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- Destinations
- Europe
- Slovakia
- Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and the country's largest
city, situated on either side of the Danube River at the borders of
Austria and Hungary, and within easy reach of the Czech
Republic.
It is the centre for arts and culture, and boasts many museums,
art galleries, palaces and ornamental churches in and around its
historic old town. Bratislava also takes pride in its cultural
heritage, with a musical history going back to Mozart, Beethoven
and Hummel. Music concerts and ballet performances take place
almost daily in the city, competing for attention with the likes of
those in neighbouring Vienna, Prague and Budapest.
The city is ideal for strolling around, taking in the sites of
the city. The Old Town district is crammed with historical
structures representing the different cultures and nations of its
past, centering on Hlavné Námestie, the town square. Numerous
Baroque palaces are contained within the old town, as well as St.
Martin's, an 11th-century Gothic cathedral; the town hall, housing
the oldest museum in the country; and a gate preserved from the
medieval city fortifications. One of the most conspicuous
structures in the city is Bratislava Castle, a former frontier post
for the Roman Empire situated on a plateau overlooking the
Danube.
As Europe's newest capital city, Bratislava is still lagging
behind Budapest and Prague in terms of popularity, but word of its
picturesque charm and affordable elegance is spreading, and the
city is rapidly being thrust into the limelight as a popular
European city break destination. An increase in low-cost flights
from around Europe is also partly responsible for its rising
recognition, and lately Bratislava has also become a popular
weekend destination for stag parties, primarily from the UK. The
city is also the cultural capital of the region, and diversions
ranging from restaurants and nightclubs to ballet and boutiques are
on offer.
Information & Facts
Climate
Bratislava enjoys a continental climate with four distinct
seasons, though it can often be very windy, causing a drop in
temperature. Summer weather is hot and dry, while winters are cold
and wet. Autumn and spring tend to be mild and pleasant, but are
much shorter seasons. Average temperatures in Bratislava range from
2°C to -6°C (30°F to 25°F) in the winter months and from 19°C to
21°C (66°F to 70°) in the summer months.
Language
Slovak is the official language, which is closely related
to Czech. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign
languages, although outside Bratislava, English is not widely
understood.
Money
The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into
100 cents. The Euro replaced the koruna (SKK) as the official
currency on 1 January 2009. Travellers cheques are the safest way
to carry money and are accepted at all major banks and exchange
offices (dollars and pounds sterling give the best exchange rates).
Shops are increasingly accepting credit cards, but it is best to
check beforehand. ATMs are common.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).