This is the most popular of the bunch and the statue with the longest line of people waiting to take their selfies. Let us know. I didnt but Im sure there are some. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Built in 1909 as a Hungarian Secessionist Catholic church, the tiny one-nave church was initially meant to be just a school chapel. Im not the only one. Even by European standards, Bratislava, Slovakia, is a small capital city at just under half a million residents. The main building is the memorial. On the sunny day I visited, the Blue Church almost blended into the sky but I think it would look striking on a stormy day, too. Hungry? Hope that was helpful! These attractive umbrella streets are popping up all over the world but thats no reason not to tick another one off your list. It felt less crowded than other capitals in Europe which is a blessing in summer.I didnt expect Bratislava to be very touristy. Worth it? Theres always a chance that things could change in 2020, of course. Michael's Gate is the only remaining city gate from the fortified walls and towers built in the 1300s. Find journeys between European countries from 1! For another view over Bratislava, climb the tower. Lovely photos can be shot at almost each street of Bratislavas center and you wont want to stop walking :). The port is near the Old Town area, near the National Gallery, and surrounded by lush, colorful gardens and stunning architecture. The 303-meter-long bridge has two levels: one for four lanes of traffic and one for bikes and pedestrians. This reason to visit Bratislava is pretty self-explanatory. 16 Top-Rated Museums and Art Galleries in Vienna, Where to Stay in Vienna: Best Areas & Hotels, 27 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Vienna, Exploring Vienna's Belvedere Palace: A Visitor's Guide, Exploring St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Exploring Vienna's Imperial Hofburg Palace: A Visitor's Guide, Visiting Vienna's Schnbrunn Palace: Highlights, Tips & Tours, 15 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Brno, 15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions of Budapest's Castle Hill, 18 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Budapest, Where to Stay in Budapest: Best Areas & Hotels, 12 Top Tourist Attractions in Graz & Easy Day Trips, 22 Best Places to Visit in the United States, 20 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World, Grand Hotel River Park, A Luxury Collection, Just a few minutes' walk from the historic city center, the. Guilty here. You get a great view of the main square below. If you ever needed a reason to visit Bratislava, surely its this Wiki bio? Find them here. Love how affordable Bratislava is. If ever there was a reason to visit a new country, its the food. Written by Diana BoccoUpdated Mar 9, 2021, We may earn a commission from affiliate links (). Try this travel planner and save yourself time and worries on missing out! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. The search feature allows you to compare prices, and they show live departure times on the website.For buses, I use FlixBus. The door to get into the tower is easily missed. Located on the corner of the main square. Maybe we missed something, but this is what we saw from the memorial. I would be a good idea to insert a link to a map of the places. One of our most beloved activities is to walk in the center at night. I tucked into poppyseed pasta which is a local dish but it was tough to tear myself away from the tacos and raclette. Perhaps the most famous of the statues (and definitely the most photographed) is Cumil, a sewer worker coming out of a manhole, just sitting there and watching the world go by. Today, the castle is home to a branch of the Slovak National Museum, housing documents, photographs, and objects showcasing the development of the area starting in the Middle Ages. If you are eager to walk alittle more, put Devin on your to-go list. This is where the fourth Peace of Pressburg was signed in 1805 between Napoleon and the Holy Roman Emperor to end the War of the Third Coalition. More Information about Slovakia and Central Europe: Read all of our articles about Slovakia in our. We recommend trying this one. But if you want to do some proper shopping, you dont need to wander around the city. Museums set in towers are nothing extraordinary in Bratislava either. The shopping itself loses its charm in one way (we love the cute outdoor streets), however when shopping big, we like its practical site. Thats an adventure Id love to have! Bratislava, we strongly believe, is one of them. Built in 1300, Michaels Gate is the only surviving medieval gate in Bratislava. You will fall in love here (and then roll to your next stop) :D Check this post to see which are our favorite pancakes spots! Two hundred years later, the castle was bombed during the Napoleonic Wars and left in ruins. Read all of our articles about Slovakia in our Slovakia Travel Guide. You'll also find the remains of the 11th-century Great-Moravian basilica on the grounds of the castle. Enjoy a 3-course meal with drinks at 3 