Bratislava · Slovakia

Bratislava

The capital of Slovakia on the Danube: the castle on the hill, the coronation cathedral, the historic center on foot and the ruins of Devín on the border with Austria.

Bratislava and Western Slovakia

In the photo: Devín Castle and the confluence of the Morava with the Danube.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Bratislava is Slovakia’s capital and sits at the country’s western tip on the banks of the Danube, where the borders of Austria and Hungary meet. Vienna is about 60 km away, and the two capitals are connected by train, bus and, in season, river boats. The city has around 475,000 inhabitants, and the historic center, the Staré Mesto, is small enough to be explored on foot.

Between 1536 and 1783 the city, called Pressburg in German and Pozsony in Hungarian, served as the seat of the Kingdom of Hungary, and from 1563 to 1830 the Hungarian sovereigns received the crown in St. Martin’s Cathedral. From that era come the four-towered castle on the hill, the baroque palaces in the center and St. Michael’s Gate, the only surviving gate of the medieval walls.

The old town is organized around the Main Square (Hlavné námestie), with the Old Town Hall, and the Michalská and Ventúrska streets that descend from St. Michael’s Gate to the cathedral. Outside the medieval core are the Blue Church, an Art Nouveau building, and, on the other side of the river, the SNP Bridge with its disc-shaped observation platform atop the pylon.

The surroundings can be visited in half a day. About 10 km to the west, the ruins of Devín Castle occupy a rock at the point where the Morava flows into the Danube. To the south, on an artificial peninsula in the river, the Danubiana museum displays modern and contemporary art. Wineries of the Little Carpathians begin less than 30 km to the north.

This destination brings together 1 city: Bratislava.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Bratislava is

Boundaries: geoBoundaries (dados do OpenStreetMap, licença ODbL). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Bratislava

✈ Letisko M. R. Štefánika – Airport Bratislava (BTS), in Bratislava · 9 km to Bratislava

Bratislava Airport is about 9 km from the center. Many people arrive through Vienna Airport, about 50 km away, with direct buses taking around 45 minutes. There are also trains and seasonal boats from Vienna. The central station receives trains from Prague, Budapest and the rest of Slovakia.

Bratislava · Bratislava Capital

Bratislava

Capital of Slovakia on the Danube, near the borders of Austria and Hungary. The historic center has the Main Square and Old Town Hall, St. Michael’s Gate, the Primatial Palace and St. Martin’s Cathedral at the foot of the four-towered castle. Outside the old core are the Blue Church and the SNP Bridge; in the surroundings are Devín Castle and the Danubiana museum.

The local experience

Things to do in Bratislava

Bratislava · Bratislava · Castle

Bratislava Castle

The square-plan castle with four corner towers that dominates the hill above the Danube. It houses exhibitions of the Slovak National Museum and has Baroque gardens and viewpoints over the city and the river.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Cathedral

St. Martin's Cathedral

The Gothic cathedral where kings and queens of Hungary were crowned between 1563 and 1830. The tower bears a golden replica of the Hungarian crown at its top; inside is Donner’s equestrian statue of St. Martin.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Historic building and museum

Old Town Hall

A group of medieval houses with a tower on the Main Square, home to the Bratislava City Museum, with history rooms and a climb up the tower overlooking the square and the Roland Fountain.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Historic monument

Michael's Gate

The only gate remaining from Bratislava’s medieval walls, with a 51-meter tower topped by a statue of Saint Michael. Inside, the City Museum’s arms exhibit and an overlook over the center.

See 5 more places in Bratislava

Bratislava · Bratislava · Palace

Primate's Palace

The pink neoclassical palace of the archbishops of Esztergom, from 1781, where the Peace of Pressburg was signed in 1805. It has the Hall of Mirrors and a set of 17th-century English tapestries.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Church

Blue Church (Church of St. Elizabeth)

The Church of Saint Elizabeth, in Hungarian Art Nouveau, painted light blue inside and out, with a roof of glazed ceramic tiles. Designed by Ödön Lechner, consecrated in 1913.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Bridge and viewpoint

SNP Bridge (Slovak National Uprising Bridge / UFO Bridge)

The cable-stayed 1972 bridge over the Danube, with a single inclined pylon topped by a disc-shaped platform, the UFO, with an observation point at about 85 meters.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Castle ruins

Devín Castle

Medieval ruins on a cliff above the confluence of the Danube and the Morava, facing Austria, with Roman and Great Moravia remains and the small Maiden Tower isolated on the rock tip.

Bratislava · Bratislava · Art museum

Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum

Modern and contemporary art museum on an artificial peninsula in the middle of the Danube, about 20 km from Bratislava, with a ship-shaped building, a rooftop terrace and a sculpture park.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and warm, with highs in July and August that typically exceed 25 °C and sometimes 30 °C; it’s the season for Danube boats and outdoor tables. April and October are cool. Winter is cold, near 0 °C, and from late November until Christmas the holiday markets take over the central squares.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days cover the historic center, the castle, the cathedral, the palaces and the SNP Bridge. With three days you can include Devín Castle and the Danubiana museum. If you come from Vienna you can see the essentials of the center on a one-day round trip.

Which city to stay in

The Staré Mesto, the historic center, keeps everything within walking distance: the Main Square, the cathedral and the climb to the castle. The streets between Hviezdoslav Square and the Danube are also central. The riverfront east of the center, near the Nivy neighborhood and the bus station, has new buildings and good transport links. Near the main station is more practical for those arriving by train.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Bratislava

How many days should you stay in Bratislava?

Two days are enough for the historic center, the castle, the cathedral and the SNP Bridge. With a third day you can include Devín Castle and the Danubiana museum in the surroundings.

Can you visit Bratislava on a day trip from Vienna?

Yes. Vienna is about 60 km away, and frequent trains and buses make the trip in about an hour. In one day you can see the historic center, the cathedral and the castle; Devín and the Danubiana require more time.

Do you need a car in Bratislava?

No. The historic center is almost entirely pedestrian, and trams and buses cover the rest of the city. Devín has urban buses and boats in season; for the Danubiana there are buses, but a car or a bicycle along the Danube’s bank makes access easier.

What is the best time to visit Bratislava?

From May to September, with long, warm days. December has Christmas markets in the center, with cold temperatures near 0 °C.

How to get from Vienna Airport to Bratislava?

There are direct buses from Vienna Airport to Bratislava taking about 45 minutes, with stops near the center and at the bus station. You can also go by train, changing in Vienna. Check schedules before you travel.

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Bratislava

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.