Slovakia - Eastern Europe - page 614

were keen on building up the Slovak capital as a way of gaining Slovak support. You
can see the results of this rapid buildup in the high-rise residences on the outskirts of
town. The largest of these Communist-era housing projects, Petr z alka, just across the
SNP Bridge from the Old Town, holds something like 150,000 people.
Bratislava has played an important role in Hungarian history. During the Turkish
occupation of Hungary, the Hungarians moved their capital here. No less than 11
Hungarian royals were crowned in Bratislava's St. Martin's cathedral (Dóm Sv. Mar-
tina) throughout the years.
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 ( & 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 termi-
nal. 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).
BY TRAIN, BUS, CAR, OR BOAT
For details, see the general “Getting There” section on p. 610.
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. Dis-
tances 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 gen-
erally 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 gener-
ally 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