Discover the Unique Charms and Best of Bratislava 2023
Discover the Unique Charms and Best of Bratislava 2023
Bratislava is the capital and largest city of Slovakia. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia at the foot of the Little Carpathians, occupying both banks of the River Danube and the left bank of the River Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two sovereign states.
Table of Contents
Slovakia Map
Informations
We had wanted for a long time to visit Bratislava and Vienna. These capitals were two must-see cities on our list.Bratislava is only 80 km from Vienna so we decided to leave Munich in the morning directly for Bratislava, to visit this wonderful city, and then to go to our hotel in Vienna, and the next day to visit it.We did exactly as planned and we arrived in Bratislava around 12:30 in the afternoon.
Of course, we wanted to see as many tourist attractions as possible and the first time we drove to the Blue Church, because it was a little further from the other attractions in the old town center.
Things to do
The Blue Church
This church is consecrated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Due to the color of the facade with a blue majolica mosaic, the church is also known as the Blue Church.
After visiting this beautiful church, we tried to find a parking space near the center, but it seemed almost impossible, on a Saturday afternoon, but luck was on our side and we found a parking space right behind Grassalkovich Palace.
Presidential Palace
The Grassalkovich Palace, also known as the Presidential Palace is the seat of the President of the Slovak Republic, north of the old town on the north side of the Hodžovo námestie near the former Archbishop’s Summer Palace, the seat of the government of Slovakia.
Trinitarian Church
From here, we headed to the old town center, which is about a 7 minute walk, and on our way we could see the Trinitarian Church.
The Trinitarian Church or officially Church of St. John of Matha, is a Catholic baroque church . It is located in the old town on Župné námestie.
After that, we continued our way to the center, and before we present you the following attractions that we saw, we will show you some pictures that we took on the way. You will love this city!
Center of Bratislava
After walking through these wonderful streets and taking all these pictures, we took the right street and reached Martin’s Cathedral. The Gothic-style hall church is the largest church building in the city and is located on the western edge of the old town, at the foot of the castle hill. It has been the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Bratislava since 2008.
Martin's Cathedral
From here we went left, straight ahead and we reached the central square in the old town of Bratislava, Hlavné námestie. It is bordered at one end by Sedlárska ulica and at the other by Františkánske námestie, which formed a unit with the main square until the beginning of the 18th century.
Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall in the old town of Bratislava is one of the oldest stone buildings in the city. It has a colorful tiled roof and is originally a Gothic building from the 14th century. It is located between the main square and the Primatialplatz and in front of it stands the Maximilian fountain, the oldest fountain in the city from 1572.
Michael's Gate
Michael’s Gate is the only surviving gate of the medieval city fortifications of Bratislava and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The gate got its name from the no longer existing Michaelskirche which was located outside the city walls – in the area of today’s Hurban-Platz.
Maximilian fountain and Hviezdoslavovo námestie
Hviezdoslavovo námestie is one of the most famous and largest squares in the Slovak capital, Bratislava. Colloquially it is also simply called the promenade. The promenade-like square is named after the Slovak poet Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav and is located in the southern old town between the New Bridge and the old building of the Slovak National Theater.
Čumil
Near the market you can also see the bronze sculpture :Čumil .
After visiting all this, we returned to the main street and went to Hviezdoslavovo námestie, where we had the opportunity to see the park and some beautiful buildings: Philharmony House, Opera House, Carlton Building.
Most SNP
The bridge of the Slovak National Uprising in Bratislava is a road bridge over the Danube built between 1967 and 1972 based on a design by Arpád Tesár, Jan Lacko and Ivan Slameň, which is named after the Slovak National Uprising in 1944. It is the most famous of the five Danube bridges in the city and connects the Petržalka district with the old town of Bratislava. We have taken photos with the bridge in different places: after we visited the old center and when we visited Burg Bratislava.
Primate's Palace
The Primate’s Palace on Primate’s Square in the Slovak capital Bratislava was built from 1778 to 1781 as the residence of Cardinal József Batthyány, the Primate of Hungary, according to the plans of the architect Melchior Hefele. The official seat of the bishop had been at this point since at least 1370.
Hrad Castle
After visiting this great city, we left very excited for the car, because we still had a very important tourist attraction to visit. But on the main road, we noticed that several people were going down a street, and we were curious to see where they were going. We also entered the street, and it led to Hrad Castle:
We returned to the car happy that the day went so well and we were able to visit so many wonderful tourist attractions, and then we went to our last tourist destination:
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle, also known as Pressburg Castle, is the landmark of the Slovak capital, Bratislava. It is located on the 85 meter high castle hill on the left bank of the Danube and its core dates from the 9th century. The castle was originally the residence of the Hungarian kings and is now the seat of the History Museum. These are our beautiful memories:
If you are lucky enough to stay in Bratislava for several days (unfortunately we could not stay more than one day) you can visit two more beautiful tourist attractions. We are sorry that we missed them, but the time was against us. These attractions are: Schloss Hof and Thebes Castle.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Bratislava offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Bratislava’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com, Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.
Top hotels we recommend in Bratislava: VIP Apartments, LOFT Hotel Bratislava , Arcadia Boutique Hotel .
Where to eat
Traditional dishes to try in Slovakia
- Bryndzové halušky consists of a wholesome combination of potato dumplings with roasted bacon and sheep’s cheese. It is also the national dish of Slovakia.
- Kapustnica is a delicious cabbage or sauerkraut soup. It is one of the most warming and soothing Slovakian dishes.
- Fazuľová Polievka is a rich and creamy sour bean soup.
- Segedin goulash is the Slovak version of Hungarian goulash.
