Is Bratislava Worth Visiting?
Is Bratislava worth visiting? A question I asked whilst crossing over from Hungary for stop number 14/15 of a 3-month trip across Eastern and Central Europe.
Unfortunately I only had two days here before the scarce accommodation options skyrocketed in price for Easter weekend. As a result I ended up heading to Poland much sooner than planned.
An Introduction to Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, it is home to an estimated 600,000 people, possibly less.
What makes it unique?
Well it is the only capital to border two separate countries by land. Namely Austria and Hungary. And just 50 miles lie between Bratislava and Austrian capital Vienna. This is the shortest distance between any two capitals in Europe.
It’s also not the largest city in Slovakia. Based on land area, Vysoke Tatry is bigger than the capital.
Those were a few fun facts about the capital. But is Bratislava worth visiting? Read on to hear my thoughts on the city. Spoiler: They will be positive.
Is Bratislava Safe?
Yes. Before we get into my experiences within the city, let’s start with this important question.
If coming from Western Europe or the USA then you will be pleasantly surprised. Bratislava is ultra safe and the odds of being robbed or attacked here are only a fraction above zero. Central and Eastern Europe (excluding Ukraine currently of course) are two of the safest regions on the planet.
Arrival in Bratislava: The Low Expectations Effect
After under 4 hours travelling by bus from Budapest, I arrived in Slovakia’s capital with zero expectations. After all, what could this country offer which the 13 I’d previously visited on the same trip couldn’t?
By this point I was a little bored of Europe. Cities began blending into one with little differing between them. Another orthodox church, another WWII Memorial, another statue commemorating past heroes…
A stark contrast from South America where neighbouring countries often felt like different planets.
I kept wondering, is Bratislava worth visiting for tourists?
My rule whilst travelling is to visit new countries, even if they don’t seem exciting from the outside. Why? Because this way you discover hidden gems and realise in some cases that a place you had little expectation for is actually a real beauty.
This is where the low expectations effect comes into play. If you go somewhere expecting it to be 10/10 amazing, but it feels more deserving of a 9/10 ranking, you will feel underwhelmed. Yet if you head to somewhere with 2/10 expectations and it turns out to be a 4/10 destination, you will be pleasantly surprised.
I went to Bratislava with little more than 4/10 expectations. Therefore the bar was low and the ceiling was high. It didn’t get off to the best start however…
The Hostel From Hell
One downside of Bratislava was the lack of budget accommodation over Easter weekend. Options were scarce and prices began to rocket ahead of the impending holiday, just a few days away.
This left very few options, and I went for one with a rating over 8 on Booking which also happened to be the cheapest. Two nights were booked.
Big mistake.
An Unpleasant Welcome
The problems began when I first walked through the door. The horrid musk of smoke and body odour was quite something.
After queueing for a while behind another new inmate, I made it to the front of the desk. This hostel was run entirely by volunteers. Generally other travellers looking to prolong their trips through Workaway stints. Unfortunately the vetting process doesn’t seem particularly good.
The first volunteer I encountered did at least seem amicable. He told me the rules and activities going on here, and warned me that anyone over 34 was banned from staying at the hostel.
His reasoning being that it is a party hostel, and older people would hate that. Something which tends to happen on the day of your 35th birthday of course… Good old age discrimination.
I was told of a pub crawl going on that night for 20 euros. Great! Although after getting a feel for the place and deciding to prioritise exploring Bratislava, I gave this a miss.
A blessing I later found, with other travellers complaining of poor value for money.
There was also the option to pay extra for a dinner every night, although the food would always be vegan. “It makes us inclusive” smirked the receptionist, seemingly unaware that this instantly excluded anyone who values healthy eating and a little protein in their diet.
I ascended the stairs to my room, a basic dorm with little room to maneuver and a fair few cleanliness issues.
The room had no curtains for privacy and tiny lockers far too small for my bags. But it seemed (just about) tolerable.
It Didn’t Get Better…
The following morning I came down to what I thought was a homeless man in the reception area swigging a can of lager, smelling as if he’d seen off at least twelve cans.
Turns out he was just the volunteer working that morning. Whoops.
After a full day of exploring, I came back for my second night, and woke in the morning to find puddles of sick scattered all over the bathroom. I’m not sure what the 24/7 volunteers do other than reception, but it certainly isn’t cleaning.
A sigh of relief was breathed when I approached the mean-looking character now in the receptionist’s chair, glaring at me with an icy stare and a plethora of facial tattoos.
Having since gone back and read about robberies (by the staff!), widespread drug usage and bedbugs in this place, I believe I was lucky to only experience minor negatives. This was comfortably one of the worst places I have ever stayed. Fortunately this was the only negative in beautiful Bratislava…
How to Spend a Day in Bratislava
After surviving my first night in the hostel of horrors, it was time to hit the city. Unfortunately the plan had been to extend my time here, but rising costs and limited options for accommodation forced me to move on sooner than I wanted.
