Journey to the capital city of Slovakia and witness the colors and flavors of Bratislava. This underrated tourist haven oftentimes doesn’t reach the top of many travellers’ must-see destination list, but unknown to most, Bratislava has many sights, activities, and unique cuisines to offer. And because of the few adventure-seeking travellers, Bratislava is slowly creeping its way to the top European cities to visit. Are you ready to see the real beauty of the capital city of Slovakia?
Before you pack your bags and leave for Bratislava, you must know that Slovakia is one of the countries that is part of the Schengen area. This means that Slovakia implements the Schengen visa for short-term tourists who wish to visit the country. While there are some nations that are Schengen visa exempted, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. The application process for a Schengen Visa is simple and trouble-free. All you need to do is to get all the following documents and requirements:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- Current passport-sized photos with white background
- Completed Schengen Visa application form
- Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.
- Travel Insurance – It is better to acquire this from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- Bank Documents
- For employed travellers, a No Objection Letter is highly recommended
The Colors and Flavors of Bratislava:
Welcome to Bratislava, the largest city of Slovakia. With more than 600,000 residents, Bratislava is a bustling city right in between the rivers Danube and Morava. While the city is bordered by the blue waters of the two rivers, the colors and flavors of Bratislava is made vibrant by the city’s unique structures partnered with its history and culture.
The Colors of the Old Town:
More known with the locals as Hlavné Námestie, the Main Square is probably the most popular part of Bratislava’s Old Town.
During Christmas season, the Main Square comes to life with the many hues of the yuletide decors, accessories, and artworks that are on sale every morning. The locals transform the Main Square into a market, selling Christmas goods to both locals and tourists. At night, the square transforms into a free lightshow full of white Christmas trees. Stalls continue to sell hot coffee, hot chocolate, and hot tea to families that wish to spend a quiet evening in the square.
The Gleaming Apollo Bridge:
Proof that Bratislava is fast progressing are the new structural designs that can be found around the city. One of the must-see avant-garde structures in Bratislava is the Apollo Bridge.
Built in 2003 and opened in 2005, this gleaming 5,000-ton steel structure goes over the River Danube and connects Stary and Pristavny. The bridge’s designers and engineers received the prestigious Outstanding Civil Engineering Award for the unique geometric design of the bridge as well as the genius construction strategy implemented on the structure – building the structure parallel to the river bank and rotating it in place after. At night, the bridge turns into a lightshow with many colourful lamps that highlight the clean lines of the bridge.
The Golden Colors of Craft Beers:
If Germany boasts of their very own Oktoberfest, the Slovaks have their craft beer festival held every September at the famous Old Market. During this month, at least 60 small breweries exhibit their best malt drink.
Some of these breweries are Slovakian locals while the rest are international beer makers. Unlike the festive feel of the German’s Oktoberfest, the Slovakian’s beer festival is maintained to have a more organized and personal feel to it. Beer tasters can immediately give feedback to the exhibitors, which the exhibitors appreciate.
Food! Glorious Street Food!
If you want to see and taste all the colors and flavors of Bratislava, then you better head to Bratislava’s Old Market Hall and visit the Street Food Park. This food market regularly operates from Wednesday to Saturday, afternoon to late in the evening, and offers famous local street food.
What interests both the locals and tourists to this street food park are the various colourful food trucks that function as mobile kitchens and are used to prepare meals on the spot. One of the must-try local food is the Slovak’s version of hamburger. Filled with thin slices of meat, fresh arugula leaves, cheese, and onions pressed in between fresh Brioche buns, these yummy burgers are both filling and satisfying. While enjoying the food-tasting feast, you can also enjoy the free live band that plays modern local tunes.
The Magnificent Bratislava Castle:
A perfect way to end the colors and flavors of Bratislava tour is by visiting the magnificent Bratislava Castle. Sitting atop a hill that overlooks the Danube River, the Bratislava Castle boasts of both white and red hues that can be clearly see from afar.
The site where the castle is built is really strategic – from its big windows one can see Austria, Hungary, and of course Slovakia. Tourists can go in this castle for an affordable fee and see the art exhibit and ancient artefact hosted by the country’s National Museum.
The Colors and Flavors of Bratislava:
Cannot wait for your Slovakian adventure? Do know that you may need to apply for a Schengen tourist visa to be allowed entry to Slovakia. If Slovakia is just one of several European nations that you wish to visit, then it might be useful to know the different kinds of Schengen visa to not ruin your planned itinerary. Also, if you wish to maximize your single entry visa, you may want to know the other Schengen countries that implement the same kind of visa. Finally, should you need further assistance to secure a Schengen Visa, you may contact us through WhatsApp (+1 201-554-8735) or leave us a message.
Go to the off beaten path and see the colors and flavors of Bratislava.
