Trips

3 countries trip

Hainburg an der Donau

Hainburg an der Donau (picture: faxepl)

Bratislava is the only capital city directly bordering two other countries. The history of the city is inextricably linked with those two countries – Austria and Hungary.

Hop onto our polyglot bus and join our local guide Peter for a full day of exploring three countries in one day! The Hungarian town Mosonmagyaróvár and the Austrian Hainburg await us with their medieval charm, their rich history and delicious treats.

Let’s stop for lunch at a traditional Hungarian csárda and enjoy Austrian-style Melange coffee while watching the mighty Danube flow past. We will explore a medieval castle and finish our trip in a tiny and unique wine region for a taste of local wines before heading back to Bratislava just in time for dinner and the opening ceremony!

Devín

Devín Castle

At the confluence of the rivers Danube and Morava, there sits an ancient castle overlooking the plains to the west. Perched atop a steep cliff, flanked by the two rivers on one side and by the Carpathian mountains on the other, this spot has been of vital importance for millenia.

Devín castle is a symbol of national pride for Slovak people, but history and stunning views are not all it has to offer! A microclimate especially suitable for wine-making surrounds the castle and makes Devín home to a variety of white wine also called “Devín”. It is also the home of an endemic type of wine made from the fruits of the red and black currant plants.

Join our half-day trip to Devín castle and see the place where once the iron curtain divided East from West. Listen to medieval stories of war and intrigue and finish the tour with a wine tasting of red and black currant wine in the shadow of the most famous castle in Slovakia!

Bratislava walking tours

Slovak National TheaterIf Bratislava was a person, she would be a polyglot!

Throughout its past, Bratislava was buzzing with the sounds of German, Hungarian, Slovak, Yiddish and many other languages. Located in the place where the wide Hungarian plains meet the Carpathian mountains and the mighty river Danube, the city has been a place where cultures and languages meet since the times of the ancient Celts, Germans and Romans.

Because there is so much to see in Bratislava, we are offering not one, but two walking tours. They are conveniently timed in such a way that it is possible to participate in both – one after the other! You can choose from the following:

1. Castle & history

Bratislava Castle is probably the most iconic building in the city. It has been here in some shape or form for over two millennia. This, together with the magnificent views it offers, makes it a perfect spot to delve into the rich history of Bratislava.

This tour includes a hike up to Bratislava castle and focuses on telling the story of this unique city from ancient times until today. If you would like to learn why Bratislava is the way it is, then this is the tour for you!

At the end of the Castle & History Tour, there will be time to relax and drink some lemonade at a quiet, hidden spot next to the medieval city walls before the next tour starts.

2. City & current life

This is the fun & easy tour! Both when it comes to walking (no climbing the castle hill!) and the topics covered. With the history of Bratislava already told on the Castle & History Tour, this walk is free to focus on today.

Expect to learn about current affairs, local customs and get plenty of tips on where to go and what to do in Bratislava!

This tour explores the historic center of Bratislava with a focus on local sights, restaurants, cafes and other places of interest. It finishes with a transfer via public transport back to the Economic University.

3. Bratislava night walk (castle)

Bratislava by night

This walk is aimed at those who would like to go for a walk after straining their brains inside of the conference building all day long.

Our local guide will take you up to the castle, where you can listen to a few easy stories about Bratislava’s past & present while watching the sunset in the background. This walk won’t go as in depth into the history of Bratislava as the Castle & History Walking Tour, it’s more about relaxing after a long day, having fun and getting to know each other.

To top it all off, we will finish in a place with several legendary pubs. Known to the locals as the “devil’s triangle”, many a night and memory was lost in alcoholic reverie here and you can look forward to a truly local experience – tourists don’t know how to find the devil’s triangle!

4. Bratislava night walk (city)

This walk is aimed at those who would like to go for a walk after straining their brains inside of the conference building all day long.

During the day, Bratislava is a polite lady. Groups of tourists roam the streets, marvelling at the collection of romantic houses and baroque palaces. Locals enjoy a cold drink at one of the dozens of terraces in front of a wide variety of pubs and ice cream vendors are busy selling their sweet temptations.

But during the night, the city transforms into a seductive mistress, luring you into her intoxicating embrace with bright lights and a bohemian atmosphere!

Come and discover the nightlife of Bratislava with our local guide Michal! He will make sure to point out some of the most interesting and fun pubs and restaurants and entertain you with stories of nighttime mischief and adventures! And of course at the end of the walk, we can all sit down and relax at one of Bratislava’s most iconic pubs, where you can get good Slovak food and admire the jaw-dropping interior design dating back to the 19th century!

Svätý Jur hike + wine tasting

Just outside of Bratislava, on the southern slopes of the Carpathian mountain range, we can find the wine-producing town of Svätý Jur. For centuries, terraces of vineyards have been rising right outside its medieval city walls. Providing magnificent views of the southern plains, these vineyards are home to some of the best wines Slovakia has to offer.

Svätý Jur

Svätý Jur (picture: Tomáš Pír)

First, a hike through local vineyards and forests will bring us to the ruins of a medieval castle called “Biely kameň”. After listening to stories about the castle and the town beneath it, we will have included lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we will climb the terraces of vineyards and have an unforgettable wine tasting right where the grapes are grown, guided by a local winemaker with decades of wine-growing experience – can you imagine a better finish the the Polyglot Gathering 2019?