Bratislava
Discover Bratislava
Bratislava (Hungarian: Pozsony, German: Pressburg, known as Prešporok before 1919), is the capital and largest city of Slovakia. It has a population of more than 475,000 (2021), and is the administrative, cultural and economic centre of the country. For most visitors, it is the entry point into the rest of the country. Located on the border tripoint of Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, the city has sat in the very hearts of empires since its earliest mention in the 10th century. As such, the city is a place of contrasts; the city centre features the medieval and renaissance old town, as well as the skyscraper-heavy business and shopping district; the outskirts feature both hillside villas, and communist-era apartment blocks.
What to Experience in Bratislava
Taste of Bratislava...
Bryndzové halušky (small, spaetzle-like dumplings with sheep's cheese and topped with pieces of meat) is the national dish of Slovakia and recommended to try. Potent garlic soup (but perhaps not on a date) and Slovak white wine (due to its cooler climate, Slovakia's reds pale in comparison with some of Europe's other offerings), schnitzels, goulashes and other typically Central European foods. Fresh vegetables are more common here thanks to the large amount of land given over to agriculture. In December, don't miss the Christmas market in front of the Old Town Hall. The traditional foods of the Christmas market are roasted pork or chicken sandwich burgers ("ciganska pecienka") with mustard and onions, potato pancakes ("loksa") with various fillings ranging traditionally from plain ones with goose fat, with garlic or goose liver to poppy seed, nut or chocolate. Bread with pork fat and onions is also popular. Also there are a few stands which offer specialities from other European countries. You can wash down the food with a cup of red or white mulled wine or a small cup of honey wine, also tea with or without rum is available, as well as grog or other "hot mixed drinks" like the Červený medveď (red bear). There are a large number of restaurants in the center of Bratislava in all price ranges so there are plenty to choose from. Bratislava's special form of junk food is richman, a big bread roll filled with cabbage and cheese and/or meat with mayonnaise.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Bratislava is the home of the world famous Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra so if you love classical music, you should consider attending one of the concerts in the historic Reduta building. For more cultural indulgence, the Slovak National Theatre offers a wide selection on ballet, opera and theatre performances. Although most of the activities have been moved to a city-district-in-the-making on the banks of the Danube, some performances are still being held in the historical theatre building, which gives them a unique feeling but a higher price tag as well. The old theatre building is right in the middle of the city at Hviezdoslavovo námestie. The new theatre is accessible by bus No 88 from the Coach Terminal at Mlynske nivy (get off at Landererova) or by buses No 50, 70 and 78 (stop is called Wüstenrot). None of these stop directly at the theatre though, so you should count on a 5-10 minute walk from the bus stop to the theatre.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Bratislava into what it is today.
After the fall of the Great Moravian Empire, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary from the 10th century (later included with the Austro-Hungarian Empire) until the end of the First World War. The city was the capital (1536-1784), the coronation city (1563-1830), and the seat of the Diet (1536-1848) of the Kingdom of Hungary for three centuries. In this period, eleven Hungarian kings and queens were crowned at St. Martin's Cathedral. At that time, the city was called Preßburg in German and Pozsony in Hungarian, and had a clear German (42%) and Hungarian (40%) ethnic majority (1910 census). In 1919, the Treaty of Trianon created Czechoslovakia, and Bratislava was attached to the newly founded state. In the same year, the name Bratislava was officially adopted for the first time. Between 1939 and 1944, Slovakia was a Nazi puppet state. In 1941–1942 and 1944–1945, this government collaborated in deporting most of Bratislava's approximately 15,000 Jews to concentration camps, where most were murdered. Bratislava was occupied by German troops in 1944, and eventually taken by the Soviet Red Army on 4 April 1945, after a failed insurrection of Slovak partisans, now commemorated as Slovenské národné povstanie, or "Slovak National Uprising". After the Communist Party seized power in Czechoslovakia in February 1948, the city witnessed profound demographic and urban transformation....
