New Year’s Eve in Bratislava (source: Sme)
TRAVEL
Burning off holiday meals around Bratislava
If you're still full of Christmas fried carp, mayonnaise salad or other heavy festive foods, why not take advantage of Bratislava's location to burn it off and go into the Small Carpathians? There are plenty of routes to check out. The Slovak Spectator's Jana Liptáková has several suggestions where to go, . They are suitable for you even if you're an introvert.
Small Carpathian forests (source: Jana Liptáková)
Celebrations of Christmas past
Have you ever wondered how people living in the villages celebrated the Christmas holidays centuries ago? The Museum of the Orava Village, Žilina Region, set up as a village containing typical wooden buildings including peasant houses, larders, farmsteads, shepherd's huts, craftsmen's huts and more, is holding a series of special festive events. The 2-hour programme is designed so that you can enjoy the atmosphere of an old village in the Orava region, replete with carols and other traditions. Find out more here.
TIP: Lost mining castle brought back to life through app.
Wave the year goodbye
During the last December weekend, the popular forest railway in Čierny Balog, a small village in central Slovakia, will dispatch out-of-the-ordinary train services. Come and wave the year 2023 a final goodbye with three trains on Saturday and four on Sunday. Don't worry, the cars are heated and will provide wine and other goodies. For more information, click here.
TIP: Start the new year with a hike.
MISCELLANEOUS FUN
Go ice skating
During the weekend, ice rinks will be open to the public in many towns and villages all over Slovakia, including Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Zavar, Želiezovce, Komárno, Nitra, Poprad, Košice (here and here), Trnava, Žilina, Liptovský Mikuláš, Ružomberok.
Skating at Hviezdoslavovo Square. (source: Sme)
Go hiking
On New Year's Eve, some people prefer parties but some don't. If you belong to the latter, be sure to check out the traditional hike to the Devínska Kobyla hill near Bratislava. Just be at the Istra Centrum cultural facility near the Hradištná bus stop (service 21) at 9:30 on Sunday. Last year, more than 140 people joined in on the fun.
TIP: Where do Bratislava pedestrians go?
Celebrations
Towns and villages all over the country will be holding their own New Year's Eve celebration on Sunday evening. It would be impossible to list them all here, but be sure to check either the official website or the Facebook page of the particular place you live in to find out more. If you happen to be in Bratislava, click here to see last week's Top 10 events to learn where a few parties will take place.
No fireworks this year
Many Slovak towns decided not to celebrate the New Year's Eve with fireworks due to environmental and economical reasons, including Bratislava. Nevertheless, people in Bratislava will not lose out on the countdown in the last seconds of the departing year. In addition to celebrations in the city centre, there will be a countdown and fireworks display projected on the first Slovak skyscraper in the capital that is visible from a broad surrounding area.
TIP: With easel and brushes, Ukrainian painter finds inspiration in mediaeval Bratislava streets.
BEFORE YOU GO
WHAT TO DO FOR FREE: In the first week of January you can watch Procession of the Magi and still hitch ride in a Christmas tram.
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: Need some ideas how to spend New Year's Eve? The newest edition of Top 10 events has got you covered.
WHAT TO LEARN ABOUT: The fascinating world of autism, described by the scientist leading research in Slovakia.
WHAT TO READ: Do foreigners in Slovakia follow what is happening in the country and try to change it for the better? Find out here.
That's it for this week. Take care, have fun while you celebrate the departure of the year 2023 and I wish you a great next year.
