Bratislava

Return flights from Stansted using ryanair or skyeurope.

Date travelled: 18-20 November 2006

Bratislava, the 3rd newest capital city in Europe, has emerged as the main city of the country of Slovakia, formerly part of Czechoslovakia.

From the airport, take bus 61 to the bus & railway station, which is in the centre of town, tickets 20SK (50p), journey time 30mins. I stayed at the Hotel Kyjev, which is right in the centre.

A good starting point for a sightseeing tour is Michael's Tower, which is the entrance into old town. Under the Tower is a bronze dial, showing the distances of major world cities engraved into the pavement.


Michael's Tower.

Continue into old town, where you will soon arrive at the main square, where the Old Town Hall is located. If you're in Bratislava in the winter time, there is a pleasant Christmas market here too.


Old Town Square.

Head towards the street called Panska, where on the corner of Brana, you'll see a sculpture of a man in a manhole.


Sculpture of a Man in a Manhole.

Continue along Panska, where you'll soon see Bratislava's main church; St. Martins Cathedral.


St. Martins Cathedral.

Once you've had a walk around the inside of the Cathedral, walk along Staromestska, passing the Slovak parliament. Walk up Misklora street. You will arrive at Slavin Hill, where there is a monument to commemorate the 6800 Soviet soldiers lost at the Liberation of Bratislava in the Second World War.


Slavin Monument.

This is a nice area to sit and relax, as it's nice and peaceful here, especially after the walk up Slavin Hill. You will also notice from here Bratislava's castle building across the city. If you go back the way you came from, turning right at Zamocka, and walk up the hill, you will arrive at the castle, entrance 50SK (£1). From the castle, you get a good view of the Novy Most bridge over the river Danube, and the strange looking Café & Observation Tower, coincidently called the "UFO".


Novy Most Bridge & the "UFO".

If you walk along the pedestrian subway on the bridge, you can go up to the top of the "UFO", using the lift, tickets 100SK (£2). From the top you can enjoy a drink or some food at the café, spend a penny at the "retro" feel toilets, or witness views over Bratislava and beyond from the observation deck.


View of Bratislava Castle from the "UFO" observation deck.

From here, walk along the side of the Danube, passing through Bratislava's main park, to Stary Most bridge. Take the first right, then first left. You will find a beautiful Blue church.


The Blue Church.

At night, you can get a nice view of the Novy Most bridge and the "UFO" lit up.


The "UFO" at Night.

If you fancy some drinks and a dance, head to Bratislava's main club, Laverna, which is at Kamanne Namestie, entrance 100SK (£2). Here, you will find cheap drinks, r&b music, open until 5am, and it also has a metal slide in it!

So if you fancy a taste of Eastern Europe, but don't want the tourists en masse, then Bratislava is a fine choice.

If you have some spare time, just over an hour away by coach or train is Vienna, capital of Austria. Vienna and Bratislava are the two closest capital cities in the world (40 miles/64 kilometers apart).