Bratislava Shopping

Obchodna seems to be the best shopping area of the city. Here you will find a wide variety from trendy shops to youth hostels & small pubs to expensive restaurants. The street runs about 2/3 of a kilometer from Michael's Gate to the large Y intersection with Mickiewiczova and Radlinskeho. During my visit, there was a tram route down Obchodna, but it was closed to all other vehicles...I think the tram route no longer runs down this street.

Though hosting many nice stores and restaurants, this area is actually known as a very cheap place for backpackers to stay when visiting Bratislava.

If you want to buy some local books or pickup a replacement for that tour book you lost in the bar the night before, Modul is a good place to stop in the Old Town. Centrally located at Laurinska 14, the new and modern Modul has everything from children's books to cookbooks. There is a section of books about Bratislava and Slovakia in numerous languages from English to Japanese. We purchased a nice little tour book for 187 SKK and a map of Bratislava for 56 SKK.

Whilst we were in Bratislava 29th Nov to 1st Dec 2005 the Christmas market was in residence in the main square in front of the Town Hall.

Stalls were selling local crafts, confectionery, christmas ornaments etc etc.

There was also a great row of stalls selling food both local and international and great mulled wine.

I bought a really nice and reasonably priced glass bauble which could be lit with a tealight.

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The Old Town Indoor Market has been renovated and reopened a few years ago. On two levels it is a lively place with numerous food stands, souvenir shops, little cafes and even a small pub.
The Old Town Indoor Market is a popular lunch spot where local specialities can be enjoyed for comparably low prices.

Au Park is the big mall in Bratislava. It looks really nice and caters to a more high end market. It has a real western, American feel to it which can be a bit annoying. If you crave a more authentic Slovak experience, head over the bridge and hit the old town. Still, if you're moving and you want to get clothes or other necessary things quickly, with out fuss, not at Tesco and want some one who mostly likely speaks English, Au Park is the place.

In Bratilsava I got to know a Cristal Secret which I would like to share with you....
The Real Bohemia Cristal which most of us think is Czeck was orginally done in Slovakia as it was cheaper to produce over here then labelled Bohemia Cristal and exported allover the world... so if you love Cristal go get it from Slovakia and here at Katka they have really nice Cristal gifts to take home and impress all your friends and relatives when they visit your home :)

What to buy: Any kind of crystal gifts are wonderful

What to pay: Can't give you an exact amount but its much cheaper than what I bought from the Czeck Republic, so check it out when in Bratislava.

In Aupark you can find pretty much every much everything you'd expext from a western mall. The epitome of capitalism in a post communist country!

There is a bookshop selling English language books as well and a cinema and various places to eat.

What to buy: Pretty much whatever you want

This place had fallen into disrepair until 1999, when it was revamped by a British architectural firm to reflect its original design elements. It's a very simple, open market with metal accents all around. There are supposed to be as many as 90 stores here, but I don't think there were nearly that many that were actually operating, giving the place a still slightly disused feeling even if it no longer is neglected and in disrepair.

What to buy: Fruits, vegetables and various other goods.

Shops are open on Monday through Friday, 6am to 6pm, on Saturday 6am to 1pm and on Sunday 6am to 11am.