Bratislava, Slovakia

1. Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle is perhaps the city of Bratislava’s most well-known and recognizable landmarks, standing atop a hill overlooking the Danube River and the surrounding city. Grand looking over the capital of Slovakia, the castle was constructed during the ninth century and has long been an iconic symbol of Bratislava. Eleven monarchs throughout history were crowned at this castle. The silhouette of Bratislava Castle is made up of four wings, with a corner tower in each one. Among the things to see in the castle are the eastern terrace and various exhibitions. Visitors will find panoramic views of the city below.

811 06, Bratislava, Slovakia, Phone: 421-2-54-41-14-44

2. Bratislava Christmas Market

From the end of November through December 23rd, there has been a massive Bratislava Christmas Market that takes over Bratislava’s city center every since the year 1993. Visitors to the holiday market can find a wide variety of services and products, from many different street artists to both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks to traditional food to handmade gifts, decorations, and more. The Bratislava Christmas Market boasts a friendly and fun atmosphere in which visitors and locals alike can enjoy the holiday season. Small shops, beverage stalls, and food stalls can be found in three main locations in the center of the city.

3. Bratislava City Gallery

The goal of the Bratislava City Gallery is the collection of artwork, as well as the study, restoration, and conservation of its art collections. The gallery also encourages the widest access possible to the various cultural treasures it houses through educational and cultural activities, along with expositions. The collections of works of art are displayed in two different historical buildings located in Bratislava’s historic city center. Artwork is on exhibit at the Mirbach Palace in Františkánske Square and at the Pálffy Palace on Panská Street. One of the main permanent exhibits is the Central European Baroque Painting and Sculpture exhibit.

Františkánske nám. 11 815 35, Bratislava, Phone: +421-2-54-43-15-56

4. Bratislava Post-Communist Tour

The Bratislava Post-Communist Tour is an alternative, off-the-beaten-track tour of the city. The quirky tour of the capital takes place in an 8-seater van Škoda 1203 or a legendary Czechoslovak car Škoda from the 1970’s. The tour explores several places from Bratislava’s communist past, along with more recent transformations in the city. Sites guests will see during the tour include the Slavin monument, the site of the Iron Curtain border zone, a WWII bunker line, and quite a bit of architecture from the communist-era. The Post-Communist Bratislava Tour brings the story of twentieth century Bratislava to life.

5. Bratislava Zoo

The Bratislava Zoo was one of the first zoological parks to open in Europe. Construction of the zoo in the capital city of Slovakia started in the year 1959, with its grand opening taking play on May 9th of 1960. A unique exhibit of alpine meadows was added to the Bratislava Zoo in 2004 and has been popular with visitors of all ages. In 2006, a new pavilion housing levy, tigers, jaguars, and leopards was added. Since 2006, several other additions have been made to the zoo, including the pavilion of primates, two play complexes for children, and the ZOO shop.

Mlynská dolina, 842 27 Bratislava, Slovakia

6. Classic Walking Tour

The Classic Walking Tour in Bratislava, Slovakia is a professionally guided walking tour of the capital city, the largest city in the country. The tour is around an hour in duration and serves as a great introduction to Bratislava, as well as to the culture of the not as well known country of Slovakia. Guests will have the opportunity to see many different significant sites during the tour as they explore the beauty of the city on foot. Sites visited on the Classic Walking Tour include St. Martin’s Cathedral, Michalska Street, and Old Town Hall among other major historic and cultural landmarks.

7. Danubiana

Located a little ways outside of the city, Danubiana is a contemporary art museum with a great location along the Danube river, situated on the end of a peninsula. The museum opened in stages beginning in the 2000’s, and was open fully in 2014. The permanent exhibition can be found on the first floor of the Great Hall. The exhibition features an international selection of installations and paintings by Jill Moser, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Sam Francis, Hungarian artists such as Ilona Keserü, Austrian artists like Hermann Nitsch, and CoBrA artists such as Karel Appel. Outside of the building is a sculpture park.

810 00 Bratislava, Phone: +02-62-52-85-01

8. Hotel Galeria Spirit

The Hotel Galeria Spirit situated behind the main train station in Bratislava is an extravagant, colorful, and crazy building in the capital city that serves as both an art gallery and hotel. The artsy and one-of-a-kind hotel places a focus on beauty and health. Guests even receive a nutritional supplement for free that is based on the own personal health conditions. This is in addition to other services offered by the hotel. The Hotel Galeria Spirit is listed as one of the world’s most unique structures. It features avant-garde architecture and a fabulously imaginative look, a rare site in Bratislava.

Horná Vancurova 1694/1, 831 01 Bratislava, Phone: +421-2-54-77-78-17