Winter

Probably no other time of year sparkles with traditions and good cheer like the Christmas season. Still, as the days shorten, the traditional Christmas stalls make their presence known in all of Bratislava’s central squares, continuing a tradition that stretches back to the middle ages.

Visitors to Slovakia’s capital city will find local residents as well as tourists enjoying a glass of mulled wine and a bite of something good at Bratislava Christmas markets. In fact it has become a custom for Bratislava’s bevy of office workers to grab lunch at the Christmas market stalls; visitors can mingle with residents while sampling the many local specialities to warm empty stomachs in the crispy air of winter.

What to try on the Christmas Markets

The most common things to eat are lokše, typical potato pancakes prepared in different salty and sweet varieties, cigánska pečienka, a hamburger-like fried pork steak served in a folded bread pocket – with lots of mustard and onion if you like – a sausage, or a simple šmalec, a wedge of bread with pork fat and onion.

As for drinks, you can go for the good old mulled wine, but once in Slovakia, you should not miss your chance to taste the local drinks that perhaps warm you up much faster than just wine, and that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. One of such drinks is ‘hriatô’, a peculiar fruit-brandy-based cocktail made with bacon or pork fat and honey. If that sounds too exotic for your stomach, try out the local versions of grog, a hot drink based on rum and spices, or punch, with fruits.

Shoppers searching for gifts and decorations will find a lot to choose from. A stroll around the markets will reveal a variety of handmade items, some reflecting traditional crafts and others showing an unusual artistic flair. Traditional Christmas decorations like porcelain, ceramics, woodcarvings, or delicate crochet angels are widely available. In the afternoon, stages, located throughout the markets, feature traditional and modern musical programmes.

Advent music

The holiday season is about more than shopping, eating and drinking. For those who seek the spiritual preparation for Christmas, Advent concerts take place around central Bratislava, primarily in the local churches. Area choirs and musical groups often prepare special programmes for the season. There is no place better to focus on the celebration of the birth of Christ, than Bratislava, a city where local churches are full at every Sunday service throughout the year. Visitors should contact the city tourist information bureau to find out about the concert programmes.

Welcoming another year

As the year comes to an end, Bratislava is ready to welcome another chapter with its lively atmosphere and festive spirit. On the last day of the year, the Old Town is the heart of the city’s activity, drawing locals and visitors to its streets to enjoy the holiday mood.

The day is perfect for families, with plenty of chances to soak in the cheerful energy and spend time together. As evening falls, the celebrations continue, offering something for everyone to enjoy as they look forward to the year ahead.

New Year’s Eve in Bratislava draws not only partygoers. A New Year’s Eve day Run across Bratislava’s several bridges welcomes sports enthusiasts. Both well-trained and wanna-be runners join those on roller blades and fast walkers, as they make their way along the Danube bank and across Bratislava’s bridges.

In recent years, the city has taken steps to make its New Year’s Eve celebrations more considerate of the environment and the well-being of animals. Fireworks, a traditional part of the festivities, have been banned to prevent the stress and harm they cause to wildlife and pets. This thoughtful decision reflects the city’s commitment to balancing celebration with care for its natural surroundings and animal residents.

What the hell are Fašiangy?

After the New Year, the carnival period starts. In Slovakia, it is known as fašiangy. Traditionally, this is the time of having fun before Lent starts and even nowadays, it is the period during which a lot of big dance parties and balls are organised. Fašiangy for Slovaks means having fun, celebrating, and eating all the traditional, sometimes not so healthy, delicacies which even those diet-conscious do not refuse this time of the year.

The last three days of the carnival time are the peak of the period. Various parties and gatherings are organised in the city especially for children where people come dressed in masks, not unlike in other European cities.

Where to go when it is freezing cold

January and February undoubtedly get pretty cold in this part of Europe. Temperatures regularly dropping below zero offer visitors a great excuse to explore Bratislava’s indoor attractions. Daytime is perfect for experiencing the city’s centrally located art galleries: the Gallery of the City of Bratislava (GMB) and the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) are easily accessible in the Old Town section.

For those who prefer modern art, the privately run Nedbalka Gallery, whose architecture is often compared to the Guggenheim, is well worth a visit. And don’t miss the Bratislava City Gallery’s Pálffy Palace located in a beautifully reconstructed 14th-century gothic palace holding a rich variety of art collections.

Evenings are for the theatre. Fans of classical music and dance may book a ticket for an opera or ballet in the Slovak National Theatre. These timeless arts transcend language barriers and visitors will find themselves surrounded not only by locals, but also by regular visitors from neighbouring Austria.

Cafe hopping

Between visiting all the amazing galleries, enjoy the unique central European coffee culture. Cafes reminiscent of old time Bratislava–when Slovak, Hungarian, and German were casually spoken by locals.

The cafes offer a variety of cakes and cookies to go with that coffee; to get a taste of the region, have a couple of bratislavské rožky. This fine, crescent-shaped pastry with a poppyseed or walnut filling and a glossy surface may shortly receive recognition under the EU’s protected geographical status scheme. Or go for the good old strudel, or štrúdľa in Slovak, the emblematic taste of Central Europe.