Trnava and Piešťany, Slovakia: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Trnava lies on the plain of western Slovakia, about 45 km from Bratislava, and governs the region that bears its name. After 1543, when the Ottomans took Esztergom, the city received the archbishopric and became a center of Catholicism in the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1635, Archbishop Péter Pázmány founded a Jesuit university there, the only one in the kingdom at the time. The number of churches within the walls gave Trnava the nickname Little Rome (Malý Rím).

The old town is compact and flat. The City Tower, from 1574, rises on Trojičné námestie, the Trinity Square, and Hlavná Street links the square to the two main churches, the Jesuit Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the Basilica of St. Nicholas, which served the archbishops. Much of the medieval brick walls still stand and can be walked along on the outside.

Piešťany lies about 30 km to the north, on the banks of the Váh. It is the country’s largest spa town, sought by people treating rheumatism and arthritis with hot waters and mud baths. The spa baths occupy an island between two branches of the river, connected to the town by a covered functionalist bridge, the Colonnade Bridge.

The two towns are on the same train line that runs up from Bratislava through the Váh valley and make a good two-day itinerary.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Trnava, Piešťany.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Trnava and Piešťany is

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

How to get there: Trnava and Piešťany

✈ Letisko M. R. Štefánika – Airport Bratislava (BTS), in Bratislava · 50 km to Trnava

Trnava is less than an hour by train from Bratislava, on the line to Žilina and Košice, and Piešťany is on the same line, a little farther north. By car, the D1 motorway passes by both towns. For flights, Bratislava Airport is the reference point.

Suggested arrival point: Trnava

Trnava · Trnava and Piešťany Capital Suggested arrival point

Trnava

Capital of the Trnava region, on the western plains of the country. The town center within the medieval walls includes the City Tower from 1574, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, an early Baroque work in the region, and the Basilica of St. Nicholas, of Gothic origin. The Museum of Western Slovakia occupies a 13th-century convent beside the walls.

Trnava · Trnava and Piešťany

Piešťany

The largest thermal spa in Slovakia, on the banks of the Váh. The waters emerge from the ground at almost 70 °C and, together with sulfurous mud, are used in treatments for rheumatism. The baths are on the Spa Island, linked to the centre by the Colonnade Bridge, where the sculpture that became the symbol of the town stands. The Balneological Museum tells the history of the spa.

The local experience

Things to do in Trnava and Piešťany

Trnava · Trnava · Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Trnava)

Church of the former Jesuit university, built between 1629 and 1637, the first entirely Baroque work on Slovak territory. The wooden high altar, from 1640, is more than 20 m high.

Piešťany · Trnava · Bridge

Colonnade Bridge

Covered pedestrian bridge over the Váh, built between 1930 and 1933 by Emil Belluš, a landmark of Slovak functionalist architecture. It links the town center to the Spa Island and, at the town end, displays the spa’s symbol, a figure breaking its own crutch.

Trnava · Trnava · Church

St. Nicholas Basilica (Trnava)

Gothic two-tower church that served as cathedral for the archbishops of Esztergom after 1543. It houses the Baroque chapel of the image of the Virgin of Trnava and stands in a square with the archbishop’s palace.

Piešťany · Trnava · Park

Spa Island of Piešťany

Island between two arms of the Váh where Piešťany’s bathhouses are located, such as the Napoleon and Irma spas, surrounded by gardens and paths. It is walked or cycled.

See 4 more places in Trnava and Piešťany

Piešťany · Trnava · Museum

Imrich Winter Balneological Museum

Museum of the history of Slovak spas and the Piešťany region, in the old spa ballroom from 1893, inside the city park. Includes archaeology and ethnography exhibits.

Trnava · Trnava · Tower

Trnava City Tower

Renaissance tower from 1574 on Trojičné námestie, built as a watchtower against fires and enemies. The gallery, about 29 m above ground, looks out over the roofs and the churches of the Little Rome.

Trnava · Trnava · Fortification

Trnava City Walls

The brick walls from the 13th and 14th centuries that still surround much of the historic centre, among the best preserved in Central Europe. A walking route follows the sections with bastions and gates.

Trnava · Trnava · Museum

West Slovak Museum (Západoslovenské múzeum)

Regional museum in the old Poor Clares convent, from the 13th century, next to the walls. It has exhibitions on the history, archaeology and ethnography of the Trnava region and collections of bells and brickmaking.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From spring to autumn, April to October, walking tours of the centres and parks are more pleasant. In summer, the plain is usually hot and dry. In September, Trnava holds its traditional fair (Trnavský jarmok). In Piešťany, treatments continue through the winter.

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

How many days to stay

One day in Trnava covers the tower, the churches, the walls and the museum. Piešťany requires another day, or half a day for the bridge, the island and the museum. Both towns also work well as day trips from Bratislava.

Which city to stay in

In Trnava, the historic centre inside the walls puts everything within walking distance, and the train station is just minutes away. In Piešťany, the area between the centre and the river is the most convenient for strolling; the Spa Island concentrates accommodations connected to the treatments.

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 Trnava and Piešťany

Why is Trnava called Little Rome?

Because of the number of churches inside the walls. After 1543, the city received the archbishopric of Esztergom and became a religious and university centre of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Can you visit Trnava and Piešťany in the same day?

You can, if you’re in a hurry: the two are on the same train line, about 30 km apart. To see Trnava at a relaxed pace and stroll the island of Piešťany, two days are ideal.

Do you need a car in Trnava and Piešťany?

No. Both centres are walkable and the train connects the towns to each other and to Bratislava. A car is only useful for castles and villages off the railway line.

Is Trnava a good day trip from Bratislava?

Yes. The train takes less than an hour, and the historic centre is close to the station. In one day you can climb the tower and see the cathedral, the basilica and the walls.

What is the best time to visit Trnava and Piešťany?

From April to October, when walks and parks are more pleasant. In September Trnava holds its traditional fair; Piešťany’s spa facilities operate year-round.

Trnava and Piešťany

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.