Bratislava, Slovakia

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Coordinates : 48.143030, 17.105784 (Open in Google Maps)

Subjects : Bratislava has always been a flourishing and prosperous town, which has made the most of its strategic position on the Danube and at the intersections of important European trade routes. In the Mediaeval period and later in the 18th century, it was a significant economic centre and later, a cultural and political centre of Central Europe. It was thanks to its location that in the 16th Century, Bratislava i became the capital and coronation town of the Hungarian Kingdom and the place, where its crown jewels were kept. For one thing, it was remote from the invading Turks, yet close to imperial Vienna, from where the whole of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was governed for almost the following 500 years. For a long time, Vienna and Bratislava were very closely connected economically, culturally and politically. In the 18th century, the Castle was rebuilt and served as a summer residence for Queen Maria Theresa who visited the town frequently. The main reason for her regular visits was the fact, that her favourite daughter, Maria Christine, lived here for almost 20 years. The strategic location of the town had been considered a long-term advantage but suddenly in the middle of the 20th century it became a major disadvantage, when Bratislava had to pay heavily for its unique position. After the communists came to power in 1948, an Iron Curtain, visible from the city centre, was drawn. It brutally divided what had once been a single economic and cultural region. Following the fall of communism in 1989, Bratislava could at last develop as a free town and re-establish its close relations with Vienna.Now, paradoxically, it was Vienna which held the excluded region back from its more rapid growth. Although much was resolved once Slovakia became a member of the European Union in 2004, the final impediment to the rapid development of the cross-border Euro-region was removed as late as 2007 when a motorway on the Austrian side came into operation and Slovakia became part of the Schengen group.

Recommended equipment : The taste photographer - from wide angle to tele lenses.

Best months : The western part of the district is a hilly area (technically part of the Small Carpathians mountain range) featuring Bratislava Castle, the Slavín monument, Horský park (literally Mountain(ous) Park), many detached houses, and most of the foreign embassies in Slovakia. The hilly area ends in the south at the Danube with the Chatam Sofer Memorial and the Bratislava Castle hill, and in the west at the D2 Motorway. This part of Bratislava is more quiet than the other parts of the city's Old Town and, apart from the castle, it is seldom visited by tourists.The eastern section is the historical and administrative center. Notable buildings and spaces include the Grassalkovich Palace, Trinity Church, Bratislava's Town Hall, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, the Primate's Palace, Comenius University, the main railway station (Hlavná stanica), the Slovak National Theatre (both the old and new sites), SNP Square, the Main Square (Hlavné námestie), Hviezdoslav Square (Hviezdoslavovo námestie), Kamenné námestie ('Stone Square'), Obchodná ulica ('Shop Street' equivalent to High Street), Pharmacy Salvator, Zochova Street from the 14th century and many other old churches and palaces. There are still some remnants of the medieval Bratislava city walls, although not open to the public for the time being.

How to get there : BY PLANEBRATISLAVA AIRPORT (BTS)Official website: http://www.bts.aero/en/passengers/There are direct flights to a number of destinations in Europe and a number of low-cost carriers operate their direct routes to Bratislava. Bratislava airport can be reached from the city centre in 15–20 minutes. A taxi to the city centre costs around EUR 15. If you travel on the budget, take the bus no. 61 to the main train station. From here, you can walk to the city centre in 15 minutes or take bus no 93 (2-3 bus stops). Bus tickets are available from ticket machines at bus stops or in kiosks. The tickets which cost around EUR 1 must be validated in the buses.BY TRAINOfficial website: http://www.slovakrail.sk/en.htmlBratislava connects to the main lines from Prague, Budapest, Vienna and various regions in Slovakia. Bratislava has two railway stations – the Main Station and Petr?alka. The Main Station is well connected to the rest of the city via trams, buses or trolleybuses and you can get to the Old Town on foot in only 15 minutes. From the train station in Petr?alka, the no. 80, 91, 93 buses take you to the city centre. BY BUSOfficial website: https://www.slovaklines.sk/main-page.htmlBratislava is also conveniently connected with many European cities via a network of bus lines. It has frequent service to the surrounding areas and also to other regions in Slovakia. Buses arrive and depart from Mlynské Nivy bus station. Coaches between Bratislava and Vienna run at one-hour intervals. http://eurolines.sk/ http://blaguss.at/ BY BOATOfficial website: https://www.slovaklines.sk/main-page.htmlDue to its position on the river Danube, Bratislava has regular connections by boat with Vienna and Budapest. The centre of Vienna (Schwedenplatz) is connected with Bratislava by a fast catamaran Twin City Liner and another fast hydrofoil, which is berthed at Vienna Handelskai. You can also reach Budapest in Hungary using this service http://twincityliner.com%20lod.sk/BY CARBratislava is situated at the intersection of several important motorways. The distance to Prague is 330 km, Budapest 200 km and Vienna 65 km. If you are bringing your own car, you need to display a valid motorway tax sticker (known as 'dialnicka znamka'), available at borders or petrol stations. The minimum validity period is ten days (costs around EUR 10).

Visits : Bratislava is generally very safe by Western standards. It is quite small and the crime rate is low. There is a significant police presence in the city, especially the historical parts, and it is generally not a problem to walk around the city at night. The centre especially is under camera surveillance.There is very little violent crime in Bratislava. Walking alone after midnight outside of the historical centre is not recommended on Fridays, since you could have an unpleasant encounter with rowdy drunks who could congregate around cheaper establishments. If a problem occurs, you can reach the police on phone number 158. General emergency number (police, fire dept., ambulance) can be reached by dialing 112.Always ask for printed receipts in establishments to avoid being overcharged. Especially taxi drivers might try to do that. For reference, the usual fare is around €4 around the town, and you shouldn't be charged more than around €10 getting anywhere in Bratislava. Your best bet is to call a taxi dispatch. Ask around for a recommendation in your hotel/hostel.On pedestrian crossings without traffic lights, watch out for aggressive drivers. Some of them might not give you the right of way.

Notes : The answer is simple – because it's all here. History, architecture, tradition, culture, art, drinks, food and nightlife.Located on the River Danube, Bratislava is easily accessible. It' a great place to hang out. The city is safe, friendly, hassle-free and there is always something worth doing; whether you're here for an afternoon, a week or a year.

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