Popular Cities Bratislava

Sights of the city

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle is also known by the name Pressburg Castle and is the most famous sight of Bratislava. It is the landmark of the city and has adorned the capital of Slovakia since as early as the 9th century. However, it should be noted that due to its age it has already had to undergo renovations, and extensions have been made. Bratislava Castle particularly impresses with its wonderful location on an 85-metre-high hill and rewards hiking-enthusiastic visitors with a dreamlike view of the Old Town. To enjoy the view of the splendid Old Town particularly well, you should keep the Castle Garden in mind as a viewpoint.

But the castle doesn't only have a lot to offer from the outside! Dare to take a step inside and follow the traces of bygone times by exploring the museum in more detail.

St Martin's Cathedral

St Martin's Cathedral has enriched the capital of Slovakia since as early as the 13th century and represents one of the most important sacred buildings in Bratislava. The 85-metre-high tower of the magnificent Gothic cathedral is particularly worth seeing, as it enhances the cityscape with its colourful turquoise roof. The cathedral is located between the Old Town and Pressburg Castle.

Combine these sights on a lovely walk and let the varied impressions work their magic on you! Visit the castle first and don't forget to enjoy the wonderful view of the cathedral already from there. Look for the green roof of the cathedral, which will show you the way.

Slavín Memorial

The Slavín Memorial is the largest war memorial in Central Europe and one of the city's landmarks. This is the final resting place of 6,845 Soviet Army soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of Bratislava in the Second World War.

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall can also look back on a long history and has already existed since the beginnings of the medieval city in the 13th century. Formerly the seat of the city administration, the Old Town Hall has served as the museum of the city of Bratislava since 1868. This makes it the oldest museum in Slovakia. Just like Bratislava Castle, the Old Town Hall is a wonderful viewpoint. Climb the 45-metre-high tower and enjoy the impressive view of the Old Town. Explore the Old Town Hall and discover traces of the French siege (1805–1809).

Primate's Palace

The Primate's Palace was built on the orders of Cardinal Joseph Count Batthyány and was intended to be the city's most magnificent, largest stately residence. Bratislava has been graced by the Primate's Palace since as early as the 18th century, and it shines in the style of French classicism. Since 1903, the Primate's Palace has served as the town hall of Bratislava. The first floor of the building is open to the public, and thus also to tourists, and serves as one of Bratislava's most beautiful attractions. The Hall of Mirrors enchants its visitors anew every time and lets the splendour of the building shine. Concerts are also held there, as are weddings.

But it's not only the interior of the Primate's Palace that is interesting! Directly in front of the imposing building is the Fountain for the Execution of Punishments, which, according to the stories, served as a place of punishment. In the city register, the names of the wrongdoers were immortalised and their punishments recorded. But from today's perspective, the punishments seem rather trivial. For example, bakers were summoned if their baked goods weighed too little or if poor-quality ingredients had been used in their production. Yet as strange as this behaviour may seem as a punishment today, it was the task of the guild at the time. They had to check the quality of the products, and if the requirements were not met, the master bakers were dunked in the Danube. Later on, the Danube was replaced by the fountain. The executioner would set up a sturdy frame with a pulley and a hook. A massive metal cage was attached to this, and the accused were locked inside the cage. They were then dunked into the fountain. However, it should be noted that the punishments were rarely fatal and were more intended to bring about public humiliation for the accused. The fountain was used for punishments until 1773. Its painful existence was ended by Emperor Joseph II through the prohibition of such punishments. Today, the fountain exists only in quiet peace (apart from all the tourists who gather around it).

Danube Promenade at Eurovea

The Danube Promenade connects the Eurovea shopping centre with the National Theatre and is therefore also referred to as the modern centre of the capital. If you are looking for new fashion items for your wardrobe or simply a delicious coffee, you will find what you're looking for here. The promenade also allows you to catch a glimpse of Bratislava Castle.

Grassalkovich Palace

The palace was built in 1760 for the President of the Hungarian Court Chamber as well as for Count Antal Grassalkovich (advisor to Empress Maria Theresa). The summer residence shines in the Rococo style. At the time, the palace was understood as the address of the social life of the nobility. Today, the palace is brought to life as the seat of the Chancellery of the President of the Slovak Republic. The palace is not open to the public.

Excepted from this rule, however, is the Grassalkovich Garden, which you may visit as a tourist. There you can admire the beautiful statue of Empress Maria Theresa on horseback or catch sight of the well-known fountain by sculptor Tibor Bártfay. Discover the Presidential Avenue, which adorns the garden with its numerous small oak trees. Every head of state who pays a visit to the capital of Slovakia is allowed to plant a small oak tree. This is how the beautiful Presidential Avenue came into being. The Grassalkovich Garden is therefore particularly suitable for an extended walk and gives you the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Blue Church

The Blue Church, also called the Church of St Elizabeth of Hungary, became known for its blue colour and has only been in Bratislava since the beginning of the 20th century. This light blue colour enhances not only the façade of the church but also its interior. In addition, the roof has been fitted with blue-glazed ceramic tiles. The Blue Church shines in the Art Nouveau style with oriental ornaments and is crowned by an elaborate mosaic. For this reason, the Blue Church is also often referred to as the most beautiful church in Bratislava.

Devín Castle

The archaeological site of Devín Castle ruins is located on a high rock above the confluence of the Danube and the Morava. Due to its location, in addition to the beautiful surroundings, the castle also offers you an enchanting view into the distance. Devín is part of Slovak history and is evidence of the first settlement of the country. The strategic location of the ruin gave reason for the castle to be fought over in times past. The Celts already settled there, while the Romans controlled the Limes from Devín Castle and the Slavs built a fortress. It becomes clear that this place is steeped in history. It also becomes evident that the castle was repeatedly conquered and rebuilt. However, the history of this significant castle ended abruptly in 1809, when the French army blew up the castle. But despite the lost castle, of which only ruins remain, the unforgettable view is reason enough to honour this place.

UFO

The UFO offers an experience of a somewhat different kind. The UFO is a unique restaurant that combines the best flavours of old Pressburg cuisine and is wonderfully suited for a break amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

Admire the city from the observation deck on the bridge's pillars at a breathtaking height of 95 metres. Step into this authentic atmosphere and enjoy a romantic dinner at sunset. Raise a toast to your wonderful holiday and treasure the dreamlike view of the city. A place where time stands still and any worries are outweighed by the delicious taste of old Pressburg cuisine.

If you are interested in traditional Slovak dishes, you will find further information on the country's culinary specialities in our guide.

What do I need to bear in mind for my trip to Slovakia?

In Slovakia there is a vignette requirement, which is particularly important for tourists. The vignette is used to pay the toll charged on the signposted sections of motorways and expressways. In Bratislava itself, the city motorways and the entire D4 bypass are toll-free for cars. On the other hand, a vignette is required for the border approaches from Austria (D4 from Jarovce, approx. 2 km) and Hungary (D2 from Čunovo, approx. 9 km), as well as the D1 east of the city towards Senec. You can find further information on the vignette requirement as well as penalties for not having a vignette in our guide. In addition to the vignette requirement, there is also the distance-based toll. If you are not familiar with the difference, feel free to check out our article on tolls in Slovakia!

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

We wish you a pleasant trip to Slovakia and lots of enjoyment while exploring this diverse country. You can find further information on tolls in Slovakia in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and to be shown suitable toll products. If you have any questions, we are available to you at any time by email.