First Time in Bratislava | Slovakia Travel Guide

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I didn’t know what to expect my first time in Bratislava. I didn’t know if it was going to be freezing or full of stag-dos, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Bratislava is an AMAZING city, it’s quickly become one of my favorite capital cities in Europe!

The people are friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious and filling, there is so much to do, and the city itself is gorgeous.

First Time in Bratislava: Slovakia’s Capital

This gem needs to be visited soon because I think once it catches on, it will become a hotspot for tourists! It seems more and more airlines are promoting the location and I’m seeing Bratislava pop up more in travel magazines.

Where is Bratislava?

Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia in Eastern Europe.

The city is located right on the Danube River on the eastern border of the country.

The main airport is Bratislava Airport, the main train station is Bratislava Hlavna Stanica and the main bus terminal is Mlynske Nivy.

There are plenty of direct flights to Bratislava from within Europe, including the UK, Germany, Lithuania, Greece, and Malta.

If you are coming from the US, then you can fly directly into Vienna and take a one-hour train ride to Bratislava.

It may be the fourth largest city on the Danube, but 17 districts make up Bratislava and you’ll only be visiting Old Town. It’s very walkable and compact, with museums, tons of restaurants, and lots of sights to see!

How to get to Old Town Bratislava

There isn’t a train station or tram station at the airport, so the only way to get into Bratislava is by taxi or bus, however, the airport is VERY close to the city

If you pre-book a taxi, then it might be expensive. They usually start at €24.00 one way. Skip the expensive taxis at the taxi rank and download the Bolt app!

Just like my favorite way of getting around Malta, Bolt is offered in Bratislava. The app is user-friendly and cheaper than Uber!

The pick-up point for Bolt at Bratislava Airport is just outside of arrivals next to the taxi rank. So walk out of the airport, turn left, and order your ride. You will probably get a discount for your first ride, so it won’t cost you more than €7.00 to get to Old Town. It will take about 15-20 minutes to get from the airport to Old Town.

When you are heading back to the airport, just order a Bolt! I left at 6am and there were plenty of drivers around!

If you coming by train (a day trip from Vienna to Bratislava is SUPER easy!), then you will arrive at the main train station, which is Bratislava Hlavna Stanica.

Where to Stay Your First Time in Bratislava

The best area to stay in for your first time in Bratislava is Old Town. You are next to all the attractions including St Michael’s Gate and Bratislava Castle.

It’s a pedestrian-only zone so take that into consideration when you book your hotel or apartment, but Old Town Bratislava is very walkable, so even if you get a place in the middle, you’ll have a maximum 10-minute walk.

I stayed right across from Urban House, which is a trendy restaurant in the area. It was safe and very convenient to all the attractions Old Town Bratislava had to offer. It’s also close to a grocery store and main road if you want to grab a taxi or tram quickly.

This is where I stayed, Laurinska Modern Apartment, and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

Best Time to Visit Bratislava

Any time of the year is a good time to visit Bratislava. It will be a bit busier in the summer months and it gets quite hot, but a lot of places do have air conditioning and the majority of people visit Bratislava from Vienna for the day, so evenings will be much quieter.

I went in the fall and the weather was mild and sunny during the day and chilly at night, but the trees changing color throughout the city was gorgeous. It also didn’t feel busy or overcrowded.

If Christmas Markets are your thing, Bratislava does a great market. It will be cold, so bundle up if you visit during the winter months. You can also easily visit the Christmas Markets in Vienna on a day trip.

Things to Do the First Time in Bratislava

You are not short on things to do in Bratislava and your days will fill up quickly. Trust me!

Bratislava Castle

You can’t go to Bratislava your first time and not visit the castle! It dominates the skyline with Old Town Bratislava in its shadow.

It’s a steady climb to the top so it doesn’t feel like you are climbing to the top of a mountain.

There are a couple of ways to enter the castle depending on where you are coming from. You can even walk outside of Old Town and hop on a tram if you don’t want to walk to the top.

The gardens are free to visit, but if you want to enter the castle (which is a museum), there is a charge. If you want to have lunch or just a coffee, there is a great restaurant at the top, with amazing views over the city.

Towers and Museums

There are plenty of museums in the city if you want to dive into Slovakia’s rich history.

Visit the Old Town Hall (Bratislava City Museum) and explore their exhibits while climbing to the top of the tower that watches over the main square.

It’s only 89 steps to the top with the tower’s history on each floor, so your climb is broken up into sections.

The view from the top is 100% worth it!

You can also climb to the top of Michael’s Gate and get an amazing view of Old Town and the Castle.

If you want a view of all of Bratislava, then go to the UFO Observation Deck in the middle of Novy Most (New Bridge). If you feel adventurous, you can even walk along the outside of the tower.

Other museums include the Slovak National Gallery, Multium, and the Natural History Museum.

Churches

Bratislava is not short on churches, but St Martin’s Cathedral and the Blue Church are two must-see churches.

St Martin’s Cathedral is right below Bratislava Castle. It’s also a great starting point for the walk up to the castle. The church is the largest in Bratislava and one of the oldest. From 1536, Bratislava was the capital of Hungary, the church was used for the coronations of the country’s kings and queens.

The Blue Church or St Elizabeth’s Church is located on Bezručova Street, in the eastern part of Old Town. The unique blue facade sets this church apart from others in the city. The church was built in Hungarian Secessionist style and completed in 1913. You can visit the church’s interior for free, but hours are very limited.

