11 Things To Do In Bratislava – Budget Travel In Slovakia

Visit Bratislava to experience a charming, small city with a picturesque old town of cobbled streets, boutique shops and excellent bars and cafes.

Bratislava might not be as popular a tourist destination as cities such as Vienna and Budapest (both of which can be reached easily by train) but it has plenty to offer travellers and can be enjoyed on a backpackers’ budget.

I visited Bratislava twice in two years, even extending my second stay as I was enjoying the city so much.

Where Is Bratislava?

Bratislava is the capital and largest city in Slovakia. The Danube river runs through its centre. It is close to the Austrian border and day trips to Vienna are easy to make.

Things To Do In Bratislava

Here are some of the top sights in Bratislava.

Blue Church Bratislava

Located just outside Bratislava old town is the ‘Blue Church’ (map). You won’t spend long here but it is very unusual and beautiful.

Bratislava Castle

Having an imposing presence over the city, ‘Bratislava Castle’ (map) has undergone much renovations in recent years. Entrance to the museum is around 10 Euros but you can wander around the castle grounds for free, taking in the incredible views over the city.

Bratislava Castle Opening Times: 

Nov – March:
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, last entry at 4 pm.

April – Oct
Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, last entry at 5 pm.

Bratislava Castle Entrance Fee: 10 Euro to enter the castle. Visiting the castle grounds is free.

Bratislava City Walls

The 14th century city walls that line the Staromestka (map). You can access the walls and discover the history of Bratislava.

Devin Castle

‘Devin Castle’ (map) is located just under 13 km from Bratislava and can be reached by bus (Google Maps will help). When we visited, we combined it with a walking trail of two hours through a beautiful forest.

It was a great way to experience the castle as the trail brought us out at a viewpoint where we could look over the town and the castle.

We walked through the town to reach the castle. It was a great day out getting away from the city and into nature.

Devin Castle Opening Times:

Apr and Oct: 10 am – 5 pm (last visit at 4:30 pm), Tue – Sun.
May – Sep: 10 am – 6 pm (last visit at 5:30 pm) Tue – Fri. 10 am – 7 pm (last visit at 6:30 pm), Sat & Sun.
Nov – Mar: 10 am – 4 pm, every day.

Devin Castle Entrance Fee: 2 Euros.

Hotel Galeria Spirit

If you want to see the most instagrammable hostel in Bratislava, then ‘Hotel Galeria Spirit’ (map) is where you need to go. What makes this hostel even more remarkable is its drab, grey surroundings. How this place came into existence is anyone’s guess!

Kapitulska

Located in the old town, ‘Kapitulska’ (map) feels like it has not changed in hundreds of years. Enjoy a pleasant stroll and feel like you’ve gone back in time!

Old Market Hall

Open on Saturdays only, the ‘Old Market Hall’ (map) has many stalls selling locally produced produce. Many stalls offer free tasters.

Radio and Television Slovakia

Another interesting building just outside the city centre.

Slavin War Memorial

‘Slavin War Memorial’ (map) is a hilltop memorial and burial ground of Soviet Army soldiers who died in WWII. I visited here straight from the castle, meaning I didn’t have to climb the whole hill. The area surrounding the memorial has some beautiful houses. The memorial itself is just as impressive. I was expecting just a memorial. I didn’t realise it was a burial ground. The memorial offers great views over Bratislava.

Statues Of Bratislava

There are many bronze statues situated around the city centre; the most famous is probably the ‘man at work’ (map).

Street Art Of Bratislava

There are numerous interesting street art pieces around the city, mainly due to a street art festival that happened recently.

For more information, visit https://www.visitbratislava.com/