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O Bratislave / About Bratislava

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Basic Info

Bratislava Capital of Slovakia, Central Europe

Nickname Beauty on the Danube, Little Big City

Population 491,061 (largest city in Slovakia, 20x smaller than New York City)

Density 1,336 / km2 (3,460 / sq mi)

Area 367.584 km2 (142 sq mi, 4x smaller than Greater London city area)

First mentioned 907 AD

Coat of Arms of Bratislava

Currency Euro (Exchange rate of former Slovak currency “koruna” was 1 € = 30.1260 Sk)

Elevation 134 m (440 ft)

Lowest Point Danube River (126 m, that is 124 m higher than altitude of Washington, D.C.)

Highest Point Devínska Kobyla (514 m, that is 60% of height of the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa)

Interesting Facts

*Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital in the world that borders two independent countries.

*Bratislava is the political, cultural and economic centre of Slovakia. It is the seat of the Slovak president, the parliament and the Slovak Executive. It is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important cultural and educational institutions. Many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions also have headquarters there.

*The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, a part of the larger Habsburg Monarchy territories, from 1536 to 1783 and has been home to many Slovak, Hungarian and German historical figures.

*the city has its own name in a few languages: formerly Slovak - Prešporok; German- Pressburg or Preßburg; Latin - Posonium; Hungarian - Pozsony; Serbian - Пожун, Požun; the unofficial one - Suburb of Vienna

*Austrian capital Vienna is distant only 60 km. Both Bratislava and Vienna are stretched on the banks of Danube river and the boat cruise from Vienna to Bratislava takes only 90 minutes.

*Bratislava became the capital city of the Slovak Republic on 21 July 1939.

*Bratislava is the most visited city in Slovakia, nearly 1 million visitors in 2013.

*Bratislava has an iconic food called Bratislavský rožok. It’s a sweet pastry snack that has a crescent shape.

*Petržalka - the largest borough of Bratislava - is the most densely populated residential district in Central Europe.

*A cycling bridge connecting Austria and Bratislava should have been named after Chuck Norris, but officials rejected this name and named it a "Bridge of Freedom"

*Slavín memorial above Bratislava is actually an official cemetery for 6,845 Soviets soldiers, who died in 1945 during the liberation of Bratislava