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| Country: | Slovak Republic |
| Coordinates: | 48°08' N 17'06' E |
| Area: | 368 km2 (142 sq mi) |
| Population: | 432,801 |
| Language: | Slovak |
| Currency: | Euro |
| Time Zone: | CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) |
They call it the Little Big City and it the ideal geographic location that give Bratislava the fullness of its character. Straddling the Danube with the Old Town to the North and the New Town to the South, Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and the crossroads of Austro-Hungarian history. The city borders both Hungary and Austria and the influence of these countries can be found in the Baroque architecture, the spicy food and the spirited culture of the Slovak people. The juxtaposition of the ancient gothic castle and the UFO-inspired New Town Bridge is a sign of a city that respects its past but is looking toward its future.
Did you know... ?
- Bratislava was formerly part of Czechoslovakia and is the second youngest capital in Europe
- The narrowest house in Europe can be found at Michalska 15 between Michael's Tower and Michael's Gate
- Slovakia has a strong tradition of wine cultivation and romantic bars and cellars can be found throughout the capital
- Hockey is the national sport. The Slovak men's national team won gold at the 2002 World Championships and the country hosted the 2011 World Championship
- The parachute was invented in the Slovak Republic by Stefan Branic
- The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, a part of the larger Habsburg Monarchy territories from 1536 to 1783
- In 1805, diplomats of emperors Napoleon and Francis II signed the fourth Peace of Pressburg in the Primate's Palace, after Napoleon's victory in the Battle of Austerlitz
- A curiosity is the underground (formerly ground-level) restored portion of the Jewish cemetery where 19th-century Rabbi Moses Sofer is buried, located at the base of the castle hill near the entrance to a tram tunnel
- The VW Touareg is produced in Bratislava, and the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 are partially built there