You can go to Bratislava on purpose or for one day from Vienna - there are electric trains from the capital of Austria to the capital of Slovakia, and the travel time is an hour and a half. As a rule, documents are not checked on the train, but it is better to take your passports with you just in case. In today's article we will talk about what you can see in Bratislava in one day if you explore the city in a quiet walking mode.
From the station to the center of Bratislava about 20 minutes on foot. If the weather is not conducive to a walk, you can use the bus, because the stop is just opposite railway station... But in general, there is no point in contacting buses once again, because the road to the center is pleasant. You need to pass the bridge, and then you walk along the streets and admire the houses, richly decorated with stucco molding - this is the legacy of Bratislava, left over from the times when the city was part of Austria-Hungary.
The history of Bratislava is very interesting. The city became the capital of independent Slovakia only in 1993, and before that it was the capital of the Slovak Socialist Republic within Czechoslovakia. At the same time, most of the city's sights are associated with the period of history when Bratislava was still part of Hungary - the city, then called Pozhon, became part of it in 907. In the XII century, German colonization began in the region, Pozsony was renamed in the German manner in Pressburg, but the city remained under the rule of the Hungarian crown.
And it was in Pressburg in 1805 that peace was concluded between France and Austria during the Napoleonic Wars, as a result of which Austria recognized its inability to wage war and its dependence on Napoleon. The palace, in the Hall of Mirrors of which the peace document was signed, can be seen on the way from the railway station to the city center. It is called Primacialny palác and is a pink building in the neoclassical style: three rows of windows, a portico with columns, statues on the roof.
Since 1903, the palace has been the property of the city, and there were also found tapestries woven at a royal factory in the vicinity of London in 1630 and illustrating the ancient myth of the tragic love story of the priestess Aphrodite Gero and the young man Leandre. Today the palace is a city landmark, it is open to tourists, and in the famous Hall of Mirrors, meetings of the city council of Bratislava are still held.
MAIN SQUARE OF BRATISLAVA
Main square Bratislava Hlavné námestie you will definitely not be able to miss it. All the roads and streets of the city lead here, as to Rome. In the past, the square was called Market Square, and from the name it is clear what was located here. Of course, the market square has always been the center of the city's social and cultural life, which it remains to this day. Nowadays, concerts and Christmas fairs are held on the Main Square, and earlier, folk festivals and executions were held here - also extremely important events in the public life of the city.
In the photo: a bronze statue at the corner of the Main Square of Bratislava
Particularly noteworthy is the flaunting Old Town Hall... Even today, it is one of the tallest buildings in Bratislava, and at the time of construction it was considered a miracle-miracle. Curiously, the building of the City Hall, where the city museum is located today, and earlier - received distinguished guests, including royal blood, in its essence is a prefabricated structure of several buildings. Its constituent parts are Jacob's house, Paver's house, Aponijo's palace and a corner tower built at the end of the 13th century.
Photo: Old Town Hall on the main square of Bratislava (Hlavné námestie)
On the square itself deserves attention sentry soldier statuewho in the old days had to make sure that a fire did not suddenly break out in the city, and roland's fountain, built in 1572 on the occasion of the coronation of Emperor Maximilian II. By the way, the fountain has the most direct relation to fires.
In the photo: Roland's fountain on the main square of Bratislavas
The fact is that, according to the legends, during the coronation of Maximilian II, a fire broke out, and then the emperor ordered to build a fountain-well in the center of the city. A legend in the style of a fairy tale about Niels and wild geese is also associated with the fountain. Like, the statue of a knight that rises on a pedestal above the fountain is used twice a year - in new year's eve and at three o'clock in the morning on Good Friday - quietly descend from the pedestal and walk around the city with patrol. The fact that on New Year's Eve on the Main Square of Bratislava is full of people and none of those present has ever seen the statue climbing down from the pedestal, does not harm the existence of the legend.
MIKHAILOVSKIE GATE
Lovers of antiquity can walk from the Main Square along Františkánske námestie street to see Mikhailovskie gates - the only city gate that has survived from the Middle Ages. The structure is a tower with a gate at the base, it was erected around 1300, but underwent a major reconstruction in the 18th century and now, with the statues of St. Michael and the dragon at the top, it looks like a Baroque building.
Those who wish can look into the city museum, opened in the building of the Mikhailovsky Gate, for others we recommend returning to the Main Square of Bratislava.
STATUE SANITARY TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL THEATER OF SLOVAKIA
Turn left from the Main Square and go towards the old building of the National Theater of Slovakia. On the street we notice funny sculpture depicting plumbinglooking out of a manhole. There is a belief that if you ask a desire and rub the plumber's helmet, it will certainly come true, which is why the headdress of a bronze worker shines like a polished samovar.