different restaurants in the historical center! Thank you so much for your help! For hostels, I use Hostelworld.com.To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters, a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets.For tours and activities, I use GetYourGuide. I am glad you mention it in the article that it is not worth buying if you only stay one day. Amazing photos again as usual. Today, the tower houses an exhibition of weapons, as well as documents, photographs, and models showcasing the history of the city walls and how they influenced the city over the centuries. Bratislava, with its compact old town, charming city streets, and outdoor caf culture, is a wonderful place to visit. Our website uses cookies. You can now find the Paparazzi at the UFO restaurant. We could talk and talk to prove our point, but as we are limited in words (and we dont want to bore you), we have put down some of our favorite reasons: Feeling like visiting acoronation place? In the city center, just a short walk from the old town, Just a five-minute walk from old town, the. Bratislava is right between Austria and Hungary and couldnt be easier to visit en route between the two. Not knowing if I was in the right spot, I pulled the door open, and yes, it lead up into a ticket office for the tower. To get us right Bratislava doesnt have any famous shopping street like the Londons Oxford street or the Calle Serrano in Madrid. Most of the places on this list are located outside of the old town. On the free walking tour of Bratislava, our guide told us that Austrians often cross the border into Slovakia for cheap opera tickets. You will feel Bratislavas charm once you visit it :). Tickets were also affordable. This enormous white castle is visible from everywhere in Bratislava and from the top you can see out over the whole city. The elevator is small and creaky and hot in the summertime. The ground floor of the buildings showcases items from the permanent collection, while other floors focus on temporary exhibits and visiting artists. The only way to access the tower is via an elevator located inside one of the "legs" of the bridge. Slovak cuisine might be heavy (when talking about our national meals), but it is also very tasty. The gate went through several reconstructions through the years, including a Baroque-inspired one in 1758 that included the addition of the current massive St. Michael and the Dragon statue on top of the gate. :), Despite we have been living in Bratislava for quite some years, we still love to walk in the center without really planning to arrive to aspecific place. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. There are plenty of places with excellent coffee and places to co-work. When it first opened, it only featured Hungarian and German theater performances, and it wasn't until after the end of WWII that operas started to be presented in their original language (with Slovak subtitles). For such a small city center there sure are a lot of quirky, interesting statues to see. If thats not a reason to visit Bratislava, I dont know what is. If you know me, I am obsessed with street art. Pin this for later! What else is travel all about? Our Old Town is crowded with cafes and restaurants of various type. Whether you're in a quest to find as many as possible or just want to keep your eyes open in case you see them as you walk around, some of them are a truly exciting find. In its modern incarnation, the square is a pedestrian green zone with benches, fountains, and an outdoor podium where live music and special cultural events often take place. Built in 1370, this civic hall was also used as a prison and a mint. This was another popular statue located in the town square. Located around the building is the cemetery, the final resting place for these Soviet soldiers. If you would rather cross into the Czech Republic, read more about the top attractions in Brno, including easy day trips. On the pictures: Sky bar and Eurovea. No one knows why its been built to look like a UFO but the nicknames stuck. Dominating the hillside next to the old town is Bratislava Castle. Rose has lived in Mexico, Canada and all over Asia, seeking out food, bubble tea and street art wherever she goes! This palace is the office of Bratislavas mayor but you can also take a tour of the rooms, the highlight being the Hall of Mirrors. The questionnaire can be found here: https://goo.gl/xnWFaF. On a clear day, you can also see Hungary and Austria. Located in the main square, this is another popular photo spot. The food is delicious, the cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are creative, and we loved the view over St. Martins Cathedral. Whether it is the Slovak Robin Hood playing the shepherds pipe, street artists offering to paint your portrait or people dressed up in costumes, they are adding charm to our small Old Town. Its interesting to see on the inside and out. There are some more typical statues that tourists like to take pictures with. From downtown, Bratislava feels like a relaxed lowrise city. Thank you! In recent years, the theaters have focused on a mix