Pretty Buildings and Quirky Statues

The streets of Old Town Bratislava are lined with gorgeous buildings, statues, and monuments. Even if you don’t go to the opera, the Opera House is definitely worth going to see! You can check out the Slovak National Theatre Website for dates and times of shows, make sure you don’t accidentally book a ticket for the new theatre!

The Neoclassical Primate’s Palace was built in the late 18th century and it’s the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava. The palace is open to the public and you can even walk through the Hall of Mirrors, the highlight of the palace.

Grassalkovich Palace is the president’s residence and while you can’t visit the inside, the outside is pretty impressive and the globe fountain is really cool too!

Bratislava is not short on quirky statues, a few of them popped up in the late 90s, shortly after Slovakia’s independence to brighten up the city after communist rule.

Cumil is the most famous statue, he’s the sewer worker in the manhole on the side of the street. After getting run over a few times, the city installed a “man at work ” sign next to him as a warning. There is no back story to Cumil, but I heard a lot of theories while I was here.

Schöne Náci is based on a real person, Ignác Lamár. He would walk the streets of Bratislava in a fancy suit and top suit, greeting the people around him.

Hubert was one of Neopolian’s army soldiers. He met a girl and fell in love while in the city and stayed. He now hangs out in the main square.

Explore the Streets

Most of my time was spent wandering up and down the cobblestone streets!

Every street you walk down can be deemed “Instagrammable”, but *of course* I have my favorites!

• Baštová Street: Right next to St Michael’s Gate, and offers a great view of the tower.
• Kapitulská Street: One of the oldest streets in Old Town filled with lots of medieval charm.
• Židovská Street: A hilly street that runs by the side of the castle.
• Beblavého: Narrow street that leads up to the castle. If you walk up to the castle from St Martin’s Cathedral, you can’t miss this street!
• Hviezdoslav Square (and the street that leads to it): The tree-lined street looks gorgeous in the autumn and it’s lined with plenty of restaurants and cafes

Walk Along the Danube River

Bratislava is located on the Danube River, just south of Old Town.

It’s a lovely walk along the river banks. There isn’t much going on, but it’s very peaceful and pretty.

There is a boat restaurant that’s part of a hotel and further down towards the next bridge is a riverside bar if you want to sit outside and enjoy the weather.

What to eat and drink in Bratislava

I’m not sure what I was expecting with Slovak cuisine, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so amazing and delicious.

It draws inspiration from neighboring countries and regions. Their national dish is bryndzové halušky, it’s potato dumplings (more like their version of gnocchi) with sheep’s cheese, topped with bacon and spring onions. WOW, it’s delicious, the cheese is everything!

Other dishes to try are Cesnaková Polievka, a garlic soup in a bread bowl.. and yes, it’s very garlicky! And fried sheep’s cheese on fries with tartar sauce.

There isn’t really a cocktail that Slovaks drink, I asked one server and she said “We just take shots… shots of everything”. Aperol Spritz and wine by the glass are quite popular, along with the local beer.

Tatratea is a liquor that is normally taken as a shot or with an ice cube and squeeze of lemon, and if you are looking for something non-alcoholic, then try their version of Coca-Cola, Kofola.

Places in Bratislava for Food and Drink

Foodie Finds

• Meanto: Really great Slovak dishes, the garlic soup here is delicious
• Gatto Matto Panská: This is an Italian restaurant, but hear me out… yes, the pizza is yummy, but the real star is the fried ravioli stuffed with Slovak cheese *WOW* …you’ll thank me later!
• Urban House: Great restaurant for cocktails, a little bit more expensive than other local bars and restaurants, but the food is great, the cocktails are creative, and it’s a disco every time you use the bathroom!
• Factory: Really nice food and a good vibe
• Modrá Hviezda: Great atmosphere and food, perfect for a date night

Bars and Pubs

• Goblin’s Pub: Great for drinks in a cool pub
• Brixton House: Owned by the people that run Urban House, it’s a more chill version of the lively bar, but still has amazing cocktails
• Pheasant Pub: Always has football on the TV if you don’t want to miss a game
• Dubliners Pub: Great for a Saturday night with live music and a lively environment, the inside of the bar looks really cool with their version of an Irish street
• BarRock: Really cool rock bar with a fun vibe, only open Wednesday through Saturday, but it is also open late

Days Trips from Bratislava

Day trips are SO easy from Bratislava. The train station, Bratislava Hlavna Stanica, is conveniently located just north of Bratislava Old Town and you can either take a bus, tram, or Bolt to the station.

It’s a small station, so the ticket booths are directly in front of you and the trains are well-marked.

The most popular day trip from Bratislava is Vienna. It’s only an hour away and there are plenty of trains throughout the day.

If you want a different perspective going to Vienna, take a boat down the Danube, it’s just a little bit longer than the train, but you’ll see Vienna and Bratislava from the water… just know, there are limited boats to Vienna in the off-season, so it will only be possible during the summer months.

If you want to explore more of Slovakia then take a day trip to Trencin.

It will take you no more than 1 hour and 24 minutes by train and there’s at least one train an hour (sometimes three) to and from the destination.

It’s a pretty city located on the Vah River. Trencin Castle overlooks the main square and the rest of the city. Relax in one of the cozy cafes or climb to the top of the castle for amazing views!

If you are running with a budget then you can always take a Flixbus. They are very cheap and easy to use and their buses are actually comfy. They offer multiple destination options… you can even go up to Poland or down to Hungary if you want.

Are you planning your first trip to Bratislava, Slovakia? Do you have any questions about your first time in Bratislava? Let me know in the comments below!

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