Take a stroll through the centre of the town. Bratislava has one of the smallest historical centers around but the charm is more concentrated. The streets have been completely renovated over the last ten years, bringing life back here. Since then a multitude of cafes, bars and restaurants of all kinds have opened here, accompanied by a few souvenir shops and fashion stores. On warm days almost every cafe has an outdoor seating section in the street, bustling with life and giving the city a unique cozy feeling.
When it comes to sightseeing, Bratislava Castle generally is a must and is already opened after the reconstruction. You can visit also Slavin memorial for some really astounding views of the city. It's a calm and romantic spot but beware, it can get really windy up there. The City Museum located in the Old Town Hall offers visitors climbing up the steep stairwells of the clock tower or seeing the town's historical dungeons, an exhibition that was quite outdated but still scary in 2008.
In summer, you can also visit Bratislava Zoo (http://www.zoobratislava....), providing a nice walk between the animal enclosures, the latest addition being some rare white tigers. The facilities of the zoo are slowly being renovated to attract more visitors and the zoo is a favourite for families on sunny days. You can also go to the Botanical Gardens of Comenius University Botanická 3, take trams No 1, 4, 5, 9 or 12 to stop Botanická záhrada for quiet and peaceful strolls in this green space.
For a relaxed afternoon in the park, head either to Sad Janka Kráľa park on the right bank of the river Danube and next to Aupark shopping centre, the oldest public park in central Europe, relax at the embankments on both sides of the river or head to Horský park Forest Park north off Slavin memorial for a civilized stroll through the forest. There's a small café here as well as a pub, the latter mostly populated by students from the nearby campus. For a more outdoorsy experience, hop on bus No 203/213 to Koliba and walk up to KamzÃk takes about 30 minutes uphill or try the newly renovated facilities of Partizánska lúka and Snežienka, all with extensive picknicking areas and loads of fireplaces for grilling. The area is several kilometers long and you can either walk here from the terminal station of bus No 212 Vojenska nemocnica or take a bus to Patronka and use bus No 43 driving up the area and back every 15-30 minutes depending on time of day/year as well as weather. Only cars with a permit can enter the area but there is a parking lot at the entrance, close to a bus stop. Snezienka's grass fields and the top of Kamzik hill are connected with a chairlift, operating Thursdays through Sundays and on holidays, the price for one ride being approx. â¬3.
In December, be sure to indulge in the scents and flavours of the traditional Christmas Market in front of Old Town Hall and on the Hlavne namestie main square. The market - compared to the ones in Prague and Vienna - is smaller, but has a much friendlier, almost family-like atmosphere and feels much more traditional and less overtly commercialized than others in the region. The people of Bratislava love to meet here for a drink and a bite to eat; try the 'varene vino' mulled wine.
Slovakia is a member of the European Union, therefore, any citizen of a European Union, European Economic Area country or Switzerland can work and live there without restrictions.
Slovak is the official language of Slovakia and is the primary language used in Bratislava. It is related to Czech and the two languages are mutually intelligible to a certain extent, leading some foreigners to assume incorrectly that they are dialects of each other. Czech and Slovaks have historically been able to understand each other without the need of a translator, although young people in both countries have less exposure to each other's language nowadays and hence their understanding may no longer always be perfect. Russian is also understood quite well by the older generations, but few Slovaks will be pleased to be addressed in Russian. You will do better trying to speak English or German among the younger population, or in fact with almost anyone. However, learning to say some Slovak words even if it's just a few phrases will surely endear yourself to the locals.Try "Dobrý DeÅ DOH-bree dyen," literally "good day" which is the universal greeting.To ask for something say "ProsÃm si... pro-seem see" or to say Please, simply "ProsÃm" pro-seem. Thank you is "Äakujem" DYA-koo-yem, or "Diki dee-kee" for short.