THE BEST OF BRATISLAVA
Often confused with its neighbor, Slovenia, Slovakia is an often overlooked country. Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, sits at the crossroads of Central Europe along the Danube River. This vibrant city offers a mix of medieval history, evident in its grand castle, with a modern energy and some extremely tasty food. Its convenient location makes it the perfect place for a day trip.
HOW TO GET to bratislava
Bratislava is SO easy to get to from Vienna. You can take a 1 hour train from the Vienna train station. It’s fast and convenient, and the trains come regularly.
BEST TIME TO VISIT bratislava
We visited in September during shoulder season and felt that it was the perfect time to visit. It wasn’t too hot or cold. It was not very crowded.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED HERE
A day trip to Bratislava was perfect. We saw and ate everything we wanted to and didn’t feel rushed.
Language and Currency
We spoke English the entire time and had no trouble communicating. Most of the restaurants had English versions of their menus available.
Euros are accepted everywhere and prices are very reasonable.
what and were to EAT in bratislava
Sheep’s Cheese Gnocchi or dumplings
Garlic soup
Cabbage Soup
Kofola – Have you heard of Kofola? It’s the Czech Republic’s answer to Coke or Pepsi, but it’s also super popular in Slovakia. It was created when western goods were very expensive in the late 1950s. Try it and see which you like better!
Bratislavský Rožok – traditional Slovakian pastry. This slightly-sweet, crescent-shaped pastry filled is filled with either crushed poppy seeds or ground walnuts. You can try it at Pressburg Bajgel in Bratislava!
Meanto
In two weeks of exploring the area, this stands out as one of our best meals. For starters, get the fried cheese and garlic soup in a bread bowl. I mean, who doesn’t like fried cheese?! The garlic soup is herby and delicious and tastes like a grandma cooked it. It also comes in the most adorable bread bowl with a heart cut into the top. I’m burying the lead, but you need to get the sampler plate – mini sheep’s cheese gnocchi with bacon, sheep’s cheese dumplings (similar to pierogis) with onions, sour cabbage dumplings with sour cream – pure heaven.
Slovak Pub
The Slovak Pub gets rave reviews from everyone we know who’s been to Bratislava. We made a last-minute decision, based on our tour-guide’s suggestion, and went to Meanto, but this was our backup. It seems that they have a similar offering with the hyped up dish being the sheep’s cheese gnocchi.
Arthur Gelato
Did we like it so much we went back for seconds? We sure did. The only flavor you need to know about is Čumil, which is a mix of cream, jam, and poppy seeds. It’s custom to Arthur’s Gelato and it’s one of the best flavors we’ve ever tasted.
Langos Bar
Have you had Langos? It’s Hungary’s answer to a pizza – fried dough with sour cream, cheese, and whatever other toppings you want! If you’re craving it in Bratislava, look no further!
where to drink in bratislava
Looking to grab a drink? Check out Baudelaire Bar or Michalska Cocktail Room – or both! Michalska’s is a speakeasy and was also recently rated one of the top 50 bars in the world!
what to SEE in bratislava
UFO Bridge
The UFO Bridge is a bridge with an observation deck and restaurant on top that resembles a flying saucer. For a nice view of the bridge, head up to the Bratislava Castle.
Bratislava Castle
The best things in life are free and that includes the Bratislava Castle. Bratislava Castle, perched atop a hill overlooking the Danube River, is a historic landmark and a must-visit destination for any traveler to Bratislava, Slovakia. We especially enjoyed walking through the castle gardens. Also, there’s a free bathroom here if you need it!
St. Martin’s Cathedral
If you visit Europe, you know you’ll be visiting churches. This gothic cathedral is one of the oldest in Slovakia, and it is also free.
Statues
There are a couple funny statues throughout the city. One of the most famous of the statues is Cumil the Sewer Worker, which depicts a man peeking out of a manhole. There’s another iconic fountain of four boys peeing.
Primate’s Palace
This neoclassical palace is decorated with columns, pilasters, and statues. It’s so pretty and pink, it’s totally worth a look.
Walk around Old Town
Take a walk in the old town to get a better sense of life in Bratislava. Pop into some shops to find souvenirs, or grab snacks from cafes.
Michael’s Gate
Back in the old days, Bratislava was a medieval fortification. Today, Michael’s Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved from medieval times.
President’s Palace
The President’s Palace is a huge white building with a globe-fountain outside. We walked past it on our way to the train station and thought it looked pretty cool, but don’t go out of your way for it.
Holocaust Memorial
Prior to World War II, there were nearly 137,000 Jewish people living in Slovakia. Now there are roughly 2,000. Visit this somber memorial, which is on the site of the former Neolog Synagogue and learn about its history.
Communist-style buildings
It’s interesting to note the different building styles present in Slovakia – you’ll see everything from ornate neoclassical buildings to the more plain communist-era buildings. Seeing them next to each other, side by side, really brings out the stark differences of the times.
Walk along the water
There is a nice walkway along the Danube River. We took this path on our way to the Blue Church and recommend following the same route.
Blue Church
The Blue Church in Bratislava is a Hungarian-Secessionist Catholic church, but truth be told, we only visited because it’s light blue and pretty. You can take a peek inside and snap some pictures of the colorful exterior.
DO
Free Walking Tour
We’re suckers for a free walking tour. They’re usually great, with knowledgeable tour guides that offer a transparent view into life in their country. Our tour in Bratislava was no exception – we loved it. We especially enjoyed this tour as it dived deep into the history of Slovakia as well as present-day life. If you do the free walking tour that we did, you will visit most of the sites listed above under “SEE”. You will not visit the Primate’s Palace, the Blue Church, the President’s Palace, or walk along the water, all of which we think are worth checking out.
NOT DONE TRAVELING?
Check out our guides of nearby areas:
Ljubljana
Lake Bled, Kranjska Gora + Nearby Nature