We took the train from Budapest. Do yourself a favor and download the MAV railroad app. You will be glad you did when the conductor comes through.
The station in Bratislava isn't anything to be proud of. But it functioned.
The Bolt driver was expensive and lazy, but he did get us within about 500m of our hotel. Could have gotten us about 30m away, but that would have required more effort.
The Boutique Hotel Arcadia was lovely and well located on the edge of the old town pedestrian area. Shower floods, but not my problem. Got a two-story room in the attic with a castle view. A bit pricy, but it's Bratislava.
Arrival day I had to let the 3-hour tour guide go home after 2 hours, before I strangled her. But the history was fascinating and the tour did provide some orientation for getting around on our own.
Ate a lot of overpriced, uninspiring food and stupid expensive beer (2-3x Budapest), served by the worst .... nvm. But the old town pedestrian area is charming and beautiful and easily worth a day.
The next morning the boat to Devin Castle and back was sort of fun. Devin Castle was so, so.
Then we discovered the UFO. A tad expensive, but good beer and drinks, great "bar food" and outstanding service (finally). And the views, well worth it. Ended up there for several hours and could easily return.
Do I recommend Bratislava? If you are in Vienna, have the time and want to see something different, absolutely. Too far to be worth visiting from anywhere lese other than Vienna. If on the way to Budapest, read about Győr, below. Just know that Bratislava's Old Town is a tourism dedicated zone with an economy, prices, and a level of restoration that reflects that. With a few exceptions the only Slovakians you will see are the ones selling you something. If you like District V in Budapest or the feel of Old Town in Prague, and prices in Vienna don't scare you, then you will enjoy this I suspect. For me, the new experience and learning history made it worth the effort. I am glad I came.
Third day, DayTrip.com back to Budapest via Győr and the Archabbey at Pannonhalma. Been to both but it’s been at least 10 years …..
First, know what DayTrip is and is not. It .. IS .. a long-distance Uber sort of thing. It .. IS NOT .. a tour service even though the website sort of gives that impression. When you choose a stop, that’s what the driver does, “he stops”. He may or may not (in my case “not”) know a thing about where he stopped. It’s up to you for an hour to figure it out.
I figured this out before the purchase, and I knew what to do at each stop so it was not an issue. Getting him to stop in Győr where I wanted him to stop never completely worked out, so we just go out and walked.
Győr Old Town: A lot like Bratislava Old Town but less crowded, less expensive, more authentic in that its doesn’t exist solely for the tourism. Tourists well mixed with locals on the streets. Good for a day trip from Budapest or Vienna (half way) by train or car.
The archabbey at Pannonhalma is sort of the high holy place of Hungarian Catholicism and worth the visit for the library alone. Try and time it when there is a concert or something else going on at the abbey and it will be a great trip. If you are in Győr you would be remiss if you didn’t make the 30 minute trip.