25 Must-Visit Attractions in Bratislava

Hiding in the cellar under the Apponyi Palace next to the Old Town Hall, you’ll find the official annual collection of the top 100 Slovak wines. You can speak to a sommelier about your preferences and he or she will be happy to make recommendations about which wines to try. You can also do a guided wine tasting featuring 80 wines in 100 minutes! Then you can purchase a bottle of your favorite wine to take home.

One of the most unique churches in Central Europe, this Art Nouveau masterpiece is painted baby blue with white accents and darker blue roof tiles. The result is a whimsical, fairy-tale like façade and an interior which feels more like a ballroom than a church.

Perched on a small hill, the castle enjoys the best vantage point of the Old Town. If you hike for about 15 minutes, you can enjoy the views, stroll through the Baroque gardens, sip a coffee in one of Bratislava’s most scenic cafés or visit the Museum of History in the castle.

Dunajsky Pivovar serves craft beer on the top deck of a boat which also functions as a hotel. The boat is docked in the Danube with fabulous views towards Bratislava’s Old Town. You can relax on their lounge chairs on the deck for hours, trying each of the different kinds of brew. If you get hungry, their restaurant also serves great pub food.

Another iconic symbol of the city, the UFO Tower is located at one end of the SNP Bridge across the Danube. Take the elevator 95 meters (312 feet) up to enjoy the views from the observation deck, or make reservations to sample the innovative cuisine in the restaurant. The tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers and was seen as an engineering marvel when it opened in 1972.

Art lovers will be delighted with the fabulous collection of works by Slovak masters and the remodeled modern interior in this Old Town palace. The focus of the Nedbalka Gallery is showcasing the work of artists working in Slovakia from the late 19th century up until the present day. To accomplish this, they host several temporary exhibitions throughout the year in addition to the permanent collection.

Perched on a small hill, the castle enjoys the best vantage point of the Old Town. If you hike for about 15 minutes, you can enjoy the views, stroll through the Baroque gardens, sip a coffee in one of Bratislava’s most scenic cafés or visit the Museum of History in the castle.

This is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved classicist buildings in Bratislava. City Council meetings take place here, but most of the second floor is open to the public. Visitors can enjoy royal tapestries from 1630, examples of period furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries in every room, and the elegance of the Hall of Mirrors.

This memorial is dedicated to the Soviet Army soldiers who lost their lives while liberating the city from the occupying Germans. Slavin lies on a hill just behind the Bratislava Castle. Many people head up here for the views, but the monument, which dates to 1960, is also an interesting example of Stalinist architectural style.

September is a great month to visit, because you’ll beat the huge crowds during July and August. Temperatures are more moderate and you can enjoy an evening stroll to see the historical buildings of the Old Town lit up for the Festival of Light. A green laser beam reflects from the UFO Tower to the St. Michael’s Gate to the Cumil statue and back, drawing a path for visitors to follow through the Old Town. In 2017, the festival dates are September 21-23.

The Old Town Hall is a beautiful building both inside and out. Inside, the Museum of City History occupies most of the space. Don’t forget to head down to the basement to see examples of Medieval torture instruments, then walk up to the top of the tower for a fabulous view of Bratislava Old Town’s main square.

Everyone who visits Bratislava with kids should visit the Bratislava Zoo, where there are all sorts of animals such as giraffes, hippos, red pandas, leopards, monkeys, apes, and crocodiles. There is also a Dinopark with life size dinosaur models.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city center, go for a stroll in Bratislava’s Horsky Park to get some fresh air. This large protected nature area is only about a 20-minute walk away from St. Michael’s Gate and the pedestrian streets of the Old Town. It is a popular place for locals to come to run, walk their dogs, or cycle.

Bratislava’s got a few funny statues around which provide perfect photo ops, but Cumil is by far the most famous. Make sure you watch your step while walking through the Old Town because Cumil is not very tall. He’s a bronze representation of a man who is working on the sewers and has just popped his head up to get some air. Quirky? Definitely. Must-take photo? For sure!

