Teams, tales and tips – a guide to the local game
Longevity underscores the story of football in the age-old city of Nitra. Beneath Zobor Hill, the Štadión pod Zoborom has been home to the domestic game since voluntary firemen formed the first sports team. The later FC Nitra link directly to those Hungarian firefighters – the Nyitrai Önkéntes Tűzoltó Testület Sportosztálya – who took to the pitch in 1909.
After Nitra became part of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the club names often changed but football always had a high profile. Before Czechoslovakia reached the World Cup final in 1962, Slovan Nitra finished runners-up in the league, ahead of more widely known teams whose players faced Garrincha’s Brazil in Chile.
While Nitra enjoyed another purple patch shortly before the fall of Communism and division of Czechoslovakia, international action was limited to early rounds of the UEFA Cup/Europa League, and Intertoto games.
As a venue, the city has staged two Slovakia friendlies, and co-hosted the Euro U-17 finals and, with a new stadium in place following a €8-million revamp, the Euro U-21s in 2025. Its seats and gleaming roof of signature Nitra blue set against the slope of Zobor – its name means ‘Under Zobor’ – the stadium also staged the debut campaign of nearby Sered’ in the Super Liga in 2018-19.
As for FC Nitra, the situation is somewhat cloudy. Having been bobbing along in Slovakia’s top flight for most of the 21st century, with occasional dips into the second, the club collapsed in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. While it was the Slovak government and City of Nitra which shared the cost of the stadium rebuild, its regular tenants had long been on a shaky financial footing.
Failing to gain a professional licence in 2021, FC Nitra dropped down two tiers to the third, then immediately to the fourth. In 2023, they blipped out of existence entirely.
In the meantime, with the City making not unreasonable demands for senior football to return, an ugly court battle between interested parties has been keeping local journalists busy for much of 2025. Meanwhile, a new entity, AFC Nitra, is looking to enter the fray, possibly helped by a merger with nearby Sered’, promoted from the third flight in 2025.
Getting Around
Arriving in town and local transport
Bratislava Airport is 93km (58 miles) from Nitra. From Bratislava station, the train to Nitra (€5) requires a change at Nové Zámky or Trnava, overall journey time 1hr 45mins.
From Bratislava bus station, a regular Flixbus (€6-€8) takes 1hr 15mins. Rail and bus terminals in Nitra are 1km south of town, the stadium 1km further north near the castle. Arriva buses (€0.80 on board) serve the city, the centre mainly pedestrianised and walkable.
The stadium is also a pleasant stroll north in greenery, past Nitra Castle. Local Zobor Taxi (+421 908 92 92 92) quotes €50 for Bratislava Airport, €120 Budapest’s.
Where to Drink
The best pubs and bars for football fans
Nitra is a fine, fine drinking town. For a daytime pint on a prominent terrace overlooking Nitra going about its business, Agáty on Župné námestie can’t be beat. Major football games are also shown.
Another daytime favourite, though open until 4am at weekends, the Coco Café on Podzámska is trying its best to be chic but thankfully, this is Nitra, so it’s a friendly, relaxing spot where women feel more comfortable.
Near the Grand Sole on Štefánikova trieda, Pub 33 has a large screen for match action, while neighbouring Beer Time offers rare Mazák, Wywar and General on tap, and the Premier Club keeps the party going late at weekends. Hofferka has a nice terrace for drinks over lunch.
Behind, Černá Hora serves its namesake brew while showing TV football. Following the sad closure of the Liverpool-themed Corner Music Pub – who needs banks? – nearby Čudný pohl’ad (‘Strange Sight’) where Mostná meets Farská, attracts lively local football fans, generally younger, surrounded by big-screen sport and rock portraits in a cellar space.
Round the corner, the magnificent Mariatchi is the best bar in a bar town, bar none. Friendly, savvy regulars convene to sip, sup and slam Brewdog, Becherovka and similar select brews, rare gig posters accurately hinting at a superb music policy. Unmissable. After hours, those with staying power, ie everyone, staggers to the nearby Frankie Rock Club until doolally o’clock.
Where to stay
The best hotels for the stadium and city centre
The Nitra Tourist office has a modest database of accommodation.
Closest to the stadium, the PKO Penzión is a functional three-star on Sihot’ serving the adjacent public pool in summer. Also convenient for the stadium, the De Luxe sits just the other side of Nitra Castle on Podzámská provides 17 comfortable guest rooms, eight of them singles, plus a modest spa and gym. Nearby on Mostná, funky Alexander’s offers comfort and convenience.
Set in an elegant building dating back to 1887, the Grand Hotel Sole has been through many guises in its century and more of hospitality, its current one most impressive, four-star lodging with a decent restaurant on Štefánikova trieda at the gateway to Nitra’s pedestrianised centre, with parking offered nearby. Close by on Školská, and in the same category, the Comfort offers something similar, with a modest spa, too.
Further up Farská, the Hotel Capital ups the ante on spa facilities to complement its 43 four-star rooms, some with balconies.
Overlooking the main square, the contemporary Hotel City provides an urban experience, with its own art gallery due to open.
Close by, facing each other, are the standard but handy Atrium and the budget Zobor, upgraded and renovated in 2019, whose staff go the extra mile to help guests.
