Slovakia in general and this city in particular are unfairly underestimated. Yes, the sights of Bratislava do not meet tourists in huge numbers. But we will tell you what to see in Bratislava if you are passing through here or visit this city for a few days. The city is adjacent to Vienna, Budapest and Prague are nearby, so if possible, consider the sights of Bratislava before your trip with photos with names and descriptions and include it in your itinerary.
What to see in Bratislava first of all
After the collapse of Czechoslovakia, Bratislava was unlucky, because most of the sights remained in the Czech Republic. But this does not mean that the capital of Slovakia has nothing to surprise tourists with. We will tell you what to visit in Bratislava, where to go and where to relax.
1. The Old Town of Bratislava
The narrow winding streets of Bratislava’s Old Town
A very atmospheric place, the pride of the city. Many of Bratislava’s attractions are located here, surrounded by interesting buildings.
Guests of the city leave rave reviews about this place, noting the amazing contrast between dilapidated and restored streets. We recommend going to a literary cafe with artistically painted ceilings, tasting tea liqueur and taking an hour-long car tour in retro style.
Bratislava | Hotels at competitive prices
Booking.com
2. The main square
Christmas market on the central square in the Old Town of Bratislava
The center of the Old Town is an interesting place in Bratislava, its business card. The architectural ensemble surprises with a mixture of styles: Gothic, classicism, and Baroque. Once, trade flourished here, today it is a place for idle festivities with shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. There is a Roland fountain on the square, which is legendary. On holidays, festivals, fairs, and exhibitions take place on the square. Christmas events are held on New Year’s Eve and Christmas, and an ice rink opens.
3. Monument to the plumber Chumil
Monument to the plumber Chumil or “onlooker” is an integral part of the Slovak capital
An original monument with a double meaning, which is worth seeing in Bratislava in 1 day. It is dedicated not only to the profession, but also to the memory of the wartime, when residents of the city hid in manholes from bombing. Twice careless drivers demolished the monument’s head, so now there is a warning sign nearby. They say if you rub his nose, you’ll get lucky. It’s worth the experiment!
4. The Old Town Hall
The Main Square and the Old Town Hall in Bratislava
The oldest work of architectural art, built in the XIV century. Listing the main attractions of Bratislava briefly, we will give him one of the first positions in the list. Over time, the Gothic style was supplemented with elements of Baroque and Renaissance, and the new wing, built at the beginning of the last century, bears traces of Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Gothic. The corner tower has been preserved almost in its original form. The roof decorated with mosaics deserves special attention.
Official website: https://muzeum .bratislava.sk
5. Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is located on the slopes of the Carpathians near the banks of the Danube
The monumental quadrangular structure, towering on a cliff, embodies the entire history of Slovakia.A Folk museum is equipped within its walls, various exhibitions are held, and a beautiful park is laid out in the courtyard. The tower is reached by a difficult climb along a cobblestone road, which is worth overcoming in order to admire the panoramic views of the city and the Danube from the terrace and towers. The castle has recently undergone restoration.
Check out the wonderful views of Bratislava in this fascinating video!
6. Devin Castle
Maiden Tower of the Devinsky Castle above the Danube River in Bratislava
We will advise you what to see in Bratislava for lovers of ancient history. From the castle, perched on a steep cliff, ruins remained more than once, on which the fortress was subsequently built. The building was undergoing restoration, as a result, the castle acquired its former majestic appearance. However, tourists are still looking at the remains of the Roman fortress with interest. There is a wine village at the foot of the castle, where guests are shown the cellars and wine halls. Climbing the surviving tower, you can observe how the waters of two rivers mix at the foot.
Official website: https://muzeum .bratislava.sk
7. Primate’s Palace
The Archbishop’s Palace on Primate Square in the Old Town of Bratislava
The palace is considered the most beautiful in Bratislava. It is impossible, without admiring, to pass by the rose-gold facade in the neoclassical style, decorated with a coat of arms. The crown of the building, emphasizing its monumentality, was the cardinal’s hat of enormous size. In the interior, the Hall of Mirrors, where the Emperor of Austria and Napoleon signed a peace agreement, deserves special attention. The walls feature tapestries by Flemish masters. In the courtyard there is the fountain of St. George, one of the oldest in the city.
Official website: https://www.visitbratislava.com
8. Grassalkovich Palace
The residence of the President of Slovakia and the fountain with a ball in the palace park
Do you want to see the residence of the President of Slovakia? It is located in this palace. In tourist reviews, in addition to the elegant building, a beautiful fountain with a ball in the center, installed in front of the palace, is mentioned. Previously, royal receptions and balls were held here, today it performs other functions. Perhaps, for a Presidential palace, although beautiful, it is too modest, but this rather speaks in favor of the head of the country.
9. Mikhailovsky Gate
Medieval St. Michael’s Gate Jorge Láscar
These gates are all that remains of the ancient city fortifications built in the XIV century. It is believed that the city begins with them. If you are thinking about where to go in Bratislava in the remaining time, you should join its ancient architecture. Under the arch you will see the prime meridian with distances to the capitals of neighboring countries. The gate serves as a certain landmark for everyone, visible from everywhere.
