Weekend in Bratislava, 2024

Friday

On Friday, while working I decided to visit Bratislava after decades. I asked the boss to leave earlier, went home, packed, ate something, and returned to the railway station. I took a taxi, first I waited long and later the ride was slow in heavy traffic. I ran to the station and bought a ticket to Maribor (13.9€, with IC surcharge) but I didn’t use a discount. I was on time on the train and went to a restaurant, a beer was 4€.

Vienna

On a 6-hour journey to Vienna (coupons from Maribor on) not many things happened. It was raining in Laško, and there were many police on the Austrian border with scanners. In Vienna, we arrived on time.

I had 30 minutes before the train to Bratislava (Pressburg-GER, Pozsonyi-HUN ), enough for a cigarette and to stretch my legs. Another hour on the train before reaching my destination.

Bratislava

From the southern Petržalka train station, I moved by bus (1.1€ to old town). I met there Anil, from Turkey. Some loud drunken passengers.

I went to Žil Verne pub for craft beer tasting (4€+, stout with dark chocolate taste) on a suggestion by Borut. Finished with Borovička, traditional Slovak juniper spirit.

From there I continued with two guests to a Stainplatz underground bar, served only when seated. I lost those to guys and on my way to the hostel stopped at one more bar – Picollo pub, 2.4€ beer.

I arrived after 3 am at Chores hostel (64€ for 2 nights). At this 5* hostel I almost lost bed?

Saturday

Bratislava

I stayed longer in bed after a long night the day before. At 10 I went for a shower. After packing for that day I ate 2 homemade sandwiches. In the lobby, I sat and planned activities for that day. I was out around noon.

I first went for a walk, Grassalkovich presidential palace (no visits, built 1760, by architect András Mayerhoffer)

Michale’s gate is the only entrance left out of the medieval fortification (13/17 century, today museum)

I needed to pass city walls and walk uphill to visit Bratislava castle (north garden, south platform with views, rectangular with 4 towers, museum)

Downhill to church Dom sv Martina (gothic cathedral with stained glass, 15 century, coronation Hungarian kings)

From there I continued into the old town (Stare Mesto) to the colorful old town hall with a canonball in tower wall on the main square (Hlavne Namesti) with Roland Fontaine

Many other buildings in the old town as Primate’s Palace (18th century, neoclassical, 4th Pressburg peace 1805).

I moved now eastwards to St. Elizabeth – The blue church (Lechner, 1913, Secession, pastel blue, tiles)

I walked to Donau River, checked the old bridge, sat in the park on the river banks, and went to the shopping mall, where I tried Kofola 2.2 € (local version of Coke)

Returned back to the hostel, on Obchodna street, close by is Slovak Pub, a famous restaurant with traditional food, but 20 people were waiting in line. So I went to Mc for a meal, 7.5€. Later I rested a bit in the hostel

Now it was time for a basketball game, Inter Bratislava vs Handlova 61:64. I bought a ticket online for 12€. I went to Gopass Arena and back by bus (Kollarovo namestie) with some walking. The beer there was 3€. As for the game, it was the worst I have seen so far. On the roster, they had black and Balkan players so I hoped that we will see some action. But it was a really terrible shooting (36%), no defense, and the same number of attacking and defending rebounds. Some 20 guest fans were cheering loudly. The ending of the game gave us some excitement, but it ended with a victory by Handlova.

On return, I tried Slovak pub again, but the waiter told us there was no meaning of waiting so I went to a kebab 6€, across the street.

On the last walk in town, bought some souvenirs for 19€. In a shop, I got beer and cigarettes for 7€, at the main square sat and watched people pass by.

The last planned stop was at Cumil statue (sewage worker), I met again Turk Anil, a nice chat.

While walking to the hostel, I stumbled upon Flagship Restaurant, another famous place with local food. Here I waited 5 minutes to get a table. I ordered garlic soup with croutons and cheese, the main dish was beef cheeks with mashed potatoes, and Frankovna wine. It was an OK meal, I paid with a tip 33€

I was early in bed, and some people arrived late to the room and were loud

Sunday

Bratislava

I woke up early, and after a shower I repacked things. A bus took me to Petržalka train station.

Vienna

It was 1-hour ride early in the morning. In Vienna, I took a walk from HBf main station. First I passed Belvedere Palace upper-lower (baroque) with a big garden on both sides of the palace, Orangery, Stables, statues, and fountains.

Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain with statues of Soviet soldiers is close by.

The next stop was the baroque Karlkirche with two huge pillars in front and a reflecting lake (on Hitler painting).

After entering the old town (Innere Stadt) I passed Wiener Staatsoper (Neo-Renaissance, 19 century, Hlavka)

Across the street is the Sacher Hotel where I stopped for the famous Sacher torte with whipped cream (9.9€) and Melange coffee. Later I bought a whole cake to take home for my sister’s birthday.

Pass the Albertina museum and garden (Schmetterlinghaus with the market) to the grand Hofburg imperial palace complex. Around the corner to Heldenplatz with Archduke Karl – Equestrian Statue

Over Volks Garten (people’s park) to the old town hall (Rathaus) with a nice square and park close to it. In the back is Burgtheater (national theater, 18th century)

I moved toward the central part of the old town, with streets full of interesting buildings. Finally, I arrived at Domkirche St. Stephan (gothic cathedral, square, dominant tower)

I was again outside of inner town, after passing City Park and Mitte shopping mall I came to the interesting building with trees by Hundertwasserhaus, 1985

After crossing Donaukanal I was in a huge park that finished with an entertainment park Prater. There was an Autumn Wien version of the Vienna marathon.

Back to HBf station with metro. I ate a kebab and drank Cola 8€.

Ride on (first class, got bottle of water) on the IC train to Graz lasted 2.5 hours. I paid a surcharge of 15 €, lasting 48 hours.

Graz

In Graz again walk from the train station. I crossed the Mura River, went on to Hauptplatz (main square) and Heerengasse with old town hall.

Continued to Oper (also here they had Marathon). Next in line was Saint Giles Cathedral (15 century, gothic and baroque elements). Along the Sackstrasse to the cable car Schlossberg.

On the hilltop a nice view from Uhrturm (city’s symbol-clocktower).

I went by lift back to the city, again crossing the river, passed Kunsthaus (unusual shape), Volksgarten with canal.

Close to the station, I ate a small and tasty pizza. With beer, I paid 21 €. Rushed to train.

Another train ride, this time on the awful carriage. On the border, there were no complications.

In Maribor I had time for cigarette and juice (2€). The last ride was soon full of students. The heating was not working properly and we had a sauna on the train, 30 degrees.

In Ljubljana I took taxi home, paid 8 €. Unpacked, showered, ate and went to bed.