Bratislava - a city trip
The largest city in Slovakia is the capital Bratislava (Preßburg in German). It is located on the Danube in the immediate vicinity of the triangle formed by Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.
Bratislava is an ideal destination for vacationers who want to experience a mix of history, culture and modern lifestyle. This charming city on the banks of the Danube offers an impressive variety of activities and sights to delight every visitor.
The Old Town, with its cobbled streets and well-preserved buildings, invites travelers to take a stroll and discover the medieval architecture and numerous historical monuments. Highlights include the imposing Bratislava Castle, which offers a panoramic view of the city, and the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral, which once served as the coronation church for Hungarian kings. The city is not only interesting from an architectural point of view. For example, the coronations of Hungarian kings took place here until 1918.
Art lovers will also get their money’s worth in Bratislava. The city is home to numerous museums and galleries, including the Slovak National Museum and the Bratislava City Gallery, which present an impressive collection of Slovakian and international works of art. Regular events, concerts and festivals further enrich the city’s cultural offerings.
In addition to its historical significance, Bratislava also offers modern amenities and a vibrant city life. Numerous cafés, restaurants and bars offer opportunities to sample the local cuisine and enjoy the nightlife. Shopping enthusiasts will find a wide selection of international and local brands in the shopping centers and boutiques.
Bratislava a city trip – tips from us
Almost all of Bratislava’s historical places of tourist interest can be found in the compact old town. We have compiled our impressions of Bratislava here.
Bratislava really is a nice little town. The city reminded me of Prague. We felt very comfortable here and can recommend a short trip. Here we summarised our little highlights in Bratislava. The main highlights, such as the castle or the monument Slavín, I described in individual articles.
Monumental buildings are not unknown to us who live in Berlin. The remnants of socialist governments, which today seem unreal and oppressive and reminiscent of past times. One of these remnants in Bratislava is the Monumental war memorial Slavín.
In Bratislava you should also look at the ground when walking. Otherwise, it might happen that one trips over Čumil, one of the many sculptures in Bratislava.
What does the name SNP Bridge Bratislava mean? It means "Most Slovenského národného povstania", the bridge of the Slovakian national uprising. And why does a UFO fly over Bratislava? It is not actually flying, it rests on top of the bridge as a viewpoint.
One of the most unusual churches I have seen in a long time is St. Elisabeth, the Blue Church of Bratislava. The Blue Church of Bratislava was built in the early 1900s. Architect Ödön Lechner from Budapest designed the church in the style of the secession with oriental elements. Typical elements of the Hungarian art…
The castle of Devín is very close to the old town of Bratislava. This is one of the most important sights of the area and should not be missed during a visit to the Slovakian capital..
Bratislava Castle is situated 85 meters above the river Danube in the western part of Bratislava. The castle had many different names over the course of time: Castle Bratislava, Pressburg Castle or Bratislavský hrad.
Every year in December I catch it again – the Christ market fever. I have already visited many Christmas markets in Berlin and now I’m attracted by Christmas markets in other parts of the world. This year, it was the Christmas Market Bratislava!
Book your activities in the city
Restaurants tips:
We wanted to drink good fresh brewed beer in Bratislava. And we certainly would have if we had not found something much better. The homemade lemonade, which is available in almost all restaurants, is simply irresistible. .
Every year in December I catch it again – the Christ market fever. I have already visited many Christmas markets in Berlin and now I’m attracted by Christmas markets in other parts of the world. This year, it was the Christmas Market Bratislava!
Accommodation in Bratislava:
The 4 star Loft Hotel is located in the centre of Bratislava, within walking distance of the historic old town.
LOFT Hotel Bratislava
AC Hotel by Marriott Bratislava Old Town
Crowne Plaza Bratislava, an IHG Hotel
Hotel Devín
Lindner Hotel Bratislava, part of JdV by Hyatt
Travel information about Bratislava
We found ourselves asking the question "Where is Bratislava?" when we spontaneously decided to fly to Bratislava. So we gathered some information and are happy to share what we found out through research as well as what we have experienced on our trip.
