"Beautiful & Charming Bratislava " a Bratislava Travel Page by Ewingjr98

I had a great visit in Bratislava from 30 January to 1 February 2006.

30 January 2006 - Journey to a great city!
We arrived in Bratislava Station around 1530 from Kamarno. After getting some cash at an ATM, we immediately searched for public transportation downtown, found the streetcars, and purchased tickets. We misread the map and boarded the wrong tram, but luckily discovered our mistake quickly and actually ended up within walking distance to the city center. After strolling through the nice shopping area along Ubchodna (and getting money at a Tatra Bank ATM), we entered St. Michael's Gate and found our way in the central square. Our first stop was the tourist information booth next to the Primate's Palace at Klobucnicka 2 where we reservered an apartment for two nights 1600 SKK per night (about 50 USD). We were fortunate to find a nice apartment above McDonald's next to the National Theater in the center of town. That evening we wandered around the city center and had a very nice dinner at a fancy restaurant called WWS Gastro on Biela Ulica 6 (745 SKK) where I had my first taste of the sweet nectar called Zlaty Bazant beer. After a little bit of walking, we went to bed around 2130.

We got up relatively early and wandered around old town a little, stopping for breakfast at Cafe Hemingway (cafe was 45 SKK) along Klariska street. After breakfast, we walked to the castle and did the grand tour for 80 SKK each. After the castle tour, it was again time to eat, so we stopped on the way down at a trendy little spot called Cafe Saha, where we tried some unique local dishes and the entire meal was 281 SKK. We then swung by the Presidential Palace, walked through old town, then we stopped at the market behind the Primate's Palace and enjoyed a few Stropramen beers (36 SKK each) and some wine (42 SKK a glass). We then went to the Primate's Palace, St. Martin's Dom, then returned to the hotel along the river. In the evening, we stopped at a book store called Modul on Laurinska and purchased a map (56 SKK) and a pocket guidebook (187 SKK). For dinner we ate at an inexpensive restaurant called Lyra where we had two big meals and 3 Zlaty Bazant beers each for 565 SKK, then we stopped at the Main Square for coffee. That night, we walked to Ubchodna for a few drinks at the backpacker & student bars before bed.

The next morning we awoke and went straight to the market for breakfast... we had coffee from a store called Winky Palacinky for 14 SKK each and loksa pancakes from another little store for about 12 SKK apiece. We stopped at a large grocery store called Billa Plus at Bajkalska 19/A where we purchased some beer, wine, and candy for friends back home. We then walked past the Presidential Palace and gardens to the main train station, where we purchased tickets to Vienna for 294 SKK each. Prior to boarding the train, we purchased sandwiches, beer, and water to consume on the train. Our very nice, modern train departed around 1100 for the hour-long ride to Vienna, Austria.