By: Bound2explore August 30, 2018
I’m a big fan of a day trip to another city or country. Some city are quite small that you will be able to explore most of it in one day. Since Bratislava, Slovakia is the closest Capital City to Vienna, I decided to do a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna, Austria. The trip only took one hour by train. You don’t need to book your ticket ahead of time. The train runs every hour from Vienna Central Station.
If you are ready for a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna, here is on how to start. Take a train from Vienna Central Station to Bratislava Hlavna Stanica or Bratislava Central Station. From there you can walk to the downtown or you can take a bus or taxi. Taking a taxi is more convenient but if you are feeling athletic like me then you can walk and bump into the cute spot along the way. You never know what adventure awaits you when you do a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna.
While there is a guided tour for a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna, exploring on your own is a better option. With a guided tour, you will visited only few places and you will miss so many other must see places, local hang out or unique souvenir stores and café along the way. Besides, the city is quite safe, it is perfect even for solo female traveler. If you are ready to explore Bratislava, the following are the must see places for a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna.
Grassalkovich Palace
Grassalkovich Palace is located less than 1 miles from Bratislava Central Station. You can easily reach it by foot. This palace is a residence of the President of Slovakia. While you won’t be able to enter the palace, you can watch the changing of the guard ceremony in the afternoon. Behind the palace, you can enjoy a large French Garden. From here, you can continue to walk to Michael’s Gate.
Michael’s Gate
Michael’s gate is a medieval gate to the city old town. It was constructed back in the 13th century. If you are interested in the museum of arm, you can visit museum in Michael’s Gate which open every day except Monday.
Old Town
Old Town is the center of Bratislava. This historic neighborhood is filled with charming old houses and narrow lanes. While you stroll along its narrow lane and enjoy the old architecture, you can get a sense of true Bratislava. Here you can also take a trolley tour that will take you around the old town. This is my favorite part of Bratislava. It is really fun to wander around this part of the city during a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna.
Bratislava Castle
This massive rectangular building is located on the top of the hill. You can easily spot this castle from the down town and it is within walking distance from Old Town. Bratislava Castle was built back in the 9th century. Each corner of the castle is decorated with a tower. Now it is open for public and operate as a museum.
Lemontree Sky Bar and Restaurant
Why this restaurant is a must see place? Because it offers the best view of Bratislava. While the price is a little bit pricy from Slovakian standard, the view itself is worth the price of the food. Not because I received a complimentary appetizer from a chef but the food is definitely tasty especially if you are into Asian fusion kind of food. If you are not into the food, just go there for a drink while enjoying a stunning view of Bratislava. I’m sure you will enjoy the view to make it worth a visit during a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna.
Danube River
If you take a walk from Lemontree Sky Bar and Restaurant to Danube River, you will pass a town square and bump into street vendors who sells different kind of souvenir. You will also bump into other landmark and sculpture. That’s why exploring on your own is the best way to get to know the city. Stroll along Danube River and enjoy the view. The better option is to return to Vienna with a cruise. You can cruise from Bratislava to Vienna along Danube River.
UFO Restaurant
A short walk from Old Town. This restaurant also offers a nice view of Bratislava. It is located on the pillars of Bratislava UFO Bridge over Danube River. The bridge connects the old town and Petrzalka, another borough in Bratislava. You can skip the meal and go straight for observation deck. There is an entrance fee to access observation deck. The best time to go is during the sunset. If you want to go there for a meal, it is better to make a reservation in advance.
Hope this itinerary help you to make a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna memorable and fun.