In general, unusual bronze figures on the streets are one of the features of Bratislava. In the city center, for example, you can find a statue of a photographer or a soldier in French uniform, and looking for unusual sculptures is a separate local entertainment.
Photo: National Theater of Slovakia
Further along the street we find ourselves on the Hvezdoslav Square, where National Theater of Slovakia - the oldest in the country. Today the theater has two buildings: an old one and a modern one, but the historical one, of course, is more interesting. And there are also a huge number of cafes and restaurants on the square, where you can sit down to have a snack or drink coffee.
BRIDGE OVER THE DANUBE AND A FLYING PLATE
What is good about Bratislava is that all the sights are located nearby. We drank coffee in a cafe on Gvezdoslav Square, walked five minutes, and now we are on the embankment handsome Danube.
Thrown across the river sNP bridge, which is distinguished by a non-trivial design - it does not have a single support in the Danube riverbed. On the bridge at a height of 85 meters restaurant with an observation deck, which looks like a natural UFO and is named accordingly - UFO. It makes sense to go there in good weather to admire the panorama of the city for dinner. If visiting a restaurant is not included in your plans, then for 6.5 euros you can only go to the observation deck and take photos of the city from a bird's eye view.
By the way, the construction of the "Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising" - this is how the abbreviation SNP stands for - was accompanied by endless scandals. First, for the construction of the bridge-crossing, the city administration had to sacrifice several historical buildings and liquidate the old Jewish quarter, which, of course, the residents of Bratislava did not appreciate.
In the photo: a street leading from the city center to the SNP bridge
Secondly, they built the bridge in the same mode in which director Alexei German Sr. shot his films - not just for a long time, but for a very long time. Construction began in 1967, opened in 1972, but the bridge was completed even in 2011. The local population even appropriated this endless process with the offensive nickname “Construction of the Century”.
However, the end result was worth the time spent - today the SNP bridge not only looks impressive, but also serves as an aqueduct - there are water supply lines inside the structure.
ST. MARTIN'S CATHEDRAL
A stone's throw from the bridge is the city's main church - the coronation st. Martin's Cathedral... Its special high status is confirmed by the gilded crown of St. Stephen, crowning the quadrangular tower of the temple.
Initially, the cathedral was built as part of the city's fortifications; construction began in the 8th century, but was consecrated only in 1452. The cathedral acquired a special status after the Ottomans took Buda in 1541, and the capital of Hungary was moved to Bratislava. After that, it was in the Cathedral of St. Martin that Hungarian monarchs began to be crowned. In total, from 1563 to 1830, 10 kings and 8 queens were crowned here, including the great founder of the Lorraine branch of the Habsburg dynasty Maria Theresa.
The cathedral looks impressive, one drawback is that it is strictly forbidden to take pictures inside. When you explore the cathedral, cross the road towards the cliff on the banks of the Danube, where the Bratislava Castle rises. But, before climbing the hill, walk along the cathedral on the opposite side of the street - then you can see the preserved areas old fortress wallsthat used to surround the city. As the city began to expand, most of the walls were torn down, and today little remains of the medieval fortifications.
BRATISLAVSKY CITY
Many people think that hail is the same as a city, but this is not so. In fact, the city is a castle, although the word "city" comes from it. Bratislava Castle - beautiful and monumental. It rises on a cliff, but the ascent to the castle is not too tiring and even pleasant, because the streets leading upward are narrow and atmospheric, and the final section of the path is completely overlooking the Danube.
The castle was built in the 11th century, and acquired its present combed appearance by the 15th century. True, all that we see now is the reconstruction and the result of restoration work, because in 1811 there was a severe fire in the castle, and the building was completely destroyed.
The Castle was restored only in the second half of the 20th century. Inside there is the Slovak National Museum, where there are good exhibitions, but, most importantly, a magnificent view of the Danube opens up from here, and squirrels are found in the local park - so bring along a treat for the fluffy tails.
In the photo: a view of the rooftops of the city from the top of Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is not the only castle in the capital of Bratislava. On the cliff that rises at the confluence of the Dunava and Morava, there used to be an ancient devin fortress... Unfortunately, during the Napoleonic Wars, Devin Castle was completely destroyed and today only ruins remain.
WHERE TO DINE IN BRATISLAVA?
But, as Winnie the Pooh said: “Isn't it time for us to eat? I think it's time. " Moreover, an excellent historic restaurant is located just in the immediate vicinity of Bratislava Castle - on one of the streets leading down to the Cathedral of St. Martin. Called Modrá Hviezda, the exact address is Beblaveho 14, Bratislava 811 01.
The place is insanely atmospheric. Inside - massive arches, masonry and a burning fireplace - this is how old European taverns look like in Hollywood films and on HBO and Netflix. The menu contains exclusively national dishes, and the quality of the food is excellent. The game deserves special praise: duck and wild boar, we also recommend trying Slovak wines - the sommelier in Modrá Hviezda works conscientiously.
