After a few days in Austria, we handed by way of Slovakia (the fourth nation on our Europe journey), on the best way to Czechia. Slovakia is a small landlocked nation recognized for its gorgeous castles, folkloric traditions, and – surprisingly – vehicles!
Enjoyable truth: Slovakia is the world’s largest producer of vehicles per capita with main automotive firms like Volkswagen, PSA (Peugeot and Citroën) and Jaguar working within the nation. We didn’t spot any of these vehicles although, as the primary historic middle is pedestrianized, which made strolling round very nice.
Slovakia was previously a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later Czechoslovakia, so the Slovak tradition shares similarities with neighboring nations. My first impression of Slovakia was that it was clear and orderly like Vienna, however the vibe within the cafes and outlets was a bit extra Bohemian.
Most locals we encountered in memento outlets and eating places in Bratislava have been pleasant and welcoming and the worth of meals and souvenirs was typically extra inexpensive.
Bratislava is the smallest capital metropolis within the European Union and the one capital on this planet that borders two nations (Austria and Hungary), making it superb for day journeys. Bratislava lies alongside the Danube River, surrounded by vineyards and mountains and crisscrossed with forested climbing and biking trails.
The primary sights and landmarks within the historic middle are all inside strolling distance of one another close to the Outdated City, so happening a self-guided strolling tour is an efficient possibility for these with restricted time.
Listed here are some issues you are able to do (together with free points of interest) in Bratislava on brief visits.
Go to Bratislava Fortress
Bratislava is called the “Metropolis of Kings” because it’s the capital of a number of kingdoms and empires, together with the Kingdom of Hungary and the First Czechoslovak Republic. Slovakia ranks third on this planet within the variety of preserved castles of the XIII-XVII centuries designated by UNESCO.
The reconstructed Bratislava Fortress, one of many metropolis’s most well-known landmarks, is perched atop a hill overlooking the previous city and the Danube River. In the event you’re on a brief go to, the grounds and gardens are free to discover. You probably have extra time to spare, you may spend a few hours and pay to enter the citadel, go to the museum and climb up the citadel towers.
Wander across the Outdated City
Bratislava’s Outdated City is a stunning, pedestrian-only, 18th-century space with all the foremost landmarks. This small, however preserved medieval metropolis middle is filled with charming cafes and boutiques, church buildings and outlets inside clear environment and cobblestone streets.
I admit I didn’t do a lot analysis earlier than our journey and we missed just a few sights. Notable landmarks embrace the Blue Church, the Bratislava Riverfront and cultural establishments. The Outdated City is the place a lot of the overseas states’ embassies and Slovak establishments are situated, together with the Nationwide Council of Slovak Republic; the Summer season Archbishop’s Palace, the seat of the Authorities of Slovakia, and Grassalkovich Palace, the seat of the President of Slovakia. Even when you don’t know the historical past behind every constructing, all of the buildings astound architecturally.
Cross Michael’s Gate
Michael’s Gate is a distinguished landmark in the course of the capital, with a historical past spanning over seven centuries. Among the many oldest city buildings, that is the one metropolis gate with preserved medieval fortifications. The gate was constructed someday within the 12 months 1300, whereas its current type is the results of baroque reconstructions in 1758 when the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon was perched on high.
The tower now comprises the Bratislava Metropolis Museum, which reveals medieval weapons. The sixth flooring of the tower has a balcony that provides views of the Outdated Metropolis, the Fortress, and surrounding areas for these prepared to pay the admission payment. You’ll be able to climb to the highest of the tower for €4.50 to get views over the previous city.
It’s straightforward to overlook, however you may also discover a zero-kilometer with world sides proper below the gate. This landmark reveals the gap of European and world capitals from Bratislava. It was cool to face on the spot from the place all distance measurements are made. The highway previous Michael’s Gate comprises a variety of luxurious outlets comparable to Christian Dior and Swarovski the place you may browse, memento shops and cafes.
Snap photographs with quirky bronze statues
It’s arduous to not discover all of the bronze human-sized statues all around the Outdated City. These figures depicting historic or notable personalities together with Napoleon’s Military, Schone Naci, Hans Christian Andersen, and extra are among the most photographed points of interest of Bratislava.
Some of the well-known statues, that drew the longest line from vacationers was that of Cumil, a employee peeking out from a manhole. This whimsical depiction of a sewer employee was created by Slovak artist Viktor Hulík in 1997 as a part of a challenge to revitalize the Outdated City after the communist rule. At present, vacationers search out and snap photographs subsequent to the varied statues.
Dig into distinctive Slovak specialties
Slovak delicacies depends on seasonal veggies and fruits grown in Slovak gardens. Easy elements like potatoes, meat, cabbage, flour, mushrooms, onions, milk merchandise and garlic are used to whip up rustic, heartwarming Slovak dishes.
Slovakia’s nationwide dish is bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with a particular sheep’s cheese referred to as bryndza), which is analogous to a gnocchi with feta cheese. Different specialties beneficial to vacationers embrace goulash (tomato-based beef stew), Kapustnica (a bitter cabbage soup) and Vyprážaný syr (deep-fried cheese).
A number of bakeries promote Trdelník, a candy, crispy dough pastry rolled round a stick and topped with walnuts, sugar or cinnamon. Bakeries like Pressburg have been additionally promoting “bajgels” or conventional Bratislava rolls, much like a bagel however with a half-croissant-like type as a substitute of spherical like a donut.
Purchase crafts at ‘the Oldest Store in City’
Whereas strolling round, we stumbled upon Obchod v Muzeu, which branded itself as “the Oldest Store in City”. This conventional present store felt like a museum with previous posters and memorabilia displayed. Strolling round this pretty little store felt like stepping again in time.
The store offered lovely conventional presents, together with small dolls, postcards, meals merchandise and craft beer. We discovered bottles of wine, superbly packaged candies, garments bearing conventional embroidery, ornaments and quirky cat postcards right here. I extremely advocate you try this store even when you don’t plan to purchase something.
Pattern the native brews
Among the native alcoholic drinks of Slovaks are Borovička, a standard spirit spiced with Juniper Berries and Slivovica, a blue-plum brandy. We noticed just a few craft beer bars together with Bratislavka, which supplied craft beer tasting, nevertheless it felt too early within the day to drink throughout our go to.
One other fascinating bar is Slovak Folklore Backyard, a 600-year-old cellar bar that serves conventional meals.
In the event you’re searching for mainstream beers, the most well-liked manufacturers in Slovakia are Zlaty Bazant, also called Golden Pheasant and Urpiner. Different standard beers embrace Saris, Steiger, Kaltenecker, Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, and Corgon, to call just a few. Czech beer is often drunk in lots of pubs as properly. Slovakia is thought for producing fabulously flavored honey.
You’ll find honey-covered nuts and medovina, or honey wine. There are dry and candy varieties, greatest served after dinner as a dessert wine. As a novel memento, we took dwelling a bottle of Medobeer with honey.
Whereas we solely spent just a few hours in Bratislava on the best way to Prague, we loved the brief and candy go to. The capital had a pleasant small-town really feel and didn’t really feel too overwhelming.
Different issues to do
We didn’t have time to go to this, however one other high attract Bratislava is the UFO Tower which has an open-air remark deck situated above the Danube River. On clear days, you may get pleasure from a 360° view so far as 100 kilometers.
There’s a restaurant (reservations required) and bar right here and you may go on Skywalks outdoors for an added thrill.
Subsequent nation: the Czech Republic/Czechia!
