How To Spend a Weekend in Bratislava

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is situated along the Danube River by the border with Austria and Hungary. It is an underrated European destination but in my opinion, it’s an interesting place to visit and a weekend is just perfect to explore this compact city.

From Praque, we decided to stop here for a couple of nights.

Most of the sights are located around the historic city centre, and it’s very walkable so you don’t need to worry about transportation.

We stayed in Austria Trend Hotel and it’s centrally located and a few minutes walk to Old Town.

Rooftop area at Austria Trend hotel

Must See in Bratislava

BRATISLAVA CASTLE

Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava and it stands directly above the Danube river. From here it gives an impressive views over the capital, especially of the famous UFO Bridge.

What is interesting is that the castle dates back to the 13th century and housed the crown jewels of Hungary, as well as many kings and queens throughout the ages.

THE OLD TOWN

The town centre is small and compact. It’s a maze of historic buildings and you will find museums, fountains, vendors and plenty of pubs in between, you could spend hours walking around the small centre of the city.

CUMIL STATUE ( AKA “MAN AT WORK”)

The Cumil statue is one of the most photographed statue here and is often called The Watcher or The Observer. There are several stories you may hear about Cumil that he is there simply to sneak up the girls’ skirts, or that he’s a legendary cleaner of Bratislava’s underground, or a symbol of a typical Slovak worker, waiting relaxed for his shift to end. To bring you good luck, rub his head and it also was said that if you touch his nose, you’ll become pregnant.

UFO BRIDGE AND TOWER

The UFO Bridge is a sight to see as well. It is an icon of Bratislava and was built in the 1960s at the height of Communism in Slovakia. It holds the world’s longest bridge to have one pylon and one cable-stayed plane. A must thing to do is to have a meal or drinks at the restaurant on top. It has an amazing view overlooking the city. If you would like to walk the bridge, there is a lower level for the pedestrians and bicycles.

Go up and get a panoramic view on the whole Bratislava from the open-air observation deck.

Have some drinks and appetizers at the UFO restaurant

MICHAEL’S GATE

The only city gate that has been preserved in the city. It was built in 1300 and it is one of the Bratislava’s oldest medieval buildings. You will find this in the heart of old town. You can also climb to the top and enjoy the beautiful view.

MICHALSKA COCKTAIL ROOM

This is a hidden gem that I found while I was there. It is a really cool speakeasy bar in the heart of Bratislava Old Town. The entrance is inside an urban bistro, and upstairs on the left. We entered through a wardrope like the movie Narnia. The ambiance is wonderful, drinks and service are excellent. The waiter and bartenders spoke perfect english and is very friendly.