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So, you're planning a trip to the capital of Slovakia? Forged over millennia by Celtic tribes, Roman empires, and Slavic kingdoms, it's one of the great cities of the Danube basin. You can see it rising above that river with its whitewashed castle and curious modern architecture. There are oodles of things to do in Bratislava for the budding traveler.
Whether you come to get lost in the fairy-tale Old Town or break out to the foothills of southern Slovakia, this one has you covered. There are quaint squares to sip coffee on; winding cobbled lanes give way to grand churches. You'll encounter USSR-style tenements next to elegant medieval buildings. And that's not even mentioning the fabled Bratislava nightlife, which takes care of activities after dark.
1.
Explore Bratislava Castle
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©Photo by Uoaei1 on Wikicommons[/caption]
If there's one landmark that really defines the skyline of the capital of Slovakia, it's surely Bratislava Castle. Perched on a bluff of rock directly above the Old Town and the Danube, it's instantly recognizable. That's thanks to its square-cut design and red-tiled roofs, it's quad of turrets and wooded stage atop the city center.
Visiting the castle is very often right at the top of the list of things to do in Bratislava. The whole complex is open daily (except on Mondays). Once inside, you'll be able to explore to your heart's content. Highlights include the Great-Moravian Basilica which dates from the 11th-century. Then there's the Slovak National Museum collection, holding priceless gold and silver trinkets from centuries ago.
Another reason to head for the heights of Bratislava Castle is the panoramic view. From the bulwarks here, you can peer out across the winding Danube River and see the Austrian border to the west. There are also stunning broadsides down onto the Old Town and its pub-fringed plazas below.
2.
See the mighty Slavin War Memorial
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©Photo by Jorge Láscar on Wiki Commons[/caption]
Spiking the Slovakian skies high above Bratislava Castle and the sprawl of the city, the Slavin War Memorial is another of the town's iconic sights. It's the centerpiece of a huge military cemetery that's host to the graves of more than 7,000 Soviet soldiers. They are honored for their sacrifice while liberating the capital of Slovakia from Nazi forces in 1945.
The monument of Slavin itself stands a whopping 39 meters high, so you'll hardly be able to miss it. Around it are proud statues and peristyles built in a fusion of Neo-Classicism and Brutalism. They are gilded with inscriptions that list towns and villages throughout the territory of onetime Czechoslovakia that was similarly retaken by the Red Army at the end of the war.
It might only be 15 minutes' ride on the bus from downtown Bratislava, but the monument is a meditative escape. It's hemmed in by woodlands of beech and oak. There are sweeping views that look out across the Danube and beyond. And the surrounding neighborhood is famed for its elegant Habsburg-era villas.
3.
Get lost in the lovely Old Town of Bratislava
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©Photo by Anastasia Dulgier on Unsplash[/caption]
Get ready to be enchanted by the fairy-tale character of the Bratislava Old Town. A maze of narrow cobbled lanes, palace-rimmed plazas, church-topped streets, and babbling fountains, this historic area remains the hub of the capital of Slovakia. Look one way and you'll encounter wide spaces fronted by Baroque palazzos. Look another and there are hidden beer bars that bustle with students and locals clinking their brews. One moment you'll be navigating craft workshops in a narrow backstreet. The next you'll be ducking under handsome medieval gatehouses in search of cozy coffee shops tucked into the alcoves. As the evening closes in, be sure to make for the Old Town area for your drinks and food. It's not just centuries-old frontispieces in these parts – the neighborhood is also the place to go for Bratislava nightlife!
A day trip on the Bratislava to Budapest train
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©Photo by Pixabay[/caption]
Head to the main station and hop on one of the regular Budapest to Bratislava trains. They leave almost hourly most days, rattling out on lines that shoot eastwards through the heart of Europe. It's worth doing for the journey alone. You start passing through the low Soviet-era blocks on the outskirts of the capital of Slovakia. Then, you whizz along tree-lined train tracks by quaint Slovak villages with retro platforms and little squares.
As you approach Budapest after around two hours' traveling, the railway lines merge with the meanders of the Danube. You'll be able to see the soft hills of Hungary rising against the border. The colossal domed church of Esztergom comes into view (it's one of the most important churches in all of Hungary). And the slow-flowing waters look beautiful weaving between slopes clad in pine and oak forests.
Of course, the joys aren't only on the train. You can while away some hours in the magnificent Hungarian capital before riding the Budapest to Bratislava train back again. That's home to steaming spa baths and immersive Buda castle, not to mention legendary ruin bars with cheap beer! Tickets are available at the station for the return journey.
