A number of communist era landmarks and elements are still visible in the Old Town of Bratislava from the time of the communist rule in Slovakia, although the city has also undergone extensive development during the last decades. It has all resulted in a wealth of architectural styles dating to different time periods – and a mix of quirky old streets such as Kapitulská, Bratislava’s oldest street from the 1200s with 15 buildings on the list of cultural and historical monuments, and more modern parts of the city including the iconic hanging minimalistic UFO Bridge (Most SNP Bridge) realised in the years 1967 – 1972, featuring a flying saucer shaped restaurant and an observation deck that provides panoramic views over the Danube and the city of Bratislava. It is the 7th largest hanging bridge in the world! No doubt there are many interesting things to do in Bratislava, including spectacular monuments, symbolic statues, as well as a spectacular castle overlooking the city.

Unarguably, the Slovak capital is full of hidden gems, remarkable sites and surprising things to see and do. There is a large number of historical buildings and landmarks to be included in a city walk through the streets of Old Town Bratislava – right from the original 14th-century city walls, beautiful churches, the Cubist synagogue building (which is now the only remaining synagogue in the city) to cultural buildings such as the Slovak National Theatre, fabulous museums and stylish palaces. It is a small European capital with barely half a million inhabitants, but it possesses everything that a capital should have within culture, history and sights. Below you will find a description of nine spectacular cultural highlights to include in your Bratislava itinerary.

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Bratislava Castle | Photo: Travel In Culture

The top sight in Bratislava is without doubt the castle atop a hill, overlooking the city and the river – its fascinating skyline can be viewed from everywhere in the Old Town, as well as the surrounding areas.

The hill was populated already in the late Stone Age, and the first settlement here by the Celts was named ‘Oppidum’. It is also known from a battle between Bavarians and Hungarians in the 10th century, and since then the fortress was all the time further developed. The castle was continuously rebuilt in the Gothic, baroque and renaissance styles in accordance with the reign, and was for instance in the 16th century influenced by King Ferdinand – and in the 18th century Maria Theresa. Its current appearence goes back to the mid-20th century.

Bratislava Castle | Photo: Travel In Culture

Bratislava Castle is today the seat of the Museum of History. Visitors can enjoy scenic views from the 47 m high Crown Tower in which the royal coronation jewels were formerly kept.

Bratislava statues – Napoleonic soldier | Photo: Travel In Culture

The city is known for its eye-catching statues and monuments erected over the the years in Bratislava. Some are quite recent statues and others refer to the communist period in Bratislava and Slovakia – for instance the monument of two lions in Spitálska Street majestically guarding the headquarters of the StB Secret Police in the past.

Bratislava statues – Cumil | Photo: Travel In Culture

Some of the most popular statues in Bratislava are the characters scattered around the Old Town: Cumil (Rubberneck) emerging from a manhole in the street (designed by Viktor Hulík in 1997), a bronze statue of a Napoleonic soldier leaning on a bench (Juraj Melis, 1997) reminding people of Napoleon’s army visiting the city in 1805 and again in 1809, the Schöner Náci statue (Juraj Melis) at the Main Square commemorating the gentleman Ignác Lamár, as well as the Hans Christian Andersen statue from 2006 by the Slovak sculptor Tibor Bartfay.

Photo: Andrzej / Pixabay

This is the largest and most noteworthy church that reached its heyday during the years 1563-1830 as the chosen coronation location of 18 Hungarian monarchs. At that time Bratislava was the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom and all coronations took place here. It features a gilded replica of the coronation crown atop the tower.

It is a three-nave Gothic church structure erected in the 15th century. As a curiosity the cathedral façade used to be part of the city walls, a detail you can still observe on the southern side of the cathedral structure.

Old Town Hall, Bratislava | Photo: Travel In Culture

Dating from the 13th century, the Old Town Hall is the focal point at the Hlavné námestie (the Main Square). It consists of a number of historical buildings from different time periods. The oldest part is a gothic edifice that served as th town hall in the 14th century. It was later extended into a complex in both Renaissance, baroque and neo-gothic style. At some point in time it was even the city prison!

Today, the town hall houses Bratislava City Museum which is the oldest museum in Slovakia. Visitors can climb the tower – and will be rewarded with magnificent views of Bratislava Old Town.

Photo: Falco / Pixabay

The 13th-century Michael’s Gate is the only one of the original four city gates through the solid fortifications still remaining. In the past it consisted of a wooden door and a drawbridge over the moat existing at that time. Its current tower was added in the 18th century with a sculpture of St Michael slaying a dragon on the very top.

Today, the construction houses the Museum of Arms, and climbing it will provide you with panoramic views of the Old Town of Bratislava. Right beneath the tower, you will find a ‘zero-kilometre’ marking the distance from the city to 29 other cities around the world.

Photo: Travel In Culture

The presidential palace, Grassalkovich Palace, dates from 1760 and was built as a summer palace in rococo / baroque style, owned by Count Anton Grassalkovich who was an advisor to Empress Maria Theresa.

In recent years Grassalkovich Palace has served other purposes – both a place for school children, and after the fall of the communist regime it has since 1989 served as the seat of the Slovak president.

Photo: Travel In Culture

St Elizabeth’s Church is also known as the Blue Church due to its colour. It is a brillant example of the art nouveau architecture found in varirious places across the city. It was erected 1909-1913 by the Hungarian architect Edmund Lechner and was intended to be a chapel for high school students. The neighbouring school was designed by the same architect.

Photo: Travel In Culture

The blue shades dominate both the exterior and the sophisticated interior of the construction, and its beautiful appearance makes it a population wedding location in the city.

Photo: Travel In Culture

The beautiful melon pink Primate’s Palace is a classicist mansion dating from the last part of the 18th century. Among other assets it features an outstanding Mirror Hall which has been used for great occasions such as the signing of the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 (linked to Napoleon’s triumph in the Battle of Austerlitz).

Other noteworthy elements are the English tapestries and the picture gallery of Hungarian rulers. Now the palace serves as the seat of Bratislava’s mayor.

Photo: Travel In Culture

The Slavín monument is a reminiscence of the socialist era in Bratislava and commemorates the fallen soldiers of the Soviet Red Army who lost their lives at the end of World War II. Rising atop a hill in the outskirts of Bratislava, it reminds the residents of Bratislava of the communist past.

This memorial is the largest war memorial in Central Europe and the burial ground of 6845 Soviet soldiers.

Sadly enough, the nearby Church of Our Lady was destroyed in 1960 by the communists since they considered it to be a possible threat to the Slavín memorial.

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