14 Unique Things to Do in Bratislava, Slovakia [Updated 2025]

Before I visited Bratislava, I had only heard bad things from my fellow travellers. People complained that it was boring, that an afternoon there is more than enough, and that there are no fun things to do in Bratislava.

They said that Bratislava nightlife was bad, the locals were unwelcoming and that you should only visit Bratislava if you have some time to kill on a layover.

My verdict?

I call BS.

I’ve visited Bratislava twice, and it remains one of my favourite capital cities in Europe, and definitely one of the most underrated destinations I’ve visited.

With this in mind, I decided to put together a list of my favourite things to do in Bratislava that will ensure you enjoy this enchanting Slovakian city just as much as I did!

The 14 Best Things to Do in Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava at a Glance

What is Bratislava like?

Bratislava (and Slovakia as a whole) is somewhat of an enigma. Lots of people have never even heard of Slovakia, and for many that have, their only point of reference may be the 2005 horror movie Hostel, didn’t exactly paint the country in the best light.

Many people who visit Bratislava are looking for an alternative to Prague, and flock to Slovakia looking for wild parties, strip clubs and cheap booze, only to be sorely disappointed when they realise that while you certainly can find those things, Bratislava isn’t the ideal place for a lad’s holiday.

However, that is not to say that Bratislava isn’t a great place for a European city break.

With a dinky, pedestrianised old town, an abundance of coffee shops and beer houses, awe-inspiring medieval architecture and hearty comfort food, Bratislava is definitely worth a spot on your European bucket list.

Read more: day trips that you can take from Bratislava!

The Best Things to Do in Bratislava

1. Attend a Free Walking Tour

Free Walking Tours are one of my favourite things to do whenever I visit a new European city, and Bratislava was no exception.

As well as getting to visit all of the main things to see in Bratislava, you’ll learn a tonne of fun facts about the city, and you’ll also be able to ask your guide any burning questions you may have.

My favourite part about this particular tour was the fact that we got to see so many of the quirky statues around Bratislava Old Town and learn about the legends and traditions surrounding them.

A personal highlight for me was shaking hands with the statue of Hans Christian Anderson – apparently I’ll be a successful writer now (2025 update: this blog has become my full-time job, so I guess it worked!).

Most of the major Bratislava attractions that I will cover in this list were included on my Free Walking Tour.

You can find more information about free walking tours in Bratislava here.

If you don’t fancy walking, you could try this sightseeing bus tour, that comes with an audio guide and visits all the main Bratislava attractions.

2. Sample traditional Slovakian food at Slovak Pub

Despite its touristy-sounding name, Slovak Pub is a legitimately great pub, and is beloved by local students due to its huge portions of food at great prices.

It has its very own bio farm, where chefs produce local delicacies daily from the produce, and an on-site keg room where they make fresh beer.

Not only that, but it is the largest bar in Bratislava, divided into eleven rooms, with each room representing a different era of Slovak history (one room is an original 150-year-old wooden cottage!).

What to order

Slovakia’s national dish is called bryndza halusky, a stodgy dish consisting of potato dumplings topped with sheep’s cheese, greasy bacon bits, Speck and sour cream, which you can get for 10.90 EUR (prices correct as of 10/25).

My friend and I opted for creamy garlic soup served in bowls of homemade bread (6.50 EUR – prices updated 10/25), followed by the ‘Slovak platter for 2 persons’ (21 EUR – 2025 prices) and pints of cold beer.

The platter consisted of halusky potato dumplings with bryndza sheep cheese, pierogi stuffed with sheep cheese and topped with onions and cream cheese, and dumplings with cabbage and bacon. It was huge!

3. Hlavné námestie and Bratislava Old Town

One of my favourite things in any European city is to wander around the medieval Old Town and allow myself to be swept away by the charming cobbled streets, gothic architecture and secret passageways.

Bratislava Old Town is not as polished as some other European capitals, but don’t let that put you off – Bratislava Old Town has a real and authentic charm, and when you step into the main square (Hlavné námestie), you will feel like you stepped right onto the pages of a fairy tale.

Hlavné námestie is also home to Maximilian’s Fountain, Stara Radnica (the courtyard of the old Town Hall), the National Theatre and St. Martin’s 15th century Gothic Cathedral.

Amuse yourself by taking pictures with some of the many statues in Bratislava Old Town, such as that of Schoner Naci, a carpet cleaner who used to love giving flowers to beautiful women, and Cumil (the ‘Man at Work’), poking his head up from a manhole.