The Old Town
Bratislava has a beautiful old town. You could spend most of your trip walking around here and not got bored. Here are some spots you should check out in the Old Town:
Palaces of the Old Town
Primate’s Square is a wonderful place to start. You won’t be monkeying around here however. Instead you can admire the beautiful Primate’s Palace. This stunning building is famous for being where the Peace of Pressburg was signed. This treaty marked some territorial changes after a heavy French victory against the Holy Roman Empire, of which Slovakia was a part.
Not far from here is Mirbach Palace. This 18th-century palace is popular for its rustic appearance and art collections. Although I didn’t go in myself as art doesn’t interest me. If this is your thing however, it costs 5 euros to enter, or it’s free with the Bratislava tourist card.
The Vice Governor’s Palace completes a three-minute triangle taking you around impressive looking palaces from times gone by.
Michael’s Gate
This is arguably the most popular entrance to the Old Town. It is the heartbeat of Bratislava’s cafe and restaurant scene. You will find yourself surrounded by colourful buildings and can view the city from within the tower at the entrance. A lovely spot to check out.
Statues of Bratislava
The Slovakian capital is famous for its statues dotted around the Old Town. These include Schone Naci, a friendly-looking chap lifting his hat beside a coffee shop sign. Many tourists will take photos infront of this sign.
Cumil is a statue of a man poking his head out of a manhole cover. That’s it really. But for some reason it’s popular.
The Napoleon’s Army Soldier shows a man in 1800s French military uniform leaning on a bench. As legend goes, Napoleon’s army marched through the streets of Bratislava. And a soldier fell in love with a local girl before staying behind and making Bratislava his home. This story inspired the building of this statue in Slovakia’s capital.
Another obscure statue is Posmievacik. This odd little gargoyle is tucked away in a little alcove. He is famous for what appears to be three legs on first glance, all of the same length. It turns out his third leg is actually… okay, let’s not go down that route. I’ll leave you guessing here. There are several rumours behind the statue’s origin including one where it is thought to mock the former owner of this building who would spy on pedestrians walking past.
Must admit, these statues didn’t quite interest me enough to take some pictures. But some people love them. Therefore you may also want to check them out in the Old Town. If you’re into being photographed, then the statues do provide a good backdrop.
The Blue Church
Not sure my creative writing skills are good enough to describe something that has already been accurately described in the heading above, but here goes. Yes, it’s a church, and it’s blue. It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the old town and it looks pretty awesome.
Okay… I failed. Annoyingly I didn’t take any photos either. If only I could foresee becoming a blogger a few months down the line. But this is certainly a place worth checking out.
Bratislava Castle
My personal highlight. It is worth coming to Bratislava for this alone.
Overlooking both Austria and Hungary, this 10th-century structure stands high on a hill above the Danube River. It was built to protect the then Kingdom of Hungary from German and Czech attacks.
It lasted until 1811 when Napoleon’s troops attacked and left the castle in ruins. The rebuilding process started in the 1950s and was completed in 2010.
Today it is a lovely spot to hang out, enjoy the views, and spend some time in the scenic courtyard round the back.
Bratislava Castle has a quintessentially European feel about it, and deserves to take first place in your itinerary whilst looking at things to do in the Slovakian capital for one day.
Is Bratislava Worth Visiting?
Well… is Bratislava worth visiting then?
Yes, yes and yes. This charming little city has a lot going for it, and it’s also pretty affordable. Not quite super-cheap Balkans prices, but certainly not as expensive as neighbouring Austria or Western European countries. In fact Slovakia is closest to southern neighbour Hungary in terms of affordability.
Unfortunately the poor timing of my trip just in time for Easter meant not having time to see it all. Popular Devin Castle on the outskirts of Bratislava was one place that eluded me. But I will certainly be back.
Where Should I go After Bratislava?
UNESCO World Heritage Site Banska Bystrica in central Slovakia is one of the country’s most popular stops outside the capital. This typically-European city combines gothic architecture with stunning mountain views.
The High Tatras mountains offer some spectacular hiking opportunities in the summer, with skiing taking over when snow falls in the winter. These mountains are located on the Polish border and offer a great alternative to expensive Alpine destinations in Italy or Switzerland.
Internationally, there are trains coming regularly from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. Previously there was also a service connecting Slovakia with Ukraine and eventually Russia. This no longer operates for obvious reasons.
War and closed borders if those reasons weren’t so obvious. Buses also run to and from Slovakia’s neighbouring countries, if you prefer bus travel to trains.
Final Thoughts on Bratislava
Next time you consider heading to standard European holiday spots such as Italy, France or Spain, give Slovakia some thought instead. If you were wondering “is Bratislava good for tourists?” The answer is a resounding yes.
It is a much cheaper alternative than better-known cities and countries. Yet it still has its fair share of food, sightseeing and culture all wrapped into one.
The beauty of travelling to every country, is that you get to experience places that were never on your radar, which turn out to be real gems. Bratislava is one of those.
If you wish to read about every country I have visited on my journey to see them all, please check out my blog contents which details everything I’ve written about so far, with a lot more to come. Thanks for reading!