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Yulia Malkova - Julia Malkova - founder of the site project. In the past, the chief editor of the internet project elle.ru and the chief editor of the website cosmo.ru. I'm talking about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
All the sights of Bratislava in one article. A walk around the city and my story about a trip to the capital of Slovakia. What to do in Bratislava and why you should visit this city.
Preparing for this trip, I once read on one of the websites that Bratislava is "a city that has been in the shadow of the nearby capitals for many years." And I, in fact, agree with this statement: in comparison with Vienna, Prague and Budapest, the capital of Slovakia is really not the brightest place. There are no crowds of tourists, numerous souvenir shops and inviting restaurants with an exorbitantly inflated price level. In a sense, the capital of Slovakia is really such a gray mouse that is constantly hiding in the shadows. But (so to speak) don't switch channels. In fact, this city also has a lot to do and see. Moreover, I am absolutely sure that if you come to Bratislava this city will become a very pleasant surprise for you. Yes - this is not imperial Vienna, but the capital of Slovakia also has its own charm and charm. I love cities that hide a little further from traditional tourist routes... They are somehow homely light, soulful and comfortable. Last year, for example, Serbian Belgrade became a pleasant surprise for me. This time I experienced something similar when I met Bratislava.
What is the capital of Slovakia? These are thousands of colorful little things that are closely intertwined into one city. What is Bratislava? These are seagulls over the Danube, a white castle on the mountain and picturesque streets that seem to be asking for you on Instagram. In general, as you understand, I liked this city. Do you remember how the creators of the legendary American comedy Eurotrip showed it?
A still from the film "Eurotrip". Source - Timer Odessa.
Now I will show you what this city really is ...
What to see in Bratislava
In the capital of Slovakia, I rented a room near the bus station and the local city, so in old city Bratislava, I always came from the north - from there, where the entrance to the old quarters is guarded by such picturesque gates. Therefore, I will start my story about this city from this point. So ... Attraction number 1 ...
Bratislava Old Town
It is relatively small, but very cute and well maintained. I've enjoyed my stay. Moreover, during those two days that I spent in Slovakia, the city had a very pleasant spring weather (even though it was early February on the calendar).
I repeat - yes, the old town in Bratislava is small. But I would not say that there are two streets along and two across. It is about the same size as in Warsaw. Of the tourists on the day of my arrival in the city there were only flocks of cheerful Chinese, and, in fact, me. Therefore, walking around Bratislava was very pleasant. In about 5-6 hours, I walked the whole old city up and down. And this is with a coffee break!
Bishop's Palace (Bratislava)
If you go up the street called "Ursulinska", you will immediately get to one of the main attractions of the city - the Bishop's Palace. I agree, probably in some Vienna or Prague this building would not even be considered a landmark. But Bratislava is a small city - that's why the sights here are also small. I even took a picture against the background of this building. It didn't work out very well, so I won't post it. I'm sorry.
Near the Bishop's Palace there is a tourist information center, one of the main museums in the city, as well as this "smart bench". Some Slovak guy, who, by the way, took that very photo, ran around her in circles for a long time, poked his finger in her direction and happily uttered the word “Smart… Smart”. As I later read on the Internet, there are only two such benches in Bratislava (damn it ... I say as if in Grodno they stand at every entrance). With their help, you can recharge your phone, go online and get some information about the air temperature. The benches themselves work on the principle of solar panels. In short, a cool thing. In some Zhitomir - this bench would also be considered an attraction.
The central square of the city
(it is just around the corner from the Bishop's Palace)
There are actually several attractions at once, but since they are a couple of steps from each other, I will nevertheless combine them together. So what is there? The first is jesuit Church (a nice two-storey building to the left of the town hall). Next to her is, in fact, herself town hall... This is it in the picture above.
Ten steps away from it, there is such an iron soldier guarding the local souvenir shop (although he could not guard it - there is nothing interesting there).
And a little further away is rolland's fountain... As far as I know, this is the oldest fountain in Bratislava.
It looks very beautiful and picturesque (especially against the background of the buildings standing behind it), therefore, running around it, a flock of Chinese simply squeaked with delight. I had to go up to them - say hello. Maybe these are the same Chinese people who assembled my phone. It would be interesting to see where their hands grow from?
Bratislava monuments
There are actually a lot of them in the city. I once wrote this about the Canarian Las Palmas. Now I will write about Bratislava: walking around the city, one gets the impression that statues in this city are being erected to everyone. There are a lot of different monuments in the city. Some of them are quite original. I will mark them.
