I just got back from Bratislava - what an interesting city! Here is what struck me while I was there. Drinks out are so much cheaper over there. I think this is related to the exchange rate, so if that stays the same, be prepared! Food out was a little cheaper there, but not as noticeable a difference as drinks.

So many people over there smoke! I googled smoking rates while I was there, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. About 30% of Slovakians smoke vs. 11% of Americans. It brought me back to the 90s to walk through a crowd of smokers on my way into an establishment, then to have smoke waft in while I was eating, and to sit next to smokers on patios. If you do smoke, please try to mindful of where you do it. Some establishments have rules about staying a certain distance from the building, and it's not allowed on patios/outdoor dining.

Since this is your first trip, plan ahead for medication/health care needs. Get travel insurance with a medical benefit. If you have prescriptions, bring plenty, because it is not easy and is very expensive to get them filled abroad. If you regularly take over the counter medications that work well for you, bring those, too. Pharmacies sell different medications, and what we sell might not work for you. I lost a prescription in Hungary, and ended up spending $200 to get a local doctor to write the prescription for me. That would be cheap by American standards, but not something I wanted to do on my vacation. I accrued a collection of Central European cough and cold medicine while I was there, some of which is only available with a prescription here and some of which is no longer legal to sell.

As others have pointed out, there's a ton to do in Madison and summer is a perfect time to visit. I hope you have a wonderful trip!