One of the most glorious hidden gems in Europe, many people tend to overlook Bratislava as a short stop off between Prague and Budapest. I honestly cannot think why! This beautiful city has a lot to offer and there is enough to see and do to easily fill up a couple of days. Read on to find out more!
Bratislava
I had already visited Bratislava once and was so excited to be returning.As the third stop on our adventure, Char and I were still energetic and enjoying the glorious September sunshine. We were ready to find all the hidden gems the city had to offer.
Last year I spent 24 hours in the Slovakian capital doing a free walking tour and spending half the day at Devin Castle. The walking tour was very informative and gave us a fair bit of background and history of the city. I do however quite like doing things at my own pace. If I see a nice spot where I can sit and appreciate a monument then I like to be able to do so. Equally, I also want to be able to see as many sights as I can, and walking tours don’t tend to get around to every sight in a city.
If you’re staying in a city for an extended period, then I would recommend finding one as they are a great way to get started and give you some good ideas. If, however, you are on a time limit like Char and I were on this visit then I would encourage you to set your own path so you can fit in everything that you want!
Getting around…
Bratislava is easily accessible by train, bus or plane! We took a Flixbus from Prague and arrived very early in the morning but we weren’t able to check into our hostel until lunchtime. We decided to just go sight seeing with our backpacks in tow, which wasn’t too bad thanks to our light packing and the fact that most of the attractions in the city are within walking distance! As the temperature soared it became slightly more of a challenge and we were very glad that our packs were smaller than those of the average backpacker.
Where to Stay?
By the time we were able to check into our hostel and rid ourselves of our backpacks, to say we were relieved is an understatement! Dream Hostel was clean and friendly, with good security and working air con (bonus!). Char and I were also impressed by the fact that each bed had a curtain rail for some extra privacy. Motivational quotes covered the walls in the stairwell and added character to this lovely hostel. Both of us would highly recommend staying in Dream Hostel (and you can find it easily on Hostelworld)!
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle sits on top of a small hill, overlooking the city below. It is truly iconic and quite a sight up both up close and from afar. The simplicity of the building is part of its beauty and the baroque style gardens really complement the architecture well. They are stunning and you should take your time here to really appreciate them. You can also get a glorious view of the river from the castle walls so it is well worth the walk up there.
St Martins Cathedral
St Martins Cathedral sits at the bottom of Castle Hill. This cathedral was once used to coronate the monarchs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in centuries past. It may not appear much at first glance but take a closer look. See that golden crown at the top of the tower? That’s the size of small car!
From here you can follow a series of little golden crowns on the floor that map out the route taken by those who were to be coronated in the cathedral. It will take you past most of the important sights in Old Town.
Old Town
You can spend hours just wandering Bratislavas Old Town and still not have found every hidden gem that it has to offer. The more famous sights include Old Town Square, Old Town Hall and Primates Palace. Other, slightly more quirky finds include Kapitulska Street (the oldest street in town), the museum inside of St Michaels Gate and the many funky bronze statues that are dotted around.
St Michaels Gate
St Michaels Gate is the only remaining entry point of the Old Town fortification wall. A lot of tourists don’t seem to realise that you can go up to the top of the gate for a small fee. This includes entrance to the gates own museum that you can explore as you climb up a fair few sets of stairs for a gorgeous view of Old Town. The entrance is pretty hard to find. Head uphill and it’s just to the right of the gate through a large wooden door. If it looks closed don’t trust it. Try the door anyway and see if you can get in!
Slavin War Memorial
One thing this city is certainly not short of is incredible views. Further afield from the Old Town you can take a short hike up to the Slavin War Memorial. Over 6,000 soviet soldiers are buried here. As solemn as the place is, it also offers gorgeous views over the city below and is a quiet and peaceful spot to sit and appreciate not only the monument, but the world around you too.
The Blue Church
Another famous sight you must see is The Church of St Elizabeth. Believe me when I say that it is truly a novelty. You may have heard of the Blue Church? This is it! Blue both inside and out, it truly is marvellous. I can guarantee you won’t have seen anything else quite like it!
Devin Castle
If you’re wanting to get out of the city for a day then head for Devin Castle. You can catch the number 28 or 29 bus from underneath the UFO bridge to Hrad Devin. The ticket machine is just around the corner and only 90 cents. It takes around half an hour to get to the castle but it is well worth the trip.
The Devin Castle complex sits on the border of Slovakia and Austria, separated only by the Danube, offering gorgeous views as far as the eye can see. Take your time here and wander the grounds to find building foundations that date back to the 4th century! Pour water into the castle well and be astounded by how long it takes to hear it reach the bottom. This is a wonderful day out and really should be saved for the good weather so you can make the most out of it.
The Perfect Sunset
When you get back to town there is one more thing that you absolutely must do during your stay in Bratislava. Head towards the UFO Bridge and cross over to the other side of the river. This is where you can access the two best sunset watching locations in the city. The Observation Deck itself is cheap and very well located. It was in all honesty one of the best sunsets that Char and I saw during our whole trip.
The river bank opposite Bratislava Castle was also a glorious view point. Giddy with excitement over our fantastic view we just couldn’t help breaking out some dance moves! I can honestly say that my impression of travelling Europe has never been so romanticized as it has in this city. The feeling is indescribable. Our time here had been just perfect and I strongly believe people shouldn’t overlook Bratislava so quickly!
Where to eat?
After working up an appetite the number one place in town to fill up is Flagship. This quirky pub serves an array of beautiful Slovakian food and wine. The portions are generous and filling. You won’t be hungry for a long while after eating here.
If you’re after a daytime snack then you really should try Arthurs Ice Cream. Every other person you walk past seems to have been there and its not hard to see why! You definitely will not be disappointed.
Bratislava is a seriously underrated capital city. I highly recommend going to visit and spending 2-3 days exploring it fully. It easily lives up to the standards of Budapest and Prague. There is so much that this magical place has to offer!
Have you been to Bratislava? If you haven’t you really should! Let me know in the comments below if you have and what you thought of it!
