As New Year’s preparations go, starting the big day by running the risk of missing the entire thing as a result of a delayed or cancelled 3pm Ryanair flight from Stansted airport, is certainly the preferred method. Wasting no time after a short hop across into Bratislava, the first move is securing a Bolt taxi and heading straight to our sanctuary for the trip - Mama’s Design and Boutique hotel on Chorvátska - very close to the action but a tranquil escape from the revellers. Central Europe is where Bolt, a major ride-hailing app reigns supreme - no fuss, easy taxis on demand, for very little.
Totally unsure as to what Bratislava has to offer as a New Year’s eve experience, heading to Hviezdoslavovo square very quickly reveals that you have made the right choice. Facing the grand Slovak National Theatre lies a sea of eagerly awaiting locals, food stands flogging every type of sausage known to man and cheap local beer and wine, a massive NYE digital countdown clock donning the Slovak capital’s name, a glorious light show and the weirdly familiar sounds of Omega’s 1973 Eastern European classic “Pearls in her hair”, or Gyöngyhajú lány, in the band’s native Hungarian.
Soak up the (strangely nostalgic) atmosphere before setting the tone for the evening in the old town’s best kept secret - the Goblin bar. Heading down a backstreet just off the old town, you will find a wine cellar-esque doorway leading down to a dingy, bustling basement. Not for the faint hearted, this bar is rather inconveniently cash-only, offering inside smoking, €2-ish beers and cheap shots - the perfect recipe for a total disaster. Packed with locals, a shocking number of Brits escaping the fireworks back in London and a number of weekend warriors visiting from nearby Austria and Hungary, Goblin Bar is a great venue to kickstart your night.
After almost forgetting the main event due to the lack of light and oxygen in the bar, it's time to head off. A quick meander around the old town reveals a bustling and active nightlife, blissfully lacking the chaotic energy of a major European city about to explode with new year’s energy. Leaving the epicentre of the old town, the vicinity is strewn with impressively cool coffee shops, bars and restaurants and all your go-to American hotel chains, with locals frantically buying up bottles of questionable local champagne from supermarkets ahead of the big countdown. Peering across the iconic Danube to the residential south of the city, Petržalka, Bratislava’s infamous UFO bridge sits imperiously, lit-up and overseeing the New Year’s revellers. A true architectural icon, the SNP Most (as it is officially referred to) is the symbol of Bratislava, and one of our favourite sights in Central Europe. For full details on the SNP, check out our piece mapping the city’s finest spots for those inclined towards some architectural sightseeing, including the completely insane Slovak Radio building.
Heading back over to Hviezdoslavovo square, it was disappointing to hear that the “official” fireworks display was not going to take place, in a move that appeared to break from age-old tradition in the city. That said, the unofficial firework handlers seemed to be hard at work. Before long, the clock strikes 12 and the huge “Bratislava 2023” display seamlessly transforms into “Bratislava 2024” marking a jubilant, merry and optimistic start to the new year. Fireworks, drinking, dancing and all the usual celebrations run on until the very early hours. After a couple more quick drinks, you head back to your hostel or hotel well-fed, with little damage to the wallet and a stellar first impression of Bratislava. X
Bratislava has it all for New Year’s Eve celebrations. We found return flights for less than £70 each, easy and affordable hotel options, no need to book ahead for restaurants and bars and reliable taxis across the city. Easygoing and fun, no fuss is the order of the day for a New Year’s night out in one of Europe’s unfairly labelled “less-popular destinations”.
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