Where I’ve been:

• Bratislava 2019

Bratislava – Budapest – Vienna 2019

Some trips are about the places, others are about the people. This one was definitely both.

In February 2019, I planned a short Central European getaway with my Italian friend Giulia, whom I met during my Erasmus in Riga. The idea was simple but special: visit our classmate Daniela in Bratislava, reunite with my former roommate Katrina, and take the opportunity to explore nearby cities like Budapest and Vienna.

It turned into a trip full of reunions, spontaneous plans, and moments that made it feel much longer than just a few days.

Day 1 – 20 February 2019

( Night at: Patio Hostel, Bratislava )

( Bratislava, Slovakia )

I flew from Milan Bergamo to Bratislava for the start of the trip. I woke up early in the morning, and my mum drove me to the train station. From there, I took a train and then a bus to reach the airport in time for my 10:30 flight.

At the airport, I met Giulia, and we had breakfast together before boarding our flight. The journey to Bratislava was short and smooth, and we landed excited to finally start exploring.

Once we arrived, we took a taxi straight to our hostel, Patio Hostel, located just a few minutes from the Old Town. After checking in, we didn’t waste any time and went out immediately for lunch because we were both starving. We ate at Slovak Pub, which was right across the street from our hostel and a perfect first introduction to local food.

After lunch, we explored the Old Town, walking through its charming streets and visiting Michael’s Gate. We continued all the way down to the river, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the city.

Later in the afternoon, we stopped for an aperitif at a sky bar overlooking the sunset, which gave us a beautiful view over Bratislava as the light slowly faded.

Around 18:30, we met our classmate Daniela and her boyfriend. We all went together for dinner at SOHO Bratislava, followed by drinks at a place called Crox Finger. It was a relaxed and fun evening, the perfect way to end our first day in the city.

After that, we headed back to the hostel and went to sleep, ready for the days ahead.

Day 2 – 21 February 2019

( Night at: Patio Hostel, Bratislava )

We woke up a bit later in the morning and started the day with lunch at Mondieu, a cozy spot that was perfect for a relaxed start.

Afterward, we continued exploring Bratislava, visiting some of its main landmarks, including St. Martin’s Cathedral, Bratislava Castle, and the unique Blue Church, which stood out for its unusual pastel-blue design.

In the evening, we went to Daniela’s house, where her boyfriend cooked dinner for us. It felt very local and relaxed, and it was a nice change from eating out in the city.

Later on, we went for drinks at the UFO Bar, enjoying the views over the city at night. We ended the evening in a small “secret” bar for a final beer before heading back and calling it a night.

Day 3 – 22 February 2019

( Night at: Patio Hostel, Bratislava )

We woke up early around 7:00 and rushed to the train station to buy tickets to Budapest. We managed to get a very cheap deal, around 35 euros for two people, which made the spontaneous trip even better.

We arrived in Budapest around 11:30 and immediately started exploring on foot. From the station, we walked all the way to the impressive Hungarian Parliament Building, taking in the scale of the city as we went. From there, we crossed the river and made our way up to the Fisherman’s Bastion.

At the top, we stopped for lunch at Halászbástya Restaurant, where we also met our classmate Zsófi, who joined us for the afternoon.

Later, we continued exploring the Buda side before walking across to Pest. There, we visited the famous Szimpla Kert, one of the most iconic ruin bars in the city. We also passed by the Dohány Street Synagogue and entered St. Stephen’s Basilica.

During the afternoon, we tried some typical local sweets before heading back toward the station. Around 17:00, we took the train back to Bratislava.

Before returning to the hostel, we stopped at a supermarket to buy a bottle of wine, planning to go out again later. That evening, we went to The Club Bratislava. It was a fun night, even if I honestly don’t remember much of it.

Day 4 – 23 February 2019

( Night at: Patio Hostel, Bratislava )

We woke up early and took the 09:30 train to Vienna with Daniela and her boyfriend.

Once we arrived, we spent the day walking around the city centre, starting with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. From there, we explored the museum district, enjoying the elegant streets and classical architecture that make Vienna so unique.

For lunch, we kept it simple with a quick stop at McDonald’s before continuing our visit.

In the afternoon, we took the underground to Schönbrunn Palace, a place I had always wanted to see since learning about it at school. Walking through it in person felt special, finally seeing something that had only existed in textbooks and photos before.

At 17:00, we took the train back to Bratislava.

Later that evening, at around 18:30, we met Katrina for dinner. Katrina had been my roommate in Alessandria while she was doing her Erasmus there, so it was really nice to reconnect with her in her country. After dinner, we all went together to Boheme Pub for a relaxed night out before heading back.

Day 5 – 24 February 2019

( Night at: Patio Hostel, Bratislava )

We woke up around 9:30, checked out of the hostel, and went for breakfast at Urban House.

After breakfast, we met up again with Daniela, her boyfriend, and Katrina. Together, we visited Slavín Memorial, a quiet and reflective place that also offers a beautiful view over Bratislava. It was a calm and fitting final stop, and a nice way to close our time in the city.

At 14:30, we headed to the airport for our 16:30 flight back to Milan. Once we landed, We took the Terravision bus that we had booked online in advance, and then continued by train to Vercelli by myslef saying goodbye to Giulia.

At Vercelli station, my mum was waiting to pick me up, marking the end of another unforgettable trip filled with friendships, reunions, and shared memories.