If you want to cover a lot of things to do in Bratislava in one day, don’t worry. You can easily cover most of the city. In fact, even though we had four whole days in the city, we covered most of the attractions in 24 hours.
So how do you do it? Well the most important thing to do is to strap onto your walking shoes and get ready to walk around the city. Trust me… It won’t be overtly exerting because there really isn’t a lot of ground to cover. Plus, the public transportation system of the city is very well developed.
The thing about Bratislava is that it is a small city and its cozy. It was one of my favorite cities because I always felt unrushed while traveling around. The city has a laid back vibe and you will feel it when you reach there. So if you have 1 day in Bratislava or you have 10, you will still find this a peaceful trip.
Now if you are looking for the all the best things to do in Bratislava in one day, look no further. Just scroll below and stick with me as I take you across this beautiful city.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.
⏰ Looking for a cool tour when exploring all the things to do in Bratislava in one day? I highly recommend taking the Foodie Tour. Its the perfect way to enjoy the local cuisine. 🥘
Table of Contents
Transport In Bratislava
Bratislava is one of those easy cities to navigate. You don’t need your own mode of transport. In fact, finding parking can be super challenging. We were lucky that our apartment had free parking so we kept our car parked at all times.
The best ways to get around the city are by bus or tram. Once you reach the city center just walk everywhere you want to go. The city is small and it is super easy to get around.
Where To Stay In Bratislava?
Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava – Luxury
⭐️ Rating: 9/10 (4,614 Reviews) Price: $184 per night 📍Location: Hviezdoslavovo namestie 3, Bratislava Details: Read more on booking.com now!
I know that the Radisson Blu is this mega big brand and for some it can get boring but hear me out. This particular hotel is located right in the heart of the city. You don’t have to worry about transportation at all because you can walk everywhere from here!
The rooms are swanky and the bathrooms even have heated floors! Something that you should keep in mind if you are traveling in winter. Plus they even allow pets which is super cool. It obviously also has good, high speed and free Wi-Fi so you know that you won’t have issues working from home or just being in touch with friends and family.
“Beautiful hotel! Lovely staff. The Christmas market is directly in-front of the hotel, along with, several restaurants and shopping. The hotel is pet and family friendly. Wish we could have stayed longer.”
Thorton (read more reviews now!)
The Radisson Blu Carlton hotel also has a great restaurant that serves up traditional cuisine and uses the best ingredients available. The Mirror bar is another popular attraction not just with people who stay in the hotel but also others who want to sip some cocktails after enjoying a day out in the town. Sounds like a great place to stay if you want to cover all the things to do in Bratislava in one day, doesn’t it?
Metropolitan Star Apart Hotel – Budget
⭐️ Rating: 9.1/10 (3,598 Reviews) Price: $81 per night 📍Location: 9 Námestie 1. mája, Bratislava Details: Read more on booking.com now!
One of the best ways to find a budget accommodation for family is to look for an apartment that you can rent. This is really great when you have young children because it gives them space to run around and be free.
The Metropolitan Star Apart Hotel is a cross between an apartment and a hotel. It has spacious rooms, a living room, a kitchenette and some rooms even come with a balcony.
There are also different types of rooms available depending on the number of people that will be staying in. You will find that the kitchenette is particularly useful if you want to cook your own meals and stick within a tight budget.
“Really nice apartment near the city center. The ubication was really good just outside the city center in a big street and without hearing noises from the apartment. The apartment was big and really well equipped with anything you would need for several days, nice kitchen… Finally the decoration was very nice and everything looks very new!”
Josep (read more reviews now!)
The hotel is located very centrally. This means that you can easily walk all over the city and that is something that you really will be grateful for if you are trying to do all the things to do in Bratislava in one day.
Things To Do In Bratislava In One Day
I know that I spend a lot of time describing the best locations to stay and how to get around the city in every post but if you are looking at all the cool things to do in Bratislava in one day, you are also probably planning out your itinerary. Knowing where to stay and how to get about is always essential planning for every trip.
Anyways, so I’m going to be listing each place that you should add to your Bratislava itinerary here. Know that I’ve listed it in the order of the route that we planned. This was based on the fact that we walked everywhere and took a couple of breaks along the way because we were traveling with toddlers and had the misfortune to encounter quite a bit of rain during the day.
Many of these can be swapped around because most of the things to do in Bratislava in one day are located very close to each other.
1. The Bratislava Castle
The castle is one of the top things to do in Bratislava in one day or for that matter any trip in the city would not be complete without a visit to this iconic monument. Sitting right at the top of the hill, this castle will really exercise your calves but trust me it is totally worth it. I started off with this castle as my first stop during the day but you could modify it such that you visit it later in the day if the weather is uncooperative.
The castle has a lot to explore in terms of its inner gardens and you can spend hours taking in the view but since it was blowing like crazy we finished walking around at a quick pace.
If you want to spend a little longer here, bring a snack. It is a great place to start with breakfast on the go and a view. Oh and it also has a kids play area which is pretty cool if you are visiting with youngsters./
Pro Tip: Make sure that you carry a jacket and a scarf because it gets cold. We visited it during Autumn so we weren’t really too bad. Winter will bring in worse chills.
2. Mackafe
If you love cats then this is a stop after your own heart. An uber cute cat cafe that is located right on the way down from the castle. There are loads of super friendly cats that you can cuddle and play with. Plus the coffee is damn good here and they have a selection of different cakes that you can easily pair with your coffee or tea.
