Tourist Attractions in Bratislava

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Bratislava

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Bratislava

Bratislava is located on the spurs of the Carpathian Mountains on the banks of the Danube. Bratislava was once the capital of Hungary, and the local cathedrals were the venue for lavish coronations of powerful monarchs and emperors. On the one hand, Bratislava has never belonged to the starry pleiad of the most beautiful capitals of Europe, but on the other hand, the city has its own charm and fascination.

The capital of Slovakia offers the tourist a walk through the historical quarters of the Old Town, a visit to Bratislava Castle and the magnificent Grassalkovich Palace, where in the past centuries the best works of local musicians were performed. A river trip along the Danube will allow you to see the city’s embankments from a more interesting angle, and you can finish a busy day of sightseeing in one of the many restaurants.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Bratislava

Old Town of Bratislava

The Old Town is the historical and administrative centre of Bratislava, where, in addition to architectural monuments, many government offices and foreign embassies are located. The main cultural and historical sights of Bratislava are located in the eastern part of the district. The western part of the Old Town adjoins the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, where Bratislava Castle stands.

Monument to the plumber Chumil

The small figure of a plumber peering curiously out of the city’s manhole was created to remind people of the end of wartime and to pay tribute to the honest profession of plumbing. The fact is that during World War II, many Bratislava residents hid in the city’s sewers from bombing raids, saving their lives in this way. “Chumil” means “gawker” in Slovak.

Main Square

The square is located in the Old Town. It is a popular tourist spot surrounded by restaurants, shopping galleries selling many souvenirs, baroque mansions and palaces. The place used to be called “Market Square” as the city fairs were held here. In the middle is the 16th-century Roland Fountain, which appeared on the eve of the coronation of Emperor Maximilian II.

Old Town Hall

 4.6/5

666 reviews

It was built in the 13th century and began to be used as the town hall in the 15th century. The facades of the Town Hall face the Primatial Square and the Main Square. The building was rebuilt and expanded several times, so the architecture is a mixture of several styles from medieval Gothic to Neo-Renaissance. Nowadays, the Town Hall houses the City Museum, with an exhibition on the history of Bratislava.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Bratislava Castle

 4.5/5

48871 reviews

Bratislava Castle was built on the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains by the Danube River. The historical buildings have not survived to this day, as they were destroyed in a fire in 1811. For a long time the hail lay in ruins. In the middle of the XX century the authorities started its restoration. As a result of the work, the buildings were given the appearance they had at the end of the XVIII century. Thanks to its elevated position, the castle offers an excellent view of the Danube valley.

Open time

Hrad Devín

 4.7/5

16532 reviews

Ruins of a 9th century fortress located at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. The castle was used for its intended purpose until the end of the 17th century. After the Turks conquered the territory of Slovakia, it fell into disrepair. At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte’s soldiers blew up the building. The castle was not restored, only in one of the halls there is a small exposition. In 1985, the remains of Devin and the surrounding land were declared a natural monument.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Presidential Palace

 4.5/5

2459 reviews

The residence of the President of Slovakia, built in the middle of the 18th century. It was built in the Baroque style and was once the most luxurious palace in Bratislava. It was built for Count A. Grassalkovich, who liked to invite famous musicians and organise balls. The famous composer J. Haydn performed in the palace in 1772. During the communist government, the building often hosted congresses of Czechoslovak party leaders.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Primacial Palace

 4.5/5

3053 reviews

The building was erected in the 18th century in neoclassical style. According to one version it is believed that the building appeared in the XIV century, and in 1778 it was rebuilt and adapted to modern needs. The palace was built for the Hungarian Primate – Archbishop J. Battiani. In the 20th century the building became state property. During the restoration, English carpets and tapestries from the 17th century were discovered, which now decorate the interior of the palace.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Michael's Gate

 4.5/5

12504 reviews

A medieval gate from the 13th century (according to another version, from the 14th century), the only structure of its kind that has survived in Bratislava from those distant times. As a result of the 18th century restoration, the figure of St Michael was added to the top of the tower and the whole building acquired Baroque features. The structure is a tower with a viewing platform 51 metres high. There is an archway at the base of the structure.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Slovak National Theatre

