratislava Travel Guide

  • About Bratislava
Bratislava is an old European city full of character, with a beautifully restored historic quarter, a setting on the Danube and a liking for a good night out.Just an hour by train from Vienna, it’s been home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, and of course Slovaks – and like all cities of cultural confluence, it shows diversity in everything from its architecture to its cuisine.There’s much to love here and Bratislava’s many charms have more than offset its communist legacy. Here you’ll find the greatest concentration of high-quality restaurants in Slovakia, while the narrow pedestrianised streets of the Old Town lead you past cosy cafés, late-night bars and relaxed pubs, not to mention some eye-catching outdoor sculptures.Museums, galleries and a whole slew of festivals and events further enhance the city’s colours, but when you’ve had your fill of exploring the city itself, it’s easy to escape from the hustle and bustle. Many walk, cycle or picnic in the forested hills that surround Bratislava – or discover some of the many vineyards and castles in the surrounding region.Five bridges connect the two halves of the city across the Danube, but the sites of interest to visitors are almost all north of the river, in the cobbled streets and attractive squares of the Old Town. It’s a city with a pleasantly relaxed feel and with fewer than half a million inhabitants, it’s never really going to feel overcrowded.The white walls of Bratislava Castle draw the eye, although the views granted from the castle’s hilltop are just as impressive – you’ll see the medieval roofs of the Old Town below, as well as ranks of socialist-era tower blocks on the other side of the river. This is a city with more than one face, and that’s part of its appeal.
  • Bratislava History
It’s been a rocky ride for Bratislava, but the city has emerged as a modern European metropolis.Originally settled by Neolithic man from the late Stone Age, Bratislava later held a high status in the second century BC as an important Celtic defence and trading post.The Romans built military camps here – one of which, Gerulata, lies under the modern suburb of Rusovce.Bratislava first appears in written records in the 10th century, when it was part of the Moravian Empire, but it was annexed by Hungary in the 11th century.From 1536 to 1783, Bratislava was the capital of Hungary, known as Pozsony.Despite its population being decimated by plague in 1711, Bratislava reached its zenith in the mid-18th century under the patronage of Empress Marie Theresa.Maria Theresa’s successor was considerably less able however, and only three years after her death, the Hungarian capital became Budapest once more.Bratislava was besieged by Napoleon’s troops in 1809. The castle was burnt down in 1811.Attempts were made to gain greater autonomy from Hungary, but following the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, Slovak culture was heavily suppressed.Until 1918, the city was a ‘resort’ area of Austria-Hungary, called Pressburg in German. In 1919, the city was annexed to the Czechoslovak Republic.During WWII, a quasi-Nazi government was established in Slovakia. An armed uprising against this government in 1944 was crushed.Slovakia’s long years under Communist rule following the war were interrupted only once, briefly, when the reformist policies of Bratislava-born Party Secretary Alexander Dubček led to the Prague Spring of 1968 – after which the Soviet tanks rolled in.After the fall of Communism in 1989, Bratislava restored its Old Town and soon became a popular visitor destination. When Czechoslovakia split in 1993, Bratislava became the Slovak capital, joining the EU in 2004.
  • Did you know?
Mozart performed in Bratislava in 1762 when he was six. Bratislava used to be known as a tri-lingual city, whose inhabitants could switch between Slovak, German and Hungarian. Bratislava has co-hosted the Ice Hockey World Championships three times – in 1959, 1992 and 2011.
  • Weather in Bratislava
Bratislava can be visited at any time of year.Summers are hot, with average temperatures of 26ºC (78ºF) in July and August. The coldest month is January, with an average minimum temperature of -3ºC (26ºF).Snowfall can be quite heavy too over the winter months. Come in June, July or August for the best of the weather and summer festivals, in October for the jazz festival, or in November and December to experience the Christmas markets.Some museums and attractions close or operate reduced hours in the winter. Be wary that stag parties still fill up the bars at weekends.

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