SLOVAKIA-BRATISLAVA

General information

Official name:              Slovak Republic (SR)
State formation date:  1 January 1993
State system:               republic

President:                    Ivan Gašparovič (since 2004), elected for 5 years
Prime Minister:            Robert Fico (since 2006)

State symbols:             national coat of arms/ emblem, national flag, state seal 
                            

HISTORY

The territory of Slovakia has been settled from the oldest times. Several cultures inhabited its territory until they were dominated by the expanding Celts in the 4th century BC followed by the German-Roman rivalry at the turn of the Eras. In time of Migration of Nations the first Slavs arrived here. The Samo`s Domain existing in the mid-7th century with the territory of Slovakia as its central part was followed by establishment of the Nitra Principality at the beginning of the 9th century and finally the Great Moravian Empire was established in 833 AD - the first common state of the Slovak and Czechs ancestors. After the fall of Great Moravia the Old Hungarian tribes invaded the territory of Slovakia, and the territory of Slovakia with its inhabitants became part of the Kingdom of Hungary for the long thousand years.

The Hungarian state was consolidated after centuries of internal struggle between the nobility and the ruler and economic growth occurred also in the territory of today`s Slovakia, which was also the result of the thriving mining towns or the trade centres. In what is now the city of Bratislava, the first university of Slovakia, Academia Istropolitana was established in 1467. The royal house, which ruled the country after the invasion the Turks undertook in Europe, was that of Habsburgs which withheld the throne until 1918. From the perspective of the Slovak nation, the crucial period in their history was the 19th century when the Slovaks formulated their own political programme for the first time. The promising development of the national movement though, was mutilated by the Austrian-Hungarian Compromise signed in 1867 and the following period of Magyarisation which lasted full 50 years. Only the First World War activated the anti-Austrian-Hungarian resistance, which culminated in 1918 by the declaration on the joining of the Slovak nation with the Czech nation into a whole - the Czechoslovak Republic.

The independent Slovak State was established in Slovakia in 1939 as an outcome of international events, however, the end of the Second World War brought about restoration of Czechoslovakia. The communist party gradually seized power in the country and the communist dictatorship was overthrown only through the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The democratic process exposed several problems, which resulted in the break-up of the common state of the Czechs and Slovaks and the establishment of the independent Slovak Republic (1 January 1993).

Slovakia is a member of the European Union from May 2004. In December 2007, it became part of the Schengen Area and from 1/1/2009, upon the adoption of the single European currency EURO, Slovakia also became one of the countries of the European Monetary Union.

In the 20th century, Bratislava quickly developed into a metropolis with about half a million inhabitants and a leading centre of the economy. Today, Bratislava is one of the most rapidly growing urban regions of Europe.

 

Bratislava is one of the youngest capitals in Europe and few people know that during the time it was called Pressburg or Pozsony it was one of the most important cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a mixing pot of various nations and nationalities who lived together in peace and harmony. There is a saying that a true ‘Pressburgian’ speaks four languages: Slovak, German, Hungarian and Mishmash. Even as recently as the 1980s you might hear how older Pressburgians in the street would say two words in German, two in Hungarian and two in Slovak all in the space of one sentence. That is what we mean by “mishmash”.

Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it to become a meeting point of various cultures. It was the home of the Celts, the Romans, and the Slavs ... The reign of Maria Theresa is regarded as a golden era in the city’s history. She was crowned Queen of Hungary in St. Martin’s cathedral in Pressburg, just like the 10 other kings and 8 royal partners over the course of 300 years when Pressburg was in fact the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary.

The rich mix of cultures and nations not only left its mark in the language spoken here, but also in the customs, cuisine and lifestyle. Just like the Viennese, the people of Bratislava also enjoy promenading through the streets of the city centre, taking time out for a coffee in any of the many cafes. This part of the city is referred to as the Korzo and combines elegance with charm. Visitors say that the city has a relaxed Mediterranean type atmosphere. Bratislava is a seaside city without the sea.

Nowadays Bratislava is experiencing a boom once more. Buildings are popping up, deals being made, people studying, and everything is on the move. Experts regard it as one of the most dynamically developing and most prospective regions in Europe. It welcomes tourists, business people, and investors, who are attracted to this blooming city and its lively atmosphere. There are many cities in Europe that can boast their own special unique charm, and Bratislava is definitely one of them.

Getting Around

Bratislava is in Central Europe in a triangle of 3 capital cities: Vienna is a mere 60 km away, Prague 300 km and Budapest 200 km. Whether you fly, arrive by boat along the River Danube, or by car or train, getting there is quick and easy. Bratislava is the gateway to Slovakia, both practically and symbolically.Walking around Bratislava you will discover that it really is a little big city. The intimate and compact ancient city centre, which is home to most of the city’s cultural and historical monuments, is an exclusively pedestrian zone. Within walking distance you will find not only the best and largest hotels and restaurants, but also a wealth of galleries, museums, theatres and historical sights.

 

The dense network of trams, buses and trolleybuses means you can move around easily outside the core of the city. Universal tickets covering all connections can be bought at any newspaper stand or from ticket machines (only coins accepted). A 10-minute ticket costs SKK 14, and a 30-minute ticket SKK 18, which is under 50 Euro cents. It is worth buying an all-day or multi-day ticket. The ticket is only valid once stamped in the machine on the vehicle and is transferable. You can find timetables at every stop. Ticket prices and types.

Coming back to the hotel in the ‘wee small hours’ is not a problem. If you are accommodated outside the centre you can use one of the night buses or call a taxi. The night buses run from 23:00 to 05:00 in the morning.
The so-called tourist information connections operate on lines that link entry points to the city with its centre. The ambition of these lines is to help visitors find their way around Bratislava and to give them some basic information about how to spend their free time in the city.

