Best Car Rental Bratislava

History Bratislava

The city was settled originally during 400-500 BC, Celts were the original inhabitants of the region. The first permanent settlement of the region now known as Bratislava begins with the Linear Pottery Culture. During the 1st through 5th century territory of today's Bratislava is known as "Limes Romanum" - fortified border of Roman Empire. Bratislava Castle and Devin Castle became important centres during the Great Moravia Empire. Great Moravia was established in year 833 and lasted until 10th century. From year 1000 Bratislava is a port of Hungary, later Austria. In 1291 Bratislava receives town privileges and in 1405 Bratislava becomes "free royal town". Since the 18th century Bratislava is an important place of Slovak National and cultural movement, firstly led by writer Anton Bernolak, later by leader of Slovak National movement Ludovit Stur. In 1840 first railway in Hungary is built and connects Bratislava with Svaty Jur. This is shortly followed by train connection to Vienna (1848) and Budapest (1850). During the late 19th century Bratislava is heavily modernized and industrialized. During 1919-1939, the Bratislava was the part of the Czechoslovakia; official new name becomes "Bratislava"- instead of "Pre?porok" (Slovak). In the 1969-1992, city was the capital of the federal state of Slovakia within Czechoslovakia. On January 1, 1993 Slovakia becomes independent state after the Czechoslovakia splits and Bratislava is the capital.

When to go Bratislava

Whole year you can go and enjoy the climate of Bratislava. Baltic Sea and the gentle winds from the Gulf Stream makes milder climate of Bratislava. The most enjoyable months to visit are June through September. In July, local folk flee the city for their summer cottages, and many offices close. It's a grand time to be a tourist the weather is pleasant, the markets bustle and the caf?s set up their outdoor tables. If you're interested in culture, go Bratislava in August, when a major arts festival and countless smaller performances will keep you entertained.

Weather Bratislava

The city of Bratislava is located in the continental zone of the mild climatic weather, characterized by the wide differences between temperatures in summers to winters as well as four distinct seasons in a year. Within recent years however the transition of winter to summer in Bratislava almost occurs without spring, and winter weather with average temperatures of around zero degrees Celsius can abruptly change into summer from one day to another. The same also applies to the transition of summer to winter, which happens quickly and with autumn being short and easily missed. Snow cover is also usually scantier than it has been in the recent past.

Arrival Bratislava

The city has its main airport 9km to the city centre. Slovak Airlines is the National carrier. In Slovak most of the railway system parts are modern and fast with robust connections with Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw and Vienna and larger Slovak cities from the newly built Petrzalka Station, Kopcianska Ul south of the Old Town and across the Danube are located close to the city centre at Predstanicne namestie. The Bratislava Transport Company runs a thorough network through the city, with a choice of more than 90 trolley-bus, trams and bus lines. Most operates from 05:00 to midnight, with a few infrequent night lines. Public transport bus 61 runs regularly between MR Stefanik and the main railway station ZSR. There is also a door to door shuttle service between the airport and the city centre. Taxis in Bratislava are rather less likely to cheat you than in some other parts of world, and prices are reasonable. Car Hire Providers include Avis, Hertz, from MR Stefanik airport, Europcar and Rent Point. Slovakia generally is superb for biking, but everyone has their own bike, hence the lack of rental shops can be apparent. Many motorways links the city with the Internationaltransport routes. E65 links city to the Czech Republic, D-2 to Hungary and Internationaltransport routes E75 and E58 to Austria. Internationaltransport route E 58 connects Bratislava to the Schwechat Airport in Vienna, while route E75 crosses Slovakia to Poland and Ukraine.

