Bratislava, a surprisingly interesting city

I really believe that you cannot say that you have visited a city unless you have felt a bit of its vibe and of course, unless you have had the chance to admire at least a few of its most representative places.

I must confess that although I have passed through the capital of Slovakia a few times, this city didn’t really awake my interest and curiosity until this year. Despite this feeling, a part of me felt that this city was hiding something which had to be discovered and admired. Fortunately, my intuition didn’t fail me and to my great surprise Bratislava offered me a lovely travel experience.

Bratislava is considered the largest city in Slovakia and the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country. Blessed with an interesting architecture which combines classical elements with contemporary details, the city has a lot to offer when it comes to interesting tourist attractions. Even if the Austrian and Hungarian influences can be felt all over the city, Bratislava has its own distinctive vibe.

I must say that the city didn’t impress me at first sight, but when I reached the old town, I was really delighted by a very pleasant medieval vibe. The narrow streets, the old buildings, the historic churches, the interesting castles, the palaces and the impressive monuments are some of the places which portray the beauty of Bratislava.

Once you pass through Michael’s Gate, which is a very well-preserved monument, you will plunge into a totally different atmosphere.

Next to the gate there is the entrance to Michael’s Tower which houses the Museum of Arms and if you choose to climb into this tower you will also have the chance to admire a lovely view over the old town. A narrow street will lead you to the Main Square which hosts the Old Town Hall and Maximilian’s Fountain, two representative tourist attractions.

In this street you can admire a few statues which seem to welcome you to the old center. These famous statues in Bratislava are very appreciated by the tourists and they are among the most photographed attractions in the city.

The Primate’s Palace, which serves as the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava is situated a little farther. One of the most emblematic places in the city is the lovely St. Martin’s Cathedral, a Gothic edifice which reminds of the glorious past of the city.

Not far from this cathedral there is the UFO, an interesting observation deck situated on the pylons of the lovely and modern SNP Bridge. This is the place from where you can admire an amazing panoramic view over the entire city and also over the famous Hrad Castle or Bratislava Castle. The castle is the symbol of Bratislava and it hosts the Museum of History. Situated on one of the highest hills in the city, Bratislava Castle offers a wonderful view over the entire city.

The Presidential Palace, an interesting summer palace which is situated very close to the old town is another interesting tourist attraction in Bratislava.

Another place which definitely deserves everyone’s attention is Slavin, the largest war memorial monument and cemetery in Central Europe. Slavin is also situated on one of the highest hills in the city and thanks to its position you will have another opportunity to admire a panoramic view over the entire area.

Last but not least, you should definitely visit the lovely St. Elizabeth’s Church or the Blue Church, as it is called. This edifice is my favorite place in Bratislava thanks to its charming architecture. I must say that I could have spent hours looking at this lovely church. The blend between the lovely shade of blue and all those details that seem to be made of lace is incredibly interesting.

It goes without saying that I really liked Bratislava and all its interesting tourist attractions. The places I talked about are my favorite ones, but believe me this charming city has a lot more to offer.

To conclude, in order to discover what a city is hiding, you have to give it a chance even if you don’t have high expectations of it. This was exactly what happened in my case and I don’t regret my visit there at all. Give Bratislava a chance and I’m sure you’ll be surprised in a very pleasant way!

1.St.Michael’s Gate&Tower