©

Shutterstock 

Bratislava Castle -

Bratislava's cultural showpiece is its castle, a massive four-tower structure that's impossible to miss. The largest and tallest tower is the Crown Tower. It's also the oldest, dating back to the 13th century.

©

Shutterstock 

Bratislava Castle grounds -

A castle has stood on this site since the 9th century. What you see today, however, is largely a result of careful restoration work carried out in the 1950s. The building houses a branch of the Slovak National Museum, which is worth browsing after you've explored the extensive grounds.

©

Shutterstock 

Michael's Gate -

Michael's Gate is another iconic Bratislava landmark. This is the only remaining city gate that has been preserved from the medieval fortifications. Inside, an engaging exhibition chronicles the history of the city walls. The top of the tower can be accessed and affords rewarding views of the Old Town.

©

Getty Images 

Hviezdoslav Square -

While the views from the castle and Michael's Gate provide an overall perspective of the city, it's from picturesque Hviezdoslav Square that a walking tour of Bratislava should begin. The square is named after Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav (1849–1921), Slovakia's most beloved poet.

©

Shutterstock 

Old Slovak National Theatre -

Located on Hviezdoslav Square, the old Slovak National Theatre was opened in 1920. The historic Neo-Renaissance venue is appreciated for representing Slovak culture on its numerous tours abroad.

©

Shutterstock 

Bratislava City Museum -

Bratislava's Old Town Hall is the oldest town hall in the country. Completed in 1599, it is also one of the oldest stone buildings still standing in the city. Inside is the Bratislava City Museum.

©

Shutterstock 

Grassalkovich Palace -

The 17th-century Grassalkovich Palace is the official residence of Slovakia's president and, while not open to the public, visitors are free to wander the gardens. On a historical note, Austrian composer Joseph Hayden (1732–1809) premiered and conducted some of his most famous works here.

©

Shutterstock 

Primate's Palace -

Don't miss the late 18th-century Primate's Palace. A guided tour of its ornate interior includes entry to the Hall of Mirrors. This stunning salon witnessed the 1805 signing of the Fourth Peace of Pressberg between Napoleon and the Holy Roman Emperor to end the War of the Third Coalition.

©

Shutterstock 

Church of St. Elizabeth -

A wonderful example of Art Nouveau architecture, the Church of St. Elizabeth will definitely leave you feeling blue in the positive sense! Its colorful facade, mosaics, majolicas, and roof has everybody calling it the "Blue Church."

©

Shutterstock 

Street art -

Watch your step as you breeze through Bratislava's Old Town. The district is enhanced with numerous whimsical bronze statues, the most famous of which is this guy, Cumil, a sewage worker who appears from out of a manhole.

©

Getty Images 

St. Martin's Cathedral -

St. Martin's Cathedral looms over the city's historical center as the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava. Its 85-m (279 ft) spire dominates the skyline.

©

Shutterstock 

New Slovak National Theatre -

In contrast to it venerable cousin, the new Slovak National Theatre officially holds all three performance ensembles—opera, ballet, and drama. It's always worth checking the theater's website for details of what's on and when.

©

Getty Images 

Kamzík TV Tower -

Sited on the edge of the city deep within the Bratislava Forest Park and the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the 196-meter-tall (634 ft) Kamzík TV Tower features an observation tower from where you can take in sweeping views of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary in the distance. The tower can be reached by hiking trail or chairlift. The park meanwhile is a popular outdoor activities destination.

©

Shutterstock 

Devín Castle -

Located in the suburbs of Bratislava near the border with Austria is one of the oldest castles in the country, Devín Castle. This top tourist draw dates back to the 9th century and is found perching on the crown of a precipitous cliff.

©

Shutterstock 

Bratislava Zoo -

White lions and white tigers are among the resident beasts waiting to welcome visitors to Bratislava Zoo. The rare big cats number some of the more than 1,150 animals cared for at this excellent facility.

