Bratislava is an amazing city: small, walking-friendly, with a beautiful old town, lots of nice restaurants and a vibrant amount of travellers and locals who meet in the streets of this city. Because of that, it is the perfect choice for a weekend of culture and enjoyment.
Located just 60 km away from Vienna. It is located by the Danube River. Bratislava, the Slovak capital, is also attractive because of the Carpathian Mountains nearby. Travellers from all over the world come attracted by the nature and landscape, but also for its rich culture.
In the city, the
Hostel Patio Bratislava offers nice accommodation for travellers, starting at 12 Euro. It is located close to the old town, in an area with also many restaurants and other interesting places.
Friday evening – Bratislava Castle and great food
We arrived on Friday evening, and we immediately went out. The first thing we visited was the Bratislava Castle, majestic building located close to the Danube and in front of the Slovakian Parliament. It was built in an isolated hill, and because of that it is visible from the whole city. It has a restaurant, and during the year several exhibitions and activities take place. The entrance to the backyards is free.
The recommendation we got for dinner was the First Slovak Pub, a bit far away from the old town (15 minutes’ walk from the Bratislava Castle), but famous for its inexpensive and great local food.
The place looks really cozy, old and well maintained, with many tables and several smoking and non-smoking areas. We got an excellent dinner for 2, consisting of typical Slovak recipes and 4 black beers, all for less than 25 Euro! Also, for 3 Euro one can buy a postcard, which will be sent for free worldwide.
Saturday – Interstellar drinks and culinary discoveries
The second highlight of Bratislava, after the Bratislava Castle, is the UFO Tower. It is located in the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising, which everybody calls the UFO Bridge. It is also the world's longest cable-stayed bridge with just one pylon. To go up to the UFO observation deck, one should walk to the main tower and get an elevator which costs 7,50 Euro. It is not cheap, but it is totally worth it. The view of the city and the Bratislava Castle is amazing!
Also, and for the same price, one can get inside the UFO, in a very nice restaurant-bar. Cocktails are not cheap, but it is a unique experience to drink en enjoy with such a nice view into a UFO. Our choice was a very nice local white wine, for 2,5 euros a glass. Don´t forget to take a look in the toilettes: all private WC cabins have a glass wall, directly looking at the city.
During the evening, the best option is to walk the old city and look at the many people, restaurants and shops. We visited the Bratislava Brewery for an amazing dinner, which is also located a bit out of the city (5-minute walk from the old town), and we made a culinary discovery: sauerkraut soup, which is at the same time spicy and a bit sweet, with tomato-sausage taste! Really incredible and cheap – just 2,5 euros! Also, black beer is a highlight, and for 2 euros one get a 0,5 L mug of fresh and tasty beer, brewed directly at that place.
Sunday – culture and history
On Sunday morning, before to leave, we decided to visit the Slovak National Museum. It is located just in front of the Danube River, in an area where parking is for free during the weekend.
The entrance costs just 4 euros, and I must say that it is one of the best museums of this type I have ever seen: Lots of local cultural artifacts, interesting exhibitions (the current was about paper mortuaries: poster-like obituaries of royal families, nicely restored), a really well done history timeline and paleontology area with amazing fossils, minerals and rocks from the area, and a great collection of local flora and fauna. We had such a great time at the museum: Instead of the hour we planned to visit the museum, we spent three hours through the 4 floors and more than 10 different exhibitions. It is also totally recommended for visits with children.
Bratislava has so much to offer: Great restaurants, historic sightseeing, culture and much more. Also, its size makes it perfect for a weekend visit to walk around, enjoy and feel the incredible environment in this wonderful city.
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