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A Budget Traveler's Guide to Bratislava, Slovakia

Updated: Aug 2

Overview

Bratislava, the quaint capital of Slovakia is a small city only about an hour outside of Vienna. The inner city is dotted with medieval relics and ancient church’s, standing the test of time, older than some of the empires that ruled it over the years. Bratislava, itself has a very tumultuous past being being controlled by some the world greatest empires followed by years of communist Soviet Rule.


Upon my visit, the only preconception of Bratislava I had was that it would be one of those weird Eastern European communist wastelands adorned with ruined graffiti-ed monochromatic buildings and unhappy people glaring at me smoking cigarettes from cold war USSR. It seemed like it would be something out of Euro Trip, where US money is worth its weight in gold, dodgy trance clubs fill the basements of bleak exterior-ed public housing and the cold winter air sucks all life out of foliage and people alike.


Thankfully, Bratislava did not replicate the Leninist nightmare that many had pictured in theirs head and turns out to be quite lovely in many parts of the city, although one can still see the effects of communist architecture on the newer buildings surrounding the beautiful old city.


In Bratislava you are going to use the Euro and everything will be generally fair priced. The old city has become a serious tourist attraction, catering many restaurants to tourists tastes and wants. What was once an old walled city filled with pubs, local businesses and the like has been replaced with big signs coaxing tourists to try “real slovakian cuisine”, souvenirs shops and tourist trap bars. While much of the old city has become like this, I am sure that there are still strong traditional places that have held on tight to their to their roots.


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Presidential Palace


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Old Town and Tower


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View of Bratislava from Nove Mesto


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The UFO


Is it Cheap?

Yes! Bratislava is notoriously one of the cheapest cities in Europe that uses the Euro. A meal in a restaurant will run you around 9-12 Euros and a beer only around 2. Public transport is also cheap, with a ride on the tram being around 1.50 Euro.


What to Do?

The old city is awesome and I would start there. Since it is pretty small you can walk through the winding cobble-stoned streets in just about an hour. I would recommend making the walk up a large hill to the Bratislava castle, a white behemoth which sits majestically perched overlooking the Danube river.  Other things to do include checking out the ancient tower that is the symbol of the old town. Outside of the old town you can walk around the old city fortifications, go to the top of the UFO (explained later) or take in the views at the presidential palace. Bratislava is really a place for walking, enjoying the quaintness of life and drinking their incredibly cheap beer.


What to Eat and Drink in Bratislava?

The food in Bratislava was good but not unique, mimicking the styles of nearby Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. The highlights I had were Halusky, something similar to thick long gnocchi topped with rich goat cheese and bacon. Their food also heavily features cabbage, potatoes and other root vegetables, as does many other Eastern European cuisines.


Try Korbaciky, a local braided cheese that is often smoked or served fresh. All the food I had in Bratislava was definitely tasty and authentic although be wary of overpriced restaurants in the city center. If you are feeling like getting the real taste of the locals head over to the inner city bus station and get one of your favorite beers such as Staropramen for only 1 Euro! You will most likely be served by an angry chain smoking old lady who speaks almost no English, but hey, she wasn’t lacking authenticity right?


Internet and Phone - Sim Local, the Best Way To Stay Connected in Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia offers a range of phone and internet connection options tailored for tourists. Visitors can choose from various local SIM cards and mobile plans available at numerous kiosks, stores, and the airport, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout their stay. Public Wi-Fi is widely accessible in cafes, hotels, and popular tourist spots, making it easy to stay connected.


Being a person who is constantly on the go, I stay connected effortlessly on my travels with Sim Local. Get your eSIM instantly and enjoy high-speed internet without the hassle of finding a local SIM card. Whether you're in Bratislava for a short trip or an extended stay, SIM Local provides flexible data plans that keep you connected to family, friends or work, from where ever you are. The best part is that if your trip is canceled or you change your mind, great customer service is waiting, as well as a fair refund policy. You can check out Sim Local by clicking here.


Transportation

Although this is a city that has been around for thousands of years, it hasn’t really expanded much, making it incredibly easy to walk. Since Bratislava is a small city, the only transport you may need is if you are going across the bridge to the new side of town to explore a bit or go to the top of the UFO, a large skydeck that they built on their modern bridge. You can go to the top for 7 Euros and get the best view of Bratislava in the city. Bratislava itself has a nice network of buses and trams making the city easy to navigate despite the complex names of the streets. Uber/Taxis are also great options as a ten minute ride would only cost around 5 Euros.


Where to Stay?

The hostel scene in Bratislava is small yet growing. Some of the better hostels in town include Brickyard, Freddie Meets Mercury, A Wild Elephants Hostel and Folks Hostel. You’ll find backpackers making the journey from northern Europe to southern or viceversa and with so many cheap bars around the city center, you’ll never be short of fun things to do.


Clubbing and Nightlife

Nightlife in Bratislava can be extremely rowdy due to the incredibly low alcohol prices all over the city. The average beer in a bar runs you around 2 Euros for a Half Liter. In the old town there are a few different streets with bars that appeal to locals and travellers alike. Bratislava however is highly seasonal, with the frigid winters shutting down the mass herds of travellers in about November until mid March.


My Travel Essentials For A European Backpacking Trip

Below you'll find a list of my must bring backpacking items. I have gotten this list down to my essentials through trial and error over 4 years of living in a backpack. I hope you'll find these items helpful on your journey!


►Main Backpacking Backpack: https://amzn.to/3vUHdik [Amazon]

►Great Front Facing Duffle-bag : https://amzn.to/3SjK6Ra [Amazon]

►Quick Dry Towel : https://amzn.to/3uarxH8 [Amazon]

►Multi Country Charger Adapter : https://amzn.to/3Ul37p0 [Amazon]

►Refillable Water Bottle : https://amzn.to/48SnG0n [Amazon]

►Padlock : https://amzn.to/3SdyYp7 [Amazon]

►Earplugs : https://amzn.to/498xTpl [Amazon]

►Power Bank : https://amzn.to/3SyXP8e [Amazon]


Travel Photography & Video Favorites

If you're interested in creating your own video content on your trip, these are some of my favorite items I've had. They work, they're effective and besides the Sony Aa7C, they aren't going to break the bank either!


►On the Go Video | Go Pro Hero 12 : https://amzn.to/3u38oHh [Amazon]

►Photography | Sony A7C : https://amzn.to/3u1Y6ap [Amazon]

►Portable Tripod | https://amzn.to/42ojHqc [Amazon]

►Lavalier Microphone | https://amzn.to/3SbL41U [Amazon]

►Drone | https://amzn.to/47TCwSY [Amazon]

►Portable Monitor | https://amzn.to/3Hzv2dg [Amazon]


All links are affiliate links with amazon which I may generate revenue from. These are products I actually have used for years and would feel comfortable recommending to first time and experienced travelers alike.

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