You’re here because you’re considering a trip to Slovakia and are wondering “Is Bratislava worth visiting?” Well, you came to the right place, because I’ve been there.
My family and I had just spent a few days in Vienna when Irealized that Bratislava, Slovakia, was a short distance away. I did a quickGoogle search for “IsBratislava worth visiting?” and found limited resources available,but feeling adventurous and with nowhere else to be, my husband and I decidedto go ahead and do Bratislavawith kids trip. To help you make a more informed decision than mine, Iput together this Bratislavahighlights guide for future visitors to the city. But headline: go,you’re going to love it!
If you’ve decided to go but are wondering “What is there to do inBratislava?” or “is Bratislava safe?”—whichmay be front of mindif you’ve seen the movies Euro Trip or Hostel that do not paint the city in a very good light—don’t worry.After visiting the Slovakia capitol, I can honestly tell you that many of the referencesmade to the city in pop culture are completely inaccurate. Bratislava isactually a hidden gem that is easy to get to and with lots of things to do atvery budget-savvy prices.
So my overall answers are “yes, Bratislava is worthvisiting!,” “there’s a ton to, particularly if you love looking at beautifulbuildings,” and “very safe!”Let’s get planning.
Is Bratislava Worth Visiting? The Basics
What language is spoken in Bratislava?
Slovak, which is similar to Czech (they all used to be one big, happy family). Most people we encountered could communicate in English, at least enough for us to get by, and some people can also communicate in German.
What currency is used in Bratislava?
The euro.
Is Bratislava Worth Visiting? Transportation
Visitors can easily arrive by train, bus, or even boat from nearby destinations.
How do I get from Vienna to Bratislava?
Bus: Direct buses run almost every hour between Vienna and Bratislava on RegioJet and Flixbus. Travel time is about an hour and 30 minutes and tickets are only €5.
Train: Traveling by train between Bratislava and Vienna only takes an hour; trains depart both cities at least once an hour. Traveling by train is a little more expensive than bus, with adult tickets ranging between €11-€16 each way. There are discounted tickets for children and youth and ages six and under travel for free. Tickets can be purchased online prior to the journey or at the train station.
High-speed ferry: We took a boat to Bratislava from Vienna even though it’s the most expensive option at $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 2-11. We splurged on taking the ferry through Twin City Liner because the weather was beautiful and we thought the kids would have fun taking this unique mode of transportation—which they did! It also provided an awesome view along the Danube River for the 75-minute trip.
Now, if we had needed round-trip transportation between Vienna and Bratislava—which we didn’t, because we went to Prague afterwards—we would’ve only taken the ferry one way and used one of the more budget-savvy options like the bus or train on the return trip.
How do I get from Budapest to Bratislava?
Bus: It takes approximately three hours to travel between Budapest and Bratislava via bus. Both RegioJet and Flixbus offer direct bus routes and tickets can be booked online with pricing starting at €6,50.
Train: The train journey between Bratislava and Budapest takes two hours 30 minutes, and pricing start at €9 for adult tickets. Trains depart both cities every couple of hours but unfortunately, tickets have to be purchased at the train station.
How do I get from Prague to Bratislava?
Bus: Direct buses connect Prague and Bratislava in a trip of just over four hours. Both RegioJet and Flixbus offer direct bus routes and tickets can be booked online with pricing starting at €10.
Train: There are several direct train options between Prague and Bratislava that do not require any transfers and only take four hours. I am a huge fan of RegioJet because I’ve found they have the lowest fares compared to other options.
Trainpricing can vary, but for reference, I bought our tickets the night before weleft Bratislava and only spent €50 total. This was for two adult tickets and twochild tickets (tickets are free for ages 5 and under, so our youngest was free)in “Relax” class, which is basically a first-class equivalent. The “Standard” class was only €37, but Idecided to splurge a little on leather seats with full-service drink and snackoptions.
Related: Visiting Prague? Be sure to check out my jam packed Prague itinerary!
How do I get around Bratislava?
Bratislava is a fairly small city and most places within thecity center are walkable. The only times you may need transportation is whenarriving or departing because the central train station is about threekilometers from the city center and the airport is 10 kilometers away. Youcould also stay across town from the ferry dock, like we did, which could requiretransportation, especially with luggage or heavy backpacks.
There is public transportation and a tram system, but I willbe honest, we never figured out how to use it since we only spent 24 hours inBratislava and found Bolt to be cheap and easy (see more about that below).
Is Uber in Bratislava? No, Uber isn’t yet in Bratislava, but Bolt, another ridesharing app, is, and it’s a great option. Bolt operates in several European cities like Prague, Vienna, Paris, and Budapest, so I already had the app downloaded and set up from previous cities and was excited that Bolt was available in Bratislava, too.
We used Bolt to travel between the ferry dock and our hotel and also to get to the train station when we left. Cost for each ride? €3. Now you probably understand why we didn’t bother to figure out how to use the public transportation.
