Bus from BRATISLAVA to DUSSELDORF

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and with a population of about 450,000, the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two sovereign states. Vienna and Bratislava, the nearest capital cities in Europe (only 60 km) were once connected to an electric tram.

The city received its contemporary name in 1919. Beforehand it was mostly known in English by its German name, Pressburg, as it was long dominated by Austrians and other German-speakers.

Bratislava lies in the north temperate zone and has a moderately continental climate. During the summer the temperature can rise to 30 C, sometimes even more. During the winter, the temperature is about 0 C, but at night, and they can go lower than -10 C. If it snows, the snow cover will not last longer than a few days.

On the eastern bank of the Danube is the old historic part of the city, while in the west the new modern part. Bratislava has always been one of the main cultural centers of Central Europe.

What to see in Bratislava:

Bratislava Castle is one of the most prominent structures in the city. The castle hill site has been inhabited since the transitional period between the Stone and Bronze ages and has been the acropolis of a Celtic town, part of the Roman Limes Romanus, a huge Slavic fortified settlement, and a political, military and religious centre for Great Moravia. A stone castle was not constructed until the 10th century, when the area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Devín Castle is the ruined and recently renovated castle in the borough of Devín, on top of a rock where the Morava River, which forms the border between Austria and Slovakia, enters the Danube. It is one of the most important Slovak archaeological sites and contains a museum dedicated to its history. Due to its strategic location, Devín Castle was a very important frontier castle of Great Moravia and the early Hungarian state. It was destroyed by Napoleon's troops in 1809. It is an important symbol of Slovak and Slavic history.

Rusovce mansion, with its English park, is in the Rusovce borough. The house was originally built in the 17th century and was turned into an English neo-Gothic-style mansion in 1841–1844. The borough is also known for the ruins of the Roman military camp Gerulata, part of Limes Romanus, a border defence system. Gerulata was built and used between the 1st and 4th centuries AD.

Parks and lakes. Due to its location in the foothills of the Little Carpathians and its riparian vegetation on the Danubian floodplains, Bratislava has forests close to the city centre. The largest city park is Horský park (literally, Mountainous Park), in the Old Town. Bratislavský lesný park (Bratislava Forest Park) is located in the Little Carpathians and includes many locales popular among visitors, such as Železná studienka and Koliba.

Bratislava's zoological park is located in Mlynská dolina, near the headquarters of Slovak Television. The zoo, founded in 1960, currently houses 152 species of animals, including the rare white lion and white tiger. The Botanical Gardens, which belong to Comenius University, can be found on the Danube riverfront and house more than 120 species of domestic and foreign origin.

Dusseldorf

The Rhine City is a popular destination for city-dwellers, especially among young people. During the summer time, Düsseldorf captivates with its beautiful Rhine river promenade and in winter with the Christmas markets. Among the following popular attractions in Dusseldorf you will find other attractions that give the special charm to the city.

The Rhine Tower: Dusseldorf's landmark is the Rhine Tower, which can be seen from both sides of the Rhine and from afar. With 240.50 meters it is the tallest building in the city and the tenth television tower in the Federal Republic. Built from 1978 to 1982, the Rhine Tower is now the carrier of radio and VHF antennas and serves as a viewing platform at the same time. The largest digital clock in the world is located on its side facing the old town. Another special feature are the panoramic windows of the tower, which allow the direct view of the tower.

The Rhine promenade: On the weekend, the promenade on the banks of the river Rhine becomes a pedestrian mile. In numerous restaurants you can taste the Rhinish cuisine and watch the hustle and bustle on the Uferstraße. The Freitreppe on the Burgplatz is also a place to relax. The Rhine promenade became popular in 1990. The design of the promenade has already received numerous awards, among others in the year 1998 with the Deutsche Städtebaupreis. The lakeside promenade is also the venue for some annual events such as the Dusseldorf Marathon, or the large fireworks on the occasion of the Dusseldorf fairgrounds. Only a few steps away is the Old Town of Dusseldorf, also a popular attraction for locals and visitors to Düsseldorf.

The Königsallee: The Königsallee in Dusseldorf's inner city is one of the most famous luxury shopping destinations in Europe. The numerous cafes, shopping malls, shops and jeweleries are the main attraction of Dusseldorf and visitors from all over the world come here. Located directly on the river Düssel, you can stroll and relax here. Already built in 1804 as a promenade on the eastern city wall, the Königsallee was already a favorite boulevard and celebrated its 210th anniversary last year. Today, Kö, as it is also called, is also a popular venue. Every year there are literary festivals, running events and a place where some carnival walks take place.

The Media Harbour: The Rhine determines the cityscape and cultural life of the city. At Düsseldorf Media Harbour, over the past twenty years, an architecturally attractive area has been created. Used as a commercial and inland port before 1990, the harbour is now the home of many renowned media companies, which earned it the name Media Harbour. Renowned tenants are Antenne Düsseldorf, the WDR and the film and media foundation NRW. Since the 2000s there are also some shops and around 40 restaurants, cafés and clubs. Despite the 600 companies located here, Media Harbour is the most sparsely populated area in Düsseldorf, with just under 100 inhabitants. However, a planned residential development is intended to change this fact. Also worth seeing is the Landtag building as well as already-mentioned the Rhine tower, which is located in the eastern part of the harbor.

The Old Town: Although the second smallest district of Dusseldorf, the old city is one of the most popular places in the city. During the day, attractions such as the Hofgarten, the town hall and the adjacent Rhine river invite visitors wander through the old town. In the evening it becomes a party of celebrations. More than 300 pubs, restaurants and clubs can be found on half a square kilometer. The many festivals gave the old town the nickname "the longest bar in the world". A must for a short visit to Dusseldorf  is the visit of the house brewery "Zum Uerige" near the Rhine. Also in the historical district are the market square and the castle tower.

The Benrath Castle: The castle of Benrath was commissioned in 1773 by the Elector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate as a widow's seat of the Electress. The leading architect was Nicolas de Pigage, the architect of numerous Baroque buildings and castles. In addition to the pleasure castle, the castle grounds also include the hunting park, some ponds and a canal system. The castle now houses the Museum of European Gardening, a Natural History Museum and the Stiftung Castle und Park Benrath. Tickets are available for 9 euros, with an ocassional discount 6 euros.

The Wildpark Düsseldorf: There is a number green areas in Dusseldorf, but the most popular of all of them is the Wildpark in the Grafenberger Wald. The entrance to the Wildpark is free of charge all year round. The enclosure, already built in 1927, now covers 40 hectares, with around 100 animals. In addition to wild boars, visitors can admire red-breasted and muffled deer in the naturally-arranged enclosures. Other inhabitants are pheasants, partridges and raccoons. Additional attractions in the Düsseldorfer Wildpark are the Waldlehrpfad and the many hiking trails around the large area.