Bratislava

With close neighbours such as Vienna and Budapest it might get slightly overlooked, but for no good reason, Bratislava is a real hidden gem. We visited in 2016, but don’t worry, I’ve checked everything is still as is 😊

It’s probably getting more well known as a stag do destination, but for a mid-week visit (we were there Tuesday-Thursday) it was a really nice, peaceful few days away (and the weather really helps).

The old town, where we spent most of our time is relatively small, with lots of windy streets with bar and restaurants to explore, but below I’ve just summarised a few of the highlights from our trip and places you might want to check out if you’re over there!

What we did…

I’ll start with wine, because, where else would you start in a city surrounded by vineyards! We found an awesome little wine bar and cellar called Grand Cru Wine Gallery (I’ve just checked and this place is now actually voted the #1 restaurant in Bratislava…I knew I was on to something!) Quite inconspicuous from the outside, as soon as we entered we were warmly greeted by Martin the owner, talked through the different options and directed to go have a look downstairs at the cellar. Despite the fact we only actually ordered a couple of glasses of wine each, Martin kept our glasses flowing with different wines he was really keen on and wanted to share – definitely one to give a go!

While we’re on the subject of bars, the other one to give a go (and probably the only place I had to check the price before ordering the whole time we were there) is the UFO. Aptly named, the UFO is a bar and restaurant with viewing deck 95m above the city on the banks of the. It offers unparalleled views of the city, castle and, on a good day, Austria in the background! As an added bonus, if you like a wee with a view, this one is definitely for you, with windows overlooking the 95m drop from the bathroom. It’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from the old town (and somewhere to take your significant other to impress them).

OK, so away from drinking for a bit, and one thing we love to do whenever we visit a new city is some kind of tour. Be it walking, cycling or anything else, it’s a great way to get to grips with a new city, and in the case of somewhere like Bratislava, learn some really interesting history. We opted to go for Be Free Tours. Meeting at 11am in Hviezdoslavovo Square (try saying that after a visit to Grand Cru) and taking around 2.5-3 hours, the tour gave some real insight into the history of the city and how Slovakia came to be – very eye opening. Whilst advertised as free tours, the local residents who take you around and explain about everything really know their stuff and deserve good tips.

So whether you’re booked and planning the trip, or wondering where to go this year, give Bratislava a chance!