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options48.1717.2127781 Bratislava Airport (BTS ). The largest airport in the Slovak Republic. Served mainly by low cost and charter airlines. (updated Feb 2025) If you are flying with Ryanair and have check-in luggage, do not let the small size of the airport fool you. Arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight, as the queue can get very long. There are no dedicated airport shuttles, however the airport is served as part of the municipal bus network. Use bus No 61 (or N61 at night) for a direct connection to the Central Train Station (Hlavná stanica). Or change for a tram at Trnavské mýto to get to the city center (in order to get to the tram stop, use the underpass and the exit marked "Centrum" (city center) and take any tram in the direction towards center. You can't buy tickets from the bus driver (see "Get around" below) so you must buy tickets in advance....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Generally, Bratislava is a walking city, though as of the early 2020s with increasing number of cycling lines. The centre is very small and cosy and you can easily walk from one side to another in a few minutes. The city centre is a pedestrian zone, but be aware of cyclists and occasional cars that can sometimes drive rather quickly in between the pedestrian area and outdoor cafes. If you want to travel outside of the centre, use the trams or trolley buses if you need to get from one point to another quickly. Bratislava has a rather good public transport system mainly operated by the city transport company DPB (website in Slovak only). Buses tend to be the slowest means of transport. Stops typically have to be requested, except for trams. To enter bus/trolleybus one has to be standing visibly on the bus stop. To exit, one needs to press a button nearby doors and the driver will stop at the next stops.
Where to Stay
Accommodation prices usually do not include city tax. For 2024 the city tax was €3.50/person/night for Old Town, 3.00€ for other districs. Students up to age 26 and youths up to 18 do not need to pay city tax. As of Sept 2021, Bratislava has 4G from O2, Orange and Swan, and 5G from Telekom. You might also get a signal from any of the Austrian or Hungarian carriers. Wifi is widely available in the city and establishments. City offers Wifi hotspots in some areas of downtown under the SSID name "VisitBratislava". Similarly with mobile calls, check before dialling which country's network your phone is latched onto. Bratislava is generally very safe by Western standards. It is quite small and the crime rate is low. There is a significant police presence in the city, especially the historical parts, and it is generally not a problem to walk around the city at night. The centre especially is under camera surveillance. There is very little violent crime in Bratislava.
Money & Budget
Tourists seeking duty-free goods should be warned to make their purchases before returning to the airport as duty-free goods available in the departure lounge are roughly double the cost of identical goods purchased in local supermarkets. Bryndzové halušky (small, spaetzle-like dumplings with sheep's cheese and topped with pieces of meat) is the national dish of Slovakia and recommended to try. Potent garlic soup (but perhaps not on a date) and Slovak white wine (due to its cooler climate, Slovakia's reds pale in comparison with some of Europe's other offerings), schnitzels, goulashes and other typically Central European foods. Fresh vegetables are more common here thanks to the large amount of land given over to agriculture.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Bratislava is generally very safe by Western standards. It is quite small and the crime rate is low. There is a significant police presence in the city, especially the historical parts, and it is generally not a problem to walk around the city at night. The centre especially is under camera surveillance. There is very little violent crime in Bratislava. Walking alone after midnight outside of the historical centre is not recommended on Fridays, since you could have an unpleasant encounter with rowdy drunks who could congregate around cheaper establishments. If a problem occurs, you can reach the police on phone number 158. General emergency number (police, fire dept., ambulance) can be reached by dialing 112. Always ask for printed receipts in establishments to avoid being overcharged. Especially taxi drivers might try to do that. For reference, the usual fare is around €4 around the town, and you shouldn't be charged more than around €10 getting anywhere in Bratislava.
Glimpses of Bratislava
aerial view of city during daytime
aerial photography of houses and buildings near body of water during daytime
View after sunset of Castle of Bratislava near the Danube river
Aerial view of the Faculty of Theology of the Trnava University in Trnava and its surroundings.
a boat in the water by a city
Bratislava
a sunset view of a city with a church steeple
View from Bratislava Castle
a castle lit up at night with people walking around
Bratislava castle seen from the UFO Tower, Bratislava
aerial view of city during daytime
aerial photography of houses and buildings near body of water during daytime
View after sunset of Castle of Bratislava near the Danube river