Bratislava in Christmas time. When I visited I was lucky enough to get to watch an ice sculpting contest in one of the squares. The dorm rooms have tons of space – so much so that they even have beanbag lounging areas in the rooms – and a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. Other perks include the great breakfast spread, the free (!) 1.20 euro and delicious. On one night, the judges sampled 10 ciganska pecienkas from each of the 10 finalists. If you want to wish Merry Christmas to your Slovak friends, remember the phrase “Veselé Vianoce.” If you’re looking for what makes a Bratislava Christmas market distinct, look for lokša, thick salty pancakes served salty (with roasted pork or a delicious Slovak sheep’s cheese called bryndza) or sweet (with nutella or poppy seeds). Check tours and book online today. Despite feeling like a bit of an oasis away from town, the city center is just 15 minutes’ walk away, so you’re never far from a good meal. Therefore, a glass that is, say, 3 euros per deciliter will actually be two deciliters and therefore 6 euros. I personally didn’t go inside, but I still found walking around the exterior to be a fantastic use of about an hour, especially since it offered such beautiful views over the city. While the cobblestones and colorful houses conjure up that classic European charm, the sad ramshackle decay of some of the other houses reminds you of Slovakia’s darker hours under Communism. Pick from one of seven colors — I have and love the classic black one! Please try again with some different keywords. Bratislava Old Town: CHRISTMAS IN BRATISLAVA - it was shut - See 8,954 traveler reviews, 12,860 candid photos, and great deals for Bratislava, Slovakia, at Tripadvisor. Want even more castles? Bratislava Tourist Board in cooperation with the Old Town has prepared a unique project of art… Discover more. Okay, thanks. Yet Kapitulska is just one small street amongst a city of thousands, showing you Slovakia’s determination to overcome its past and reclaim its roots. 1) Bratislava Christmas Market (Vianočné trhy Bratislava). Learn about Christmas Days - Dni Vianoc - at Incheba in Bratislava from 3-19 December 2010, 350 vendors selling Christmas presents, 1 Euro admission, heated stalls and some food. The UFO bridge spans the Danube and connects the Old Town of Bratislava to the newer side of town where most locals live. Bratislava transforms into a completely different city during Christmas time. Around 100 booths are opened every year. I’m here for all the gelato. You will find some places that are open. I’m a huge fan of odd Communist architecture and Bratislava’s UFO bridge is in fact one of my favorite pieces of Communist architecture of all time – perhaps because it reminds me of Bulgaria’s very own UFO, Buzludzha. Slovakian food is quite similar, as it wasn’t that long ago (in my lifetime, in fact – that makes me feel old!) You can eat your way through the Bratislava Christmas markets, but sometimes you just want to sit down and eat a real meal. Five days in Bratislava Christmas Market Specialities The main Bratislava market is located in Hlavné Námestie and spills into the surrounding streets. If you turn left on Cintorínská you’ll also find some street art tucked away in this area, plus an adorable sleeping fox piece on Kamenné namestie. It’s located in the only house that survived in the old Jewish neighborhood. An unusual year is asking for an unusual celebration of Christmas! It warmed up a bit from its initial freezing cold, but not by much: the warmest it got during my time in Bratislava in December was -2 °C / 28 °F. By continuing to view this site, you agree to their use. But the best part is definitely the floor-to-ceiling windows that give you sweeping Danube views! If you’re more interested in history and culture, check out the Bratislava City Museum, the oldest museum in the city which tracks the development of Bratislava from the medieval ages on, or the Museum of Jewish Culture located a short walk from Bratislava Castle. Two reasons. In case you don’t know much about Bratislava (I certainly didn’t, until planning this trip), here’s a quick but comprehensive guide to 13 of the most magical things to do in Bratislava in winter. Whatever the reason, if you make Bratislava a priority – and you should – you’ll be delighted that you included this gorgeous Central European city on your winter itinerary. Whereas Prague is king of the kitschy museum, Bratislava is less tourist-mobbed and therefore blissfully free of ridiculous themed museums that are just out to grab your money. It had a more local feel whereas the outdoor Christmas markets were definitely more predominantly touristy. Check out Devin castle tours here. Mar 21, 2017 - Explore this photo titled Christmas.in.Bratislava by Vicktor Belicak (@Vicktor) on 500px I lived in Prague many years ago and really warmed up to Czech food. Eternal Arrival is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. I don’t know if this is a common occurrence or if I just got lucky (I wasn’t able to find any information online) but one thing is for sure – Bratislava doesn’t just shut down in the winter! Hostel Folks is the best-rated hostel in Bratislava for good reason. Well, the gorgeous blue Church of St. Elisabeth in Bratislava about a 10-minute walk from the Old Town smacked me in the face with its beauty. The inside of the castle has been recently restored (somewhat controversially, as it involved quite a few changes to both the interior and exterior), and it costs 10 euros to access the interior. For the artistically inclined, check out the Galerie Nedbalka in the Old Town, which focuses on modern Slovakian artists (19th century to contemporary). There are several Christmas markets located throughout the city, but the biggest one is in the Main Square of the city, in front of the Old Town Hall. Whereas the rest of the Old Town has been buffered and polished to tourist-friendly perfection, Kapitulska is a bit rough around the edges, a testament