Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, might not be at the top of your bucket list but it is certainly not a destination to rule out. Visiting Bratislava is something I highly recommend, and you’ll learn why in this city guide! I spent two days in Bratislava back in 2018 and I was so pleasantly surprised with what the city has to offer. It boasts beautiful architecture, interesting history and delicious local cuisine.
When entering a new country and a new city it can be daunting to know where to start, especially when the destination isn’t sprawled across all your favourite travel sites. With this in mind I’ve put together this guide with tips on accommodation, activities and places to eat and drink, so you can really make the most of this hidden gem of Central Europe.
Where to stay when visiting Bratislava
Depending on what style of trip you are doing, there are a variety of options for your accommodation when visiting Bratislava. Booking.com has a great range of hotels and apartments, whilst Hostelworld gives you a good choice of backpacker friendly places to stay! As I was backpacking when I went to Bratislava I stayed at Dream Hostel (now called Safestay Hostel). I would really recommend this hostel as it was clean, modern and had great facilities. Of course, Airbnb is also a great, budget-friendly alternative – especially if you are travelling as a family or with a group!
Here are some current hotel deals for anyone visiting Bratislava:
Booking.com5 Things to do when visiting Bratislava
Below are some great things to do when visiting Bratislava, that make up one of the many reasons to visit this great city! Whether you are travelling on a budget or are prepared to splurge a little, you’ll find some fun activities here!
#1 Go on a free walking tour
My first port of call when in any new European city is to see if they do a free walking tour. The Bratislava free tour runs every morning and afternoon starting at Hviezdoslavovo Square. The tour lasts around 2 and a half hours, with information about Slovakia’s communist history as well as showing you all the main tourist attractions in Bratislava.
Some of the sights you’ll see on your free walking tour of Bratislava include:
- The Old Town Hall is home to the Museum of City History as well as a lookout tower. The main building boasts some beautiful architecture, with the Roland Fountain in its forecourt.
- The statue of Cumli is of a man who works down in the sewers. It doesn’t have any greater meaning or significance, but it is certainly an attraction unique to Bratislava. A warning sign has had to be put next to him as people kept driving into the statue!
- The appropriately named Blue Church (officially named Church of St. Elizabeth) is found in Bratislava Old Town. The exterior colour of this gorgeous catholic church is also replicated inside with its blue mosaics.
- St. Martin’s Cathedral was once home to coronations of royalty from the old Hungarian empire. Now tourists visit to explore the maze of catacombs found beneath the cathedral.
- The entrance to the Old Town was formerly guarded by St. Michael’s Gate. This is the only city gate that has been preserved since medieval times and you can still see wood from the original drawbridge. The upper floor of this building is home to a museum which offers a good view across the city.
#2 Visit Bratislava Castle
Bratislava castle looks across the city, all the way over to the Austrian border. It’s size and location on an isolated hill make it the most domination features of the city. The views from the castle hill are spectacular and just get better and better the higher you progress. The castles site has been occupied for thousands of years but the castle as it stands today was last restored in 1953.
There’s an amazing panoramic view across the city from the top of the hill – on a good day you can even see over to Hungary! This means it’s the ideal spot to watch the sunset on a clear evening. The castle also overlooks the Danube river which is lit up by the UFO Bridge at night.
#3 Visit Devin Castle
If you take a 10km ride out of Bratislava you come to the much quieter and very beautiful village of Devin. Here you can explore the ruins of Devin Castle, which is one of the oldest castles in Slovakia.
Getting to Devin Castle is easiest by bus and is great value at 0,90€ each way. Take Bus 29 from Stop 6 at Most SNP to Devin Hrad. Make sure you buy a ticket from a ticket machine before you get on the bus!
The entry fee to enjoy the castle and its surrounding area is just 2€. You can easily spend a couple of hours here just enjoying the scenery. The castle stands just inside the Slovakian-Austrian border and has amazing views over the Danube and surrounding mountains.
#4 Nedbalka Gallery
Nedbalka Gallery is a non-profit organisation aiming to encourage understanding and appreciation of Slovak art from the late 19th century onwards. Also known as the Slovak Modern Art Gallery, it is home to over 500 works of Slovak fine arts, dating from the 1800s to the present day.
It’s built over 4 floors and takes the space of a former Old Town Palace on one of the oldest streets in Bratislava. The 5€ entry fee to the gallery gets you a free hot drink in the gallery café.
#5 UFO Bridge / Most SNP
The 7th largest open-air bridge in the world spans 430.8m across the Danube river. The name Most SNP refers to the Slovak National Uprising. It’s UFO shaped capsule at the top is home to an open-air observation deck. There is a fine dining restaurant and bar up there, but the main attraction is definitely the view from the top!
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Where to eat and drink when visiting Bratislava
If you are visiting Bratislava and came upon this guide, you’ll be happy to know that we have included some great places to eat and drink in the city! Here are my recommendations.
Art, Coffee, Books
This cute, independent coffee shop is the perfect place to curl up with a book and drink your morning coffee. It’s divided into three sections: an art gallery, a coffee shop and a reading area at the back with bookshelves and armchairs.
It’s the ideal coffee shop just to relax in for an hour or so and is perfect for a slow start to the day. Make sure you check out more of Bratislava’s best coffee shops.
1 Slovak Pub
This authentic pub is deemed one of the biggest restaurants in Bratislava. It’s found just a short walk from the city centre so is the ideal place to get some traditional Slovakian food. When you’re in Slovakia you MUST try Slovak Bryndzové Halušky – potato dumplings with sheep cheese and topped with pancetta.
As I’m vegetarian I asked for smoked cheese on the top of mine as opposed to the bacon. The meals are very reasonably priced at the Slovak Pub and the staff and service were amazing.
Bratislavy Mesriansky Pivovar
This is actually a chain of craft breweries, of which there are three dotted around the city. They brew their own beer on site so a great place if you’re into trying local craft beers! They also serve a variety of local food. I tried Slovak Bryndzové Halušky again here, but they were a different style to the ones from the Slovak Pub. They also came with crispy onions and sour cream.
Are you visiting Bratislava anytime soon?
Now that you have made it to the bottom of the post, I hope you are excited to be visiting Bratislava! If you are travelling there soon, why not let me know in the comments if this post was helpful! There are so many great things to do in this city, I promise you won’t be bored during your trip.
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About the Author: Emma is the UK blogger behind The World by Emstagram. She specialises in writing about female, solo backpacking. She has experience solo backpacking Europe and Southeast Asia and shares her travel advice and destination guides on her blog. You can also find her on Instagram.