of foreign performers and shows with traditional writers known worldwide. Night photography is one of my new favourites so I valued the chance to sit astride the castle walls and snap the illuminated city. The Napoleon's Army soldier statue, leaning over a bench while tipping his top hat, is another popular photo spot tourists often lean back on the bench as they join in the courteous bowing. I couldnt have been more wrong with Bratislava. You can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. Youll find plenty of travel inspo in this blog in the form of solo travel tips, budget travel guides, food blogs and nomad & blogging resources. The museum is located on a small peninsula on the Danube River. To get here, take bus 90 (about 4o minutes one way) or drive, if you have a car. I believe this market may be seasonal but you can visit the Old Market Hall on Saturdays year-round (10am-3pm) for local foods and beverages. Facts aside, Bratislava is a pretty, colourful city set alongside the Danube. Obviously, some shops are spread within the historical center. The new theater sits on the banks of the Danube river, in an upscale residential area famous for its upmarket shops and restaurants. Going to the opera was one of the highlights of my visit to Bratislava, so too was heading to a football match at Slovan Bratislavas stadium. Visitors can also make their way up to the top of the tower to access a balcony that opens up over the Old City and offers one of the best views in town. Biggest pancakes ever! When I think of ex-communist countries, I cant help but visualise grey concrete blocks. Were not big fans of shopping, even though it might sound weird as were girls. Have you see the movie War of the Worlds? Do you think the UFO Tower looks like one of the alien ships from this movie? An ongoing archaeological project is hoping to restore some of the structures and even reconstruct the Great Moravian church that once stood here. Are you planning a trip to Bratislava? Comment below if you have any questions! The hotel was clean, quiet, and comfortable, the WiFi worked well, and the included breakfast was pretty good. The Slovak National Opera Theater and the Slovak Philharmonic sit next to the square, with cafs and restaurants lining up the streets around it. I didnt expect Bratislava to have such an awesome cafe scene but I was pleasantly surprised. Yet where in the world has escaped these days? You can purchase the card online and then print a voucher, which you will turn in for the card. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Today, the palace is the seat of Bratislava's mayor, though parts of it remain open to the public for tours. Time your visit for just before sunset. What is your favorite thing about Bratislava? After walking through the palace, head out into the inner courtyard to find a fountain with a statue of St. George, known as "the dragon slayer.". Do you know anything about Christmas Markets? Check the Shop in aMuseum to see what we are talking about. Ive never heard a lot about Bratislava but it looks like a charming and wonderful place to visit! Artificial sand, a cool bar, camp-beds, music and cocktails :) The Tiki Beach is also quite popular, built next to a Hawaii style Mango restaurant. Today, even the benches, ceiling, and the walls are painted in blue and covered in majolica and blue-glazed ceramic tiles. But we do love these cute cafes/bookstores which offer great food, refreshing drinks, the best coffee and delicious cakes. Preferably somewhere nice and full of flowers. Restaurants and bars situated on top floors of buildings are not the only places with great panoramic view. We love to take walks. Anyway, Id recommend checking out the UFO bridge simply because its weird and wonderful. Honestly, its a total mix of styles. It wasn't until 1953 that restoration work started. Restaurants which turn to chic bars at night, promenades where you can walk, shop, dine and relax, Bratislava has them all. The UFO Tower feels a bit run down. You should definitely check out the Wakelake as well, where you can try out different water sports and party in the nights. Thats a great suggestion. The gallery focuses on both classical and modern painting and sculpture with a strong connection to Slovakia. Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. Recently renovated, it feels modern and somewhat empty on the inside. You can simply walk up to it and take a photo (it is one of the iconic views of Bratislava) or, for a better experience, you can climb to the top of the tower for a view over the city. Required fields are marked *. For that reason, Ive together these reasons to visit Bratislava in the hope of persuading you, too! To get to these places, you will need a car or you will need to use public transportation. No wonder guys from many countries organize their stag parties in Bratislava :) Are you a beer lover? Although the castle went through many expansions and reconstructions between the mid-800s and the 15th century, the major changes were introduced in the 1600s. Ooh yeah. If youre craving world cuisine rather than heavy Eastern European food, youre in the right place. Use Omio to compare trains and buses in one search. When put together, they however make anice picture and create anew place with that special feeling. Its a fanciful, Art Noveau church that was completed in 1913. We thought it was just ok, not really worth the walk from the old town. Explore Bratislava as the shimmering rays of the sun set and the lights of the city come to life! You can also tour the Bratislava City Museum and learn a little about the city, if you are interested. Apparently, it was decided that Bratislava was too drab and Communist so this statue was erected in 1997 to add new life to the city. They cover 150 countries and have 24-hour emergency assistance.Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and budget tips from my 10+ years on the road! Sitting almost 95 meters up in the air, the UFO houses a restaurant serving traditional Slovak food and an observation deck offering panoramic views of Bratislava this is a great place to photograph the Castle, Old Town, and even the Kamzik Tower in the distance. Built over 1000 years ago, the castle was blown up by Napoleans army. Here are our top ten things to do in Bratislava, with a few more ideas of how to spend your time at the end of this article. Joe recently revealed that Bratislava is the cheapest city in Europe to have a beer; the average pint comes in at 1.48. But you can spend several hours exploring the cobblestoned streets, shopping, and searching for your favorite caf along the way. The best cafes I visited in Bratislava were: I like that Bratislava doesnt take itself too seriously. The old theater is located right on Hviezdoslavovo Square, in an area famous for its caf offerings. Bratislava is on my list for quite a while and you just made me wanna go there even more! Your email address will not be published. Even in mid-July, its streets felt less crowded and we never waited in line for anything. Were not saying we will ever wear a flower headband or that we would want our partners to wear funny moustaches. The massive four-tower structure is hard to miss anywhere you are in Bratislava, as it sits in the middle of town, atop a rocky hill. Any positive and objective observation is . A rotating restaurant, a caf, and a second smaller eatery are also part of the tower. In summer, the square is a popular meeting point, while in winter it becomes the main destination for Christmas markets. You can get that from Bratislava Castle or the crazy UFO Tower. Being ahipster is currently trendy in Bratislava and everybody wants to be one because it is believed to be cool. Enjoy! Dear travellers! And there are a few other lakes where you can cool yourself down in the hot summer :). But don't let that fool you the city's ideal location on the banks of the Danube has had a big impact on its historical and economic development. Today, visitors can stroll around the maze of staircases, courtyards, and walls that make up the ruins. I also have a new favourite beverage: Slovakian lemonade which is really just carbonated water full of fresh berries and fruit (not lemon). Its over 1,000 years old although it was virtually destroyed in a fire in the 1800s. The Art Nouveau Church of St. Elizabeth is best known to everybody locally as "the blue church" because of its colorful exterior. I received a lot of questions from our guests that wanted to know about the Bratislava card. If it has a castle, wine and beer cheaper than water and colorful buildings, Im ready to go! Located on the southern bank of the Danube River, you have panoramic views of Bratislava from the top of the UFO Tower. One of the first things I want to know when arriving somewhere is what to eat there. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Brand new hotels, floating restaurants, and shopping complexes stand along the river, which also offers a great riverbank walkway, a number of bridges, and plenty of shady spaces to stop along the way. For the most adventurous souls, there are also downstream canoe trips available. In the evening, live DJs came out and stands began serving wine and cocktails. Bratislava is underrated as a European destination, as we just learned. Learn more here. 3-hour tour that includes your transportation, a guide, and a local wine tasting. Small and compact, you can walk from one side of the old town to the other in less than ten minutes. Eleven king were crowned at Bratislava making it one of Slovakias most important sites. At this museum, tour a Czechoslovak fortification that dates to pre-World War II. The Paparazzi. History: Was under Soviet rule for 50 years until the fall of Communism in 1989. The card can be picked up at Tourist information booths, public transportation hubs, and several hotels. Our Old Town Hall and Castles Crown Tower are just afew examples. It always makes me laugh when attractions claim to the best or biggest even if its totally tenuous. Sure, there are a few of these around but the city centre is full of charming townhouses painted pink, blue and yellow. This small guy lying on the road is the most photographed object of our Old Town.