The zestful capital of Slovakia has shed its image as a dour, industrial sprawl into an easy-going and enticing city.
Bratislava is no longer in the silhouette of Prague and Vienna and its baroque palaces, atmospheric cobbled streets, and affordable culinary options are continuously drawing in the tourists to this underrated destination. Bratislava is centrally located on the Danube, less than 60 km from Vienna, with frequent bus and train connections.
How to Get to Bratislava from Vienna
Bratislava lies a mere 55 km from Vienna surrounded by the Little Carpathian mountains in the north and farms, vineyards, and tiny villages in the east.
Buses provide a cheap and convenient option to get from Vienna to Bratislava.
There are several bus operators on this route like Eurolines, RegioJet, and FlixBus. The travel time is a little over an hour.
FUN FACT
Bratislava borders Austria in the west and Hungary in the south making it the only national capital in the world to border two foreign countries.
How to Get to Bratislava from Vienna
Bratislava lies a mere 55 km from Vienna surrounded by the Little Carpathian mountains in the north and farms, vineyards, and tiny villages in the east.
Buses provide a cheap and convenient option to get from Vienna to Bratislava.
There are several bus operators on this route like Eurolines, RegioJet, and FlixBus. The travel time is a little over an hour.
FUN FACT
Bratislava borders Austria in the west and Hungary in the south making it the only national capital in the world to border two foreign countries.
landmark Bratislava Castle.
It is perched atop a hill dominating the city’s skyline and overlooking the River Danube. It is famous for its four striking white towers that mark the corners of this grand, rectangular palace.
This stronghold has a long history stretching back over a millennium when it featured in the Annals of Salzburg of 907, the first written reference to Bratislava.
Like most European castles it didn’t remain unscathed. The original stone castle was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century and was remodeled into a Renaissance residence in the 16th century. Beautiful Rococo furnishings were added in the 18 century.
There’s no need to go inside. Just climb to the top to stroll around the gardens and for magnificent views over the city.
Watching over the city from its craggy roost, Bratislava Castle is on a site that has been fortified for thousands of years.
As a defendable stronghold and lookout, the castle was unmatched as it rested between the Alps and Carpathians and defended an ancient fords on the Danube.
The castle’s apogee came in the 16th century when it was the seat of the Kings of Royal Hungary, housing the Hungarian crown jewels for the next 200 years.
After war damage and reconstruction it’s a landmark to see because of what it represents more than its architecture.
From the terrace you can see over the Danube and across the borders into Austria and Hungary, while the interior has exhibitions for the National Museum, covering Slovakian history from the middle ages to the present day.
Wander Around the Old Town
The Old Town is certainly the biggest sightseeing draw of Bratislava and a must-see if you love history in a quaint setting. It has been completely and stunningly renovated and is a pedestrian-only zone, which makes it great for ambling around.
A large chunk of historic sights in Bratislava can be found in the compact old town center such as some grand palaces and cultural institutions.
There are several charming streets filled with pastel-hued buildings and some of the smaller side streets provide surprises too. The Old Town also has plenty of lively bars and restaurants lining its cute streets. The good thing is that the sights can easily be covered in a short time.
UFO
UFO Bridge (Most SNP) – a cable-supported steel bridge that is the longest single-pylon suspension bridge in the world. Okay, the bridge itself isn’t bizarre but the saucer-shaped restaurant that is perched atop its single, asymmetrical pylon is what makes this structure eye-catching.
At the top of that pylon is a structure known as the “UFO”. At 80 metres above the river this disc-like building houses a restaurant reached via an elevator up the pylon’s east pillar. You can go to the viewing terrace of the UFO restaurant for a fee.
Observation deck is an inseparable part of Bratislava, you will find it on every postcard and you won’t miss it while moving through the city.
If you feel like seeing the city from a birds perspective, experiencing a perfect view, or capturing a beautiful sunset over Danube, you won’t find a better place for it.
Slovak Radio building
This „upside-down pyramid“ is very interesting from the architectonic point of view, it was rightly awarded the title The Building of the Century in Slovakia in the category of Social Structures. Undoubtedly, we are talking about an exceptional structure inside the city that is a witness to the time when it came into existence.
It actually consists of two pyramids, with the inner pyramid containing broadcast equipment and recording studios. The total height of the building to the top of its antenna is 80 meters. It was designed by Štefan Svetko, Štefan Ďurkovič and Barnabáš Kissling. Construction began in 1967 and the building was not completed until 1983, with regular broadcasting starting only in March 1985.
DinoPark Bratislava
If your fascinated by the amazing world of dinosaurs, you should not miss a visit to the interactive Dinosaur Park.
You can discover contemporary fauna and extinct Mesozoic dinosaurs.
DinoPark has dozens of static and moving models of dinosaurs in life-size, a photosaur in order to capture dinosaur´s experiences, you can have a snack in style of Mesozoic DinoGril, 3D cinema for free, unique plant Wollemia Nobilis, a paleontological playground, children’s attractions for young adventurers, but also beautiful sceneries of nature; all that in the centre of Bratislava.
Several dinosaur models are mobile and make sounds, making the overall experience even more intense.
Children will also have fun discovering the secrets of the paleontological playground, and the dinosaur park also includes a photosaurus, DinoGril themed refreshments and attractions for the little ones.
You will find an authentic Jurassic park with life-size representatives of the Mesozoic, you will learn a lot of new information in the cinema showing a three-dimensional film and you will walk through a pleasant valley with a glistening stream.