Bratislava, the charming capital of Slovakia, comes alive during the holiday season with its enchanting Christmas markets set against the backdrop of its historic Old Town. The Hlavné Námestie (Main Square) is located in the Old Town of Bratislava. Located in the center of the city and right off the square is the Old Town Hall, a complex of buildings from the 14th century that now houses the oldest museum in the city, The Bratislava City Museum. The Old Town Hall is the oldest city hall in the country and one of the oldest stone buildings left in Bratislava.
The tall tower was built approximately in 1370 and has been standing ever since. For Christmas during special extended opening hours, guests can buy tickets to go up into the Town Hall Tower to get a bird’s eye view of the Main Square Market. Once inside the tower, you can look out onto the square to admire the Christmas decor, lighted tree, and even see Michael’s Tower a few blocks away.
This market is the city’s main market with dozens of vendor booths serving traditional food and beverages and handmade Slovak gifts. The annual Christmas tree sits twinkling in the corner of the square next to a stage where musical performances occur each weekend. Booths at the market feature traditional beverages and foods of Slovakia but are mainly selling handmade goods and souvenirs. The markets in Bratislava are incredibly dedicated to sustainability by serving returnable glasses, compostable dishes, and maintaining a waste sorting system for recycling.
The Slovenská sporiteľňa Foundation continued their tradition of donating part of the Christmas Market proceeds to help end homelessness in Bratislava. Barbara Henterová, administrator of the Slovenská sporiteľňa Foundation stated “If we surpass more than 20,000 such payments, we will donate 10,000 euros to our long-standing partner, the non-profit organisation the VAGUS civic association.” Slocakians see the Christmas season as a time to give back and help others.
Hviezdoslavovo Námestie Market
Just a short walk away from the Main Square Market is Hviezdoslavovo Námestie. This market has more food & beverages stalls than at the main market, catering to those who enjoy the classic dishes of Slovakia. The market also has many drink stands where guests can sip on warm mulled wine, punch, and medovina -– a strong spirit made from honey. Various booths with souvenirs and handmade goods along with the food and beverage stands make up the more than 30 stands in the square.
The gastronomy stands included some of the more popular traditional foods such as ciganska pecenka (bread roll with meat, mustard, and onion), roasted chestnuts, and sweet or savory lokshe (thin potato pancakes). Our favorite food from this trip was from a stand here where I got a nutella lokshe and had to keep going back for more because it was just so delicious.
The Hviezdoslavovo Námestie Market area has a bit more space for stalls and visitors compared to Hlavné Námestie, making it not as crowded and easier to navigate. The tallest Christmas tree in the city stands as the center of the square, accompanied by an ice skating rink and performance stage with the backdrop of the Slovak National Theatre.
Every Sunday, the mayor of the Old Town along with church officials ceremoniously lights one candle on a large Advent wreath at 6:00 p.m. in the middle of the square. Other weekly events include Thursday performances from Old Town’s school students at 4:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday, concerts and groups of all styles on the main stage at 6:00 p.m..
Most Christmas Markets in Bratislava are open November 27 through January 6 daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. All markets are free to attend, but make sure to bring some spending money for gifts and tasty treats!