Hop on a tram to explore Bratislava more quickly

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This article was published in the latest edition of our Bratislava City Guide, which can be obtained from our online shop with Spectacular Slovakia travel guides.

General ​
Lost in Bratislava? Impossible with this City Guide! (Source: Spectacular Slovakia)

The Bratislava tourist office offers a discount card, called Bratislava CARD, which allows visitors free travel by public transport across the whole region and discounts from 5 percent upwards at participating mu­seums, galleries, and restaurants. The card is valid for up to three days and costs €23-€36. The card also includes a guided tour around the city, which starts every day at 14:00. Booking is necessary (+421 (0)2 5935-6651, www.visitbratislava.com).

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Free tours start from Františkánske námestie (Franciscan Square), with several different packages available (www.freetourbratislava.com).

On the first Wednesday of each month state museums and galleries are free to enter. These include the Slovak National Gallery and the Museum of Transport, as well as 10 sites of the Slovak National Museum across the region, including Bratislava and Červený Kameň Castles and the Natural History Museum.

There are several free Wi-Fi zones across the city: in Hlavné námestie (Main Square), Hviezdoslavovo námestie (Hviezdoslav Square), and on the Rázusovo and Fajnorovo embankments along the Danube. See www.visitbratislava.com/wifi/ for more details. You can also get online in buses that display a Wi-Fi symbol.

For more discount tips visit www.zlavadna.sk, www.zlavomat.sk or other shopping websites. Although these sites are in Slovak, you will be well advised to find a native speaker to help as after you make an online payment, you will receive a voucher offering discounts at a variety of restaurants or fitness and wellness centres.

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Bratislavské mestské dni (Bratislava City Days) launches, in the second half of April, the tourist season, special entertainment programmes and free entry to selected venues.

Transport

Cheaper tickets are available on Bratislava’s public transport system if you buy for a longer period in ad­vance. Bratislava CARD holders can ride the public transport for free.

For visitors who want to see the city from tram, they can take number 9 from Obchodná Street to the stop named Kráľovské údolie, outside the modern River Park complex and then take tram number 4 or 9 back to the city centre (www.imhd.sk).

There are several ways to visit Vienna from Bratislava, including: by boat (€50 for a return ticket), by train (€18 return), or by bus (€15.9 return). Return tickets are cheaper than two singles.

Ryanair is the cheapest carrier flying to Bratislava’s international airport, but also check out other low-cost airlines’ flights to Vienna. It is less than an hour away from Bratislava, with good transport links.

Rail transport within Slovakia is free of charge for all students and pensioners from the EU. It is required to obtain a card from the cash desk at the station and then obtain a free ticket for each ride.

Summer season, accommodation

In the summer you can swim for free in various lakes: Kuchajda, Veľký Draždiak, and Rusovce.

Hostels close to the city centre include: Patio (www.patiohostel.com), Possonium (www.possonium.sk), Svoradov (hostelbratislavasvoradov.sk), Hyde Park (www.hyde-park.sk), Bou­tique hostel CHORS (www.cho.rs), Schöndorf (schoendorfhostel.com), Folks (hostelfolks.com), Elephants Hostels (elephants.sk).

Food

A lot of restaurants have a fixed daily menu (typically soup and a main dish) for around €6.

The all-you-can-eat places which are close to the historical centre in Bratislava:

Chinese restaurant Hua Li Gong, Laurinská 3; all-you-can-eat Mon-Fri 11:00-15:00 (€9)

Sajado, Pribinova 8 (Eurovea, price from €15.8)

Asian restaurant, Einsteinova 18 (Aupark Shopping Park, price from €7.49)

The food courts in Eurovea, Aupark and Central shopping centres, which are close to the historical centre, offer many dif­ferent meals and fast foods

Good, cheap Chinese food can be found in restaurants on Obchodná, Špitálska and Laurinská Streets

Palacinka Lacinka, at Šancová 18 (close to the train station), is a socialistic style place that offers the best and cheapest pancakes in the city. A plain pancake costs €0.6 (open Mon-Fri, Sun)

Grocery stores tend to open from 9:00 to 21:00 (at Námestie 1. mája square until 24:00). Another option is to order your food online at potravinydomov.itesco.sk.

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