to the atrophy of the Communist years. All Rights Reserved. Browse 257 bratislava christmas stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. So you may have to do two visits, one to photograph the exterior by day and then back at night, or wake up very early if you want to see the interior as well. Money belts are old news, so I suggest an anti-theft backpack. Both types of dumplings are served with bryndzove, a soft and salty sheep’s cheese, sour cream, fried onions, fried bits of bacon, and chives or spring onion. Streets twinkle with thousands of lights and the squares in the city centre fill with stands selling local specialties and hand-crafted products. Your Bratislava Town Christmas stock images are ready. Each one reflects the culture of the Country – music, drink, food and scents. On a hill overlooking the Old Town, its four white turrets peep from behind rooftops all over Bratislava. December temperatures be damned! (For some fascinating history as told by an American living in Bratislava, read here). Bratislava Christmas Markets The best part of visiting the Slovakian capital during December is the Bratislava Christmas markets. Of course, no visit to a European capital is complete without a tour of its Old Town (assuming it has one). Want to save this post for future reference? To get a great view of it all, I suggest climbing up the tower of Old Town Hall. To get further off the beaten path in Bratislava, you can check out Petržalka, the largest borough of Bratislava and a hotbed of Communist-style architecture, due to its genesis as the largest socialist housing district in communist-era Central Europe. Christmas Market Advent at the Castle – at around the Bratislava Castle Vegan Christmas Market – held in Umelka Pub Bratislava’s Christmas market is on every day from 10AM to 10PM, until 22nd or 23rd December. Completed in 1913, the church is done in the unique is a Hungarian Secessionist style (also called Jugendstil or Art Nouveau). That’s probably why Europe is a pretty popular destination in December: every region has a different take on Christmas. Every year since 1993, a big Christmas market take place in the very city center of Bratislava. If you have extra time in Bratislava, watching a movie at the Kino (many titles are in English with Slovak or Czech subtitles) followed by some cozy time at the café sounds like one of the best uses of a winter day there is. Most cafés and bars in Slovakia will have a selection of several Slovakian wines. When we planned a couple of days in Bratislava, Slovakia, last December during our European Christmas Market explorations, I had no idea how much we would both fall in love with the city.Our short visit of just 48 hours was packed with festive Christmas Market strolls, a stop at the castle, clock towers and statues in old town, cute cafes, cozy pubs, and even a speakeasy. There are several restaurants you can try this at, as it’s one of the most common Slovakian dishes, but according to locals the best is at Bratislavský Meštiansky Pivovar. It’s always a good idea to travel around Europe with a valid travel insurance policy – and this goes double in winter. If you’re a fan of Communist architecture and have the time, Authentic Slovakia’s Soviet-era Communism Tour of Bratislava enjoys a 5-star rating on Get Your Guide and lasts 2.5 hours. It is opened most of the day as well as in the evening. Information on the use of cookies. I mean, how often can you say you slept in a European palace? There are a number of excellent luxury hotels in Bratislava but I always tend to opt for a boutique option over a more standard chain hotel as I find they have far more personality and are just a lot more memorable. Neither of these times are particularly convenient in the winter in Bratislava, when the sun doesn’t even rise until 7:30 AM and it’s well and dark by 5:30 PM. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. There’s a large common area to socialize in, complete with a flatscreen TV, a PS3 and plenty of games, as well as a computer with a printer you can use (great if you need to print a boarding pass or train ticket last minute). There are several cafés in Bratislava worth visiting when the cold weather gets to be too much and you need to retreat to some indoor warmth and a coffee. In my opinion, Central European food is too heavy in the warmer months of the year, but it’s absolute perfection at Christmastime. Whether you need directions or find out what’s happening in the city or the region during your trip, our friendly and experienced team is here to help you. Designed & Developed by Solo Pine. Christmas markets close on 23rd December and Christmas Day in Slovakia is celebrated on 24th December, so it will generally be very quiet throughout your stay, but maybe that is what you are after. When you live and primarily travel in Europe, you get a bit of church fatigue after a while. Your Bratislava Christmas stock images are ready. Alternately, you could visit Devin Castle, which is not quite as impressive as Bojnice but much closer and easier to fit into a jam-packed Bratislava itinerary. Christmas Eve is the most important day of the Christmas season. It is called “Štedrý deň” (translated as the Generous Day) and its actual evening is called “Štedrý večer” (translated as the Generous Evening). Bratislava in Winter: 13 Magical Things to Do in Bratislava for Christmas Visit the Christmas markets. Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Bratislava Christmas will be launched by Tolstoys concert on 29 November at 5PM, followed by the official opening ONLINE using this link. Display on map Street view: December is the traditionally the month when Hlavné, Františkánske and Hviezdoslavovo squares in Bratislava are alive with magical Christmas atmosphere. christmas guinea pig - bratislava christmas … Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most beautifully decorated places in Bratislava, such like Old Town Hall, Nedbalka Galery, Horsky Park. My favorite café in the city, though, is St. Germain, located across from Kino Lumière. Some rooms have a terrace, others have a bathtub, so check out the different room types and pick the one that’s best for you. You can see works by Albín Brunovský…, Gérard Rancinan is a well-renowned French modern artist and photographer. It’s hard to impress me after a while. Kapitulska Street is the oldest in Bratislava, tracing its roots back to the 13th century, and one of the most interesting. »» Check out reviews, prices, and availability here ««. Kids (and chocoholics) will love the Mondieu Laboratoire, where you can see chocolate fountains ready to pour a thick, steamy mug of hot chocolate to warm you from the inside out. Halusky are small dumplings similar to a more free-form gnocchi or German/Austrian spaetzle, whereas pirohy are potato-stuffed dumplings similar to what you’d find in Poland. For travel insurance, I use World Nomads. I especially like Bratislava Castle when comparing it to Prague Castle, as it’s way less crowded and you’re actually able to get photos without people in it quite easily. Christmas markets close on 23rd December and Christmas Day in Slovakia is celebrated on 24th December, so it will generally be very quiet throughout your stay, but maybe that is what you are after. Winter travel in Bratislava has the potential for a few complications – transportation delays or cancellations, icy streets, and that sort of thing. It’s a good idea to be covered in case you have an accident or fall victim to petty theft, and travel insurance will help you recover your expenses so you can continue to enjoy your trip. However, for many people, Christmas markets are an indispensable part – and the main point – of a Central Europe winter trip. You can see works by Albín Brunovský… Discover more. Bratislava Christmas Market (November, December) Location: Bratislavský kraj, Bratislava GPS: N48°8'37'' E17°6'31'' Send to a friend. Bratislava Christmas. Bratislava’s is meticulously well-preserved and quite pleasant to stroll, so definitely save some time to wander around these streets. One of my favorite Bratislava cafés is Mondieu, a Parisian-inspired mini-chain with a few locations in the city. Bratislava, December 20, 2010, (BratislavaGuide.com) - Below are the ten finalists we chose for the 2010 Christmas Market Ciganska Pecienka taste testing. If you’re a reminds me, Christmas markets lost their magic around my second one of the trip (and my most recent trip through Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary took me through at least 10 and likely more). Reviews on TripAdvisor are mixed on whether visiting the interior is worth it; I’d say it depends on how much you like castles and how high your expectations are. But I actually liked the small size of it, which meant that the crowds were fewer and the streets were easy to navigate as someone who gets anxiety in crowded places. Most rooms have A/C and the bathrooms are ultra-clean and well-kept. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet. But the other and decidedly more delicious way to warm up from Bratislava’s winter cold is through your stomach with some delicious Slovakian beer and comfort food! The tour takes you around Bratislava’s communist past, from the Slavín monument to slain Soviet soldiers to old Communist factories and apartment blocks, bunkers, an Iron Curtain border zone, in a vehicle right from the era – an old school Škoda! We are here to to help you make the most of your visit. Bratislava at Christmas is always special - and there are only 111 days til it's here again! I found that the stuff at the Old Market Hall actually felt more handmade and less mass-produced (more akin to a farmer’s market, but with a still Christmassy vibe). One word of warning, here: unfortunately, crowded Christmas markets and distracted tourists make for lots of opportunities for pickpockets! So imagine my delight when I stepped inside the Old Market Hall (Stara Tržnica) in Bratislava and found plenty of Christmas goodness, yet zero wind or cold. BRATISLAVA CHRISTMAS MARKET - I’ve been completely charmed by Bratislava on my first-ever visit in Slovakia. We are here for you 5 days a week: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 4:30 pm, Or visit us in one of our List of Tourist Information Centers, Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, This site uses cookies. Bratislava is undoubtedly cold in the winter. I’m sure this city is charming at any time of year, but in the winter, Bratislava just shimmers. It’d probably be where I shopped for souvenirs if I wasn’t a massive Christmas Grinch. A few things not to miss: Michael’s Gate, which opens up to the heart of Old Town, the millennial pink Primate’s Palace, the lovely St. Martin’s Cathedral and the adorable painted windows on the abandoned church (Obrazáreň pri Dóme) nearby it. Not a healthy combination, to be sure, but it’s insanely comforting in winter. And I’m not talking the mulled stuff – I’m talking the real deal, bottled Slovakian wine. The Bratislava Castle is a stunner. Slovakia isn’t known for its wine, but it’s not because it’s not high quality and delicious – it’s just because as a small country, they don’t produce much to export and instead almost all Slovakian wine is enjoyed within the country. They are so popular among locals and tourists that the city is probably never so constantly packed like it is from the end of November (22.11.2019) until the … « « lots of opportunities for pickpockets citizens of the most spoiled thing say... Deciliters and therefore 6 euros the Guggenheim in NYC people opt for it Bratislava. With plenty of room to spread out without feeling cramped this time of year in Bratislava is of... ’ d have probably inhaled a bowl or two right then and there are private doubles,,. Sculpting contest in one of seven colors — I have a ton of street art scene.... Candyland-Style gumdrop castle, and availability here « « travel blogger, exploring world. 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