Slovakia's youthful capital (www.bratislava.sk) has transformed itself from a relatively unappealing sprawl of postwar, Communist-era buildings into a relaxed and pleasant medium-size capital in the span of little more than a decade. The city's compact Old Town has been completely and stunningly renovated. Most of the area is restricted to car traffic, and in the evenings, it seems, the whole town converges for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Plan on being thoroughly charmed, and you might even consider extending your stay.
Until relatively recently Bratislava (known as Pressburg to the Germans, and Pozsony in Hungarian) was a quiet city on the Danube river (Dunaj in Slovak). It was only in the past few decades, under Czechoslovakia's then-Communist government, that the city exploded in population to the current around 500,000. The Communists were keen on building up the Slovak capital as a way of gaining Slovak support. You can see the results of this rapid buildup in the high-rise residences on the outskirts of town. The largest of these Communist-era housing projects, Petrzalka, just across the SNP Bridge from the Old Town, holds something like 150,000 people.
Bratislava has played an important role in Hungarian history. During the Turkish occupation of Hungary, the Hungarians moved their capital here. No less than 11 Hungarian royals were crowned in Bratislava's St. Martin's cathedral (Dóm Sv. Martina) throughout the years.
Bratislava Travel Experiences
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From Munich to Vienna
"Oh Vienna!" (that's a song you know...)After it snowed all night everyone had a bit of work to get their gear through the snow to the bu... Continue reading »
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Wien
Hello Everyone,It's hot here in Vienna! It's also a very different vibe from Salzburg. There's still plenty to see but more like any othe... Continue reading »
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Adventures in Vienna
More things to do in Vienna:Take a Danube River cruiseSo to the Staatsoper like EVERY night!Visit the ancient instrument museum, Belveder... Continue reading »
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Schonbrunn Palace and Zoo- Day 3
Today I woke up in a panic. I looked at my ipod and saw the time was 9:30 and we had to be out of the hostel by 10. I rushed... Continue reading »
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Opera, Old churches, and Mozart
Saw an incredibly bad production of Gluck’s Iphengenie auf Tauris tonight. Sigh. And I was so pumped to see some good Baroque opera. I wo... Continue reading »
Popular Bratislava Hotels
- Color
- Apartment Historical Centre
- Downtown Backpackers Hostel
- Possonium
- Patio Hostel
- Acc-Nifos Baronka hotel
- Aston Business Hotel
- Holiday Inn Bratislava
- Meydan Hotel Danube
- Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava
