Planning a Trip

Arriving

By Plane -- Bus no. 61 connects Bratislava airport with the main train station, Hlavná Stanica. The journey takes about 25 minutes. An Airport Shuttle service (tel. 02/4363-2305; www.airportshuttle.sk) is available, with prices starting at 400 Sk ($13/£7). If you are arriving in Vienna Schwechat airport, buses run hourly to Bratislava's main bus terminal. The ride takes 70 minutes and costs about $10 one-way and $16 return. Several operators maintain regular car and minibus service between Schwechat and Bratislava (www.bratislavahotels.com). The price for up to four passengers is 2,000 Sk ($66/£37).

City Layout

The area of most interest to visitors is the Old Town (Staré Mesto) and the adjacent Castle area, all lying north of the Danube. For restaurants, accommodations, and most of the attractions, you'll rarely stray from this area.

Getting Around

On Foot -- The best way to see Bratislava and in the Old Town is to walk. Distances are not far, but wear comfortable shoes, since the cobblestones are not kind to heels.

By Tram -- Bratislava's tram system is comprehensive, though for traveling around the Old Town and the immediate area, you won't need it. Ticket prices vary by time. A 10-minute ticket, the cheapest, costs 14 Sk (50¢/25p). A 30-minute ticket costs 18 Sk (60¢/35p). A ticket for large pieces of luggage costs 7 Sk (25¢/15p). You can also buy day or multiday tickets. A 1-day pass costs 90 Sk ($3/£1.65). Buy tickets from newsdealers or ticket machines. Validate tickets on entering the tram and hold onto them until the end of the ride. The fine for riding without a ticket is 1,800 Sk ($60/£33). Trams generally run from 5am to 11pm. More information is available on the Bratislava Transport Company website: www.dpb.sk.

By Bus -- Bratislava has an extensive network of buses and trolleys, and these are generally the only ways of reaching the more far-flung parts of the city. The ticketing is the same as for trams. Validate your ticket on entering the bus or trolley. Buses generally run from 5am to 11pm.

By Taxi -- Taxis are relatively cheap and easy to find. Hail them on the street, at taxi stands, or call by phone. Watch that the driver turns on the meter, since dishonest drivers, relatively rarely now, may try to cheat you. Fares around town shouldn't be any higher than 150 Sk to 200 Sk ($5-$7/£2.75-£3.70). Two reputable agencies include Fun Taxi (tel. 02/16111) and Euro Taxi (tel. 02/16022).

By Bike -- The car-free Old Town is easily negotiated by bike, but there are few rental shops around. The rest of the city is less bike-friendly, with trolley buses, trams, and traffic to contend with.

Visitor Info

The main Tourist Information Center is located inside the Old Town (Klobucnícka ul. 2; tel. 02/5443-3715; www.bratislava.sk). The staff is efficient at supplying maps and suggestions of all kinds, as well as helping to arrange transportation and accommodations. The Bratislava Tourist Service, also in the Old Town (Ventúrska ul. 9; tel. 02/5464-1271; www.bratislava-info.sk) is a separate but equally helpful office, where you'll find plenty of maps and booklets as well as helpful suggestions on what to see and where to sleep. The office runs daily walking tours (in English and German). For a more fun tour, head to Hlavné nám. in the Old Town to catch the little red trolley through the Old Town. Tours last 30 minutes and are great for a quick orientation (tel. 0903-302-817; www.presporacik.sk). Nick's Bike Tours (Medená 15; tel. 0915-153-265; www.nicksbiketours.com) offers off-the-beaten-track bicycle and walking tours, both within Bratislava and in the surrounding countryside, from July 1 through October.