Bratislava, thankfully for us Cheapos, is a pretty reasonable city.  Most museums here do charge an entrance fee, of which the average cost is SKK80 (just over $4).

But, one of Bratislava’s national treasures is free and open to the public every day except for holidays and Mondays.

Bratislava Castle sits high on a hill. It’s a national landmark you simply can’t miss, visually or otherwise. The castle itself probably dates back to the 9th-Century and was first inhabited by the Celts. It’s known for the four, massive towers at each of its corners; these giants seem to dot the sky with importance.

Today, the Castle houses the Museum of History - an impressive collection of art, artifacts, and architectural marvels - all under the umbrella of the Slovak National Museum. Exhibits at the Castle include art and sculpture by Slovaks, venues exploring Slovakian culture’s reach across Europe, and lots of military objects, ceramics, and items of folklore. Note: From time to time, some exhibits do charge a nominal admission fee, typically SKK60 (about $3).

To visit the grand collection and see parts of the old castle, pick up a free ticket, available at the visitor’s center on the premises.

Note: Much of the Castle will be undergoing planned renovation from 2008-2011. While the castle doesn’t have its own web site, you can check for more details via the Slovak National Museum page, where you can also learn more about the current exhibitions that open to the public.

Join us again tomorrow, Cheapos, for more free tips. Next stop? Brussels!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Photo by The Sly Gentleman

Everyone has heard of Munich’s Oktoberfest, but few people know of Bratislava’s Junifest, which will celebrate its fourth year this June, from June 8 through June 17, 2007.

This is a shame, because Slovak beer is excellent and the festival has a great program, and is very cheap. A ten-entry pass costs SKK550 (€16.25; $22) and includes a free Junifest beer glass, a discount card, vouchers, and ten raffle tickets.

And the festival is certainly not just about beer. Every night is a themed music night, rock, dance, R-n-B concerts as well as a men’s night and a ladies’ night, and also a performance by the Scorpions. The highlight of the festival: an attempt to break the Guinness Book of Records entry for the largest mass toast.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by antshez

Last Sunday the Twin City Line opened up for business after a long winter slumber. The ship connects the capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava via the Danube River three times a day. The journey takes about 75 minutes and the Twin City boats can accommodate up to 102 passengers.

The liner is not only a service to tourists but also another means of transport for locals of both cities as well as business people who would like to try an alternative to trains and cars. Ship passengers don’t have to worry about parking spaces or grumpy cab drivers—the liner takes passengers from city center to city center. Plus, the murky waters of the famous Danube afford great views along the way.

The cheapest one-way ticket costs €15 on weekdays and goes up to €17 on weekends and holidays. Kids up to two years old travel for free, and there’s a 50% reduction for children under 12. Twin City Line is also wheelchair-accessible and accepts dogs and bikes.

For the month of April, 2007, the line is offering a child-free-with-parent special. The offer is valid for all routes but can only be reserved by telephone: +43 1-588-80. For more information, please email twincityliner@ddsg-blue-danube.at.

Popularity: 7% [?]

photograph courtesy of Alex Robertson Textor

We were pleased to open our FT this morning to find a Special Report on Slovakia, written by Robert Anderson and Katka Krosnar. We love these four-page FT Special Reports. They’re pithy and they cast a broad net.

The FT’s Slovakia report notes the booming Bratislava property market and forecasts continued growth in the Slovak capital. Among the evidence marshalled to support this claim, the authors cite the expected completion of a direct motorway between Bratislava and Vienna later this year and the planned expansion of the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone to include Slovakia in 2008.

The report also outlines the tourist pressures on Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains, where environmentalists and developers are engaged in a pitched battle over the future of the region.

And of course, there’s an interesting corporate profile on SkyEurope. The FT profile observes that SkyEurope is looking to expand to airports in Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine—all of which would be welcome inclusions on the low-cost map.

We suppose this would be a good time to mention that SkyEurope’s €5 flight sale has been extended to February 25, 2007.

Popularity: 3% [?]