Some of the best things to do in Bratislava are surprisingly close together—which is great news for anyone with limited time to explore. Sitting at the very center of Europe and with Austria and Hungary little more than a stone’s throw away, Slovakia’s capital may be one of Europe’s smaller cities, but it’s packed with charm, culture, and character.
Compact and walkable, it blends medieval streets with modern riverside cool, making it ideal for visitors who want to experience a lot at a leisurely pace. Sites range from medieval castles to a flying saucer-shaped observation deck and from quirky statues to contemporary art galleries.
Climb to Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle
Perched on a hill overlooking the Old Town, Bratislava Castle is one of the most famous icons Bratislava is known for. Known to locals as “the upside-down table” thanks to its square shape complemented by a turret in each corner, it ranks right up there as one of the best things to do in Bratislava.
Originally dating from the ninth century, the castle has been rebuilt several times, the most recent in the mid-20th century. You can reach it in around 15 minutes by climbing a zigzag path or steeper steps, but don’t let walking put you off. There are two buses, the 203 and 207, from town; just ask to be dropped at the “Hrad”, or castle stop.
Bratislava Castle
Once there, you’ll be greeted by views that stretch over the River Danube and Old Town and across the respective borders into Hungary and Austria. Inside, some of the chambers form part of the Slovak National Museum.
Stroll Along the Eurovea Waterfront
Eurovea Waterfront
Flowing for almost 1,800 miles, the Danube is Europe’s second longest river, passing through four of the continent’s capitals on its way. One of those is Bratislava—and one of the best things to do in the city is to head to the lovely Eurovea riverside district.
This sleek, modern promenade on the north bank is lined with cafés, bars, shops, and green spaces, all making it a great spot for people watching. It was not always this way, though. The area was a gritty industrial riverfront before being transformed in the early 2000s into a mixed-use district to offer the kind of cool waterfront vibe enjoyed by other Danube capitals. It’s a great spot to get a taste of the modern city, contrasting nicely with the Old Town just a 15-minute walk away.
Walk in the Footsteps of Royalty
St. Martin’s Cathedral
If you’re looking to dive into the city’s history, one of the best things to do in Bratislava is to walk the historic Coronation Route. This self-guided tour follows the historic walk taken by Hungarian monarchs between the 16th and 19th centuries, when Bratislava was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, linking ceremonial sites along the way.
Starting at the city’s grand St. Martin’s Cathedral, it follows the cobbled streets of the Old Town, past Michael’s gate and the city’s main square before ending at the riverbank. To follow it, all you have to do is look for the brass crown symbols embedded into the sidewalk that mark the path. There are 178 of them to follow, allowing you to walk in the footsteps of kings and queens.
Take a Craft Beer Tour
Craft beer
Almost all central European cities have a strong history of brewing and Bratislava is no different. While lager ruled the roost here for centuries, the early 2010s saw a craft beer revolution with small-batch brews and independent taprooms popping up around the city. Think IPAs, sour ales, chocolate stouts, even honey-infused brews.
There are a number of organized tours around the city, most of them starting around the Main Square in Old Town, or you can simply head out to explore on your own. Look out for Bratislava Flagship, a high-end restaurant with its own brews, all housed in an ornate old theater. Or visit Kollarko, a beer garden on a small square in the city center frequented by locals as well as visitors.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Bratislava’s Christmas Markets
Explore Devín Castle
Devín Castle
A 30-minute drive from Bratislava and located right at the center of Europe lies ruined Devín Castle. An important site since the Iron Age thanks to its strategic position at the meeting of the Danube and Morava rivers, it has long been fought over by the Celts, Romans, Slavs, and many more. That is until Napoleon’s troops decided to blow it up in 1809.
What’s left of the castle is now one of Slovakia’s most important historical sites with its ruined towers, old fortifications, and atmospheric silence. The views from the castle over to Austria are truly cinematic, too, all rivers and rolling countryside. The nearby town of Devín is also famous for its sweet and bold blackcurrant wine that can be sampled at a tasting room right next to the castle itself.
Ride to the UFO Tower
UFO Tower
Slovakia’s most surreal architectural landmark and one of the best things to do in Bratislava rolls into one at the UFO Tower, a futuristic observation deck and restaurant shaped like a flying saucer.
Located in the middle of the SNP Bridge that spans the Danube, its elevators take 45 seconds to reach the 300-foot summit from where the views can reach 60 miles on clear days.
The building itself is quite brutalist, but those vistas are pretty impressive, the medieval castle and Soviet-era austere housing blocks vying for attention against the Old Town.
If you choose to dine here, the restaurant has won countless awards—or you can choose to do a suspended skywalk around the exterior of the UFO-shaped dome.
Snack on a Bratislava Roll
Bratislava roll
For traditional sweet fare, look no further than the Bratislava roll, a golden-baked, crescent-shaped pastry filled with either sweet poppy seed or walnut paste.
These coffee-time treats are such a part of the fabric here that they have been given protected status by the European Union. Unless made to a traditional recipe, they simply aren’t worthy of the “Bratislavský rožok” name. Locals take them very seriously with recipes guarded by families for centuries and many arguments over whether poppy seed or walnut is best.
Naturally, the best way to weigh in is to try as many as possible when here. Most of the bakeries and cafés in the Old Town sell them, with a good place to start being Café Mayer, founded way back in 1873.
Admire the Blue Church
Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
If you’re a fan of unique vacation snaps, or love posting on your social accounts, head straight to Bratislava’s “Blue Church”. Officially known as the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, it looks like a pastel-blue vision straight from a fairy tale.
Built in the early 20th century, it’s also a textbook example of Hungarian Secessionist architecture, an offshoot of Art Nouveau. The church was designed by Ödön Lechner, often dubbed the “Hungarian Gaudí” after the famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.
The pair have a certain imaginative, whimsical style in common. The blue theme isn’t limited to the exterior of the church, either. Step inside—the church is usually only open for mass—to find the roof tiles, mosaics, and even the interior pews and altar, all with a tinge of blue.
Cycle Along the Danube
Danube River
One of the best things to do in Bratislava is to cycle beside the mighty Danube. The riverside path through the city is part of the Eurovelo 6 route—a wider European riverside cycling network that happens to span the entire length of this mighty river, from Germany’s Passau to the Black Sea.
You don’t have to go to those extremes to enjoy cycling here, of course. The path through Bratislava takes in riverbanks, picturesque villages, and vineyards along the way. Places to stop, rest, and eat are plentiful, too.
Several companies offer cycle rental in the city. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the Slovnaft Bike public transport system. These slightly heavier bikes are free for the first hour or you can rent them for a nominal fee for a day or more. Pick-up and drop-off stops can be found all over the city.
Pay Your Respects at the Slavín Memorial
Slavín Memorial
Sitting on a hilltop just outside the city center, the Slavín Memorial commemorates the almost 7,000 Soviet soldiers who helped liberate Bratislava at the end of World War II.
At the heart of the moving memorial is a huge obelisk, some 130 feet high, topped by a statue of a Red Army soldier crushing a swastika. Subtle it is not. Beneath it lies a cemetery with the graves of the soldiers who lost their lives in the liberation offensive.
Slovaks have mixed memories of the Soviet era. While grateful for the sacrifice of those soldiers, the invasion of what was then Czechoslovakia in 1968, colored the relationship with the Soviet Union. This eventually led to the revolution of 1989 and the split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia three years later.
Whatever your politics, the memorial is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war, and a serene place of silent reflection.
Climb the Old Town Hall Tower
Old Town Hall
There are more sweeping views over the Old Town’s red rooftops, the main square, and over to the castle from this Gothic tower attached to the Old Town Hall complex.
Set on the city’s main square—Hlavné námestie—in the heart of the Old Town, you’ll spot the clock tower rising above the surrounding pastel façades. The Old Town Hall is a patchwork of medieval buildings, with the 14th-century tower one of the oldest standing in the city.
Depending on how you count, there are around 90 steps to the top but the climb can be broken into chunks. The complex now houses the Bratislava City Museum, and exhibits on the staircase allow people both to catch their breath and catch up on their culture at the same time.
Hunt for Quirky Statues
Čumil
After the fall of the austere Soviet regime, the early 1990s saw an effort to add a dose of humor and personality to Bratislava’s city center. As part of that effort, a number of quirky bronze statues were placed ad hoc around the Old Town and these now form part of a scavenger hunt-style walk.
While you can find their location on various maps, wandering around the Old Town and discovering them yourself is half the fun. Look out for Čumil, the “Man at Work”, a cheeky figure popping out of a manhole with a grin on his face.
The Napoleonic Soldier leaning over a bench near the Main Square is another great photo stop, and see if you can spot the paparazzo peeking from around a corner, camera at the ready. The statues can literally be anywhere, so make sure to look up, down, and even behind you on your hunt.
Sample the Local Mac ’n’ Cheese
Bryndzové Halušky
Fancy trying Slovakia’s national dish? Look out on menus for Bryndzové Halušky. Often called the “local equivalent of mac ’n’ cheese”, it consists of potato dumplings topped with sour cream, tangy bryndza, which is a fermented sheep cheese, and crispy bacon.
A staple for centuries and originating from mountainous regions where sheep farming is common, this Bratislava food is a regular at Old Town restaurants. Some of the best places to sample it include the Slovak Pub on Obchodná street, Bratislava Flagship Restaurant in the Old Town, or Modrá Hviezda near the castle.
Marvel at Modern Art at Danubiana
While the Old Town is packed with traditional charm, parts of Bratislava have a distinctly 21st-century feel. Case in point is this strikingly modern contemporary art museum set on a peninsula in the Danube, opened in 2000 and a 30-minute drive from the Old Town.
Danubiana
Visiting the museum is a real experience. It’s a sleek white building jutting into the Danube and surrounded by gardens and sculptures. Inside there are works by modern masters and emerging talents—mostly loaned from founder Gerard Meulensteen’s personal collection. The sculpture garden is particularly impressive, featuring giant installations that look like they’ve crash-landed from another planet.
Visit Three Countries in a Day
Budapest, Hungary
It may seem a strange idea, but one of the best things to do in Bratislava is actually to leave the city itself. Its location right at the heart of Europe means that it sits right next to the borders with both Austria and Hungary, allowing you to easily add to your country count in just a couple of hours.
All three countries are part of the wider European Schengen area, which means border checks have the lightest of touches, if there are any checks at all.
There are several ways to cover all three in a matter of hours: cruise along the river, cycle the riverside path, or jump into a taxi, stopping for selfies in each country, of course.
Bratislava
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