Bratislava Facts

							> Why visit now?

Bratislava is an emerging city break destination for the UK market. Slovak capitol has been
until very recently overlooked and not accessible, though as an ideal city to spend a relaxing
weekend with culture, dining out and shopping.

Bratislava surprises its visitor with a charming, beautifully restored and compact Old Town,
under Bratislava Castle. The city itself lies on the spot, where the Carpathians meet with
Danube. It had very dynamic history, until World War II, this city used to be a typical Central
European blend of cultures, German, Hungarian and Slovak spoken, with substantial Jewish
community. Though much smaller Old Town, you will find Baroque many palaces of
Hungarian aristocratic dynasties, because Bratislava used to capitol and residential town of
Hungarian Kingdom. Maria Theresa, in this country ruling as a Queen of Hungary, resided at
the Castle.

 The Old Town, has much of an atmosphere of Prague, Vienna and Budapest, but is not hectic
and overcrowded, and locals are really hospitable and friendly. They are not yet what we
experience in major destinations, where visitor often encounters a barrier of rudeness and
arrogance.

Bratislava is also city of culture, you will find memorial plaques of Mozart, Liszt, Haydn,
Bartok, Rubinstein on many palaces, where they concerted in the past. Hummer was born here
(memorial museum in his birth house). And modern Bratislava has an excellent opera and
philharmonic hall.

Museum fans will discover good twenty museums and galleries: from the Slovak National
Gallery, Municipal Museum to many specialized collections, e.g. historical weapons, feudal
justice, viticulture, clocks or Jewish culture. Insider tip is the Arthur Fleischmann Museum,
memorial of sculptor born in Bratislava, who lived forty years in London.

And shopping of course, with shops in the Old City, you can search for obvious Central
European souvenir item – glass. Famous Modra pottery or excellent leather products are
typical souvenirs from Slovakia, or some bottles of archive wine from the Small Carpathian
region. Or Slovak Tokai wine.
Large shopping malls are opened also on Sundays.

We should also stress that most of fine hotels are located directly in the City Centre, so visitor
to Bratislava does not have to use public transport, travel from the outskirts, but will enjoy
advantage of direct residence in the heart of the City.

> How much has the city changed in the past decade?

Bratislava Old City had been completely and painstakingly restored. The zone is fully
pedestrian with many excellent cafes, bars and restaurants that sprung up in the Old City since
1989.

> Designer drinking? Please list three top bars - one designer, one
> traditional and atmospheric, and one club/late bar. What are they like?
Bars are in Bratislava still sees as something upscale, where you go for mixed drinks and
imported liquors. These two can be considered to be best ones, relating to quality of barmans
and choice of drinks (150,-/200,- SKK for one)

People’s Bar opposite the National Theatre on Hviezdoslav Square, Open daily 10-01

Paparazzi
Popular bar connected with excellent Italian restaurant with cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Laurinská 1, Open daily 10-01, Phone: 02/5464 7971, 0903 257 125

Many locals prefer to socialize in charming Bratislava cafés that are typical institution of
cosmopolitan Danube region. So, for good strudel or Sacher cake, Bratislava is an excellent
place to visit.

Other options for going out, rather for beer, are pubs, try Irish Pub at Sedlarska St, where ex
pats mingle with locals. They also serve decent portions of food and local beers.

What to drink:

Local beer Golden Fasan [Zlaty Bazant] or Thirsty Monk [Smadny mnich]
Beer in Bratislava center – 30-40 SKK for halfliter
With more fancy places it may be more expensive, I would say up to 50 SKK

Try borovicka (Slovak cousin of Gin) or Slivovica (plum brandy)

Insider Tip: Hubert Sparkling Wine, classical method, was a first product outside of France,
where they introduced classical method of fermentation in bottles. www.hubertsekt.sk


Regarding restaurants, I would suggest these:

For Slovak cuisine, try:
Slovak Restaurant
Regardless of dull interior design, this restaurant offers one of best opportunities in Bratislava
to experience traditional Slovak cuisine. Hviezdoslavovo nám. 20, Open Mon-Sun 11-23,
Phone: 02/5441 6442
Modrá hviezda [Blue Star]
Restaurant serving regional Small Carpathian cuisine with excellent local wines is an insider
recommendation. It is located on steep street leading to Castle is therefore predetermined as a
reasonable stop during walk, though even festive dinner would not be disappointed here.
Interior is a former cellar cut off in the bedrock of hill. In the past, many prominent political
figures visited here, including Czech ex-president, British and German foreign ministers.
Beblavého 14, Open Mon-Sun 11.30-23. Phone: 02/5443 2747
Upscale designer place:
Le Monde
Located in the walking area of the Old Town, this is a real meeting point of cream of Slovak
society. Gourmets paradise belongs to top five Slovak restaurants.
Ventúrska 1, Bratislava, Phone: 02/5922 7518, 5922 7521, Open Mon-Sun 10-02


During Bratislava visit, you should not omit following places:

Hlavné námestie [Main Square] – this is a heart of the Old Town district, in past main
market place with typical Roland’s Fountain and Old Town Hall, during year stalls with craft
products, in December Christmas market takes place here
St. Martin’s – Gothic con-cathedral of Bratislava served in 1563-1830 as a coronation church
of Hungarian kings and queens, features beautiful lead statue of St. Martin of Tours by Georg
Raphael Donner
Primate’s Palace – constructed in 1778/81 as winter residence of Archbishop of Esztergom.
Primate of the Catholic Church in Hungary in neo-Classical style, on 26th December 1805
after battle of Austerlitz signed here so-called Peace of Pressburg between France and Austria
Castle – first time mentioned in 907 as Braslavespurch, had been an important border
fortress, royal residence e.g. Empress Maria Theresia often dwelled here. In 1811 castle
burned down and stayed as ruin until 1950s when they began reconstruction. Today hosts an
historical exhibition of the Slovak National Museum. Archaeological Treasury with oldest
Slovak lady – prehistoric Venus of Moravany and other top finds of Slovakia should not be
omitted. Fantastic view toward Austrian – to the area that not so long ago used to be an other
side of Iron Curtain line


Cultural events in Bratislava

May-August 2004 – Special exhibition at the Slovak National Gallery dedicated to Ladislav
Mednyanszky, Slovak born fin-de-siecle painter, great master of Carpathian landscape,
ehibition is organized in Austrian-Hungarian-Slovak cooperation under auspices of the Slovak
President, Mr. Rudolf Schuster, www.sng.sk

Bratislavske hudobne slavnosti (BHS) [Bratislava music festival] takes place yearly in late
September/early October. Festival of Classical Music brings excellent selection of local and
Slovak musicians. In 2003, musicians from 23 lands and four foreign orchestrias particpated

Bratislavske Jazzove dni / Bratislava Jazz Days. An excellent Jazz festival, good selection of
local and international musicians. www.bjd.sk

Short facts: exchange rate 1 GBP = 60 SKK
            -flight operators from UK: Sky Europe Airlines (6 times a week), Austrian
       Airlines (7 times a week from 01/05/2004)
            - hotels accommodation and city breaks – ENJOY SLOVAKIA -
                 www.enjoyslovakia.com
            (phone: +421 33 6409026, fax: +421 33 6409029)
            - tour operators in UK selling Slovakia – THERMALIA TRAVEL
(www.thermalia.co.uk), HISTORY IN HARMONY (www.glajd.co.uk)