There are many underground and open-air car-parks in Bratislava. The cheapest parking is on designated parking places on the city streets, tickets for which can be bought from street sellers wearing orange vests. We strongly recommend that you use designated parking areas to avoid the unpleasant experience of having your car clamped or towed away!

Airlines and Airports

If you want to fly in, you can choose between two international airports –the airport in Bratislava or Schwechat airport in Vienna. Bratislava airport is one of the fastest expanding in Europe, with the number of conveyed passengers almost quadrupling in the past three years. You are just 15 minutes from the city centre.

 

Schwechat airport is about 45 km from Bratislava and regular bus connections shuttle between them several times a day. There are regular flights to Bratislava from Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Basel – Mulhouse, Bucharest, Burgas, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Copenhagen, Cologne/Bonn, Košice, London, Manchester, Milan, Nice, Paris, Rome, Sophia, Stuttgart, Warsaw, Zadar, Prague, Sliač, Brussels, Moscow and Frankfurt, and the number of lines is rising fast. You can get to Bratislava international airport by regular public bus number 61, which connects it with the main train station through the city centre. The bus connection is included in the network of tourist information connections and so you can find information on the bus about accommodation or free-time activities.

 

Bratislava Airport

. R. Štefánik Airport is the international airport of the Slovak republic. With its favourable geographic position within Europe it has an ambition to become the gateway into the whole Central European region. The airport lies 9 km from the city centre and is very easy to access. Bratislava Airport contains elements of modern transport infrastructure, which offer not only technologically advance capacities for airline companies but also pleasant, customer orientated surrounding for the passengers. In 2007 Bratislava Airport handled a record-breaking number of 2 024 142 passengers. In the summer season of 2008 thirteen airline carriers offer connection into 60 destinations within Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Bratislava Airport.

Boating

Probably the nicest way to arrive in Bratislava is by way of the River Danube. The Rhine–Main–Danube Canal links Bratislava with the North Sea and the Black Sea. Cruises along the Danube have been a big hit with tourists for many years. Regular cruises go to and from Budapest and the Twin City Liner shuttles from Bratislava and Vienna 3 times a day.

 The Bratislava passenger port is right at the heart of the city near the pedestrian zone, major historical monuments, and a wide array of pleasant restaurants and cafes. Around 300,000 passengers pass through the port each year.

Whatever way you make it to Bratislava, you should take a boat trip to Devín Castle on the picturesque confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, or to the nearby Austrian village of Hainburg, or in the other direction to the Gabčíkovo water dam.

Rail Travel

Trains in Slovakia are the safest and most agreeable way to travel in the country. International trains to Bratislava run from Vienna (1 hour), Budapest (3 hours), and Prague (4-5 hours) several times a day. Trains from Vienna often arrive at the Bratislava – Petrzalka station south of the city center across the Danube River. The Bratislava Central Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from the centre. To get to the Old Town, it is possible to take buses and trams of the Bratislava Public Transport Authority (DPB).

Bus and Car Travel

Bratislava is connected to the surrounding capitals by way of international traffic routes and motorways. The D1 motorway connects Bratislava with the east part of Slovakia, the D2 motorway connects Slovakia with Hungary and Czech Republic. The international E58 rout links to Austria and E65 to Hungary. The D1 and D2 motorways are linked up by the ring road on the Petržalka side of the River Danube. Traffic jams on the ring road are rare and it is the fastest way to get from one end of the city to the other, especially if you are not so acquainted with the city.

 Public Transport

Most of places and sights attractive in tourist terms can be found directly in the city center, in the pedestrian zone. In case you would like to see some attractions at a longer distance from the center, it is recommended to use public transport. In Bratislava, there is a dense network of public transport lines running in regular intervals according to schedule. The times of departure can be found on any stop of public transport.

 

Public transport in Bratislava (MHD) is run by the public transport authority called DPB which operates bus, tram and trolleybus lines whose last departures from their terminal stops are at about 11:30 p.m. First morning connections start running at about 4:20 a.m.

Between 11:30 p.m. and 05:00 o‘clock in the morning, 18 night lines operate in Bratislava, most of them starting at the Central Railway Station. Time-limited tickets are valid for 10, 30 or 60 minutes. 24-hour, 48-hour, 3-day and 7-day tourist tickets are also available. Passengers must buy tickets prior to boarding from the yellow dispensers at most transit stops. Remember to mark the ticket as soon as you get on the vehicle in the red machine.

Children under 6 and pensioners over 70  travel for free.  For visitors we recommend  toiurist tickets, which are valid for 1, 2, 3 or 7 days. Passengers must buy a ticket prior to boarding public transport and must punch the ticket in the nearest punching machine as soon as they board. A new ticket need not be punched when changing, provided the time has not elapsed. The penalty for failing to show a valid ticket to a ticket inspector is Sk 1,400.

Bratislava Public Transport

 

Taxis

HELLO TAXI

02/16 321, 0904/216 321, 0800/116 321, 0905/216 321

SUPER TAXI

02/16 616

PRIMA TAXI

02/16 661

MERCI TAXI

02/16 168

OTTO TAXI

02/16 322

DELTA TAXI

02/16 016, 0903/276 111, 0905/316 111

 

 

  Info                

 

 

 Main Tourist Information Office – Klobučnicka ul. 2, 815 15 Bratislava
Tel. +421 2 5443 3715, +421 2 16 186, +421 2 593 566 52, fax: +424 2 5443 2708

 

http://www.bkis.sk

 

 

 SOS     

112  Emergency call

150  Fire Department

155  Medical emergency service

158  Police

159  Metropolitan police

 SOS