Day 8 of my 2-week road trip

Tropical Islands – Sachsenhausen – Berlin – Dresden – Prague – Vienna – Devin Castle – Sandberg – Bratislava – Lake Balaton – Bokodi – Budapest

After spending a lovely morning at Devin Castle and Sandberg in Slovakia, we headed on to Bratislava, for the next part of our 2 weeks road trip. We only had 1 night here. However, it was enough time. Everything in the city centre was within walking distance, therefore, we did not need to use any public transport to get around. Bratislava is one very beautiful city and has become one of my top cities in Europe to visit!

Hotel

We stayed in Hotel Devin, a beautiful 4-star hotel with lots of character. The hotel was located within walking distance to the centre. Our room came with free breakfast and the hotel had some lovely spa facilities to use, after a busy day walking around the city centre.

Food

There is so much great Slovakian food to try. Unfortunately, with us only being there for one night, we only had the chance to sample a small portion of what they had to offer. Our favourites were the fried cheese, the Trdelník, their cakes, and sweet pancakes. These are a ‘must’ when you visit Bratislava.

We had tea at the Restaurant Camel. They did lovely fried cheese and fries. The staff were friendly and the location was great. The reviews on Trip Advisor are not great, however, from our experience, we could not fault them. We would happily go back there for another meal.

The Sights

Bratislava is beautiful. The city is full of so much history and character. Here are the top sights to see in Bratislava:

Hlavne Square

Hlavne Square is such a beautiful square. The square is surrounded by colourful houses, a beautiful water feature, and the Old Town Hall. The square is located in the centre of the Old Town.

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall is one of Bratislava’s oldest buildings. It was built in 1370 and was once used as a prison. Today, you can climb up the tower to get great views across the square. Unfortunately, we did not have time to do this.

Michael’s Gate

Michael’s Gate is one of Bratislava’s most photographed spots. Built in 1300, it is now the only surviving medieval gate left in Bratislava. If you have some extra time on your hands, you can climb to the top of the tower for a great view of the city. Again, we did not have time to do this.

Baštova Street

Located to the left of Michael’s Gate, is Baštova Street. Apparently, it is Bratislava’s narrowest and most romantic street! It was definitely narrow! However, I’m not sure what actually makes it romantic?

Kapitulska Street

Kapitulska Street was one of my favourite streets in Bratislava. It is a quiet, medieval street, full of run-down, colourful buildings. A street with so much character! Back in the 14th century, the first-ever school in Bratislava was located down here. It was called the Gymnasium.

St. Martin’s Cathedral

St. Martin’s Cathedral is a beautiful Gothic cathedral, located in the centre of the city. It is one of the largest and finest churches in Bratislava, but also one of the oldest too. It was built in the 12th century, originally as a Roman architecture. In the 13th century, it was changed to a Gothic style and remains that way today.

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle is not to be missed when visiting the city! The 9th-century castle is built high up on the hillside. It is worth a visit just for the views you get over the city, they are incredible! Sadly, when we arrived it was too late to inside the castle grounds.

See the Statues of Bratislava

Bratislava is full of many fun statues to get your photograph taken next to. Here are my favourite ones:

Cumil – Man at Work

There are a couple of stories behind the meaning of this statue. My favourite one is, Cumil is pepping under lady’s dresses. To find Cumil, he is located on the corner of Panska and Rybarska Brana.

Schone Naci

Schone Naci was a beloved character in Bratislava. His real name was Ignac Lamar. He was the son of a shoemaker and the grandson of a famous clown with the same name. He used to wander the streets wearing a velvet frock and a tall hat. Sadly, he died in 1967, to the horrible illness, tuberculosis. The Schone Naci statue is located on the corner of the main square.

Napoleon’s Army Soldier

Napoleon’s Army Solider, located in the main square, has become a very popular location for taking fun photos! The meaning behind the statue is according to local lore, one of his soldiers fell in love with a local girl and stayed in Bratislava. He’s commemorated forever by this statue of a leaning man in uniform.

UFO

The UFO has become such a landmark in Bratislava. Not only is it a bridge over the River Danube, but it also has a viewing platform and a restaurant at the top.

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A Guide to Bratislava