Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. That alone makes it seem like it will be packed with exciting sights and things to do. While there are some great things to do in Bratislava, I found that the city is lower on the excitement scale when compared to many other European capitals (especially nearby Vienna). So while I normally say that one day is not enough to see a particular city (even for fast paced travelers), Bratislava feels different. With one day in Bratislava, you have enough time to experience the highlights without rushing.
One Day in Bratislava
As I’ve mentioned, this city is light on sights so any Bratislava itinerary that you find will likely cover the same sights. There’s just not a lot to choose from. So whether you’re day tripping from Vienna or spending the night, here’s how I recommend you spend one day in Bratislava.
9:00 – Bratislava Old Town
Bratislava is light on sights, but without a doubt, the highlight of this city is wandering through the Old Town. It’s not my favorite Old Town in Europe, but it’s a nice stroll and a must-do when you’re here. Yes look at the architecture, sit in a cafe, and shop for souvenirs, but as you do that take note of who is around you. While undoubtedly there will be tourists, you’re also likely to find plenty of locals enjoying their city. Compare that to a city like Prague where the historic Old Town seems to be tourists and only tourists.
As you wander through Bratislava’s Old Town, keep an eye out for some of the top sights.
Michalaská Brána (St. Michael’s Gate) – Despite looking like a church steeple, St. Michael’s Gate is actually a watchtower and is the last remnant of the original city walls. Standing under the bridge, look down and notice the point where all distances from Bratislava were measured, though I’m not too confident in its accuracy.
Hlavné Námestie (Main Square) – With its colorful buildings, this square brings a bit of beauty to what can otherwise feel like a not too exciting city. You’ll see the fountain, Old Town Hall, and several cafes.
Primaciálne Námestie (Primate’s Square) – This is the square in front of Primate’s Palace, a bright pink building in the Old Town. What used to be a palace is now Bratislava’s Town Hall and for a few euros, you can tour the interior and see its artworks.
Stará Tržnica (Old Market Hall) – It’s worth stopping by to see what’s happening. You may find a market, or when I was here, there was a variety of local food trucks, which made a great lunch stop later in my day.
Čumil (“The Peeper”) – This is a statue, but not in the way you might think. Rather than looking up, look down at the street to find it. You’ll see a man who looks like he’s coming out through the street. Do you get why it’s called “The Peeper”?
Hviezdoslavovo Námestie (Promenade Square) – Along this square you’ll find more cafes and people watching. But don’t miss the Slovak National Theatre, marking one end of the square.
Dóm Sv. Martina (St. Martin’s Cathedral) – While not my favorite cathedral in Europe, I think a visit to this cathedral is still a must on your visit to Bratislava. It’s free to enter the interior and take a short walk around. Next to the church is a Holocaust Memorial. That’s because the city’s synagogue used to be right next door.
11:00 – Bratislava Castle
Take a break from the Old Town and hike up to the Bratislava Castle. While it’s your choice if you want to pay to go inside and see the exhibits (I didn’t), I still think it’s worth heading up. There are some excellent views of the Old Town from up here and since it’s free to wander along the outskirts of the castle, I think it’s a great use of your time.
Note that as you climb up to the castle, you’ll also get some nice views of Most SNP (the UFO shaped bridge along the Danube River).
12:30 – Lunch
After you climb back down from the castle, take a break for lunch. I’ll admit that I’m usually terrible at including a break in my sightseeing for lunch, but because Bratislava is light on sights, it makes sense to take some a break and enjoy a meal. Plus, you may find better deals on meals at lunch time.
Personally, I headed to the market square and got a traditional meal of bryndzové halušky (which is small potato dumplings with a sheep’s cheese and small bits of bacon) from a food truck. If you don’t find the food trucks, there’s plenty of cafes and restaurants in the Old Town. Grab a bite to eat before continuing your exploration.
1:30 – En Route to the Blue Church
After lunch, we’re going to leave the Old Town behind. Our end goal is the riverfront, but we’re going to make a stop at the Blue Church along the way. I recommend walking, but you could look at catching some form of public transportation instead. The choice is yours.