- Zemiakové placky are pancakes made of potatoes.
- Cigánska Pečienka This popular Slovakian food is a sandwich known as the Slovak burger or its nickname ‘gypsy roast’.
- Vyprážaný sýr is deep-fried cheese, served in restaurants, cafeterias, and canteens around the country.
- Cesnaková polievka – a rich garlic soup.
Traditional desserts :
- Ryžový nákyp is a sweet rice cake
- Palacinka hortobágyi is a beloved pancake dish.
- Skalický trdelník is a sweet pastry, and it is classified as a European spit cake.
- Laskonky are traditional Slovak cookies. Each delicious cookie consists of two meringues and a buttercream filling in between.
- Žemlovka is a wholesome bread pudding.
- Višňová štrúdľa is a sour cherry strudel.
Restaurants
Soupa Bistro – Soup is a staple of the Slovak diet, and traditionally all meals in Slovakia begin with soup. Soupa Bistro makes it easy for visitors to fall in love with their tasty soups such as creamy spinach, Italian tomato, or hot and sour soup.
If enjoying a fantastic view while you eat is important to you, Restaurant Parlament proudly offers a panoramic view over Bratislava from the castle hill.
Zelený Rodrigéz serves up all of the best Slovak traditional dishes at a fair price.
Orbis Street Food – you can order a burrito, meat in a cone, or a Thai wrap, make sure to get a side of Belgian fries. The fries at Orbis are prepared from large sized potatoes and friend twice with beef grease.
Bistro St. Germain – The food is casual fare which ranges from quiches to burgers to salads to hummus plates to wraps.
Zylinder Cafe & Restaurant – Many people go to Zylinder for their excellend tafelspitz, a Viennese delicacy involving a piece of rump beer boiled in a simple broth with root vegetables, apple horseradish, spinach, and potatoes. You will also find other regional specialties such as schnitzel, pork knuckles, duck confit, goulash, and stuffed peppers on the menu.
Modrá Hviezda – Once seated, you will have to make a decision between ordering roasted special pork Mangalica with chestnuts and pumpkin puree or a rabbit leg in red wine sauce with forest mushrooms and a potato herb dumpling. There are many other outstanding meat-based options on the menu, including lamb, wild boar, pork, chicken, and beef steak.
Saving Tips
- The Little Big city also offers its guests a special way to explore the city, the Bratislava Card. The card grants guests free use of urban transport, a guided tour of the Old Town, and discounts on admission to museums and galleries. It also grants discounts of up to 50% for taxis and car hire. You can buy a card for 1, 2, or 3 days at any tourist information center.
- Exchange your dollars in euro
- If you have to take a cab, negotiate the price before getting in the car or check that the meter is working.
- Most museums and attractions in Bratislava are closed on Mondays.
- It is not expected from you to tip in Slovakia. You can round up the bill or leave around 10% on top of it if the service satisfied you.
- Avoid eateries around tourist attractions.
- You have to order a garlic soup at least once.
- Electronic tickets are 10% cheaper than paper ones.
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You can also try Hop-on, Hop-off tours or Big Bus tours and spare some money. As we are presenting a lot of good options you just have to pick the perfect one for you!
If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!
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Shopping
- With around 160 shops for the customers to explore, the Avion Shopping Park is a must-try shopping place in Bratislava.
- Uluv is only focused on showcasing traditional handicrafts, folk art crafts, and rare collections of Slovak.
- Dunaj is the cultural center of Bratislava. You can find all you need on the 4th floor of the building.
- Art forum is the definitive bookshop in town and here you will find shelves full of some amazing books from various genres.
- Miletička – This market is full of fruits, vegetables, clothes, and cheese for very cheap prices as well. There are also local restaurants and many fast food locations in here.
- Eurovea shopping center in Bratislava is a must-visit venue. This venue is a little classy since it is one of the newest shopping venues over in Bratislava.
- Aupark is definitely the biggest and most famous shopping venues in Slovakia. It is very strategically situated right between the city center and between the most densely populated borough in Bratislava- Petržalka.
- Textile House : Branded clothes at cheap prices.
Getting Around
Bratislava has two railway stations – the Main Station and Petržalka. The Main Station is well connected to the rest of the city via trams, buses or trolleybuses and you can get to the Old Town on foot in only 15 minutes. From the train station in Petržalka, the no. 80, 91, 93 buses take you to the city centre.
Tickets for public transport are valid for a certain period of time and are only available from ticket-machines or kiosks. They must be validated once inside the transport. The tickets are valid for all manner of public transport in the city and remain valid when changing from one type of transport to another.
Trams are the most popular and fastest form of public transport in the city. They are reliable and on time, generally running from 5 a.m to 11:30 p.m.
Buses also play a big role in the public transport system. After midnight, night buses operate at roughly one-hour intervals.
Some routes in the hilly parts of the city center are electrified and serviced by trolleybuses. They have a long tradition and have been operating in the city for more than 100 years.
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Getting Here
Slovakia’s main international airport is M.R. Štefánika, often referred to as Bratislava Airport, 9km northeast of central Bratislava. There are also international airports in Košice, operating flights to and from Prague, Vienna, London and Dublin, and in Poprad, operating mainly business flights to and from various European cities.
Another option is to fly into Vienna; the two capitals are only 60km apart, flights to Vienna are often cheaper, and Eurolines and Postbus both run shuttle-bus connections for €10–15 one-way.
Slovakia has good rail connections with Austria, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Most international trains terminate at Bratislava, but trains from Budapest, Kraków and Prague also run to Košice, and there’s a direct service between Prague and Poprad.
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