Vienna To Bratislava — A One-Day Trip On The Danube River To Europe’s Hidden Gem
Bratislava, the capital of a less known country called Slovakia. Situated on the riverbanks of the Danube and Morava rivers, it’s one of four capitals on the Danube.
This city is lesser known, and some may say it’s one of Europe’s hidden gems, but is truly charming. It was a surprise to me with its charming Old Town and old time buildings, the sights, the city life, the cuisine, and so much more.
If you have never heard of the city or you’re interested but you don’t know too much things about it, keep reading.
How to get to the city
Since the city is technically in the heart of Europe, it’s actually pretty easy to reach the city in various ways.
By plane
Bratislava has an international airport located less than 10 km away from the city. It offers direct flights from and to many destinations in Europe. Keep in mind that Vienna Schwechat Internationa airport is about 40 km away from Bratislava for long-distance flights.
By train
Bratisava is connected to the main lines from Prague, Budapest, Vienna, and many regions in Slovakia. So if you’re staying in any of those cities and are looking for an adventure — get the train and go to Bratislava.
By bus
By bus you can reach Bratislava from various European destinations (even more than with a train).
By boat
This one is my favorite one because you can always get on a bus, train, car, but not always can you get on a boat to get to another city. Because it’s situated on the Danube river, there are regular direct connections from Vienna to Bratislava, called Twin City Liner. When I visited Bratislava, I took the catamaran from Vienna and in just 70 minutes I was there. Of course, you can also do a full-on cruise and visit other cities on the Danube river that include Bratislava.
Recreational vehicle
If you have a van or an RV, what better than a roadtrip around Slovakia, in which you can include Bratislava as well since there are a few camps that provide spaces for RVs.
By car
More information on how to reach Bratislava you can find in the Visit Bratislava website.
Getting to Bratislava from Vienna by the Twin City Liner
In May this year, I gifted myself a 4-day trip to Vienna. While looking for interesting things to do and see in Vienna, I stumbled upon the Twin City Liner which takes you from Vienna to Bratislava. And this seemed so fun and cool — so I booked it. Granted, it’s a bit more expensive way to reach Bratislava than the other ways above with tickets beginning at 25.00 Euros per person (with discounts for kids and people with Vienna City Card) but I thought why not. And it was actually super fun.
If you’re in Vienna and would like to go to Bratislava with the Liner, all you have to do is hop on the U1 metro line and get off at metro station Schwedenplatz, and there you are, you will see the building of the Twin City Liner where you have a nice cafe and waiting area. You can buy tickets from there or online. On board of the catamaran, you will find a bar that offers drinks, coffee, and light snacks. You can pay in cash and with a card. If the weather is nice, you can sit on the upper deck — but keep in mind it will be quite windy as the catamaran travels with 70 km per hour.
One thing to note: You must have a valid travel document — passport or an ID as you will be traveling across borders to another country.
And just like that, in just over an hour, you are in Bratislava’s river port. When I went there, I decided to explore around on my own, but of course, you can book a guided trip from a platform like GetYourGuide. A tip from me, especially if you’ve decided to explore on your own, get the Bratislava CARD for discounts and free entries. But even without such a card, the city is quite affordable in comparison with other European cities. Bratislava is very walkable but the public transportation system is also very good with trams, busses, and trolleybusses.
And what about the landmarks themselves? Here is what you should visit on your trip to Bratislava.
I was on a day-trip so I was not able to see everything. One place I regret not visiting is the Devin Castle ruins. It’s outside of the city so you will have to either rent a car or use the public transport. On our way to the city, we saw the ruins from the boat, and the place looked incredible. It’s situated at 212 m above sea level and overlooks both the Danube and Morava river. The place looks like it has an interesting history and I’m sure the view from above is amazing. So next time I’m in the city, I’m visiting for sure.
The 95m UFO Observation Tower
One of the places in Bratislava with a gorgeous view of the entire city. The tower is located on the top of the SNP Bridge and is 95 m high. The observation deck provides a 360 degrees view of the city.
The ticket prices are 9.90/11.90 Euros (with Bratislava CARD you get 20% discount)
The Bratislava Castle / Museum Of History
The Bratislava Castle and castle grounds is located on the opposite riverbank of the UFO tower. It’s another place that offers a killer view of the city as it is situated on the top of a hill. The castle also houses the museum of history where you can learn more about Bratislava and Slovakia’s history from medieval times to the present. And given that it’s a castle, and well preserved one, you can enjoy the amazing interior dating all the way back to Maria Theresa’s reign.
The entire castle grounds and gardens are stunning and so well taken care of. If you visit during spring, you can even see the gardens in their full bloom with flowers all over the place.
The castle grounds are free to enter but the museum’s tickets are 14.00 Euros (with Bratislava CARD you get a 100% discount)
The Charming Old Town
Wherever I go, I love strolling through the streets of old towns. I just find that the Old Buildings and cobblestone streets are so charming and have such a lovely feel to them. And Bratislava’s Old Town does not disappoint with nice street cafes and restaurants, shops, old buildings and hidden corners.
The Danube Promenade
Have a nice chill walk or a picnic on the Danube promenade. There is a nice walking area on both sides of the river where you can sit on a bench or at any of the restaurants and enjoy yourself.
Old Town Hall Tower
The tower of the old town hall provides you with a breathtaking view of the old town. You can visit it alone or in addition to a tour of the Old Town Hall.
The ticket for just the tower is 4.00 Euros (with Bratislava CARD you get 100% discount), and if you want to get the entire tour, the price is 8.00 Euros.
With all that wandering around the city, you surely will have to grab something to eat or drink. Since I was not in the city for too long, I could not visit more places but went to a pastry shop which I fell in love with. If you ever go to Bratislava and want a coffee and something sweet like a cake or a pastry, you should check out the Konditorei Kormuth. This is a historical patisserie in the Old Town, offering lots of types of desserts, including traditional ones, and coffee. The cakes and everything they serve are really tasty and the interior of the place is just incredible. As if you are eating in an art museum. I had a blueberry cake and a cappuccino, and I cannot recommend it more.
Besides all that, Bratislava offers museums, traditional and modern cuisine, art galleries, and cultural events. And if you have more time in the city, why not travel outside the city and experience the nature and culture of the local people outside the big city?
For me, I can say that I will be returning to Bratislava again someday, this time for longer, to experience and explore more of this wonderful place. Turns out that it truly is one of the lesser-known, but just as interesting, hidden gems in Europe.
Have you been to Bratislava before? If you haven’t would you visit?
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