The Slovakian capital was never much of a tourist destination. Internationally, it’s mostly known for the caricatural portrayal in films like EuroTrip and Hostel. Visitors to the region usually reduce it to a day trip from Vienna, or give it a miss altogether.

But that’s a mistake! This unassuming city has so much to offer that a one-night stay is the absolute minimum. Start your visit with a stroll through the…

Old Town

Staré Mesto, as it’s called in the Slovak language, is the heart of the city. Towering above it is Michael’s Gate (Michalská Brána), the only surviving out of four entrances to the fortified medieval town. Let yourself get lost among the charming streets. Towards the top of Laurinská Street, you’ll find the Film Walk of Fame (Filmový Chodník Slávy). Make sure you also stop by…

Čumil

…a bronze statue made in 1997 by Viktor Hulík. Also known as Man at Work, the cheerful sewage worker emerges from the sewer at the intersection of Panská and Laurinská. Beloved by tourists, it is one of the most photographed objects in Bratislava.

Presidential Palace

Another “man at work” resides just outside the Old Town, namely in the Grassalkovich Palace in Hodžovo Square. The late Baroque/Rococo-style building serves as the residence of the President of Slovakia. It isn’t open to the public, but the garden at the back is free to enter.

In front of the palace, there is a fountain called Planet of Peace (Planéta Mieru) with a rotating globe in the middle. But an even more spectacular fountain is a short walk up the road, in…

Freedom Square

Known locally as Námestie Slobody, this large square boasts Slovakia’s biggest fountain as the centerpiece. The impressive Fountain of Union (Fontána Družby) resembles a giant flower shooting streams of water from between the “petals” in multiple directions. Long out of order, it was refurbished and reopened in 2024. Well worth visiting for the spirited atmosphere.

Hviezdoslav Square

At the opposite end of the Old Town, you’ll find another lively and spacious square, known by locals as Hviezdoslavovo Námestie. At its top, it boasts the Slovak National Theatre (Slovenské Národné Divadlo), and is lined with restaurants, hotels and embassies. In the middle, you’ll find a statue of its patron, Slovak poet Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, and further down – the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Even though the actual Main Square is a minute’s walk away, this feels like the centre of Bratislava.

Blue Church

If you need an escape from hustle and bustle, go to see the Blue Church (Modrý Kostol) in the eastern part of the city centre. The eye-catching Art Nouveau building was designed by Hungarian architect Ödön Lechner, and completed in 1913. Originally named the Church of St. Elizabeth, today it attracts many tourists staging extensive photoshoots outside its pastel blue exterior.

Bratislava Castle

This won’t be the most impressive-looking castle you’ve ever seen. Its rectangular shape and plain white walls might be underwhelming, but Bratislavský Hrad is still very much a symbol of the city, reproduced on countless postcards and souvenirs.

Does the simple façade hide an exciting interior? I don’t know. I decided not to go in, and admired the castle from afar. Instead, I took a climb up to…

Slavín

Situated on top of a hill in an affluent neighbourhood northwest from the centre, this monument honours Soviet casualties lost during the liberation of Bratislava in WW2. The 52-metre obelisk is topped with a sculpture by Alexander Trizuljak, and the surrounding area is the burial ground of almost 7,000 soldiers.

Being one of the highest points in the city, Slavín offers spectacular views of Bratislava, and possibly even further afield. However, I found that the trees obstruct the views of the city centre. So, for a much better lookout point you can go up the tower on the…

UFO Bridge

Officially called the SNP Bridge (Most SNP), but known by everyone as the UFO Bridge due to the “alien spaceship” sitting atop its tower. The structure resembling a flying saucer houses an observation deck and an award-winning restaurant. You can take the lift to the top of the 84-metre tower for an unbeatable view of Bratislava. The price is just under 12 euros, but it will be deducted from the bill if you dine at the restaurant.

The UFO Tower is a fine example of brutalist architecture and rivals the castle as the ultimate symbol of the city.

Brutalist architecture

For fans of brutalist architecture, Bratislava will have many surprises in store. My favourite one is the Slovak Radio Building, shaped like an upside-down pyramid. It had me truly enthralled, and it breaks my heart that some rank it as one of the ugliest buildings in the world!

You also can’t miss the defunct Hotel Kyjev right in the city centre, and an interesting residential building located halfway on Medená Street. And if that’s still not enough, you can cross the river to the Petržalka housing estate.

Street art

If brutalist buildings aren’t your thing, you might at least appreciate the murals that adorn many of them. The city has a along way to go to become a street art hub, but there are a few pieces that caught my eye. The one below is by Tankpetrol, made for the 2018 edition of Bratislava Street Art Festival. You’ll find it on Rajská Street in the city centre.

Worth checking out is also the underpass under Staromestská Street (near Kozia and Zochova). The walls are covered with colourful depictions of the city and its landmarks. Sadly, most of the images are now ruined by random tags.

Café scene

After this much walking and exploring the city, you’re likely to need a break! Stop by at one of the many coffee shops. Bratislava’s café scene was such a surprise that I wrote a separate post about it.

 

Have you been to Bratislava? Are there any more must-see landmarks? Let me know in the comments if I missed anything.