Official website: https://www.visitbratislava.com
10. St. Martin’s Cathedral
View of St. Martin’s Cathedral across the Danube River in Bratislava
When the city fortifications were built in the XIII century, the cathedral was part of them. It was only in the middle of the XV century that it was consecrated. The cathedral received a high rating in the guidebooks due to its Gothic architecture: in appearance it resembles a Viennese church. The gilded crown of St. Stephen crowning the tower on the roof is poorly visible from below, but inside you can see up close the magnificent frescoes and stained glass windows that generously decorate the interior of the cathedral.
Official website: https://dom.fara.sk
11. St. Elizabeth’s Church
St. Elizabeth’s Church or the Blue Church is a Catholic church in the Old Town
Looking at the best sights of Bratislava, you will definitely find a mention of this church. It is called a romantic temple due to the delicate color scheme of the walls and elegant Art Nouveau architecture. The building resembles a gingerbread house from a fairy tale, covered with icing. The impression is enhanced in spring, when apple and cherry trees bloom around. There is the same harmony and beauty inside.
12. St. Stephen’s Capuchin Church
A column with the figure of the Virgin Mary in front of the main entrance to St. Stephen’s Church on Zhupnaya Square
A rather strict style was chosen for the construction. The facade is not luxurious, except that the entrance is decorated with a small arch. The interior, although it shines with gilding, is also quite simple. When traveling around the city, you will definitely see her, it is impossible to pass by without attention. A column with a sculpture of the Madonna is installed in the vast courtyard in front of the church, and the Bratislava Castle is perfectly visible from the square.
13. The Franciscan Church
Entrance to the Franciscan Catholic Church in Bratislava Lure
Another attraction in the Old Town. The Catholic church has repeatedly suffered fires and earthquakes, today we see only part of the original structure. The relics of St. Nicholas are a relic. Reparata, a fourth-century preacher. Externally, the temple looks ascetic, but no expense was spared for the interior decoration.
14. Slovak National Theatre
The old building of the Slovak National Theatre on Gvezdoslav Square
Another building in the Neo-Renaissance style is very attractive in appearance and has a small but decently decorated opera hall. The persistent recommendations of tourists relate to performances that are worth going to. Dostoevsky is often staged here, and excellent acting is noted. In September, you can get to the open house and go backstage and beyond.
Official website: https://www.snd.sk
15. Philharmonic Hall
Slovak Philharmonic Hall in the center of Bratislava on Gvezdoslav Square
The building, built during the Habsburg era, is located in the city center. With relatively inexpensive tickets, you can get to a concert of classical music, a chamber orchestra, family and children’s productions. The performances are accompanied by subtitles in three languages, including English. It is more profitable to book tickets on the Philharmonic’s official website. There are hotels in Bratislava around, many of which have a very original design in terms of color and architectural solutions.
Official website: https://www.filharmonia.sk
Sights of Bratislava: what else to visit in Bratislava?
The city is located next to the Austrian border, so while vacationing in Vienna, you can go on some excursions in Bratislava, walk along its streets, considering the process of revival of the post-Soviet country.
16. Nedbalka Gallery
The facade of the Nedbalka City Art Gallery in Bratislava
Perhaps in the capital of every country there are galleries with paintings of artistic value. The sights of Slovakia also include a local gallery, famous for its unique collection of national paintings. You will not find the works of outstanding masters here, but the paintings of little-known artists are quite interesting.
Official website: https://www.nedbalka.sk
17. Slavin Memorial Complex
The Slavin Memorial Complex is dedicated to the memory of fallen soldiers during World War II
The complex is impressive in appearance. This is a well-maintained cemetery with a large territory and excellent views from the hill, in the center stands a memorial column, which lists the cities of Slovakia in the order of their liberation. An information stand and guides in Bratislava will tell you about the history of this place. The memorial is a place of mourning, eternal memory, and pride of the Slovak people.
18. Bratislava Zoo
The Monkey Pavilion at the Bratislava Zoo
The zoo has a good area of 96 hectares and more than 1,000 species of fauna. The animals are kept either in enclosures or in open areas. A Dinopark with interactive exhibits deserves special attention, it is interesting for children to watch how they talk, move their tails and heads. There is a children’s complex on site.
Official website: https://www.zoobratislava.sk
19. The SNP Bridge
Night view of the bridge over the Danube illuminated by the SNP in Bratislava
SNP Bridge (“Slovak National Uprising”) It was built for 5 years and connects parts of the capital. It is unique in the features of the project. It has no supports in the Danube riverbed, i.e. 2 supports with a height of almost 85 m are installed on land and 1 in the center of the bridge. It is impossible not to notice it on a trip around the city – the total height is 95 m. The bridge is 21 m wide and divided into 4 lanes for vehicles and paths for cyclists and pedestrians.
Official website: https://www.u-f-o.sk
20. Apollo Bridge
Apollo Bridge over the Danube River in Bratislava in night illumination
The new dominant of the city, its pride, built in 2005. The bridge is quite complex in its shape, in which there are no right angles. It is curved in a huge arch over the Danube and, casting glare on a sunny day, makes a grand impression. The main highway of the capital passes here.
And even if Bratislava is not a “mustsee” for sophisticated tourists, you can go here. Even for a short time, even on the way to Vienna or Prague, but a few days of staying in a post-Soviet country, now gradually flourishing, will certainly be interesting.
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish