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Whilst other cities along the Danube have enjoyed frequent mentions on travel sites and social media, Bratislava, Slovakia, has been somewhat hidden from the limelight. But with easy access from nearby capital cities Vienna and Budapest, here’s why you NEED to visit one of Europe’s most underrated cities. Don’t forget to scroll to the end to listen to me talk about this brilliant little city on BBC Radio’s travel segment!

Where is Bratislava?

Bratislava is Slovakia’s capital city and sits on the Danube River, bordering Austria and Hungary in central Europe. It’s just a stone’s throw from Vienna in Austria and has plenty of transport links via sky, train and land with lots of other European destinations. We visited Bratislava as part of a self-arranged multi-stop trip, combining it with a few days in Vienna before travelling by train to Bratislava.

How to Get to Bratislava

To get to Bratislava, you can fly into M. R. Štefánik Airport from most big regional airports in the UK. You can also travel to Bratislava by train from any of the neighbouring locations as well as bus or by car. We travelled to Bratislava Petržalka train station from Vienna and it took around an hour and cost around 20€. From there, we took a bus into the city centre, next to where we were staying.

Is Bratislava Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Before we visited Bratislava we were concerned by how little we could find about it online in terms of things to see and do but found so much there is was our favourite city of the trip! Bratislava is perfect for those who don’t want just another generic city centre with the same shops you can find in every other city. We loved the laidback vibe and cobbled streets with the lovely people who were happy to help recommend food or give directions and explain the bus system!

Bratislava Language Tip

Because of its close proximity to the Austrian border, a lot of people in Bratislava speak German as a second language so if you’re struggling to find someone who speaks English but speak a bit of German you can often get by!

What to do in Bratislava

When we visited this lovely city it was Easter weekend so our Bratislava itinerary wasn’t jam-packed full in case we faced bank holiday-style closures. However, we were pleasantly surprised when most things were still open during our stay and ended up seeing so much during our trip! These are some of my favourite things to see and do in Bratislava that definitely need to make your list.

Visit Bratislava Castle

Set high on the hill above central Bratislava, Bratislava Castle is an incredible building that is worth visiting during general admission (open every day except Tuesday from 10:00 to 18:00) but also after general hours for a wander around the castle grounds to take in the incredible view of the city and the Danube. When we visited there was a fantastic medieval market on with pots, stoves and decorative eggs being made as well as birds of prey, food stalls and rides.

Visit the Blue Church Bratislava

One of the most beautiful buildings in Bratislava is the Blue Church or the Church of St. Elizabeth. Every corner of this church’s interior and exterior is bright blue and when we visited in the spring it had a beautiful pink blossom tree outside of it that perfectly offset its incredible colour and decor. There are lots of lovely cafés nearby, perfect for a quick break from wandering.

Say Hello to Čumil the Sewage Worker’s Statue

As you’re wandering around Bratislava you’ll see plenty of stratues and sculptures but one of the most popular is Čumil, the little man poppping up from a drain cover in the city centre. As this statue is low to the ground on the corner of a street, he’s had his head knocked off a few times by drivers so you’ll find his very own dedicated ‘man at work’ sign next to him these days.

Visit and Cross Bratislava’s UFO Bridge (SNP Bridge)

The UFO bridge is an iconic part of Bratislava’s cityscape and offers an observation deck with panoramic views across the city for a fee. However, you don’t need to pay the admission fee to enjoy the UFO-looking tower. You can cross the bridge on foot to parks on the other side of the river (a MUST if you have the weather for it!) and enjoy views of the bridge from every angle from outside of the tower.

Catch a Bus to Devin Castle

Just below the UFO Bridge sits Bratislava’s main bus station where you can catch buses to the wider Bratislava area. After a lot of help from an elderly lady in my broken German we worked out how to buy the tickets and were on our way! In just a 20 minute bus ride you will be in the small village of Devin with its lovely café lovely houses and a beautiful riverside walk in addition to the castle itself. The river here is unique in that it splits Austria and Slovakia and you can still see the bullet holes in the walls left here by the river from when Devin Castle sat right on the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

A Note on Buses in Bratislava:

When catching a bus around Bratislava you’ll pay for travel time rather than where you are travelling to but can catch as many buses/ transport options as you need during that time.

What to Eat in Bratislava

Food is always one of my favourite parts of a trip and Bratislava had THE BEST comfort food! You HAVE to try the savoury potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon bits (bryndzové pirohy) and the sweet dunplings with quark and poppy seeds. I loved diving into all of the Slovakian dishes on offer throughout my trip and there is so much to try!

One of my favourite café stops duiring the trip which I highly recommend is Maximillian Shokocafé in the city centre. Here you can have EVERYTHING chocolate in the most beautiful setting overlooking the town square.

Why We Loved Bratislava, Slovakia

We absolutely loved the laid-back vibe of Bratislava and loved wandering the cobbled streets of the old town alongside its more modern additions. There were so many brilliant places to eat as well as lots to do but we loved just relaxing in the beautiful parks with the fantastic views surrounding us. Bratislava also wins points because of its close proximity to neighbouring countries and cities including Vienna. Why not check out my blog on Vienna whilst you’re here and make your Bratislava trip a multi stop trip?

Listen to Me chatting All Things Bratislava on BBC Radio Stoke

I recently joined the brilliant Liz Ellis on BBC Radio Stoke for their travel segment. You can listen back on BBC Sounds here to hear everything about why I loved this brilliant capital city. Listen in at 2:17:30.

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