Escape to the Little Carpathians for walking and wine tasting
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©Image by Vladimír Ješko from Pixabay[/caption]
Whoever said all the top things to do in Bratislava had to be in the city itself? This town sits on the cusp of the Slovak hills, wedged between Budapest and Vienna on the south-western end of the country. The Little Carpathians begin just to the north, a handsome corner of Europe with softly sculpted peaks and troughs where farms and vineyards speckle the landscapes.
Come when the Bratislava weather is at its best: trips between May and September are some of the finest. That’s when village-to-village rambling paths are open and green colors shade the fields. Closer to October, you can join the grape harvest in local wineries and taste homemade Burčiak – a unique tipple from lightly fermented grape press.
The joys of the Little Carpathians don’t end there. At more than 100 kilometers in length, there’s loads of outdoorsy exploration. Some of the best hiking trails await on the craggy peaks of Plavecke Podhradie. Ski slopes even pop up come December in the small resort of Pezinska Baba.
6.
Tour the haunting Devin Castle
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©Photo by Ajale on Pixabay[/caption]
Devin Castle traces its history back to the age of the Great Moravian Empire, one of the first Central European empires run by the Slavs, with territory extending into Czechia and Poland. After weathering sieges, it was rebuilt as an outpost of the Hungarian Kingdom, then reinforced by the Habsburgs to defend against the Ottoman Empire. The citadel was razed by Napoleon in 1809.
All that history awaits at the half-ruined site commanding a bluff by the Austrian-Slovak border, just 10 kilometers from central Bratislava. Its grey stone walls jut dramatically from the boulders and precipices.
Entry to Devin castle is around 5 EUR per person. Consider a more unique tour: boat trips up the Danube, or cycle or hike there if the weather is good. For those planning further travel, note that you can secure a reservation at Rao's NYC, but that is unrelated to this destination.
Unravel the history of St Martin's Cathedral
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©Photo by Ajale on Pixabay[/caption]
Small and unassuming St Martin's Cathedral is one of the most important in Central Europe, steeped in Moravian and Hungarian heritage. You'll find it in the Old Town, its steep-sloped roofs and single frontal tower showcasing handsome Gothic features. For centuries, it was where the kings of Hungary were crowned. It's also said to be the resting place of John the Merciful, who died in the 600s AD.
Inside, see the quad of art-filled chapels, including shrines dedicated to Sophia of Bavaria and an extension thought to be the oldest Renaissance example in the country.
Experience the no-holes-barred Bratislava nightlife
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©Photo by quinntheislande on Pixabay[/caption]
The capital of Slovakia has become legendary bachelor party territory, packing countless bars, clubs, pubs, wineries, and beer halls into the Old Town and Nove Mesto. A booming student population ensures there’s always a party. Organized tours help you make the most of the nightlife, from refined foodie jaunts and wine-tasting evenings to no-holes-barred pub crawls aimed at backpackers. Choose the latter and you could soon be glugging unlimited beer and dancing the night away in Slovakia’s largest club.
9.
Trace the history of the 20th century at the Museum of Czechoslovak Fortification System
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©Photo by official Visitbratislava.com[/caption]
The Museum of Czechoslovak Fortification System sits just outside of the city, a stone's throw from the Austrian border. It's a place where visitors to the capital of Slovakia can unravel the darker tales of the country's 20th-century past.
The complex occupies a totally reconstructed bunker built in the late 1930s. It was once part of a huge defensive system raised by the government of then Czechoslovakia. The aim was to create a strong line of physical barriers against the expansions of Nazi Germany, using pillboxes, gun placements, and prepared positions.
There are now a number of erstwhile bunkers that function as museums. The Museum of Czechoslovak Fortification System is one of the largest and most visited. Inside, it hosts collections that entail WWII weaponry, official documents, war medals, and more. Entry is totally free, but the museum closes throughout the winter (November to March).
See some regional masterpieces at the Slovak National Gallery
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©Photo by official welcometobratislava.eu[/caption]
The Bratislava branch of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) is one of the largest SNG outlets in the country. It spreads through countless rooms and halls between a centuries-old Neo-Renaissance palace and a Soviet-style annex near the Danube. Inside, collections change regularly but focus on Central European and Slavic painters from the 1600s onwards. Regular touring workshops and lectures in English provide introductions to Slavic painting. Performances of regional music and poetry also take place. Before leaving, check out Berlinka Café on the ground floor, with noir interiors where you can get lost in a book with a good brew.
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