You will also find Michael’s Gate, in the Old Town. This is the last of Bratislava’s four medieval gates, and dates all the way back to the start of the 14th century.

You can go up inside the tower to see an exhibition about the old fortifications of the city and medieval weaponry, or head up to the sixth floor for a breathtaking view over the Old Town.

4. Visit Bratislava Castle

Over days gone by, Bratislava Castle played a crucial role in the history of Central Europe, and from the 16th century it has been the coronation city of the Hungarian Kingdom.

However, Bratislava Castle is not exactly the most popular castle in Europe, with some comparing it to an upside down table and others saying that it’s only worth visiting to check out the views of Bratislava and the Danube river from the terrace!

Today, Bratislava Castle is still under reconstruction after the fire in 1811, but it is open to visitors and there is a museum inside that chronicles Slovakia’s history.

5. Check out the UFO Bridge

Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of Bratislava is the Soviet Most SNP (Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising), complete with its brutalist ‘UFO’ structure at the top, which is home to a very expensive restaurant and bar.

If you don’t fancy dinner but are still eager to see the view, you can take the lift up to the observation deck and have a wander around for between 9.90 – 11.90 EUR (you can find the full price list here).

6. Eat vegan food!

Vegan food in Bratislava?!

Traditional Slovak cuisine is very meat-centric, and most articles that I have read about the best things to do in Bratislava mention that you may not want to visit Bratislava as a vegan or vegetarian.

To this, all I have to say is – seek and ye shall find, my loves.

While it is true that most of the meals you will find in Bratislava are meat-based (even the cabbage soup comes with sausages!), there are plenty of 100% vegan restaurants in Bratislava to keep you going.

My favourite vegan restaurants in Bratislava:

Balans Bistro – Balans Bistro is a fully vegan café just outside Bratislava Old Town that was absolutely jam-packed when we visited. I tried the creamy tempeh stroganoff with rice and chunky chips and it was delicious!

Vegan Kiosk – the ‘first legendary vegan street food in Slovakia‘ has graduated from a humble food stand to a whole bistro, serving up a yummy mix of vegan junk food. We tried the meat-free hotdog with homemade celery mayo, vegan cheddar, caramelised onions and chilli dip, and a burrito with smoked tofu, jasmine rice, bean-tomato stuffing, homemade celery mayo, lemon, onion, corn and tomato, and both of us gobbled our food down in no time.

Enjoy Bistro – This isn’t a vegan café but there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options available. I ordered sourdough toast with feta cheese, rocket, smashed avocado and cherry tomatoes, while my friend opted for pumpkin soup and sourdough.

Wild Elephants Hostel – While you can’t just pop in here for a quick meal, you should definitely stay at Wild Elephants hostel if you are a vegan travelling on a budget. Wild Elephants is a fully vegan hostel that serves up a vegan ‘family dinner’ each night, cooked by the volunteers. It costs 5 EUR, and while it’s pretty basic, it’s cheap and cheerful and a great way of meeting other travellers.

7. Drink Beer!

One of the best things to do in Bratislava, without exception, is to drink copious amounts of local beer.

Slovakia may not have as much of a reputation for beer-drinking than Czechia, but the Slovaks certainly love their beer, with every other building in Bratislava Old Town being either a beer pub, brewery, or craft beer house!

All of the beer in Bratislava is super affordable, and it’s all damn good. Win win.

8. Hunt for treasure in thrift stores

There are tonnes of thrift stores in Bratislava, and I happened to be there at the best time of the month!

Each month, the stores get in new stock and announce this by placing balloons outside on the street. This is the perfect time for vintage enthusiasts, who will queue outside in order to snap up the best pieces.

However, the further away you get from this date, the prices continue to decrease, until the last few days when everything in the shop will be 1-2 EUR!

I spent a whole afternoon raiding the thrift stores in Bratislava and came away with some real bargains. The best place to start is Kammenné námestie, where you’ll find several shops.

9. Amble down the promenade

One of the main things to do in Bratislava is to take a stroll down the main promenade, Hviezdoslav Square.

Beginning near the Most SNP and ending at the National Theatre, the promenade is lined with trees, fountains and statues with an abundance of gelato shops, bars, and restaurants to choose from.

The boulevard takes its name from Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, a turn-of-the-century Slovak poet and dramatist who also translated works by Schiller, Shakespeare and Goethe. There is a large statue of him half-way along the promenade.

10. Go to the beach

Yes, you read that right – Bratislava has its very own city beach!

It’s called The Old Town Beach (Pláž Staré Mesto), and it’s a man-made sandy beach along the Danube river, a 20 minute walk away from the Old Town, in the Petrzalka district of the city.