Best Locations Bratislava

St. Martin's Cathedral is the most sacred and significant Gothic building in the town. It stands where there was once a Roman church. Old Town Hall and City Museum With sections dating back to the 14th century; the Old Town hall offers a mix of architectural styles, including a courtyard from 1581. Then there is Hviezdoslav Square was built in 1886 in the spirit of the Neorenaissance by Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer. Today the building is home to the National Opera and Ballet. St Martin's Cathedral From the 16th to the 19th centuries is also worth watching, this 13th-century Franciscan cathedral was the coronation place of Hungarian monarchs, including Empress Maria Theresa, and includes a gothic masterpiece. The castle Devin was a border fortification at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. It was inhabited successively by Celtic and Roman settlers, and was also a key outpost guarding trading routes. Rudnayovo namestie - The Slovak National Museum Originally built in the 18th century. Currently, the curators are finally getting to grips with the country's past in a series of exhibitions devoted to Slovakia's inter-cultural history. Mirbach Palace - on Franciscan Square is a Rococco jewel built in 1768-1770 by a brewer by the name of Michal Spech using a design by M.Hollrigl. In front of this four-winged building with its central courtyard stands a pillar with two stone coats-of-arms. Grassalkovich Palace - it's one-story building with a central Spanish hall branching up into two staircases with statues depicting the four seasons. Behind it, there are beautiful French gardens. Bratislava castle is on the hill overlooking the Danube and is the town's most prominent landmark. On the east side, remains of a 9th century Great Moravian Basilica were found.

Night-life

Caf?? Bars are among the other options, city's best night-life takes place in the Old Town area, here traditional Slovak beer halls mix with up-scale cocktail lounges and caf?s. Old Town pubs close by midnight due to noise ordinances, thus clubs and live music venues are confined to business districts or the Danube riverbanks and stay open until 0400-0600. Pubs - For the more cosmopolitan and mixed crowd, try the down-town city centre - you will find many places. Alternatively go for a great Czech beer on tap - lagers such as Budvar or Pilsner Urquell, Kozel, Radegast, Starobrno. Students also crowd into the Hysteria Pub near the ice hockey stadium on Odbojarov Street in the evenings. In the centre, the newly open Malecon at Mostova draws crowds for mojitos and tasty food. The Coctail Bar on Panska is of the same flavour, as is the Greenwich Pub on Zelena, known to the locals as the Coctail Bar (sic), but neither serves food. On the side of the castle hill on Beblaveho Street you can find a few friendly bars clustered together, some even open quite late every night. U Certa, Vydrica and Andy Drink-in Gallery are well worth visiting for their laid back ambience and the local crowd. The taste of traditional Pressburg drawing on Austrian and Hungarian culinary traditions is offered in Leberfinger, across the Danube from the Old Town. Another highly recommended restaurant with traditional Old Bratislava fare is Modra Hviezda (The Blue Star) located in Beblaveho street, a narrow street on the way to the castle, serving meals in the Slovak, Austrian and Hungarian traditions and great Slovak wines complemented with a bit of history written onto the menu. Jazz Caf? on Venturska offers live jazz every evening from Wednesday to Saturday at 9 p.m. You may also try Cafe Studio Club on Laurinska, which offers live music many nights of the week. The Flamenco Music Club on Stefanikova is a very popular spot with hot latino rhythms into the early morning hours. For clubbing, try Gay Club Apollon on Panenska 24, Gay Party at the Krater Club on Saturday nights or Barbaros Disco and Bar at Vysoka. Other popular hangouts with a mixed crowd include the caf? Antik.

City of destination Bratislava

The city of Bratislava located only at 60 km from the Vienna, is an old European city; it is also one of the largest and capital city of the Slovakia, with a beautifully restored historic quarter and Habsburg Baroque architecture which help to offset its communist legacy. Bratislava is a capital of Slovakia and the country's largest city, with a population of some 450,000. Its location on the Austrian border, with a close proximity to Hungary and the Czech Republic, have resulted in a difficult political past, but like all cities of cultural confluence, the result is a justified fame for diverse architecture, wine and cuisine. Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic centre of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak presidency, parliament and government as well as home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other National economic, cultural and educational institutions. Sites of interest to visitors are almost all north of the river, in the cobbled streets of the Old Town. Also lying at the foot of the Lesser Carpathian Mountains, Bratislava (oldest name Brezalauspurc) held a high status from the second century BC as an important defence and trading post, and was particularly prized for its vineyards. Most of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions have their headquarters in Bratislava. The city's past was characterized by the strong influence of various nations, including Slovaks, Germans, Hungarians, and Jews. Bratislava still retains its cosmopolitan spirit. Since Slovakia joined the EU in May 2004, Bratislava has rocketed up in price in terms of cost of living, but it is also rising in fame for cultural tourism as well as being a thriving business centre. It hosts many festivals and trade shows and it is famous for its night-life and leisure facilities.