So the first star is monument to the city madman (again, a reference to Las Palmas - there is also a monument to some turned grandmother in the San Telmo Park). Why this smiling man with a bowler hat in his hand was called the city madman, I honestly did not understand. Supposedly, when meeting with any beauty passing by, he lifted his hat and said: "Fine." In short, I'm shocked. A man showing interest in women is, in their opinion, crazy. The fact that a woman with a beard lives in neighboring Austria is normal. As they say, I have everything.
Another interesting monument stands right in the center of the main square (thirty steps from the monument to a normal and not at all crazy resident of Bratislava).
It is dedicated to some french officer (a Russian-speaking guide passing by with a group of 5 tourists insisted several times that this was not Napoleon). Whoever it is is a cool monument. I took a picture with him. As well as those same funny Chinese, about whom I wrote a little higher.
Actually, all these three monuments are very close to each other ... So ... Stop ... I said "Three"? Oh yeah ... I forgot about monument to the worker (he is plumber monument, he's just Chumil).
In my opinion, among all the monuments in Bratislava this is the most interesting one. And that's why. There are several legends explaining its appearance at once (and all are different). But I liked the story related to the Second World War. Allegedly, the "plumber" is not a plumber at all, but a simple resident of Bratislava, who was forced to hide in the sewers during the hostilities. Looking out of the hatch was the only way for him to see the white light. A touching story. I won't even joke.
Mikhailovskie gates
One of the main attractions of Bratislava and a constant inhabitant of all magnets and souvenir plates, one way or another connected with the capital of Slovakia. Despite the fact that the building is called a "gate", it looks more like a beautiful church. As far as I know, this is the only gateway to the city that has survived since the Middle Ages. Once there was a drawbridge and a moat next to them. Today, of all this, only the bridge remains (but no longer a lifting one).
Next to the gate is the Pharmaceutical Museum ...
A stunted-looking cannon ...
Here is such a knight with eyes ...
And a lot of cute shops, photos of many of which (spoiler-spoiler) will soon be on my instagram (subscribe).
Slovak folk theater
From the Mikhailovsky Gate, I was already walking towards the Bratislava Castle. I photographed a couple of old churches on the way ...
But then at some point he changed his mind and, turning into a nearby street, walked towards the Slovak National Theater. On the way, I came across a nice building of the American embassy, \u200b\u200bsurrounded by an iron fence and under heavy guard (apparently in order not to let American guest workers into Slovakia and make Slovakia great again).
I say hello to Trump and move on. A few dozen meters ahead, the beautiful building of the Slovenske narodne divadlo appears. And then they are still surprised that they are confused with Slovenia! Although not about that now ... The building is really, really very beautiful. As well as the area next to it.
I photographed tourist bus with guided tours in all languages.
I took a photo of the monument to Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Bratislava.
And then he walked towards another beautiful building of the local philharmonic society.
Directly behind it, the majestic Danube was already shimmering in the sun. I walked beside him for a while. It seemed to me that in February in Slovakia it looked cleaner than a year ago in Belgrade. Or maybe the whole thing was just the spring weather?
SNP Bridge and Flying Saucer
Right next to the old town, another symbol of the city rises above the Danube - the SNP bridge, which in 2001 was declared the construction site of the century in Slovakia. It looks pretty cute (and even served as a prototype for the construction of a similar bridge in Riga), but, to be honest, I doubt very much that seeing it will blow someone's roof off.
Bridge and bridge. But in Bratislava it is considered one of the symbols of the city, so I could not help but say a few words about it. In addition, at the top of the bridge is one of the city's most famous viewing platforms, flowing smoothly into a restaurant called UFO. According to Wikipedia, more than 200 thousand people visit this place in Bratislava every year. Maybe I should have gone? .. But somehow I did not dare. After Mars Attacks, I am afraid of everything UFO-related.
St. Martin's Cathedral
Bratislava Castle is already clearly visible from the Danube embankment. But I deliberately left it for dessert, so from the SNP bridge I walked towards the Cathedral of St. Martin, which is the largest Gothic temple in Bratislava. Taking pictures of this building is inconvenient. To find a good shot, I started walking around it from different sides, which eventually turned out to be some more interesting finds for me.
First, the remains of some stone walls were found right behind the cathedral. On the other side of the street, I found my favorite building in Bratislava - House of the Good Shepherd.
As it is called, I found out much later, and then I just saw a beautiful and photogenic building in front of me. It was so pleasant to photograph him that I safely forgot about the Cathedral of St. Martin. And after all, Hungarian monarchs were once crowned there (it was in honor of this that a golden pillow with a crown lying on it was installed on the spire of the cathedral).
