Christmas is just around the corner

The colourful Christmas lights and decorations, the irresistible aromas of many salty and sweet delicacies and warm drinks, the beauty of handmade items, lovely music, and above all, the eyes of children and adults filled with joy and expectations. This is a typical Christmas in Bratislava.

Since 1925, Christmas in Bratislava cannot do without its iconic Christmas tree standing in the city center. The tree, a 40 years old and 12 meters high beauty from Sološnická Street in Bratislava’s Karlová Ves, is already standing on the Main Square. The Christmas tree on Main Square will be joined by another one on Hviezdoslav Square in the historic centre of the city.

The streets of Bratislava will again be filled with people, good mood and joyous atmosphere. Scattered around the city, dozens of stands will tip over with refreshments and traditional and handmade products. The food stands will offer returnable glasses and compostable dishes, some are also ready to accept card payments. Waste-sorting bins guarantee sustainability. The Christmas market will be opened until December 31 with the exception of closing for the holiday from December 24 to 26.

The Christmas atmosphere will spread throughout the whole Bratislava. The city-wide program, taking place mainly on the Main Square and the Franciscan Square, will offer a variety of holiday-themed cultural events. You can look forward to Advent concerts, quizzes, bazaars, readings, theater performances and exhibitions to name a few.

Fridays and Saturdays will liven up the square with concerts by Slovak musicians, while the program on Sundays will delight families with children. The events are also taking place in the Klarisky concert and exhibition hall, where Advent concerts will take place.

The holidays in the city will also have a charitable dimension. Popular barter exchanges will be held in Klarisky, and clothes, toys and books that visitors do not exchange will go to people in need. The collection for homeless people will focus on sleeping bags, thermoses and mats.

The Christmas atmosphere will also be complemented this year by the Christmas Forest on Primate’s Square. Children from Bratislava primary, art and special primary schools will decorate the Christmas trees in the square with their own original decorations made of natural materials. The Christmas trees will later go to various charities, homeless people shelters and families in need. There is also a safe zone here for families with children, handicaped and elderly.

Christmas market returned also to Hviezdoslav Square, just a minute away and is dominated by a Christmas tree. About three dozen stalls offer not only traditional delicacies but also handmade products and traditional items – some of these might even become Christmas presents! There is also a traditional Advent wreath – candles, will be lit one by one during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The popular city beach “Tyršák” comes to life also in winter with covered heated terraces and delicious flavors of (not only) Christmas goodies. The cozy “Christmas market on Dulák” is returning to Dulovo Square. Make sure to pop until December 22.

Not only citizens of the old Pressburg but also today’s Bratislava love to give. Helping those in need was not just a matter of the then-etiquette, it was part of the identity of local residents. Those who could share were obliged to do so, otherwise they would be target of public scorn. However, almost every citizen liked to do so, often on a large scale and not only during Advent and Christmastime. Luckily, today’s Bratislava residents are no different.

The Christas markets are brought to Bratislava by Bratislava Cultural and Information Center.