The Slovak National Gallery collection is a treasure trove of Slovak art from over hundreds of years. The collection is so large that it cannot all be housed in one location, so the Gallery has buildings in five different Slovak cities to showcase the very best works of artists working in Slovakia from the Middle Ages to today.

This cathedral was the site of the Hungarian empire’s coronations of kings and queens between 1563 and 1830 – the popular Queen Maria Theresa was crowned here. The cathedral is Gothic in style and features huge stained glass windows. It’s also possible to go beneath the cathedral to check out the interesting crypt and ancient catacombs – don’t miss this!

In the early 20th century, Bratislava was considered a suburb of nearby Vienna, so the city often followed Vienna’s lead. Atmospheric coffee houses were no exception. At the turn of the 20th century, several stylish cafes lined the main square and the surrounding streets in the Old Town. Bratislava’s cafe culture suffered a huge setback under the communist regime – when the only kind of coffee available was described as a strong and dark Turkish-style brew. But today cafes are back with flair, you can once again sit, sip, and see and be seen in a Bratislava’s Old Town. Some great coffees can be found at Cafe Mondeiu, Urban House, Fach, and Stur Cafe.

If you love castles, there’s more than the impressive Bratislava Castle to see! You can also pay a visit to Devin Castle, which is only about a half an hour away from the city on the Danube River. You can cycle, take a bus, catch a train, or relax on a river cruise to get there. Once there, you’ll need a few hours to climb up to the top of the castle ruins and admire the view. This castle hasn’t been restored, but that’s part of what gives it a special historic charm

The Bratislava region is blessed with a fantastic climate for growing grapes, but fortunately for visitors, Slovaks also know a few things about brewing high quality beer. You can buy a bottle of Slovak-produced Saris, Urliner, or Zlatý Bažant in any pub or supermarket, however, Bratislava also features several great craft breweries. Bratislavsky Mestiansky Pivovar is so popular that it now has two locations in the city center. They’ve been producing beer since 1752, so you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

You’ll know that you are entering the pedestrian area of the Old Town when you pass through St. Michael’s Gate. One of the oldest buildings in town, it is the only city gate which has been preserved since Medieval times. You can climb the tower and check out the small Museum of Weapons and City Fortifications.

If you are interested in seeing an authentic Czechoslovak military bunker from 1930, this is the place. The old bunker has been converted into a museum which showcases weapons from both World Wars and the Cold War. You can also see how the bunker would have been set up and used by soldiers. The museum is a bit outside of the city, so you’ll need to rent a car or a bicycle to get there.

Don’t miss your chance to see an opera, ballet, or theatrical performance in the Old Building of the Slovak National Theatre which dates back to 1886. The building looks similar to performance halls in Vienna because it was designed by Viennese architects in a Neo-Renaissance style. You’ll find a variety of performance available throughout the day with favorable ticket prices – spending an evening here is not to be missed.

Bratislava is home to Sad Janka Kral’a, one of the oldest municipal parks in Europe. You can find it a little bit past the UFO on the Petrzalka side of the river. The parks offers many old trees providing shadey refuge on warm days and is home to Leberfinger, a beautiful place to get lunch. The restaurant is located in a 18th century building with views of the Danube and serves a selection of classic Slovak dishes.

If you love cars, you’ll absolutely love the collection of the Bratislava Transport Museum. With more than 100 cars from the interwar period to the 1970s, as well as several old motorcycle models, you’ll feel like you’re at an old car show. Slovakia is now a major car manufacturer in Europe, and this museum does a great job of tracing the history and development of cars produced in this region over almost 80 years of history.

In search of other experiences in Bratislava? There is much to discover in this little city, regardless of your interests in history, culture, or undiscovered treasures. For a memorable trip, have a look at this comprehensive list of sites that you really must see.