Bratislava Travel Guide
Although Slovakia is right in the centre of Europe, it is only recently that it has become known as a tourist destination.
Its unique history, attractive sights, rich cultural life, excellent local gastronomy, quality wine and modern shopping centres make Bratislava an ideal city-break destination.
Below you will find out information on the best things to do in Bratislava, where to eat, and why you should visit.
Recommend time to visit – 1-2 days
Why should you visit?
Bratislava is open and hospitable but without the pitfalls of many other big cities. It is vibrant and full of people living for the moment. It can also be a place where you can switch off, relax and forget about your daily stresses. Everything is close and within easy reach. One minute you can enjoy the view of the majestic Cathedral. The next, you can sample traditional or contemporary cuisine, followed by a freshly brewed espresso in one of numerous cafés in picturesque narrow streets and squares.
If you are looking for fresh air, combine it with a chance to shop and take a short walk from the city centre to modern shopping malls located on both banks of the Danube. They are open seven days a week and offer a variety of shopping experience from designer brands to gift shops selling small gifts for your loved ones that you can pack together with the unforgettable memories of this city.
And don’t forget to check out the Bratislava CARD for multitude of discounts, including unlimited travel in public transport network, free tour guide and a free admission to 12 museums and galleries.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Bratislava is between spring and early autumn. Winter is less attractive due to cold weather, grey skies, and a lack of outdoor events.
Summer is the best and the most popular time to visit, but it’s also the hottest time of year. Therefore, I suggest you plan your trip for May, June or September if you want to make the most of the still-small crowds and enjoy cheaper prices on accommodation.
Having said that, we must note that the summer season offers more activities including open-air concerts, music and theatre festivals, artistic performances and cultural events. Many of them are free to attend.
Getting around Bratislava
Bratislava public transportation is very efficient and mostly runs on time. It can be rather confusing for first-time visitors, though.
Every bus stop has a map and a timetable displayed as well as instructions in English. Make sure you have a ticket before you board any bus, tram or electric bus.
Before you hop on a bus, purchase your tickets from the tall, thin orange vending machines right on the bus stop platforms, or from a news-stand. For the vending machine, you need coins. A bus ticket costs 70 cents (40p)for 1 ride with a validity of 15 minutes. Multiple-ride tickets are valid for 30 minutes (90 cents or 50-60p) and 60 minutes (1.20 Euros, £1). *prices up to date as of 2022
Don’t forget to validate your ticket in the stamping machine as soon as you board the bus.
Things to see and do
The Old Town
The Old Town in Bratislava is the place where the majority of visitors spent their time and I definitely can see why. It’s compact, charming and full of interesting places around.
When in the Old Town you can’t miss the main square – Hlavne Namestie – including the courtyard of the old town hall (Stara Radnica) as well as the national theatre and St. Martin’s Cathedral.
Our favourite streets to wander around are: Michalska, Farska, Kapitulska, Venturska, Panska, and Laurinska but no matter which street you take chances it will be pretty and adorable are very high.
We recommend visiting Bratislava Old Town (and beyond) with a guide so you can get to know the place better. There are so many hidden details and stories that you can’t learn about when discovering the place yourself.
Book a guided tour using our recommended partner below:
UFO bridge
You love it or hate it but this is probably the most recognisable symbol of Bratislava (however some claim the castle has this title). We loved it!
Officially this is the SNP Bridge (SNP standing for Slovenské národné povstanie – Slovak National Uprising) but everyone claims it to be UFO Bridge, thanks to the brutalism structure located on top of it.
You can take the elevator up to the top for around £5 or €8 / $9, and either dine in the restaurant or go to the viewing platform to admire the most spectacular view of Bratislava.
We’ve heard soon the skywalk will be open there and that’s already a good reason for us to visit Bratislava again!
There was also the most interesting toilets we’ve ever been in…
Presidential palace
Built in 1760 in the Rococo / late Baroque style and located just outside the Old Town the Grassalkovich palace serves as the presidential palace.
It’s impossible to visit it inside but you can freely enjoy the gardens, designed in the French style. It’s a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax in a beautiful green space
Bratislava castle
Towering above the Old Town and Danube river Bratislava castle might have a spectacular location but itself it looks more like the table standing upside down.
It’s worth to climb up to see a pretty impressive view of the UFO Bridge and Petrzalka in the background.