2:00 – Blue Church
The Blue Church is another of the top sights in Bratislava. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to visit the church interior because the hours are very strange. When I visited, the church was open from 6:30 to 7:30 am, so needless to say, I just saw it from the outside, which is the same as so many visitors to Bratislava.
The exterior of this small church is beautiful. It’s a light blue, curved church that almost feels out of place with everything else around it. Take a few photos and then continue on to the riverfront.
2:15 – Bratislava Riverfront and Eurovea
Eurovea is a a large shopping mall, but it sits right along the river. Nearby are loads of cafes, benches, grass, and a path running along the river. It makes a great place to relax and spend an hour or two. Stroll along the walking path (it goes all the way back to the castle and beyond) or grab a table and a drink and enjoy the area.
4:00 – Traveler’s Choice
By now, we’ve covered what I feel are the best sights. How you spend the rest of your one day in Bratislava is up to you.
With More Time
Quite honestly, you don’t need more than one day in Bratislava. There just isn’t that much to do. If you have more time, consider taking a day trip. Vienna is very easy (in fact, many visitors day trip to Bratislava from Vienna). Budapest is further away and is at the very end of what I’d consider a reasonable day trip (the train is 2.5 hours one way—if it’s on time).
For something more in Slovakia, consider visiting one of the nearby cities. I put together my own day trip and visit Trenčín and Trnava in one day which gave me another peek into life in Slovakia.
Visiting Bratislava as a Day Trip from Vienna
So many visitors to Bratislava visit on a day trip from Vienna. Trains and buses connect the two capitals and it’s easy to do. While I chose to spend the night, I think this itinerary still works well for visitors from Vienna.
Try to catch a bus or train from Vienna at 8:00. This will put you into Bratislava around 9:00 am. You can follow this itinerary exactly before catching a return bus or train to Vienna around 4:00 pm.
Note that the bus station is about 30 minutes from the Old Town while the train station is about 20 minutes from the Old Town. Both of these walks are completely doable, but depending on the person, you may want to consider looking into the buses or trams that cross the city.
Getting Around Bratislava
In general, I found Bratislava to be very walkable. The only time that I considered taking public transportation is when I needed to get between my hotel and the train or bus station. These were both about 20 minute walks (since my hotel wasn’t quite in the Old Town).
Getting to Bratislava
Bratislava is connected with numerous large cities. You can head to the airport for more destinations, but it’s easy to travel by bus or train. Here’s some popular connections:
Bratislava to Vienna, Austria – 1 hour by bus, though slightly faster by train (I used RegioJet bus)
Bratislava to Budapest, Hungary – 2 hours 30 minutes by train (assuming no delays — I ended up getting into Budapest nearly an hour late)
Bratislava to Prague, Czech Republic – 4 hours 30 minutes by train
Bratislava to Brno, Czech Republic – 1 hour 40 minutes by train
When to Visit Bratislava
Bratislava can be visited all year round. It doesn’t get the same amount of visitors as some of its nearby neighbors, but there are still plenty of tourists who visit. Summers are the most popular because that’s when so many people plan their vacations. Expect the most tourists and hot temperatures. Tourism slows in the winter months when the weather worsens. Shoulder season can offer a nice balance.
I visited in mid October and had a nice visit. While the weather wasn’t great in Bratislava, it was nice on all of the other days of my trip. I just happened to visit on the days where it was cloudy and grey for most of the day. Tourist crowds were completely manageable.
Final Thoughts
Bratislava doesn’t rank high on the excitement scale, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing. With one day in Bratislava, you have enough time to cover the highlights and not feel rushed.
Continue Your Adventure
Czech Republic: Nearby is the Czech Republic whose capital of Prague is a favorite among travelers. Kutná Hora makes a great day trip.
Nearby: Vienna, Austria is a common day trip, but can also be visited separately. Many visitors combine a trip to Vienna with Budapest, Hungary which is just three hours by train.