Where We Be
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| You may be pleasantly surprised by Bratislava with its pretty setting on the Danube River and its castle perched on high |
| Bratislava, Slovakia |
It's actually possible to see all of the big sights
of Bratislava in a single day. Historic Old Town
is fun to experience on foot -- it's like one big
pedestrian zone filled with cobblestone lanes,
burghers' houses, souvenir shops, and cafes.
On a pleasant day, it sometimes seems like the
entire population of the city is dining outdoors.
Start your walking tour at Michael’s Gate, the
last standing gate of Bratislava’s medieval
fortifications. From here it's a short stroll to
Hlavne Namestie, the charming main square in
the heart of Old Town. Here you'll find Old Town
Hall with its clock tower and the Cumil Statue,
an amusing statue of a worker peering out of a
manhole. A bit further afield is the Blue Church,
an Art Nouveau powder-blue church that's too
pretty to miss. From here it's a short walk to the
lookout on Old Bridge (Stary Most), perfect for
photos of Bratislava Castle (see photo at left).
Stroll along the river towards the castle, then
head up, up, up to the castle itself. The castle is
the visual highlight of the city, and it's worth the
climb for the views of the city spread out below.
of Bratislava in a single day. Historic Old Town
is fun to experience on foot -- it's like one big
pedestrian zone filled with cobblestone lanes,
burghers' houses, souvenir shops, and cafes.
On a pleasant day, it sometimes seems like the
entire population of the city is dining outdoors.
Start your walking tour at Michael’s Gate, the
last standing gate of Bratislava’s medieval
fortifications. From here it's a short stroll to
Hlavne Namestie, the charming main square in
the heart of Old Town. Here you'll find Old Town
Hall with its clock tower and the Cumil Statue,
an amusing statue of a worker peering out of a
manhole. A bit further afield is the Blue Church,
an Art Nouveau powder-blue church that's too
pretty to miss. From here it's a short walk to the
lookout on Old Bridge (Stary Most), perfect for
photos of Bratislava Castle (see photo at left).
Stroll along the river towards the castle, then
head up, up, up to the castle itself. The castle is
the visual highlight of the city, and it's worth the
climb for the views of the city spread out below.
| The Presidential Palace with its Peace Fountain (at the edge of Old Town) is another worthwhile sight, time permitting |
| Michael’s Gate (aka Michalska Brania) dates back to the 13th century and once crossed a moat |
| Heading towards the main square, you'll pass plenty of cafes and shops |
| Because all of Old Town is pedestrianized, you can actually hear the water pouring from this fountain |
| The street widens out into Hlavne Namestie, the heart of Old Town |
| The amusing Cumil Statue on the main square is a must-see for most tourists, including us |
| Old Town Hall with its clock tower is one of the oldest stone buildings in the ctiy, dating back to 1370 |
| Photo-op statues abound on the main square |
| Interior of the Blue Church (also blue) |
| From here it's just a short stroll to the Old Bridge (Stary Most) |
| The Old Bridge lookout offers fine views of Bratislava Castle and the spire of St. Martin's Cathedral |
| Stroll along the Danube towards the castle, past fine buildings like this engineering school |
| On the other bank of the Danube is what's known as the "UFO Tower" |
| Just before New Bridge (Novy Most), take a quick detour away from the river for a glimpse of St. Martin's Cathedral |
| And up...and up...and up |
| The castle grounds are pleasant -- and the views of landmarks like St. Martin's Cathedral excellent |
| The bird's-eye views of the red roofs of Old Town are the main reason to climb up here |
| You'll also get good views of the Danube (we watched with bated breath as this extra-long river boat made a U-turn under the bridge, practically touching the banks on either side) |
| Pedestrianized streets make Old Town a charming place to stroll |
| And a comfy bed at the Loft Hotel is a great way to finish -- from here it's only a ten-minute walk to Old Town in one direction and Hlavna Stanica train station in the other |
| Just inside is Michael's Tower with its blue spire |
| Just off the main square is Bratislava's Neo-Renaissance opera house (1886) |
| It's a ten-minute walk from the main square to the Blue Church (aka Modry Kostol), but we think the Art Nouveau powder-blue church is too pretty to miss |
| The cobbled streets of Old Town beckon, but continue on towards New Bridge, where signed steps lead up towards the castle |
| Breathe a sigh of relief when you reach the top |
| Explore the gardens, statues, and monuments on the outside, but it's probably not necessary to go inside since the castle was rebuilt after World War II |
| And that's it for touring! -- spend the rest of your time relaxing at an outdoor cafe, or enjoying a paper dosa at Dosa & Samosa, or sampling the beet carpaccio with wasabi cream at Balan's Bistro |
| Coffee and croissants at Triplefive Coffee is a great way to start your day |