Bratislava Castle
A huge white castle standing on a mountain. It can be seen from many points of the city, therefore, among all the attractions of Bratislava - this is the undisputed number 1. A rather steep road leads to Bratislava Castle. They wrote on the Internet that climbing the mountain is not an easy test. But personally, I did not see anything special in this ascent. The ascent to the top takes 5 minutes. As a nice bonus, you will get many beautiful views along the way. From many points the city is visible at a glance.
Now directly about the "Grad" itself. I once heard for a long time that this structure is called a "lock-stool". It is even, symmetrical, and the four turrets of the castle really are somewhat similar to the legs of an inverted stool.
Plus, Bratislava Castle is quite large, so taking pictures of at least three castle towers at the same time is a rather difficult task. But seriously speaking, the castle looks, of course, great. And to be honest, I don't care that in fact it is not so ancient. According to Wikipedia, the original castle burned down in 1811, and then was in ruins for 140 years. They began to recreate the appearance of Bratislava Castle only in 1953. The reconstruction itself was completed 15 years later.
It turns out this castle is younger than my grandmother. But I repeat: he looks beautiful (although my grandmother is prettier, of course). In 1992, the Slovak Constitution was adopted here. And in 2005, there was a meeting between George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin.
Devin fortress
In fact, there is at least one more castle in Bratislava that is worth seeing. Although in fact, this is not a castle in the full sense of the word - but just a picturesque ruin on a high cliff near the Danube. It is located 20 minutes from the center - among the mountains and sheep pastures. I won't be able to tell about it in a nutshell. Therefore, a little later I will write a separate article about Devin. In the meantime, I'll just post his photo here.
Okay ... I'll be honest: I'm a little tired of writing. Therefore, I will only briefly run through the remaining sights of Bratislava. Ready? Then let's go.
Grassalkovich Palace (also known as the Presidential Palace)
It is located on the opposite side of the old city. Therefore, you will have to walk a little from Bratislava Castle to it. But the palace itself is worth it. On the scale of Bratislava, this is really real must see... There is a park and a huge fountain next to the building, which, of course, was turned off in February. It is often written in guidebooks that it is also worth taking a walk to this building in order to see the changing of the guard of honor at the walls of the President's palace. I saw this sight, but to put it mildly, I was not impressed.
We walked back and forth and froze in place. That's the whole changing of the guard.
Blue Church (also known as the Church of St. Elizabeth)
It is located away from the tourist center near Sienkiewiczova street, 500 meters from the Danube embankment. It won't take long to go there. And I really liked the building itself. By the way, it is this Blue Church that represents Slovakia in the famous Brussels' Mini-Europe park. In short, it's definitely worth a walk to her. Next to it is a beautiful building of some kind of Hungarian gymnasium ...
And also this is a cool building with an ear.
There is also this strange monument. Friends, if you know what it is, write in the comments. Pliz.
Eurovea Shopping Center
Yes, I understand. It is rather strange to include a shopping center in the list of attractions. But, believe me, it's definitely worth going here (it is located very close to the Blue Church). And that's why. Firstly, this building is very beautiful (if you take out the Moscow GUM, it is generally one of the most beautiful shops that I have ever seen). Secondly, in the shopping center itself there are many interesting and unusual sculptures. All of them are related to the circus theme. Some are simply creative masterpieces. Have you ever seen such a thing in a shopping center ?!
Well, the last reason to visit this shopping center is the Slovak prices. Yes, of course, you will not be able to buy a hotel in Bratislava for 10 cents (as in the film Eurotrip). But in fact, in terms of prices, Slovakia is a really nice place. Adding a pleasant shopping experience to your city tour is actually a very good solution.
On this optimistic note I will end my story. Let me remind you: very soon a separate article about Devin will appear on the site. This ancient castle is one of the top attractions in Bratislava.
In the meantime (as always) - a little practical information for those who are going to this city ...
How to organize a trip to Bratislava
Travel... I got to Slovakia in transit through Poland on a company bus Lux Express. They have very cool buses (with personal monitors in their seats and a free coffee machine). Within the framework of certain sales, you can buy a ticket from Warsaw to Bratislava for only 5-10 euros. Subscribe to their newsletter or join
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and also the most big city countries. The city is the economic, cultural and political center of Slovakia and offers a wide range of museums, galleries and educational institutions. Bratislava is quite compact, so you can explore the most important sights on foot.
Although the city does not have as many amazing sights as its neighbors Vienna and Budapest, Old city well worth a visit for its many amazing buildings, pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, and the old castle on the cliff. One day in Bratislava is enough to see the main sights of the city, you can also visit the city on a day trip from Vienna or Budapest. To see most of the interesting sights, Ok THERE offers you the following route:
1. Reduta Bratislava Concert Hall
Concert hall "Reduta Bratislava" Concert Hall Reduta, Bratislava
2. Church of St. Elizabeth
Church of St. Elizabeth, Bratislava, Slovakia
3. See the sights located along Spitalska street
Concert Hall and Exhibition Center "Stara Trnica", Bratislava Walk to Spitalska Street where you will find the Church of St. John and the Church of St. Ladislav, then head to Stara Trnica (Old Market building), which is today used as concert hall and exhibition center.