©

Shutterstock 

Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum -

Enjoying a dramatic setting on the banks of the Danube is the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum. Located 20 km (12 mi) south of the city center and served by good public transport links, the museum is appreciated for the 40 or so pieces of sculpture surrounding the building, including 'Runner' (pictured) created by Slovakian artist Svetozar Ilavsky.

©

Getty Images 

Danube River -

Slicing Bratislava in half is the Daube, Europe's second-largest river. Lining the banks of this famous waterway is a collection of hotels, bars, and restaurants. But if you have an appetite for exploring further, why not board a riverboat to reach either Vienna or Budapest, both less than two hours away?

©

Shutterstock 

Most SNP -

Straddling the Danube is Most SNP, a bridge more commonly referred to as the UFO Bridge. One of the city's most eye-catching modern structures, it was built to honor the Slovak National Uprising. It's arguably better known, however, for the saucer-shaped restaurant atop its single, asymmetrical pylon.

©

Shutterstock 

Slovak National Gallery -

The Slovak National Gallery is an umbrella term for a network of galleries in Slovakia. In Bratislava you can find two of them, Esterházy Palace (pictured) and the Water Barracks, both of which are set on the Danube waterfront.

©

Shutterstock 

Gate of Freedom -

The city's own memorial to those who were murdered or persecuted under communist rule is called Brana Slobody, the Gate of Freedom. It commemorates those killed on the border while trying to slip through the Iron Curtain and escape to freedom.

©

Shutterstock 

Bunker BS-8 -

Petržalka on the edge of the city is where you'll find a string of concrete bunkers scattered across the landscape. They were built in the 1930s to defend what was then Czechoslovakia against invasion by Nazi Germany. The best preserved example is bunker BS-8 (pictured), which is maintained as a museum by a team of dedicated volunteers.

©

Getty Images 

Bratislava Tramway Tunnel -

Make a point of boarding the tram that takes you through the Bratislava Tramway Tunnel. Built between 1943 and 1949, the tunnel carries the line that runs under Bratislava Castle.

©

Shutterstock 

Slavín -

The obelisk pointing skyward at Slavín is the most obvious landmark of a stark and poignant memorial monument set over the burial ground of thousands of Soviet Army soldiers who fell during the Second World War while liberating the city from its occupying German forces.

©

Getty Images 

House of the Good Shepherd -

This evocative Bratislava property is known as the House of the Good Shepherd. It was built in 1760–1765 in the Rococo-style for a wealthy merchant. Today, the house is home to the Museum of Clocks, which exhibits antique clocks made from the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

©

Shutterstock 

Eurovea -

Bratislava's Old Town adequately caters for shoppers seeking traditional souvenirs and other mementos of their stay in the city. But for a more involved retail therapy session head over to Eurovea, a modern business, retail, and residential complex set near Apollo Bridge.

©

Shutterstock 

Bryndzové Halušky -

Bratislava's dining scene is deliciously eclectic, and you'll rarely be disappointed by any restaurant menu. A must-try dish is the ubiquitous Bryndzové Halušky, a rich, magical combination of strong cheese and dumplings, often topped by a sprinkling of crispy bacon.

©

Shutterstock 

Skalický Trdelník -

Those with a sweet tooth will find salvation in Skalický Trdelník, the traditional spit cake named for the way it's baked wrapped around a spit. It's a well-known East European dessert, but the original recipe is said to come from the small Slovakian town of Skalica.

©

Shutterstock 

Slovakian wine -

The vineyards embroidering the countryside surrounding Bratislava yield some of the country's finest wines. An excursion to nearby Modra, one of the cities on the Carpathian Wine Route, is where to sample the fruits of the local winemaker's labor.

©

Shutterstock 

Christmas market -

If visiting Bratislava over the festive season, you're in for a treat. One of Europe's most celebrated Christmas markets unfolds across Hviezdoslav Square at this time of year.

Sources (Monuments of Remembrance)(On Foodie Trail) (Wine-Searcher) 

See also: The best places to spend a white Christmas around the world

©

Shutterstock