Arrival
by plane
There are only a few scheduled flights to M.R.Štefánika airport. There are some budget airlines landing here.
The airport is located about 9 kilometers from the old town. From there it is easy to get to the main railway station by bus.
Alternatively you can fly as far as Vienna. Bratislava is only 46 kilometers away and can be reached by various bus lines that run quite frequently.
by train
During the day, Bratislava’s main train station can be easily reached by hourly trains from Vienna or by long-distance trains from, for example, Budapest, Prague or Brno.
The main train station is located just under one kilometer from the city center. From here several tram lines, trolley buses and buses run through the city, but you can also walk the route very well.
by bus
The large bus terminal Mlynské nivy is located relatively centrally northeast of the city center. Long-distance buses from many different operators arrive here. The focus is on connections from the Czech Republic and Hungary. But there are also buses coming from Germany, Croatia or Romania. The buses of Slovak Lines, which operate the routes within Slovakia, also depart from here.
Another bus station is located below the highway bridge SNP. Many regional bus lines stop here, but also buses coming from Vienna.
by car
If you travel to Bratislava by car, you should be aware that there is a toll on almost all freeways.
From Vienna you can get to Bratislava on the A6, from Budapest on the D2.
Free parking is very limited in the city.
by ship
From Vienna the TWINCityLiner runs regularly to Bratislava from the end of March to October.
The LOD hydrofoil and excursion boats also operate on the Danube between the cities.
by bike
The Danube Cycle Route / EuroVelo 6 and the Iron Curtain Cycle Route / EuroVelo 13 are the main routes leading through Bratislava.
on foot
The European long-distance hiking trail E8 runs through the city.
On the road in Bratislava
Public transportation
As a tourist in a foreign city, you are often looking for the best way to get from A to B at a reasonable price. As in many other cities, Bratislava offers a discount card that allows you to use public transport free of charge (Bratislava Card).
The city has a dense network of streetcars, trolleybuses and buses. Some night bus lines run at night.
One-way tickets
- 15 minutes: A one-way ticket for 15 minutes costs €0.70. No transfers are permitted with this ticket.
- 30 minutes: A 30-minute ticket costs €0.90. Transfers are permitted and the ticket is valid for 90 minutes at weekends.
- 60 minutes: A 60-minute ticket costs €1.20. Transfers are also permitted here and the ticket is valid for 90 minutes at weekends.
- 90 minutes: A 90-minute ticket costs €2.10.
- 120 minutes: A 120-minute ticket costs €3.30.
- 150 minutes: A 150-minute ticket costs €4.00.
- 180 minutes: A 180-minute ticket costs €4.90.
- 24 hours: A 24-hour ticket for all zones costs €6.90.
- 72 hours: A 72-hour ticket for zones 100+101 costs €9.00.
Tickets can be purchased from small yellow ticket machines. However, these are not available at every stop and they only offer single tickets and 24-hour tickets. Payment is only made in coins. At the airport, central station and larger transport hubs there are modern machines (white and red) which also offer card payment. Tickets are also sold in newspaper kiosks and tobacconists.
Only on regional buses (which cover longer distances) can you buy tickets on the bus.
The ticket must be validated in the vehicle.
Excursion boat
Between April and October, numerous boats sail on the Danube to show tourists Bratislava from a different perspective. The trips take about 45 minutes.
If you would like to go to Devín Castle, the boat trip takes about 1.5 hours.
Parking
Free parking is hardly possible in the capital of Slovakia. It is possible to leave the car in public parking garages and public parking lots for a fee. The parking fee is paid at the car park ticket machines. In most cases there is a payment obligation only on working days from 8-18 o’clock.
Baggage Service
Visitors to Bratislava can store their luggage at railroad stations and at ZOB Nivy:
- Lockers at ZOB Nivy: daily from 4-24
- Lockers at the main station: daily from 4- 23:55 ; break at 6:15 – 6:30, 10:30 – 11:00, 16:45 – 17:00 and 21:30 – 21:45.
- Lockers at Petržalka railroad station: daily from 4-23:15.
- Luggage storage is also available through the BAGBNB luggage storage network.