Things to Do in Bratislava, Slovakia

From the Main Square we walked to leafy Hviezdoslav Square and on to Rybné námestie, where the UFO Bridge (Most SNP) over the Danube rises behind the plague column. On Panská street we stepped into the old St. Martin pharmacy shop, still fitted out like a historic apothecary.

Bratislava’s Old Town is compact: the Main Square, the cathedral and the foot of the castle hill are a short walk apart.

Want to stay nearby? Look at the Old Town, Staré Mesto: the Main Square, the cathedral and the foot of the castle hill are all a few minutes’ walk.

We went inside: the Gothic nave, the altar, the equestrian statue of St. Martin and the crypt you can see through a glass floor.

Visiting hours are Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 18:00, Sunday 13:30 to 16:00 (official info, October 2026). It closes over lunch.

Want to stay nearby? Look around the cathedral; the castle hill and the Main Square are both about five minutes on foot.

Riding past the tram line we spotted the Slovak Radio building, shaped like an upside-down pyramid. It’s still the radio’s headquarters, so we only saw it from outside.

Want to stay nearby? Look at the northern edge of the Old Town around Michael’s Gate; the radio building and Obchodná street are a few minutes away.

We walked around the reliefs, the steps, the tall central column and the graves. The views over the castle and the city are excellent.

Want to stay nearby? Look at the main station side; Slavín is about 10 minutes on foot, and the trains to Vienna and Budapest leave from there.

We walked through the courtyard, the gates and the baroque garden, and past the equestrian statue of King Svätopluk at the entrance.

The grounds are open daily 8:00 to 22:00. The museum’s basic ticket is €14; it opens every day except Tuesday, 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:00 (official info, October 2026). We didn’t go into the museum.

Want to stay nearby? Look at Podhradie and Palisády below the castle: quiet streets, with the Old Town just downhill.

After the castle we came down to Obchodná street for lunch; Slovak Pub is on this street. After eating we walked along it for a while: the tram runs down the middle, with shops, cafés and restaurants on both sides. We didn’t go into the shops; for shopping it’s the long street closest to the Old Town.

We arrived early and had breakfast on the terrace of Café Mayer on the Main Square. The croissant was genuinely good; if you stop here, grab one. The counter was full of cakes too.

This place came highly recommended, so we ordered garlic soup in a bread bowl, goulash and a mixed plate of three traditional dishes, with the pub’s well-known dark beer. The goulash and the beer were good; honestly, the rest of Slovak cooking didn’t win us over. Try it yourself, you might love it.

Some traditional plates, such as bryndzové halušky, come with bacon, so ask if you don’t eat pork.