If you are looking for an exciting and budget friendly destination in Europe then look no further. The capital city Bratislava has so many fun activities for you to explore. In this blog I am going to tell you all the top things you can do on this epic city break from bob-sleighing down mountains to getting your face printed on a cup of coffee. I was pleasantly surprised with how much this city has to offer.
I visited Slovakia in the Autumn which was a beautiful time of the year to see the Autumn leaves around the city.
- Bratislava Castle
In October 2021 I found myself with 3 spare nights in Europe so I decided to hop on a train from Vienna, Austria to Bratislava. The thing I love about traveling Europe is how easy it is to get around by public transport. For €10 you can easily get between these two cities.
I did not know much about this country before I visited but I left recommending everyone visit here as one of the best European city breaks and here's why:
- Slovakia is a very budget friendly destination.
- The locals are so friendly and hospitable.
- There is a tonne of things to do in Bratislava.
and lastly the sunsets every night were just beautiful! especially from all the epic view points around the city.
First up on the list COFFEE
1. Have you ever had your face printed on a cappuccino? Neither had I until I went to Bratislava. Check out 5 points Bistro to get your mug on a mug. This is a nice spot in the old town to grab coffee and brunch. I want to go back to this city just to do this again!
2. Visiting the Kamzik TV tower observation deck is another great spot to get a view over the city. This is near Bratislava bobsleigh. I would recommend visiting the two spots in the same afternoon/morning.
3. Michael's Gate is one of the main entrances to the old town, a medieval piece of history worth checking out. My favourite thing about traveling Europe is all the old towns and Bratislava is no different.
4. Bobsleighing is something I did not expect to do but I am glad I did. I paid €7 for 3 rides on the bobsleigh and it was so much fun. * I would like to mention I did this activity solo and still had a great time! To get here you take the local bus from the city centre which takes around 20 minutes. This was one of my favourite things I did and would 100% do it again.
5. A great way to end your day in Bratislava is by seeing the sunset over the city and river Danube in either the UFO tower or Bratislava castle. The UFO tower also known as the SNP tower was finished in 1972. Certainly a unique quirk to have a UFO placed above a city bridge but they make it work. Admission is €10 and they also have a bar at the top if you wanted to have a drink.
6. The Blue Church, a beautiful blue church nestled in a quaint neighbourhood. It makes for a great Instagram photo!
7. Bratislava sightseeing bus - Buses are always a great way to see a European city!
8. The Museum of transport is one of the many museums you can visit in Bratislava. If you are into history and museums this is great spot to check out.
9. If you are looking for an off the beaten path adventure check out Devin Castle. This castle is a short bus ride out of Bratislava city which give you more incredible views over the river (that is if you make to the top) Its a very steep castle with a lot of stairs (which I will admit I didn't conquer)
10. Visit Slovak pub, the best place to try traditional Slovakian food. I always love to try local food but being a vegan it can be difficult. I did manage to find a very local Slovakian VEGAN PUB! On my right is the cheesiest chick'n nuggets I have ever eaten in my life. The pub is literally called Vegan Pub - even if your not vegan the food is so good you should check it out!
11. Bratislava Castle makes you feel you are in a complete fairy tale. You can walk the grounds for free or pay admission to tour the inside of the castle.
12. Relax and catch up on some emails in one of the many bookshops. I would recommend Martinus Foxford (beautiful atmosphere and local vibe). I asked a local where the best coffee shop is to do some work, they answered one of the many book stores. I don't often frequent book stores but I do love to get among the locals so of course I headed to one and it was lovely.
13. A top activity I always recommend is a free walking tour. Although it is free there is an expectation that you tip as the tour guides are working for free. (I usually tip around 10 euros)
14. Take a bike ride to Bunker B-S-3 - It is very easy to ride out of the city and within a few minutes you will find yourself in the countryside. There are lots of old war bunkers, I made a local friend who took me on a bike ride. You can hire a pay as you go city bike in the city centre and it is very easy to get around
15. A very niche and unique experience I had in Bratislava was being in the country around All Souls Day. On a morning city walk I got talking to a local who encouraged me to visit a graveyard when it started to get dark. At first I was hesitant. As you should be when a stranger tells you to visit a graveyard at night but the risk paid off. All Souls Day happens around Halloween each year and is the celebration of life for those that have passed on. I walked through the graveyard and could see locals placing candles on graves, it was a very special and peaceful experience.
If you are looking for more inspiration check out my video below. I let my instagram followers control what I did in Bratislava!
Now there you have it! 15 things to do in Bratislava Slovakia. My trip here was only short but it has made me interested in spending more time in this country and one day I will.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope it inspires you to visit this city.
If you are new around here hello! My name is Dain Luka. I am a 28 year old content creator currently traveling the world. If you would like to find out more about me check out this page.
I mainly post YouTube videos every week but am using my blog to share information, tips and inspire more people to travel to destinations that I have been too.
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