Stara Trnica, Bratislava, Slovakia
4. Palace of the Primate (Primates "Palace)
Primate's Palace, Bratislava, Slovakia
5. Old Town Hall (Stara radnica)
Old Town Hall, Bratislava, Slovakia
6. St. Michael's Gate
The Mikhailovsky Gate, the last surviving gate of the city's medieval fortress, is one of the main attractions in Bratislava. If you want to enjoy the beautiful views of the city, you can also climb the tower.
Michael's Gate, Bratislava, Slovakia
7. Attractions near the Mikhailovsky Gate
In the immediate vicinity of the St. Michael's Gate, you will find the Trinitarian Church and the Capuchin Church.
Church of the Capuchins, Bratislava, Slovakia
8. Grassalkovich palace
Grassalkovic Palace, Bratislava, Slovakia
9. Memorial to Slavin
11. Walk along the city wall
Before entering the Old Town again and visiting St. Martin's Cathedral, the largest and most significant church in Bratislava, you can walk along the ancient city wall.
Now you can head back towards the Radisson Blu Carlton and buy some souvenirs.
City wall, Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava, known as the Pearl of the Danube, is a great city filled with interesting historical and cultural attractions. However, with limited time to explore the city, do your best to plan your vacation ahead of time so you don't miss out on something truly meaningful.
We stopped in Slovakia for a couple of days and almost stayed forever. It would seem - mountains and beautiful houses we are no longer surprised, but clean mountain air, multi-layered mountainswhich have neither end nor edge, churches with gabled roofs, cozy European architecture, delicious food and soothing home atmosphere, as it turned out, cannot leave you indifferent.
We did not expect anything from Slovakia in general and Bratislava in particular, and as a result we got a lot of pleasant impressions and a desire to come back here again.
We are sharing our route around the city, which is shown on the map for your convenience.
Eurovea galleria
The address: Bratislava-Ružinov, Pribinova, 821 09
We suggest starting the route at shopping center Eurovea Galleria has several reasons for this. The first is that in the shopping center many eateries and cafeswhere you can eat before the walk. Second - free parking the first three hours (and every next hour for 2.5 euros is still cheaper than most city parking lots) if you arrive by car. Third - the shopping center is located on the banks of the river and besides the fact that there is everything that a lover and connoisseur of shopping needs here, there is also beautiful embankment with a fountain, benches, cozy cafes and great views.
Stary most
Literally 200 meters from the shopping center and you are at the Old Bridge, which does not look old at all, on the contrary has a very modern appearance... The bridge was built in 1890 and today, oddly enough, is a great place for walking, although it is not a purely pedestrian bridge, it is also used by cyclists and trams. On the bridge there is observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of Bratislava Castle and benches where you can sit, relax and go on the road in search of new experiences.
New bridge, observation deck and UFO restaurant watch.taste.groove
The next item on the program is one more bridge and one more observation deck... In order to climb the tower, you need to pay 7 euros. Then there are 3 options: go to the observation deck, go to a bar or go to a restaurant. The option with an observation deck is intuitive, in the bar you can not only look at the city, but also have a drink (this is suitable for those who are afraid of heights), the restaurant of all the entertainment available in the tower is the most expensive (the declared haute cuisine suggests high prices and small portions ).
Hviezdoslavovo square (Hviezdoslavovo námestie)
One of the central squares of Bratislava is located one and a half kilometers from the UFO tower, from where a walk through the Old Town will begin. In the center of Hviezdoslav Square there is a monument to Hvezdoslav. “Who is Gvezdoslav?” You ask. Pavol Vorsag Gvezdoslav Is a well-known poet and translator in Slovak circles who worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, on the square, is installed monument Hviezdoslav, so you can find out how he looked and continue your walk. Also in the square you will see building of the Slovak National Theater (by the way, follow the poster, famous troupes from all over the world often come here), as well as the embassies of the United States and Germany, and, among other things, fountains, cafes with open verandas, shops, shops and crowds of people.
Bratislava Old Town: Main Square (Hlavne namestie) and Town Hall (Stará Radnica)
We pass further and exit to the Main Square. In the center of the square stands a large the fountain, near which you can cool off in the heat, built around the buildings, each of which is a cultural heritage. There are two things that make this square stand out from the rest of the squares and streets of the city. First: there is a city Town hall, near which all significant events of the city take place, including meetings, fairs and the like. Second: it is almost always uncrowded and quiet here, except for the days when meetings and fairs are held near the Town Hall. So if you want to sit in a cozy cafe - welcome to the Main Square, if you want drive and fun - take 100 steps in any direction and welcome to the world of fun, courage and unsteady people. We were on the square and in its vicinity closer to midnight and life was in full swing here, so if you are bored just sleeping in a cozy crib, you can step into the night with a soft step, and then the morning in one of the bars.
