I visited the Slovakian capital back in 2023 with my brother Liam. Making the most of our five days away, we ate great food, explored, and even had time to do some cross border travel into two more countries. We had mixed weather as we visited in January. It was freezing. We had frost and snow on the ground, bright blue skies one day, then grey clouds the next, but the city was beautiful. Here is my list of 20 amazing things to see and do in Bratislava.
TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE OLD TOWN, STARÉ MESTO
Wander through the amazing streets of Bratislava’s Old Town. Cobblestone pavements, picturesque squares, churches, and beautiful medieval architecture greet you at every turn. In the old town, you will find Michael’s Gate (Michalská brána), the Church of St. Stephan of Hungary, and the Slovak National Theatre. You will also spot the Napoleonic army soldier and Schöne Náci, Maximilian’s fountain, a handful of museums, including Pawera’s house and the Church of the Most Holy Saviour.
PRIMATES PALACE
This beautiful 18th century palace is a museum that contains tapestries and exhibits. It’s also a music hall and the mayor’s office. If you would like to visit, the museum is closed on Mondays. You can visit the rest of the week from 10am until 5pm and tickets are around €5.
VISIT APPONYI PALACE
The palace here is part of the building that belongs to the Town Hall. Another amazing museum full to the brim of artifacts and exhibits celebrating the history of Bratislava. The museum entry fee is €8, but free with the Bratislava card. Once again, this museum is closed on Monday, and open from 10am until 6pm the rest of the week.
VISIT THE HILLTOP BRATISLAVA CASTLE
Bratislava Castle (Bratislavský hrad), stands proudly over the city and offers not only breathtaking views but also a chance to immerse yourself in the history. You can walk outside around the castle grounds and it boasts magnificent views out over the city. You can see for miles.
VISIT THE CASTLE MUSEUM
Inside the castle, there is a museum too with some great items and is well worth the admission. A basic adult ticket costs €14, but is free with the Bratislava Card.
Bratislava Card. Get the most out of your visit to Bratislava with the official Bratislava tourist card. Enjoy free public transport, free admission to selected museums and galleries, and discounts on many other attractions, activities and services.
DEVIN CASTLE
Visit the impressive ruins of Devin Castle and take in the views from its strategic location on a cliff overlooking the Danube and Morava rivers. Learn about the castle’s rich history and sample some locally made products.
THE GRASSALKOVICH PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
Dubbed the ‘White House of Slovakia’, the Presidential Palace is a short hop skip and a jump outside the old town. Next to the Planet of Peace Fountain (which I forgot to take a photo of) have a look at where the country’s president resides. Although you can’t enter, you will see the flag of Slovakia flying proudly, and regular guard changes.
FREEDOM SQUARE
We really wanted to see this socialist era square and gardens, however during our visit, it was a construction site. The photo below was about as close as we could get. I am sure it looks great now all the work is complete, so make sure you add it to your itinerary.
Soviet Era and Post-Communist Tour. Take a tour off the beaten track and see sites from Bratislava’s Communist past. Travel in a legendary 1970-1990s Škoda car or a standard minivan for groups of 4 or more participants.
VISIT THE UFO OBSERVATION DECK
Across the Danube river, you can visit the city’s iconic UFO Observation Deck. Here you have 360-degree panoramic views of Bratislava while sipping on a drink or enjoying some food. Dinner with a view. It doesn’t get better than this.
There are various admission tickets, depending on when you visit. A standard adult ticket, Monday to Friday, is €9.90, 10am until 1pm, then €11.90 till close. Saturday to Sunday, a ticket costs €11.90 all day.
City Quest Bratislava: Discover the Secrets of the City! Begin an exciting City Quest – a treasure hunt, orientation game, and a Discovery tour all in one. Solve puzzles and discover Bratislava’s secrets. Fun for all!
ČUMIL, THE SEWER WORKER
Bratislava has a fun, creative side with many unique and interesting sculptures throughout the city. Keep your eyes peeled for Čumil, the sewer worker, as he peeps from a man-hole cover on the corner of Panská. He even has his own street sign, to make it easier for you to spot him, apparently also because vehicles kept driving over him!
