10 Great Things to do in Bratislava

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Bratislava: Castles, Rivers, and UFOs ... Oh My!

In the what feels like the middle of Central Europe, lies a cute little capital city, with beautiful, winding streets and a castle overlooking the river. Not too far from the Austrian border is Bratislava, the capital of Slovenia. And this wonderful little city has so many great lookout points over the wonderful city, it is hard to pick just one. And there are plenty of things to see and do in the city as well. So here is some of the best of Bratislava:

Bratislava Castle

10. Devin Castle: about 10 kilometers outside the city center, basically in the next city over, is the old medieval castle of Devin. Although the walk may be a bit far, most people rent bikes and head along the Danube that way. You can climb to the top and admire the river and the nature surrounding the castle.

UFO Bridge seen from the Castle

9. Primate's Palace: with tapestries and beautiful halls, this palace is a great visit. And no, I am not talking about monkeys! This palace was built in the 18th Century in the neoclassical style, so you know that you can expect some ornate beauty in the music halls and that there will be some marvelous sculptures.

St. Martin's Cathedral

8.St. Martin's Cathedral: this cathedral in the center of Old Town, built in the baroque style, dates back to the 13th Century. What makes this cathedral so special is that it was once used for coronations, so you can imagine the ornate beauty inside. It is worth the stop when wandering around Old Town.

Church of St. Elizabeth

7. Church of St. Elizabeth: with beautiful blues and lovely paintings, this church is a must see. Built in the Art Nouveau style, this church is a unique beauty in the city center of Bratislava. Although it may not be open to the public all the time, you can head in and admire its beauty as well. If not, just stand outside and admire this baby-blue church.

Michael's Gate

6. Michael's Gate: this once used to be the entrance to the city when it was completely fortified. Today, you can climb to the top of the tower for another great view of the city. There is also a weapons museum inside as well. Also make sure to look for Kilometer Zero underneath the tower.

The Danube seen from the UFO Bridge

5. Danube Riverbank Path: what is so nice about Bratislava is that along the Danube stretches this long path for bikes and pedestrians. It is lined with trees, making it very enjoyable. So why not enjoy the city and the great outdoors at the same time?

Streets of Old Town

4. Old Town: the Old Town of Bratislava is absolutely adorable. With winding cobblestone streets, to beautifully decorated buildings, a walk through the Old Town is worth it. There is plenty of food and shops along the way, and the prices are usually very reasonable. Look for the Man at Work statue near the ground.

Soviet War Memorial

3. Slavín: on top of the hills is a Soviet memorial for all the soldiers who died liberating Slovakia from the Nazis. And while checking out the memorial is an interesting activity, from that point in the city, you can get an amazing view of the castle and the UFO bridge. At sunset this must be the best place in the city!

Bratislava Castle seen from Slavín

2. Bratislava Castle: this beautiful castle can be seen from many vantage points in the city. High up on the mountain, the castle dates back to the 10th Century, although it has since been reconstructed. You can head inside the castle to see some of the ancient Slovakian life, or you can climb to the top of the hill and admire the gardens and the views.

The UFO Bridge seen from the Danube

1. UFO Bridge: although this bridge does not quite match how cute the Old Town buildings are, this bridge is a great place to take the elevator to the top and enjoy the city from above. You can even see the Austrian border! This is probably the best view of the city.

Bratislava Castle