By the way about original bars - on the Danube embankment (from the Old Town side), between the New Bridge (this is the one on which the UFO tower) and the Old Bridge, are moored two motor ships and they are not going on a long journey. They are going to make your evening unforgettable, because this is where the fun-thirsty tourist can drink, eat and dance.
Michael's Gate (Michalská brána) and the Bax Tower (Baxova veza)
The Mikhailovsky Gate was built in 1300 and is considered one of the oldest buildings in the city. Around the tower, which was built above the gate, a moat was dug through which a drawbridge was laid. Today there is no bridge or ditch, but there is City Museum, where you can find out more about this in more detail. At the very top of the tower, there is a nice balcony with a great view of the city.
Further from the gate, you need to walk along the old streets (follow the route on our map) and go to the old staircase that connects the lower part of the city and the upper one. Going upstairs, admire the beautiful churches and red trams that quietly and imposingly drive by (by the way, it's a great idea to just sit on the tram and ride where you look, for example, tram number 1 will take you over the river across the Old Bridge).
A couple of hundred meters from the stairs is the so-called Bax tower (Baxova veza), which was built before the 14th century and is the oldest city tower... The walls of the tower are braided with greenery, and if you go a little further and cross the bridge, you will see an unofficial but original observation deck, or rather a small promenade, walking along which you can see how the city has changed - old tower replaced by a tower of the 18th century, behind it grow modern glass giants, and in the distance you can see the futuristic UFO tower.
St. Martin's Cathedral
The address: Rudnayovo námestie 1
The rather modest and laconic outwardly Cathedral of St. Martin is meanwhile the main cathedral of the country... This is not to say that it is worth going here on purpose, but since wherever you go in Bratislava, you will still pass by it, keep in mind that the temple has been here since the 15th century and it was in it that Hungarian kings, including dynasties, were crowned. Habsburgs, from the 16th to the 19th century. Specifically, we do not know the history of Slovakia well, so the information that Slovakia was part of Hungary for almost a thousand years (until 1918) came as a surprise.
Archbishop's Palace or City Hall
The address: Primaciálne námestie
This palace was built in the 18th century and today is seat of city governmentand the mayor of Bratislava. This building is considered the brightest example of classicist architecture in Slovakia, but it is worth noting how, for a representative of classicism, the palace looks simply luxurious: graceful stucco molding, sculptures installed along the roof and an unusual accessory - cast iron hat, crowning the portico, as a symbol of the archbishop's power.
Blue Church of St. Elizabeth (Kostol svätej Alžbety)
The address: Bezručova 2
Not far from the Archbishop's Palace is located a slightly exotic from an architectural point of view landmark - the blue Church of Elizabeth. The Catholic temple was opened in 1913. Among the numerous temples in Slovakia, this one occupies a special place due to unusual architecture inside and outside. The building looks more like a gingerbread house, though not typical for gingerbread color: smooth lines that create the feeling that the church is covered with glaze, original decor, laconic interior decoration and a large amount of light make a very unusual impression.
Eurovea Shopping Center, from which we started the route, is a couple of hundred meters from the church, so you can finish the walk, or you can continue - Bratislava has something to please you.
Bratislavský hrad and observation deck
Working hours: every day from 10.00 to 17.00
Visit cost: entrance to the territory of the castle is free, entrance to the museum is 10 euros
We took out this landmark in a separate line and did not put it on the map. general route... A visit to Bratislava Castle may take longer than a visit to an ordinary attraction, so if you have little time, then limit yourself to viewing the castle from the side (and in Bratislava it can be seen almost from everywhere), but if there is an opportunity - consider everything close, because there is something to consider ...
Bratislava Castle has been dominating the Danube since the second millennium BC. Since then, it has been built and destroyed several times. The castle acquired its present appearance in the 15th century and today has features of the early Baroque. In 1811, the building burned down to the ground and only in 1953 the castle began to be restored literally from the ashes. Today Bratislava Castle has the same appearance as in the 18th century.
Today in the city is located Historical Museumwhere you can learn everything about the history of the Slovak lands. The castle is also worth visiting for lovers of viewing platforms of beautiful views - from here the whole city is in full view.
If walking on your own is not enough for you, you can always take an excursion prepared by a professional guide who will show you the most interesting places and accompany your walk with fascinating stories.
- for 76 euros for a tour for 1-5 people
- for 60 euros for a tour for 1-10 people
- for 84 euros per excursion for 1-40 people
- for 84 euros for a tour for 1-10 people
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Main attractions and What to see in Bratislava in 1 day. Interesting places with comments, photos and impressions of a trip to this city.