Unfortunately when I visited, it was super windy so I only had one drink, but in the summertime you’ll find all the young Slovaks hanging out, drink cocktails, and listening to music.

There are also two beach volleyball courts which are free to use, street food stands, and stunning views of the Danube and Bratislava Castle.

If you have extra time then you may want to explore the Petrzalka district, which is full of Soviet architecture and is the biggest neighbourhood of its kind in Europe!

11. Go swimming in Zlaté Piesky!

There are numerous lakes near Bratislava where you can cool down and get your feet wet, but the one that I visited was Zlaté Piesky, a 20 minute bus ride from the city centre.

You can pay 4-5 EUR and enter the part of the lake that has changing rooms, toilet faculties, and various leisure facilities, or enter the south shore, which is free and more than suitable for sunbathing, fishing, and swimming.

I took the free option (duh), and my hostel pals and I waded out to a small island in the middle of the lake, where we set up camp for the day.

It was a wonderful spot to relax, and it’s definitely one of the best hidden gems in Bratislava!

12. The Blue Church

The Church of St. Elisabeth, more commonly known as the Blue Church, is a beautiful example of the Art Nouveau architecture of the region, and it looks like something straight from a Disney movie.

Located just East of Bratislava Old Town on Bezručova Street, the Blue Church is a unique blend of Romanesque, Baroque and Oriental design, and the chief architect, Ödön Lechner, has often been referred to as the Hungarian Gaudi.

13. Devin Castle

Just a short bus ride from town is Devin Castle, perched on a 212-metre cliff at the confluence of the Danube and Morava Rivers.

Tracing all the way back to the 5th century BC, Devin Castle is one of the three oldest castles in Slovakia and it used to control the trade route along the River Danube.

It may only be a ruin today, but Devin Castle and its surroundings are still so beautiful that they are definitely worth the 10km trip.

14. Go wine tasting!

The Slovakian National Collection of Wines is where you will find the top 100 Slovak wines, and you should definitely indulge in a spot of wine tasting here.

Not many people consider wine tasting in Bratislava, but after meeting one of the sommeliers from this place and trying some of his wines, I can confirm that they’re excellent!

You can choose a tasting of 3, 5, or even 72 Slovakian wines in 100 minutes (I’d definitely attempt that one!).

Facts about Bratislava

While your parents may know it as Czechoslovakia, Slovakia has been an independent state since January 1st, 1993, when it separated from Czechia.

Slovakia has been a member of the EU since May 1, 2004, and the currency in Slovakia is the EURO.

The official language in Slovakia is Slovak, but you will not struggle speaking English in Bratislava.

Shops are usually closed on Sundays, so make sure you buy everything you need in advance!

You can drink the tap water in Slovakia.

Despite traditional Slovakian food being very meaty (Slovak food is very similar to Czech food), there are tonnes of vegetarian and vegan options in Bratislava.

Bratislava Old Town is totally pedestrianised, as well as being very compact. This means that you can see all of the main Bratislava attractions in a couple of hours.

The traditional drink in Slovakia is Borovička, similar to Rakija in the Balkans.

Getting to Bratislava

One of the easiest ways to get to Bratislava is by bus. My go-to bus travel in Europe is always FlixBus. Flixbus is the most extensive bus network worldwide and all Flix buses have Wi-Fi, extra legroom, charging ports and the ability to modify your booking just 15 minutes before departure!

Slovakia also has a great train system, meaning that travelling around the country is super easy, as well as being very affordable.

Is Bratislava safe?

Don’t let Hostel put you off – Bratislava is a very safe city and crime rates are very low, with violent crime being almost non-existent.

Bratislava is also very safe for solo female travellers.

The biggest threat that you may face in Bratislava is pickpocketing (more of a nuisance than a safety risk), and even then, the rates for pickpocketing in Bratislava are much lower than in Europe as a whole.

14 Things to Do in Bratislava, Slovakia | Final Thoughts

This just about concludes my list of the best things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Bratislava may not be the most popular European city break, but in my opinion, that is precisely what makes Bratislava so special.

There are no hordes of tourists, no gimmicky beer baths, and only a few stores selling overpriced tourist tat.

If you visit Bratislava, you will be visiting a working Slovakian city, and you will enjoy a truly Slovakian experience.

Bratislava may not be the destination for you if you want to plan a stag do, but if you want to feast on hearty local grub, drink litres of beer in cosy candlelit pubs and sip coffee in Viennese-style cafes on cobbled streets, you’ll fall in love with Bratislava.

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