SPOT THE QUIRKY MONUMENTS
There are several quirky monuments dotted across the city dedicated to the famous people of Slovakia and Bratislava. Here are a few that we found.
Apparently, Hans Christian Andersen only visited the city of Bratislava once, but there is a statue of the Danish author here in the city. Other quirky monuments include; Schöner Náci (The Handsome Nazi). A silver statue dedicated to a real person, Ignác Lamár (1897-1967). He was a well-known and well-liked character of the city.
In the main square, Hlavné námestie, you will also find the city guard statue and the Napolean army soldier, leaning over a bench, waiting for his photo to be taken. Another monument you will find is that of Bosorka. You will find her on the walk up to Bratislava Castle. Sat, surrounded by birds (Crows, I think) and by the same sculptor who designed Čumil. Said to represent the women who practised witchcraft during medieval times in the city.
DISCOVER THE LOCAL CEMETERIES
Because I enjoy a bit of dark tourism, we took a short walk outside the main part of the city to visit the local cemeteries. Walk along the river, and you’ll come to Saint Nicholas Cemetery and the Jewish Orthodox cemetery. The Jewish cemetery in Bratislava is also Slovakia’s largest; it was established in 1845.
THE MUSEUM OF JEWISH CULTURE
This museum is home to exhibits documenting the holocaust and local Jewish history. You can visit between Monday and Thursday, and Sunday from 11am until 5pm. Adult tickets are €6. Address: Židovská 297.
SAINT MARTIN’S CATHEDRAL
Saint Martin’s Cathedral is a 13th century Catholic cathedral in the centre of the city. Admission is free, and you can easily visit as you descend the stairs from Bratislava Castle, as it is just over the road.
THE BLUE CHURCH OF SAINT ELIZABETH
The Blue Church of Saint Elizabeth, or to give it its proper name, Farský kostol sv. Alžbety (Modrý kostolík) lives a short walk outside the old town. Built in the early 1900s in the art nouveau style, painted a light blue from head to toe, it is a popular spot for tourists.
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO NEARBY VIENNA, GYÖR OR BRNO.
In our five days, we crossed the border twice, once to Brno in Czechia, and again to Györ in Hungary. Both trips were incredibly cheap, using one of my favourite modes of transport, the ever trusty Flixbus, one of the best ways to travel through Europe. Bratislava and Vienna also have great train and Flixbus connections.
Visit Brno – Coming soon.
Visit Györ – Coming soon.
FOOD & DRINK IN BRATISLAVA
We discovered fantastic restaurants and enjoyed several Slovakian dishes, such as Bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep’s cheese). We also enjoyed trying local ales and other restaurants.
SLADOVŇA – HOUSE OF BEER
A great place for traditional local food and beer. We had delicious dumplings, goulash, ribs, and other local delights, all washed down with plenty of alcohol. We also sampled the beer flight-boards for a selection of local ale. Address: Ventúrska 5.
Wine Tasting with Sommelier. Visit the Slovak National Collection of Wines where the top 100 wines of Slovakia are showcased. Choose the best program for you and taste high-quality wines.
EXPLORE THE CITY BY NIGHT
There are so many beautiful buildings in Bratislava. Seeing them all lit up during the evening is another experience. Michael’s Gate, the majestic hilltop castle, the churches, the gothic architecture. Have a mooch around and experience the city by night.
TRY A TRADITIONAL PRESSBURG BAJGEL
Pressburg Bajgel in the old town is perfect if you have a sweet tooth. This bakery makes delicious traditional pastries, local to the area. Made to an old recipe originating from the late 1800s, you can opt for a bagel filled with poppy seed or walnut. Address: Ventúrska 2.
If you are looking to explore more amazing European city break destinations, look no further. Check out these posts – 25 amazing things to do in Warsaw, Poland, The best things to do on a city break in beautiful Gdańsk, Poland, How to spend three days in Prague, Czech Republic, How to travel from Prague to Dresden with Flixbus.
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