Life in Bratislava

When most expats step off the plane into a new life in Slovakia they have a head full of anxieties and misconceptions about the culture, lifestyle and laws here. Here’s a quick summary of the most common concerns.

GETTING AROUND BRATISLAVA

Most international flights arrive to Vienna International Airport, Austria which is about an hour away from Bratislava. There are taxis to be hailed, regular buses to be caught or car rentals to be used as means to arrive to Bratislava. Some flights arrive directly to Bratislava airport which is about 20 minutes by car to the City Centre.

For more information visit Vienna airport or Bratislava airport websites.

NEIGHBOURHOODS IN SLOVAKIA

Although small in terms of population, Bratislava is a wide-spread city and in some areas you can drive through what seems like rural countryside while still within the city limits.

SHOPPING AND MARKETS

Bratislava is full of small retailers whose prices are higher than on products found in big malls. You can usually find someone who speaks English in shops in the malls whereas small shop owners don’t really. Most shops accept credit cards. What may come as a surprise is that small shops usually close at 17:00 or 18:00 and are open only half a day on Saturday and are closed on Sunday and public holidays. On the other hand, malls are open from Monday until Sunday. They usually close at 21:00. The closest shopping mall in proximity to our school is Bory mall and is only about 5 minutes away by car.

With a trend of buying local farm products that are usually fresher and sometimes cheaper, many inhabitants tend to shop at their local market places. They can be found on Poľná (near the Medical Garden), Žilinská, Šancova, Mlynarovičova (Petržalka) and M. Sch. Trnavského (Dúbravka).