 4.7/5

4783 reviews

The Slovak Theatre was founded at the end of the 19th century. The building was designed by Austrian architects H. Helner and F. Fellner. The interior is decorated with frescoes by K. Spanyik and paintings by L. Luttgendorf-Leinburg. At first all the productions were given in Czech, but it was gradually replaced by Slovak. At the main entrance there is a sculptural group of the fountain “Ganymede” created by V. Tilgner. Tilgner.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 7:00 PM

Slovak Philharmonic

 4.8/5

1010 reviews

Baroque building in the historic centre of Bratislava, where the local Philharmonic Orchestra performs. It is surrounded by walkways, restaurants and the charming mansions of the surrounding neighbourhoods. The building is a classic example of architecture from the heyday of the Habsburg era, when the facades had “imperial” features and the interiors were lavishly decorated.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Friday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Gallery Nedbalka

 4.7/5

872 reviews

The city’s art gallery, which houses works of art from various eras. Unfortunately, there are no particularly outstanding works by world-famous masters in this museum, but there are quite interesting paintings by lesser-known artists. The gallery is better known as a unique collection of national paintings, as it exhibits an extensive collection of Slovak artists.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Friday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 – 7:00 PM

St. Martin's Cathedral

 4.6/5

6644 reviews

The largest church in the Slovak capital and one of the oldest. The cathedral was erected in the 13th century. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, coronations of the Holy Roman Emperors took place on its territory. This tradition originated because Bratislava was the capital of Hungary between 1541 and 1684. The interior is in the Gothic style with some Baroque features. The last reconstruction of the cathedral was carried out in the middle of the 19th century.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Church of St. Stephan of Hungary

 4.7/5

621 reviews

An 18th century church located on Župná Square. The church was built for the monks of the Capuchin order, who appeared in Bratislava in 1676, and a monastery was also built at the church. The church acquired its modern appearance in 1860. According to the traditions of the monastic order, the church is built in a rather modest manner and is characterised by simple decoration. On the square in front of the main entrance there is a column with a figure of the Virgin Mary.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Church of the Annunciation

 4.8/5

343 reviews

A Catholic church located on the territory of the Old Town, built under the monarch Laszlo IV in the 13th century. The church was rebuilt several times, changing the features of one architectural style to another. In the 16th century it was often the venue for coronations of Hungarian monarchs. The building was originally built in the Gothic style, but the Baroque structure has survived. Inside the church, the interior, created in the 18th century, has been preserved.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The Blue Church - Church of St. Elizabeth

 4.6/5

8921 reviews

A Catholic church of amazing beauty, located outside the historical centre of the city. The church has a rather unusual appearance, original architecture and delicate blue colour of the facade. There is a legend that the church was erected at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph, who was worried about the death of his wife Elisabeth of Bavaria, but historical facts tell a different story – the church was built in the early XX century by the will of Countess Sapari.

Open time

Monday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Friday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 6:30 – 7:30 AM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Slavín

 4.6/5

8038 reviews

The complex is dedicated to the memory of fallen soldiers during the Second World War. It was created in 1960 in honour of the 15th anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava from German occupation. The central figure is a monument in the form of a stele 37 metres high, topped by the figure of a liberator. The monument is located on a hill where several thousand soldiers were buried. A marble mausoleum was built over the mass grave.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Bratislava Zoo

 4.1/5

10130 reviews

The zoo appeared in the 1960s. Initially, its territory was larger, but due to changes in the urban construction plan, part of the land was alienated. The main goal of the zoo is to preserve and breed endangered species of animals. The zoo is home to lions, lynxes, monkeys, white tigers, antelopes and panthers. There is also a children’s park with figures of prehistoric dinosaurs.

Open time

Monday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Tuesday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Wednesday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Thursday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Friday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Saturday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Sunday: 9:15 AM – 3:15 PM

Most SNP

 0/5

The bridge over the Danube, connecting the residential areas and the historical part of Bratislava, was opened in 1972. The structure is 430.8 metres long, with supports only on the banks and a suspension section over the water. The bridge is named in honour of the Slovak National Uprising of 1944. At the top of the support there is a restaurant connected to the observation deck, which is one of the main modern attractions in Bratislava.

Most Apollo

 0/5

The structure decorated the Slovak capital in the 2000s. The Apollo Bridge is 850 metres long and 32 metres wide. It particularly stands out in Bratislava’s night panorama, as it is equipped with modern illumination. The need for another bridge across the Danube arose due to the increased traffic congestion on the city’s motorways. The Apollo project was designed by engineers M. Matasztik and P. Nevechny.