Leisure Pursuits In Bratislava Slovakia :
1. AQUAPARK SENEC:
The resort town of Senec in the suburbs of Bratislava is a popular tourist destination. In the summer, the local Sunny Lakes are a favorite vacation spot for Slovaks. In addition, Senec has a wonderful modern water park, where it is easy to organize a fun holiday for the whole family. Senec Aquapark is open all year round. It has 11 pools, 6 of which are open in the summer. The water in the pools for active entertainment has a temperature of 28-32 °C, and in the relaxing pools the water temperature reaches 38 °C. In the summer, it is nice to just swim in clean water and then sunbathe.
But if passive recreation is not for you, try the attractions of the water park. You may be attracted by the long descent “Mississippi” (length 104 m), steep slides of green and blue colors, red and yellow slide, where you can develop simply crazy speed. The most extreme attraction here is considered to be the “Space Hole”. But if you are relaxing in the water park with children, offer them a leisurely swim on a toboggan along the “Lazy River”. Children are also happy to splash in a shallow pool with children’s slides, fountains and a water umbrella. After swimming, the kids can continue playing on the playground. Animators organize an entertainment program for young visitors.
And while the children are busy, parents have the opportunity to go for a massage or relax in the sauna. Note that entry to the SAI WELLNESS zone is allowed only from 18 years of age. You can also play beach volleyball and mini-football on specially equipped grounds. The water park is also open in the cold season. Its indoor area has no less choice of entertainment. In the premises there is a children’s pool, as well as pools with hydromassage. For those who prefer not to swim, but to swim, a separate Swim Arena pool has been created.
This water park also boasts a very large spa area, where about 10 different types of saunas and spa treatments are presented. Infrared and Finnish saunas, a cooling pool, a salt sauna, a Turkish hamam, a eucalyptus sauna and many other treatments will give you pleasant moments of healing for your body and soul. Since water entertainment can last for the whole day, it is worth knowing that the water park has a restaurant and several cafes. Note that in the morning hours on weekdays there is a discount on visiting the water park. Family hotels nearby
2. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF BRATISLAVA :
The Children’s Museum in Bratislava has a special slogan: “A huge world of kids”. What seems familiar to an adult, a child has yet to discover. The museum staff is ready to help children make discoveries and enjoy new knowledge together. The entertainment arsenal includes games, master classes, performances and films, experiments and much more. Even the youngest visitors are welcome here. A play area has been created for them, separated from the rest of the space by soft sides. The little ones can play with cubes, a construction set, lacing and other educational toys made from natural materials.
Children over 6 years old are invited to the laboratory. They will travel into the world of science – thanks to original interactive exhibits, young scientists test the laws of physics. The knowledge gained in the laboratory can be very helpful to schoolchildren during lessons. However, not only the exact sciences become the subject of study. No less attention is paid to history, especially important events that took place in Slovakia. The task for the assiduous is to put together a puzzle map or write a letter, dipping a goose feather in ink. For those who love discoveries – a game of archaeological excavations. Here is a task for the whole company: place figures of the castle inhabitants in the castle courtyard, but in such a way that the knights do not end up in the barnyard, and the horses or geese in the knights’ quarters.
The most restless will have the opportunity to try out an old throwing machine. Creative master classes are available to anyone who can handle scissors, glue, paper or is ready to sit quietly in their mother’s arms. Crafts are usually not useless: for example, a gang of children worked hard – and costumes for an impromptu performance or masks for a carnival are ready. On the eve of Easter, young artists learn to paint eggs, and in the pre-Christmas days they make decorations for the Christmas tree in the creative workshop. The space of the Children’s Museum of Bratislava is organized in such a way that it can easily be transformed into the streets of an ancient Greek city, a fairy-tale forest, an artist’s studio or a cinema.
Children also participate in organizing a comfortable place for themselves to relax and study. Someone might need to create a fashion designer’s office, while someone might fence off a construction site or open a medical office – in the game “When I Grow Up, I Will Be…” children can imagine who they will become in the years to come. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. Thus, one of them, dedicated to familiarization with the culture of different peoples of the Earth, was called “So Far, But So Close”. At the service of museum guests – a cafe with sweets and a store with play sets and educational toys.
3. BRATISLAVA CASTLE:
It seems impossible to imagine the capital of Slovakia without Bratislava Castle. Even without knowing anything about it, it is impossible not to notice the white-walled castle standing on the steep bank of the Danube. Even at night, it is visible from all parts of the city thanks to artistic lighting. If you are visiting Bratislava with children, start your acquaintance with its history with this majestic building. The first settlements on the site of the castle appeared before our era. The Celts settled here, then the Romans built a fortification, which was part of the defensive system of Limes Romanus.
But already in the 10th century, a fortress appeared on Castle Hill, mentioned in the oldest written evidence about Bratislava. Since then, the castle has been rebuilt several times, but even now on its territory part of the foundation of the basilica, built in the early Middle Ages, has been preserved. The castle became what Bratislava residents and tourists see today only in the 15th century. And its splendor returned to it after the reconstruction, which began in the middle of the last century. You can learn about all the milestones in the history of the castle in the museum. Household items, weapons, coins, paintings and other exhibits are on display here.