Over the centuries Bratislava Castle played an important role in the history of Central Europe, from the mid-16th century it’s been the coronation city of the Hungarian Kingdom.
These days the castle is still under reconstruction after the fire in 1811 but it’s open to visiting and serves as the museum with some interesting exhibitions (during my last visit there was one about the advertisements after WW2).
You can get to the castle by walking (it’s a bit of an uphill) or by the sightseeing bus – use our recommended partner for guided tours:
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
Getting to Bratislava
By Air
Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport, the largest in Slovakia has regular air flights around Europe, UK, and Russia. Ryanair, Danube Wings, Czech Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle (ASA), and UTair are the major airlines.
There are no direct flights from India and the USA to Bratislava or Slovakia for that matter. It’s recommended to fly to Vienna, Austria, and travel by road to Bratislava.
Public buses connect the airport to the city centre.
By Train
There are frequent train connections to and from Bratislava to rest of Slovakia and the major cities in central and eastern Europe.
The central train station, Bratislava Hlavná Stanica receives most of the international trains while another primary train station, Bratislava-Petržalka receives trains from Vienna. Both stations have easy bus connections to the city centre.
By Bus
Coach buses connect Bratislava to rest of Slovakia and all the major cities of EU countries.
Buses arrive at Autobusová Stanica, the Central Coach Terminal located at Mlynské nivy.
By Car
Bratislava can be easily accessed by rental or own car using motorways from Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, and Poland.
If you decide to drive, make sure to buy a vignette (highway toll sticker) from a service station close to the border.
Where to stay
We suggest you choose your Bratislava accommodation close to downtown. This way you can minimise or avoid using public transportation.
Bratislava is very walkable. It’s not a huge city, and everything you need to see as a visitor is in or around the city centre. Depending on your budget, you can find centrally located hotels, hostels or private rentals.
Budget: Boutique Capsule Hostel CHORS in the Old Town offers pod-style rooms decorated with artwork by local painters. Spacious common areas, fast WIFI and a generous buffet breakfast make this a favourite among budget travellers and digital nomads. Check prices and availability on Booking.com.
Mid-range: A self-contained Airbnb apartment is a great option for mid-range accommodation in Bratislava. This studio home features a full kitchen and washing machine.
Boutique: For a touch of old-world Central European elegance, five-star Marrol’s Boutique Hotel is set in a historic building in the heart of the city and features wood burning fire places. Check prices and availability on Booking.com.
Where to Eat
While in Bratislava, you must try some Slovak dishes. For a start, we recommend Bryndzove halusky (potato dumplings with sheep’s cheese), schnitzel and potatoes, palacinky (crepes with various fillings and toppings), parene buchty (steamed dumplings with plum butter and poppy seeds).
The most popular fizzy drink is mineral water and then Vinea (grape juice pop). For alcoholic beverages, you should try Zlaty Bazant, Smadny Mnich or Corgon, which are all great Slovak beer brands. If you’re into beer, I recommend joining a guided beer tour (add get your guide link) to discover some of the city’s best bars.
Slivovica plum brandy and Tatra Tea are both popular spirits. We suggest you also take a bottle of Tatra Tea home as a souvenir – it’s extremely delicious and comes in a variety of great flavours.
Here are some of the Slovak dishes you should try when in Bratislava:
- Garlic Soup
- Bratislavský Rožok (walnut or poppy seed-filled croissant)
- Lokše or Zamiatone (potato pancakes)
- Bryndzove Halusky
- Bratislava Rolls
- Chimney Cake (Trdelnik)
- Local Beer
Before you go..
We suggest you learn some basic Slovak expressions such as:
- Thank you (pronounced dakuyem)
- Hello (pronounced ahoy)
- Good day (pronounced dobree dyen)
- Yes (pronounced ano)
- No (pronounced nye)
- Please (pronounced proseem)
- Sorry (pronounced pardohn)
- Goodbye (pronounced doveeh-den-yah)
Final thoughts
This Bratislava guide was just an introduction – there’s much more to see and do. Next time you visit Slovakia’s capital, you can venture to the colourful Petrzalka neighbourhood, take a communism-themed tour of downtown, or even visit one of the medieval castles just outside the city.
The Carpathian Mountain range starts with Bratislava Castle hill and spreads across the whole country towards eastern and southern-eastern Europe, so Bratislava also offers tons of hiking trails.
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Other Slovakia Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Slovakia:
We love Bratislava! It is something different! Make sure it’s on your list.
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