Before describing what to see in Bratislava and a walk around the city, I will give a little useful informationwhich is hard to find on the net. Bratislava is not so popular, because of this there is little information, especially in Russian.
How to get to Bratislava
The most demanded destinations are Airport, Budapest and Vienna, and about each in order.
- : city buses 61 and 96 for 0.9 € or 25 €.
- : train costs 17.5 €, and buses from 8 €. Tickets are on sale.
- : trains cost from 10 €, but more often buses also run for 5 €.
Where to stay in Bratislava
- Apartments: for renting apartments for a day, the site is suitable, but to save, use.
- Hotels: if you don't want to overpay, then use the search engine and the function. The search engine will find the best deal, and CashBack and coupons will reduce the price by up to 20%.
Attractions of Bratislava
Bratislava is inferior in popularity to neighboring Vienna and Budapest, which is reflected in the sites for booking tickets and excursions. Here is a small list of those available for sale online.
- — 10€
- — 75€
- — 50€
What to see in Bratislava in 1 day
The technical information turned out to be very large and I hope it is useful, and now the trip itself. I arrived from Vienna by bus, which stops almost at the foot of the main symbol of the city Bratislava Castle... Such an inconspicuous stop is hidden under the bridge over the Danube River.
View on Bratislava Castle immediately from the stop. It is worth getting off the bus and immediately such a beautiful panorama and the thought “How hard it will be to climb this mountain”.
Bratislava Castle Heading to Bratislava Castle straight from the stop, you will definitely run into Column of the Holy Trinity... We take a photo for memory and move on.
Bratislava Castle
The ascent is really not for the faint of heart, but now it seems tiresome, I just don't know about tomorrow's ascent in Budapest to Buda Castleafter which this ascent will seem very easy. The photo is almost at the finish line, I was so eager to capture all this "on film". It looks a little neglected, but for now, inside a snow-white restored castle awaits.
The main peak of Bratislava was taken. Photos both from the inside and from the walls of the castle. This is a good observation deck in Bratislava.
It is known from the history of the castle that the very first building on its site was back in the third millennium BC. Initially, it was a wooden fortress, then a stone castle, which began to develop at a rapid pace thanks to the Empress Maria Theresa. In the XIX century. the castle burned down completely, it was rebuilt with noticeable differences from the previous castle.
The descent was much easier than the ascent. And for the descent there was a shorter path, from a height it is better to see where to go.
St. Martin's Cathedral
While the descent is going on, you can take a picture Panoramas of the Old Town, no matter how hard you try to get into this picture Saint's cathedral Martina - one of the main attractions of Bratislava. From a height, you can immediately outline what to see in Bratislava.
At one of the bends, almost at the very end of the descent, there was a very nice street, though beyond the bend it is not so remarkable, but due to the descent it looked cool. First impressions made me reach for the camera. I have never seen more such streets in the city.
The descent is completed and you can move up the old Town street, the main and oldest street in Bratislava. But despite this status, this is a rather ordinary street, you can go along it to To the Presidential Palacefor which this road was chosen bypassing the old city.
Staromestskaya street But these were the plans that had to be corrected, this street was too boring. When they reach the bridge across the street tram rails and after climbing the bridge, you can turn right and see a couple of temples. This turn with a tram, the photo is already on the bridge.
Church of the Holy Trinity and Church of St. Stephen
There are two churches ahead, at the beginning or Trinitarian Church symbolically having three peaks, and then .
Grassalkovich Palace
A couple more minutes walk north and you can go to To the Presidential Palace,which has a second name Grassalkovich Palace.
Presidential palace I don't know how often the changing of the guard takes place, but after walking for half an hour in front of the palace, it began. As strange as it may sound, but we were practically the only tourists here, really no one knows about it or the palace is not interesting to anyone. It is located a couple of minutes walk from the old town.
A small chagrin was the not working fountain near the palace, everything in the place would be a great sight.
Old town in Bratislava
From the palace I'm heading to Old city... I will enter the city as in ancient times, through ... They were one of the central checkpoints to the city at one time.
After the gate, you can admire the old streets of Bratislava, which are not so many, because the old town is not very big. From the photo you can see that in some places the old town is abandoned, especially the part that is not the most popular with tourists.
Then I will simply lay out in a row Sights of Bratislava, which I managed to photograph while walking through the old city. But first, I would like to note that if you are interested in museums, then in the building of the town hall there is a Museum of the history of the city. The ticket costs 5 €, Monday is a day off. Entrance to the town hall tower - 2.50 €.
I would like to include in a separate album the sculptural compositions of Bratislava. The most famous is Monument to the plumber Chumil.
