June 2019 in Bratislava

Recently I read that Bratislava is said to be the undiscovered city along the Danube. Well, now that we're here, I can't confirm that. It's not exactly undiscovered.

At least on Saturday, our arrival day, we were anything but alone in the Old Town. One Asian tour group after another pushed through the narrow streets. There were also many British compatriots sitting together, enjoying their drinks as usual. The beer tastes excellent, too! And on top of all that, there were countless day tourists from neighboring Austria. Who can blame them?

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is actually only a few kilometers away from Austria. We also arrived by train from Vienna. It only takes a little over an hour by train to get here. The two capital cities are indeed only about 60 kilometers apart, making them the closest to each other in Europe (excluding Vatican City).

Both cities are also located on the Danube, so many river cruise ships make a stop here. That means their guests can also be found in the city.

It's not surprising, then, that a local tour guide once said that Bratislava doesn't need any tourist advertising at all because people come here on their own.

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So is it still worth visiting Bratislava? On Saturday, I was close to saying no. It was just too crowded. But then on Sunday, it became noticeably quieter. And suddenly the charms of the Old Town came to light. It's partly medieval, but there are also more recent buildings among them.

The actual landmark of Bratislava, however, is the castle that towers prominently on a hill. It can be visited both from the outside and the inside. However, this time we were denied a view of the interior due to a NATO conference.

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Bratislava has over 400,000 inhabitants and is characterized by modernity except for the Old Town. So there are many high-rise residential buildings, mostly panel buildings or similar. The road network also seems modern and well-developed. Right next to the historic city walls, you can even find a wide road with a lot of traffic. It's not exactly beautiful, but certainly very practical.

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Ein on the other hand, for those interested in tourism, there is the UFO Tower. It is part of a cable-stayed bridge over the Danube. Those who, like us, want to visit the observation deck located at a height of 95 m, can do so for a fee using an elevator. Right below it is a beautiful tower restaurant. Here you can enjoy delicious drinks and snacks with a great view. I especially recommend a trip to the restroom. You've certainly never had such a view while doing your business!

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By the way, for those who, like us, live a bit outside the city center and arrive by train, the very affordable day ticket for public transportation is worth it. It only costs 3.50 euros for 24 hours.

In summary, I can recommend a short trip to Bratislava, and if you look at my photos, you'll know why. Greetings from the travel aunt