BRATISLAVA – MTLG Destination Update 2024

A city fast modernising while staying true to its tradition as the former coronation outpost of Hungarian kings, Bratislava oozes the air of a modern city open to all. It feels as inclusive, welcoming, and quirky as its bigger brother, Vienna. At the same time, the Slovakian capital’s cityscape is fast-changing, and glass skyscrapers are replacing old buildings at a fast rate. Plans are also afoot to construct a marina on the Danube, transforming the riverside into a lively hub. Despite the imposing newly-erected buildings, including Zaha Hadid’s towers and the sprawling downtown with its Nivy station and shopping centre, Art-Noveau buildings are impossible to overlook. Luckily untouched during WWII, Bratislava’s landmarks remain predominantly original, with stucco details crowning some of the city’s innermost palaces.

The heritage of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is tangible in the city centre. As Bratislava is just a half-hour drive from the former imperial capital, the cultural sphere was influenced predominantly by Viennese trends. After 1918, though, Slovak culture began to be nurtured more extensively. The Old Market Hall is a case in point. Here, local farmers sold their fresh produce on weekends, while art exhibitions invited the local intelligentsia during weekdays. Today, the Old Market Hall is home to food festivals, cultural events and art exhibitions. With a growing IT industry, the city is also becoming a hotbed for international events and conferences. Not least, the city is a major automotive hub, home to a vast Wolksvagen plant. Bratislava edges out its competitors with excellent walkability coupled with affordable prices. Unsurprisingly, global firms have been opening subsidiaries all over town.

Bratislava has transformed into the regional centre for musical festivals. Thousands of music fans flock to the Slovakian capital to listen to some of the world’s most renowned musicians. Recently, festival-goers broke the attendance record in the country when some 120,000 fans bobbed their heads to the legendary Australian rock band AC/DC. Coming up is the Lovestream Festival, headlined by 50 Cent, Rita Ora and other stars this year. At the end of August, Bratislava will also welcome the Uprising Festival, which has been organised for the past sixteen years.

One of the highlights on the cultural calendar for Bratislava is the annual Coronation Days, honouring the coronation tradition. For over two centuries, Bratislava was the site of the pompous coronation of monarchs. A new cultural addition has recently opened doors in the capital. After a thorough renovation, The Slovak National Gallery now houses exhibitions dedicated to modern and contemporary artists. One of the exhibitions showcases Jozef Sušienka, a sculptor whose works can be found in many parks of Bratislava, blending organically with its surroundings. Besides music festivals, Bratislava is on the up as a meeting destination. Recently, the Slovakian capital hosted the International Starmus Festival and the Bratislava Summit 2024: Start with Children, which convened decision-makers and politicians designing human-centric cities. The Monocle magazine lauded the event as a world-premier of an event focusing on building better – for future generations. Despite still being in the shadow of Vienna, Bratislava has established itself as the more budget-friendly and incredibly accessible meeting destination in Central Europe. We suggest you reserve your ticket for one of the city’s plentiful festivals and enjoy the tranquillity of the city next to the Danube.

Hotels in Bratislava are diverse enough to cater to various event organisers. Among the most spacious are the Sheraton Bratislava Hotel, Grand Hotel River Park and the DoubleTree by Hilton Bratislava, alongside the legendary Radisson Blu Carlton Bratislava. In terms of size, the room capacities of Bratislava are ideal for events with up to 2,000 participants. The city could benefit from new luxury boutique hotels for more design-savvy travellers.

Wine tasting in the dark

In one of the city’s oldest cellars, a unique wine tasting has been making waves in the oenology community in Slovakia. The wine tasting in the dark takes attendees on a journey across flavours and scents of the best Slovakian wines. Guided by an experienced sommelier, the one-hour tasting invites guests to savour five different wines whilst discerning the nuanced fragrances and aromas. In a pitch-dark cellar, the darkness brings out flavours that otherwise remain hidden.

Find out more about the tasting here: https://www.tmavadegustacia.sk/en/.

Slovakian winemaking has long been dwarfed by winemakers in neighbouring Austria and Hungary. However, entrepreneurial winemakers with specialised know-how have been doubling down on reviving old wine sorts and making them known internationally. At Elesko Winery, they have adopted a modern approach to winemaking. Their event halls double as art galleries. Their wines have become must-haves at some of the country’s best restaurants. Slovakian wine sorts include Dunaj (the Slovak name for the Danube) and Devín (named after the renowned castle). We recommend visiting the Small Carpathians, home to the oldest wine region in the country. You can taste the classic Veltlinske Zelené wine or the local riesling here. In vino veritas!

Bratislava Coronation Days
(16 – 18 August 2024)
W: https://www.visitbratislava.com/bratislava-coronation-days/

Lovestream Festival
(16 – 18 August 2024)
W: https://lovestream.sk/en/home

L’Etape Slovakia by Tour de France
(25 August)
W: https://www.visitbratislava.com/events/bicycle-race-for-public-letape-by-tour-de-france/

Trans Danube Swim
(1 September 2024)
W: https://lovestream.sk/en/home

Bratislava Music Festival
(20 September – 6 October 2024)
W: https://www.bhsfestival.sk/

The gastronomy world is sleeping on Bratislava’s up-and-coming cuisine par excellence. Michelin-worthy restaurants are mushrooming across town, and it is a question of time before the renowned French guide comes to Slovakia. Bringing the most awe-inspiring attention to detail and microscopic touches to their plates, the Irin Restaurant has taken the crown as Bratislava’s best new fine-dining establishment. The young team hustling around the clock serves sublime dishes, their signature sourdough bread and twists traditional dishes awe-inspiring. The culinary revolution in Bratislava is sweeping across the city. We also suggest booking a table at Narbon Restaurant, serving Italian and international classics. For dinner with a view, look no further than the UFO Restaurant. Slovakian wines, if overlooked, are among Central Europe’s best. Let the experienced sommeliers guide you through the nuanced and complex world of Slovakian wines while enjoying the local gastronomy.

The Danube was the impetus for the swift development of some of Europe’s glistening capitals. One of them is Bratislava. On the banks of the mighty river, the Slovakian capital transformed from a local settlement to a respected regional and cosmopolitan city. The city has been hosting several international festivals and events that bring thousands to Slovakia. Packed in a boutique package but offering a sea of options for event organisers, this meeting destination is solidifying its position as an exceptionally accessible destination. Thanks to a culinary revolution taking the city by storm, the city will also attract foodies in the future. Whilst nurturing its culture and accepting new trends, Bratislava is a prototype of a mid-sized destination focusing on quality rather than quantity, as demonstrated by the cars coming out of its state-of-the-art automotive plants.

Written by Jure Čad

NOTE: The MTLG Destination Update is not a paid advertisement. The Bratislava MTLG Destination Update was prepared based on a personal visit of Kongres Magazine’s assessor in August 2024. Based on the evaluation, Bratislava will be evaluated according to the Meeting Experience Index methodology. The MTLG evaluation will be prepared by the end of 2024.