Shopping in Bratislava

Shops of all types tend to open at about 10 a.m. in Bratislava (large retail stores open sooner), and close around 6 p.m. (large retail stores and shopping malls are open to at least 9 p.m.), Monday to Friday. Almost all shops are open on Saturday at least until lunch. Later on Saturday and all day Sunday, large retailers and shopping malls are sure to be open, other shops generally are not.

Most places will accept payment by major credit card. The main exception is small neighbourhood shops, and even some of them take credit cards. Payment in EUR is always accepted, but very few businesses accept other currencies.

Shopping in Old Town
The beautiful streets of historical Old Town Bratislava are lined mostly with shops offering the finest luxury merchandise, and priced accordingly. An adjacent section of central Bratislava, focused around Obchodna ulica, offers a very different mix of shops, mostly inexpensive.

Street markets in Bratislava
Mostly outside of Old Town but still easily reachable, Bratislava's street markets are real gems if the season is right.

Shopping malls and shopping centres
There are at present four shopping centres in Bratislava, all of which designed in the style of shopping malls that have sprung up around the world in recent decades. Their specific style and attractions differ slightly, but all will feel familiar. Each has a cinema, numerous cafes and restaurants (some of which are exceptionally good), a food court, a grocery supermarket and approximately 50 to 100 conventional services and shops, most of which specialise in clothing. In addition, each of the four offers certain special features:

• Polus (close to sports stadiums) – cinemas, special events; easiest access by public transportation
• Aupark (across the Danube from Old Town) – cinemas, bowling, indoor water play area, spa, special children’s attractions in summer; relatively easy access by city bus
• Avion (close to Bratislava Airport, on the edge of town) – IMAX cinema, ice skating rink, special indoor children’s attractions; very easy parking
• Soravia Palace – (close to Zlate Piesky beach, on the edge of town) – newest mall, with especially active special events; easy parking and moderately easy access by public transportation

Apart from the malls, numerous modern shopping centres are springing up in many parts of the city, especially in new office buildings (closed on weekends) or near hypermarkets (open all weekend). These usually look like mini shopping malls, and have similar retailers, except they have only about ten or twenty shops and two or three restaurants or cafes.

Also, little by little western European retailers are spreading into the neighbourhoods. These self-service shops make for an easy shopping experience similar to the most modern shops in the world.

Tips : what to buy in Slovakia.