BRATISLAVA - GOOD EATS + SMALL STREETS

TO SEE + DO....

WALK ABOUT OLD TOWN
VISIT THE CASTLE ON THE HILL
HAVE A SLOVAK MEAL
SEE THE COOL ROOFS EVERYWHERE

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The beginning of a little early summer trip between Bratislava and Budapest, Hungary with friends that I met whilst working Brussels, Esther and Simon.  We took a cheap Ryanair flight to and from Bratislava since we wanted to see both cities and we knew there was a nice train that connected both together.

Upon arrival in Bratislava, we had to take a bus from the airport to the centre of town. We wanted to see a little of Bratislava before we had to catch the train to go to Budapest for two nights. The train ticket machine was in all Slovak, so deciphering which ticket to get proved difficult. Unbeknown to us, we got the 'locals' ticket rather than the 'tourist' ticket (€0.30 cheaper) as told to us from an undercover ticket checker on the bus. The ticket checker told us we each had to pay a €50 fine to him. We were annoyed and tried to hop off the bus, but in the end we had to pay. Welcome to Slovakia!

After the ticket incident, we were sad as that money was going to be the beer fund for the next four days. So went walked about adorable Old Town area and found a place to eat lunch and our feelings away. Slovak food is rich and hearty; the perfect cure to being ticketed on the bus. 

We walked to the train station since we did not want to take any buses for fear of getting the wrong ticket once again. We bought return tickets (€20) from the desk and headed onward to Budapest. After Budapest, we had a night and full day in Bratislava to explore. The hostel we stayed at is closed, but there are plenty of cheap options in and near the city centre for €15-20 per person per night.

The castle was lovely to walk around and see. There were great views of Bratislava from above. The Old Town area is filled with charm and many restaurants to try out.

Sit at a café and people watch at the

CENTRAL SQUARE IN OLD TOWN

TIPS FOR VISITING BRATISLAVA
  • Be aware of the bus tickets and which one is the correct one to purchase
  • Trains in and out of Bratislava are cheap, so it is a good vacation starting point
  • Much of the food is meat-based, so vegetarians you have been warned
  • About $45/day cheap food, drinks, and hostels
  • Walk the streets of Old Town and see the view from the Castle