Experience in Bratislava, Slovakia by Iveta

What is it like to live in Bratislava? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I come from the north of Slovakia so I miss trees and forests here and I have a feeling that everything is so far and you just travel. I hate weather here. It is so windy here and in summer here is so hot and sultry. And some people here are... strange. Sometimes when I travel by tram to school I am told that I am just village person from the east and spent their money to study here and I just stare: what? But I think that life of Erasmus student here is cool because when somebody says you something you don´t understand and don´t care and you can go to party and enjoy the life because Erasmus students here must not study as hard as we must. So I think that when someone wants come here to Erasmus he should take his friends and come to the party.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bratislava?

I have no idea because I do lots of things to school and I have little free time. But parties in Mlynská dolina (this is the biggest student´s campus in Bratislava) are really funny.

How much does it cost to live in Bratislava?

I don´t think that things are expensive here, but Slovaks earn little money so I am used to save. And my German friend told that he did not believe me that it is more expensive here than in Germany.

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Bratislava? Is there any advice you can give?

When you are Erasmus student you get a place in student hostel, university takes care of you. But you can also rent flat.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

In Slovakia we eat soup and main meal. I eat in school cantine, usually some meat and rice and I really like soups. But even you can choose some vegetarian meal (usually something sweet like pancakes or fried cheese of tofu cheese) there is no separate menu card for vegetarians of vegans. There are many milky products and meat in our food.

What places would you recommend visiting in Bratislava?

I like castle Devín, cycle way to Austria and I like to skate along dam. I also like Old Town in evening and ballet performance in the historical building of Slovak national theatre.

Is it good to eat out in Bratislava? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Here are many places you can eat. I used to eat in the pub "Zelený strom" every Sunday because meal costs half price on Sunday and there are also concerts, so you can enjoy music also.

Is the nightlife good in Bratislava? Where is good to go?

In the pub "Zelený strom" there are latino parties on Friday and I really enjoyed few of them and I would like to go to some party in the "KC Dunaj" and "La Fiesta". I have heard that parties there are cool. In many pubs is allowed to smoke inside and I really hate it because you stink then. But it is a little bit problem to get to your housing in night if you don´t take taxi, because night bus goes one an hour and there could not be a place for you so you rather walk.

What advice would you give future students heading to Bratislava?

Be prepared for chaos.

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