OT - Bratislava

Thinking of taking the better half on a mini break around December time once we finally get sorted with moving into our first place together and noticed some great deals on flights to Bratislava. I have never been myself but some of the photos look lovely. Has anyone been? If so what would you recommend to do there? Was thinking of going for a long weekend so around 3 nights.

 

I’ve only been on a stag do. Nice place, but will be bloody freezing in December.

 

Thought it was ok. The castle bit is nice and some decent pubs. Quite a bit smaller than I’d expected. Best thing about it for me was it’s proximity to Vienna - just a relatively short train journey.

 

Can imagine it will be, but will be freezing here too I imagine. I was tempted by the cheap flights and the supposed cheap beers.

 

Didn't realise it was so close to Vienna, that would make a great trip for one of the days, is the train cheap to Vienna?

 

Been a good 10 years since I was there, but cost hardly anything (vaguely remember 5 euros each way) when I was there. A quick google just now seems to say approx 6 euros.
Quick journey with decent views through the countryside.

 

Really good value then, thanks

 

Can you imagine wearing a Balaclava in Bratislava?

 

We've been earlier this year for a long weekend. It's a nice place to visit (not for longer than a weekend though). And doing a day trip to Vienna is worth it (without having to pay Vienna hotel prices). We took the ferry out and the train back, which was obviously a bit more expensive. You might as well just take the train out and back, especially in winter when you wouldn't want to sit on the outside deck anyway. Not sure it even sails during winter anyway.

 

You'd struggle to eat Baklava with a Balaclava in Bratislava though!

 

Whilst playing a balalaika.

 

Something to add, they don't have Uber in Bratislava. But they do have Bolt, which is basically the same system. I suppose the bus is cheaper, but I think it was less than 10 quid to get us from the airport and to get dropped off at our hotel in the city centre and then the same the other way around when we left, which was more convenient with luggage than the bus as well. There are plenty of taxis on it that you never have to wait long.

 

I can't speak for Bratislava as I've not been, but if you're looking at travelling to Europe in December, I'd very much consider places with Christmas markets, or that have a lovely wintery feel.

The best Christmas market city i've been is Cologne. But the city itself isn't that impressive.

I've been to Austria, Salzburg and Innsbruck and they all have a lot going for them. Vienna is beautiful, huge buildings, markets galore and some modernity to it too, though it is a good size.

Innsbruck is lovely and you can go up into the mountains and just look down on the city (the flight drops into a valley which is quite entertaining!) and you can see the ski jump site (with a cemetery beneath!). Good markets and food is pretty Germanic too.

Salzburg is more touristy, but probably my third preference, though the stiegl brewery was good.

I've been to Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius in winter months and yes, it can be very cold, but some of the buildings are lovely and there is a huge amount of history from the war years to the end of soviet occupation. They are all good value too and hotel rates aren't very high in winter months.

I'd also recommend Wroclaw and Gdansk in Poland. Both extremely good value. Wroclaw has lots of little gnomes you can hunt for, squares and markets and some decent beer too. Gdansk is by the water and you have lots of WW2 things with the influence of Lech Walesa and the solidarity movement.

It depends what sort of thing you like and what you want to spend your time doing.

If it's snowy, I'd say Tallinn (though it can get very very cold, like -15 cold, though I think that's more likely in Jan and Feb), if you like bigger grander cities, i'd say Vienna, if you like Mountains, i'd say Innsbruck and if you like markets I'd say Cologne and if you like water and good value i'd say Gdansk.

More than happy to share any research with you if you plump for any of those.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

will take a look into some of those thanks, always good to have a few options to consider.

 

Check out Rekyavik (sp) Iceland you'll be pleasantly surprised - somewhere different!

 

been wanting to go there for a while, it is on the list to go to for sure.

 

it's completely different to anywhere else I've been to - unlike most other tourist' destinations in Reykjavik you're so aware of the scenery the atmosphere the lakes, geysers etc. and you're not sort of running round trying to see everything.
When I went flew from Leeds/Bradford - highlight was swimming in the warm blue Lagoon.

 

I’m flying to Bratislava early December and then going on train £6 to Budapest. Go the latter every December for Xmas markets etc.

 

I'd definitely recommend a trip to Iceland. You need to start saving now if you want to buy a pint though

 

With the very weak pound, I'd deffo rule out Scandi group of countries. Baltics and Poland definitely the best value.