If you are new to Bolt (don’t worry, I was too until this most recent trip to Europe!), you can download the app on Apple and Android devices.
Where to Stay in Bratislava
While there are some high-end (i.e.: expensive) hotels in the city center, that’s not my secret to budget travel, so we used Booking.com to find a cheap place to stay in Bratislava. There were several budget-friendly options available within the main part of the city and I ended up spending €68 per night at Penmoor Place, where they could accommodate my family of five.
I will say that room options for five were somewhat limited, and therefore a little more expensive, than rooms for, say, two people. On average, a couple could find something budget-savvy on Booking.com for approximately €40 per night.
Penmoor Place Bratislava Review:
As mentioned above, we spent €68 for a one-night stay at Penmoor Place, which was within walking distance to the city center. We really enjoyed our stay; the rooms are updated, there is air conditioning (which is definitely needed in the summer!), and they even offer a shared kitchen. I recommend staying at Penmoor Place if you are on a solo trip to Bratisilva or even traveling with kids because they have room options for groups of all sizes.
Is Bratislava Worth Visiting? Things to Do
Regardless if you are wondering what to see in Bratislava in one day orif you are on a Bratislavawith kids trip like we were, there are lots of things to do for anylength of stay! While we only stayed in Bratislava for one night, we found thatwe could have stayed at least one night longer, so I definitely recommend notlimiting your time so you can really enjoy the city.
Free Walking Tour
Since there is nothing cheaper than free, I always try to find a free walking tour in every new city that we visit. The free walking tour by Be Free Tours did an excellent job showing us the Bratislava highlights. Our guide was very entertaining, spoke easy-to-understand English, and shared a lot of Bratislava history during our 2.5-hour tour.
Note: As with all free walking tours, please be sure totip your guide based on your budget and the quality of your experience on thetour. €5-10 per person is a good reference for tipping guides on freewalking tours in most of Europe, Bratislava included.
Bratislava Castle
The Castle is located on a hill in the center of Bratislava and recently underwent a massive reconstruction project after a fire destroyed the castle in 1811. A walk up the hill to the castle will give you views of not only Slovakia, but also Austria, Hungry, and even the Czech Republic on clear days. If you are interested in learning more about the castle’s history, there is a free walking tour available through Be Free Tours, the same walking tour company referenced above.
For those who have time in their schedule and want to visit the museum on the inside of the castle, admission is €10 and children under 6 are free. There is also discounted family pricing available if you are on a Bratislava with kids trip. The museum is open daily and a guided tour is included in the admission price.
Emerging Sewer Worker Statue
They say that you haven’t visited Bratislava unless you have a photo with this iconic statue in the center of town. Cumil the Sewer Worker is poking his head out of a manhole and legend has it that if you rub his hat you will experience great riches and if you rub his nose you will become pregnant!
Blue Church
The Church of St. Elizabeth, also known as the “SmurfChurch,” is an Art Nouveau-style Catholic church and one of the top Bratislavahighlights. Both the interior and exterior of the church are baby-blue incolor, making this a popular Instagram photo op.
UFO Bridge
The Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising over the DanubeRiver is more commonly known as the UFO Bridge due to the flying saucer-shapedstructure at the top of the bridge’s pylon. Visiting the observation deck ofthe UFO Bridge costs €7,40 but is deducted from the bill if you dine in the restaurantthat is located in the observation deck.
Show at the Slovak National Theatre
One of the most beautiful buildings in Bratislava is the Slovak National Theatre. Home to professional plays, operas, and ballets, ticket prices are very budget-friendly, starting at €10.
Where to Eat and Drink in Bratislava
While there are several restaurants and bars located in thecenter of Bratislava, particularly on Hviezdoslavovo Namestie and Laurinska,they are not very budget-savvy. In fact, we accidently had one of our mostexpensive meals in all of Europe at a restaurant off of Hviezdoslavovo Namestieso don’t make the same mistake as us!
There are actually quite a few affordable places to get adrink or a bite to eat in Bratislava if you walk just a couple blocks away fromthe center. Here are a couple of my recommendations:
Steinplatz
The best craft beer selection in Bratislava can be found at Steinplatz. It’s also one of the coolest bars that we found because the bar itself is located underground and the door to the entrance is actually a bookcase at the bottom of a stairwell. There is an outdoor patio which is great for summer nights and the best part is that the beers are only €2 a pint!
Bratislava Flagship Restaurant
For traditional Slovak food, the Flagship Restaurant is the place to go for affordable dining. It is one of the largest restaurants in Europe and also has outdoor seating for those visiting in the summer.
Did I convince you that Bratislava is worth visiting? If yes, be sure to check out my travel packing tips, which includes a free packing checking checklist, to prepare for your upcoming trip!
Cheers!
