In many ways, the whole of Bratislava is a hidden gem. While it may be the capital and most populated city of the country of Slovakia, Bratislava still flies a little under the radar when it comes to international tourism. Bratislava is the most-visited location for the five million or so tourists who come to Slovakia every year, but many of those tourists come from the neighboring Czech Republic, which was once part of the same country of Czechoslovakia. International tourism is certainly not unheard of in Bratislava, but the city still has a way to go to catch up with nearby cities like Vienna and Prague.
That’s undeniably part of the charm of Bratislava. This small city has a wonderfully walkable historic center packed with fascinating historic monuments, along with bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal at a fraction of the cost it would be in better-known cities.
Bratislava’s best-known attractions are the city’s striking white castle, the Blue Church, and Michael’s Gate – all of them a short walk from each other. Once you’ve seen the major attractions of the Slovak capital, there’s much more to explore. Leave your bags behind at a Bratislava suitcase storage and check out an even more hidden side of this already underrated city.
Explore the Danube
Bratislava straddles the Danube River, one of the most important waterways in Europe. That gives the city some great water-based activities that you might not expect to find in a national capital.
During the summer, the Danube is where you’ll find city residents taking a break from the heat and enjoying spending some time on the water. Bratislava’s Old Town Beach is, as the name implies, the nearest beach to the Old Town, and it’s a wonderful place to go for a swim and enjoy a drink or a meal on a summer’s day.
Further along the river, you’ll find a variety of activity centers that help you get out on the water. Areál Divoká Voda is a water sports center on the Danube that has produced several Olympic athletes and allows you to engage in sports like rafting and canoeing. You can also try kiteboarding and waterskiing or stay on land and enjoy activities like beach volleyball and paintball. This is a fabulous activity center to visit if you’re looking for something to do in the city and a great way to enjoy the river that has defined Bratislava throughout the years.
For centuries, the Danube acted like a natural highway connecting cities throughout central Europe, so if you’d like to see more of this historic waterway, you can embark on a speedboat tour that will take you to some of the most beautiful locations along the river. Finally, there are also more leisurely river cruises that can help you explore the Slovakian countryside at a more sedate pace.
Bunker BS-8
During the Cold War, Bratislava was on the front line. Right at the edge of the Iron Curtain, the city was under the Soviet sphere of influence, while just across the Danube lay the capitalist West. For that reason, several fortifications were built in the area against the possibility of a NATO attack that never materialized.
Bunker BS-8 lies just to the south of the city of Bratislava, right on the current border with Austria, and it was originally built prior to the Second World War to defend against attack from Germany. However, military history in the area goes back even further, thanks to the presence of a cemetery from World War I. This frontier area has seen a lot of action over the course of the 20th century, and now the bunker is preserved as a military history museum you can visit to learn more about Slovakia during the wars that shaped the continent.
Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum
The setting of this little-known art museum is just as spectacular as any art you’ll find inside. Located on a peninsula that juts out into the wide river, this location feels almost coastal, and the modern-looking museum seems to rise directly out of the water itself.
Inside, you’ll find an eclectic collection of modern art belonging to Gerard Meulensteen. Meulensteen is one of the world’s greatest collectors of Slovakian art, but the museum also exhibits works by artists from across the world. The ever-changing exhibits here help to bring new art to the city, making this a must-visit for any art lover in Bratislava.
Kamzik Tower
Bratislava’s Soviet-era UFO bridge is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and a great place to get a good view. However, if you want something a little more obscure, make the journey to Kamzik Tower. This television broadcast tower forms the second highest point in the city, and there is an observation deck that will give you an unrivaled view of the city and its countryside, including the countries surrounding Slovakia.
The tower is easy to reach via trolley bus 203, though you will have a 45-minute walk from the station up to the tower itself. An easy way to get here is to rent a car and drive. But however you get here, you’ll be treated to incredible views and a place that very few foreign tourists even know about, so it’s worth seeking out to enjoy this underrated attraction not far from the center of Bratislava itself.
Hidden Bratislava
The city of Bratislava itself may be something of a hidden gem. But with every passing year, more and more tourists discover the charm of this small city for themselves.
Still, there are plenty of places where intrepid travelers can get away from the crowds and see a more hidden side of the city. Leave your bags behind and track down some of these gems to explore the Slovakian capital to the fullest.
Photo: Lukáš Kulla
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