BRATISLAVA

Bratislava was never in our plans for future visits, but it was a big, positive and pleasant surprise.

Most people visit Bratislava on a day trip and return from Vienna. We stayed 3 nights and didn't regret it at all. We loved the city.

Bratislava is not as well-known as the neighboring cities of Prague and Vienna, but it is becoming the next big capital to be included on every itinerary.

By staying a few nights in Bratislava you will see that you can have one of the best experiences on your trip.

Just to locate those who don't know where Bratislava is or have never even heard of it: this friendly city is the capital of Slovakia and is only 1 hour away from Vienna.

Our apartment was right in the city center and we did the whole city on foot. The historic center is all on foot.

Bratislava retains a medieval feel and a small-town feel hard to find in the great capitals of Europe. The moment you put together a itinerary, you realize that in just one day you visit the main one.

We stayed 3 nights and we always had busy time. There is so much to do and see.

As we've already said, the city can be done on foot and the best thing is to get lost in the historic centre. What you can't miss:

- Bratislava Castle, is the main attraction of the city. The views from the top of the hill are impressive, as is the path to it. On sunny days you can see Austria and Hungary.

- SNP Bridge (UFO Bridge), it's almost impossible not to see the bridge. It will probably be the first thing you'll see when you reach the city. The UFO-shaped tower has a panoramic restaurant and you can even walk outside the "UFO". If you just want to admire the view, it's also possible, just pay to go up to the observatory.

- Hlavne Namastie - Main square

- Cumil (The Observer) Statue, On the corner of Panská and Laurinská street is the most famous statue in Bratislava

- Michael's Gate

- Old Market

- In the street in front of Michael's Gate, named Michalská, if you look closely, you'll see some golden stones on the ground with a crown. They indicate the path taken by the newly crowned king when there was still a monarchy.

- Primate's Square

- Hviezdoslavovo Square, square with fountains, many cafes and restaurants. It is also where the Slovak national theater is located.

- Laurinska Street

- Blue Church

- Walk along the Danube River at sunset, between the Most SNP Bridge and Old Bridge. One of the best spots in the city on sunny days.

If you have time and another day like us, the day is dedicated to visiting Devin Castle and its small village. We went by Uber and came back by bus.

The bus is no. 29 and you have to buy the ticket first, at the small machines next to the stops. On the way, go under the SNP Bridge and catch the bus there. On the way back on the main road, you'll see the place straight away, take the same 29 bus.

The ticket is cheap, costs €0.90 and the trip is very fast. The stops indicate the time until the next bus. It is usually every 30 minutes.

If you go to Devin's castle in winter, be warm. It's very windy, but very windy and very cold.

Devin Castle is not located in Bratislava, but in Devín, a town half an hour away by bus from the Slovak capital. The castle is located on top of a hill and from there you can see where the river Danube meets the river Morava.

Devin is one of the oldest castles in the country and is well known for its solitary tower on the riverbank called the Maiden's Tower. Unlike the appearance of Bratislava Castle, Devin Castle has a more rustic and ruined look, very poetic.

The entire complex is really worth a visit, including its gardens/woods. To enter the complex you have to buy a ticket which costs €3 at the entrance.

On the outskirts of the castle, you have the village of Devin, a very quiet place, typically rural, small shops and restaurants. On our way we didn't find any open restaurant, but on the way we found an excellent organic supermarket, where we went to pick up our lunch.

If you want something fast, good and cheap, you can buy sandwiches at this supermarket and eat at the seats outside.

On the way back to the city of Bratislava, as we still had some time available, we decided to ride an electric scooter for the first time and we loved the experience.

We used Bolt's app to rent the scooter and ran the city almost from one end to the other, always along the river. It's super safe to ride a bike or scooter, as there are bike paths everywhere.

Bratislava is a very charming and peaceful city. It has an old and well-kept center. Likewise, the narrow streets offer several restaurants and bars with many terraces.

It was a big surprise this little big city. If you can, visit and sleep at least 1 or 2 nights in Bratislava.

SEE ALSO BRATISLAVA BY NIGHT

If you’d like some more tips contact us via Email, Facebook or Instagram.