The Coronation Tower, the highest of the four fortress towers, displays symbols of the monarchical power of the Hungarian kings. Artifacts found during archaeological excavations on the territory of the Bratislava Castle are collected in a single collection, “Treasury of the distant past of Slovakia”. In total, the museum archives contain more than 250 thousand items, but not all of them are on display. Also, part of the Slovak National Museum exhibition is located in the fortress. In the past, the castle was surrounded by luxurious gardens. Now in their place there is a cozy park where you can walk with a child. By the way, the walk does not necessarily have to be idle: the external decoration of Bratislava Castle is also worthy of admiration, and in the park there are monuments to people who played an important role in the history of the capital of Slovakia.
If the boys got bored during the excursion around the interior, then their eyes will light up at the sight of the thick fortress walls – everyone will feel like a brave warrior. It is difficult to guess what the children see in the distance while playing, but adults can admire the panorama of Austria and Hungary. If you do not want to climb the Castle Hill on foot, take the red excursion train – it will take you to the main gate of Bratislava Castle.
4. ACTION PARK ROPE PARK :
Are you one of those who seek adventure? In your opinion, an active family holiday is the best kind of holiday? Then you will certainly be pleased with Action Park in Bratislava. Instead of swings and carousels, you will find rope obstacles, tracks for car racing and zorbing, a paintball range and other entertainment for active people. You can safely come here with children of different ages – the park will find activities for both teenagers and children. Above all the attractions rises the rope park. It has several different routes, the passage of which takes from one and a half to two and a half hours. Various obstacles made of ropes and boards are located at a height of 8 meters above the ground.
Safety systems and helmets ensure the safety of passing the tracks, but otherwise you need to rely on your own dexterity and courage. Note that children whose height is above 140 cm are allowed on these tracks. For children over 6 years old, a separate route has been created at a height of 0.6 meters above the ground. There are only 8 obstacles on it, but overcoming them will be a real victory for the child. A 120 m long cable car runs over the entire territory of the park. If you are worried about why people do not fly like birds, try flying at a height of 14 m above the ground at a speed of 40 km/h.
Daredevils can also try a 12-meter bungee jump. And the most daring can climb the stairs to the sky – although its steps are a whole meter apart. You can build your own tower-staircase from plastic boxes. If heights do not appeal to you, choose any of the ground-based entertainment. You can arrange a paintball battle (at least 8 people are needed for it) or race off-road in a buggy, ride across the lawns on a slow-moving segway or roll down a mountain in a huge zorb ball.
Bratislava Action Park also has its own beach, although few people come here to lie on the sand. Part of the beach is occupied by a volleyball court, and not far from it, kiteboarding fans catch the wind. If you want to learn something new, practice archery or crossbow shooting, learn to play petanque. And children will always be happy to jump on a trampoline or ride electric cars. There is a colorful inflatable trampoline for kids. It is worth choosing a fine day to visit the park. Since all the rides are outdoors, in sunny weather, make sure to have hats and sunscreen.
5. CHILDREN’S CENTER OF ARTS AND CREATIVITY BIBIANA:
It must be admitted that the majority of the family excursion program is still designed for adults. But when traveling with a child, you really want to give him or her personal children’s entertainment. In Bratislava, the Bibiana children’s center will help you make such a gift. Its full name is the International House of Art for Children. Bibiana’s creative classes are not designed to teach a child to draw a flower or a bird “correctly”. Here, children are encouraged to abandon template actions and experiment. Drawing with chalk on the walls is prohibited everywhere – but in the children’s center, on the contrary, it is allowed.
Drawing with giant pencils? As much as you like. Mixing plasticine of all colors into one big lump? Please. Crawling on the floor, painting a long sheet of paper? The leader of the master class himself will be happy to join in such a process. During fun activities, children can even create illustrations for a cartoon – watching it ends the program. However, drawing classes are only a small part of the children’s center’s program. They prepare short performances, in which all the roles are played by children. Although there is little time for preparation, the work is real: you need to put on a costume and a wig, and get into character.
Shy actors are not treated with any severity – the animators will be able to encourage them. And if a child does not want to be an actor, he or she may enjoy working behind the scenes. Here, young visitors will learn how sound effects are created, and they themselves will be able to make noise, like a forest on a windy day, or arrange a cacophony of birds. Someone will try themselves in the role of a lighting technician and see how light brings cardboard scenery to life.
Bibiana also has excellent playrooms for active activities and quiet games. Children of different ages can participate in creative programs and games, even toddlers will find something to do. You just need to remember your camera, and the children’s album will be filled with many expressive photos. Since the center’s premises are small, they insist that only one adult come to classes with the child. It should be noted that Bibiana also hosts large exhibitions of illustrations for children’s books and festivals of children’s animated films.