Ready to get in your festive feels? Head to Bratislava this Christmas-market season! Come November and December, the Slovak capital comes to life with Christmas cheer, and its streets are transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

Wrap up warm and cosy, explore the city streets and soak up the fun and festive atmosphere...

Where to go

The heart of the action is in the two main squares, Hlavne namestie and Hviezdoslav Square, where the most popular markets are set up. These are your traditional Christmas markets, with wooden stalls to wander around and browse the food, drink and gifts. There’s a handful of other markets dotted throughout the city if you fancy a change of scenery, including the small markets by Bratislava Castle and the outdoor scene at Eurovea shopping centre.

What to eat

Love working your way around the stalls and trying a little bit of everything? Us too! Start with the savoury dishes and enjoy hearty flavours like ‘lokše’ (potato pancakes), roasted sausages, pork sandwiches and ‘kapustnica’ (warming cabbage soup). Next up, it’s all about the sweet treats like ‘trdelník’ (chimney cake) and crunchy honey cookies.

What to drink

Need to wash all that delicious food down? Round off your meal with a warm mug of mulled wine, honey mead or ‘hriato’ – spiced schnapps. If you’d prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, go for a classic hot chocolate. Festive and delicious!

What to buy

At Bratislava's Christmas market, traditional trinkets and souvenirs tend to reflect Slovak craftsmanship. Keep your eyes peeled for hand-painted glass ornaments, wooden toys and intricate, handmade ceramics.

Beautifully embroidered linens and lace, known as ‘čipka’, also make popular gifts. You can pick up locally produced honey products, including candles and mead, as well as traditional folk art and festive gingerbread cookies in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

What to do

It’s not all about the stalls here, so once you’ve got your market fix, there’s still plenty to enjoy! Listen to whimsical Christmas concerts in churches or at the grand Slovak Philharmonic concert hall. There’s also an ice-skating rink, festive light displays and special winter river cruises on the Danube.

Bratislava Castle and St. Martin's Cathedral host seasonal events too, while theatres put on a variety of special Christmas holiday performances. Walking tours and nativity scenes add to the charming, festive atmosphere throughout the city.