I found myself just unwinding here and working a bit. The kids loved it. it is also a great place to use the restroom after the chill if you know what I mean. For us this was our late breakfast stop. Definitely one of the best places to stop at when you are exploring all the cool things to do in Bratislava in one day.
3. Sint Martin’s Cathedral
Once you’ve satiated your hunger pangs, head down towards the town. The first stop along the way would be Sint Martin’s cathedral. From the outside this church may not look very impressive but step inside and the ornate work will blow your mind away. Did I mention that the entrance is free? So there really is nothing holding you back from exploring this particular spot and ticking it off your list of things to do in Bratislava in one day.
Oh and remember to circle round the church because there is a small courtyard on the other side which is away from the highway and it is impressive.
4. Medieval City Walls
Right next to Sint Martin’s Cathedral is the Medieval city wall. You can climb up to the top of the walls via the staircase at the side of the church. Here you will really be able to see just how wide and impressive these walls truly are. It also gives you a view of the city below.
Interestingly enough the landscape of the city has changed with time. Initially there was a synagogue that was present.
The construction of the highway that you see in front of you was the reason why the synagogue was demolished.
5. Charity Garden
While you are here, you can catch a view of the charity garden. This is a small space that was largely forgotten for a long time. It has been developed recently and will be used for public events. I found it a lovely quiet secluded spot which was filled with birds. Definitely one of the quieter places on my list of things to do in Bratislava in one day.
6. Zichy Palace
Walk along the Kapitulska road and head to the Zichy Palace. This will lead you to one of the most active parts of the old town in Bratislava. This is the area where you will find loads of souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes and more. Plus the vibe of the general area is pretty laid back and the surroundings are really pretty.
7. Michael’s Gate
Now walk towards Michael’s gate. This is one of the numerous other things to do in Bratislava in one day. The iconic gate stands tall and at its center you will find that there is a circular engraving in the ground. This will tell you the exact distance to many of the famous cities in the world including the poles.
8. Soupculture
This is hands down one of my favorite places in the city. Soupculture is one of the different restaurants in Bratislava. Now the soup is pretty much standard. I really loved how it tasted and it was perfect because the weather was chilly but the difference was how it was served.
The cup that it was served in was edible. The cup actually comes in many different flavors. I tried turmeric and loved it.
Plus the pairing between the soup and the edible cup was almost like soup and crotons or soup in a bread bowl even.
It is also so environmentally friendly. I think this is one of the things that I loved about the place. I always recommend getting a cup on the go. Put it on your list of things to do in Bratislava in one day. Trust me, you will probably circle back for seconds.
9. Church Of Stephen Of Hungary
After you’ve had your fill of clicking pics of the iconic Michael’s gate, head to the Church of Stephen of Hungary. This is the next item on our list of things to do in Bratislava in one day.
The church looks gorgeous from the outside and it is also one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city. Here you can easily catch the trams in the same frame as the church. The wide square also makes taking photographs so much easier.
10. Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace is a short walk away. Don’t worry we will be breaking for lunch immediately after this. The Presidential Palace is another gorgeous building that you can see on your walk in the city. Walking this way will lead you past many notable buildings that you can see the facades of but not get into.
I was wondering if walking to the Presidential Palace was worth it and I’ll be honest. I wouldn’t go out of my way but many of the cool restaurants in Bratislava are in the area so I chose to go either way.
11. Lunch Recommendation: Slovak Pub
One of the best places that we have eaten in was the Slovak pub. From outside the place really doesn’t look like much.
Once you head in, you will find yourself walking back in time. The ambiance here is really on spot with the wooden beams on the ceiling, the old school décor on the walls and the long wooden tables.
You don’t head here just for the décor though. It also serves up some of the best food in the city. While you are here make sure to try the Halusky and the pierogi.
There are so many different versions of it available that we were really confused. I personally loved the Halusky the best. All things said, this was one of the best restaurants in Bratislava that we had eaten at.
12. Blue Church
One of the places that my kids loved was the Blue church. This church is located a little away from the central town but it is still an easy walk to it. In fact, what we did was visit everything in the center first and then we looked at all the things to do in Bratislava in one day that were further away. The Blue church was sort off on our way to the Eurovea Mall so we chose to walk.
My kids loved the building because of its striking blue color. You can’t really see the true color because it was a very dull day when I clicked the above photograph.
13. Eurovea Mall
The Eurovea mall is located on the outskirts of the city. It has a lot of brands and shops under the same roof and is a great place to be if its raining in Bratislava. It also is home to some cool restaurants and coffee shops so you can always pause for a break in the middle of your shopping spree.
14. Go Wine Tasting
⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (60 Reviews) Price: $15.27 per person Duration: 30 – 100 minutes Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Did you know that Bratislava has some of the best wines in Europe? One way to really enjoy these delicious wines is by taking a wine tasting tour. The tours are conducted by a sommelier so you know that you are being guided by someone who really knows what they are talking about.
The best part is that you get to enjoy these different wines in a stylish cellar of the Museum of Viticulture and Enology in the Apponny Palace. The sommelier would guide you through the whole process and explain to you the differences based on taste and sensory properties.
An interesting part about the wines is that they are from 6 different regions of Slovakia. So you aren’t just tasting wine from the regions which border the city of Bratislava. You can see why this is one of the cool things to do in Bratislava in one day.
“So much fun. The sommelier was so informed, answered my every question, and made me feel so comfortable. The choice of wines were exceptional and having the grape, region and expected tastes explained prior to each wine made the whole experience so much more valuable. I would absolutely recommend. I could see other groups doing the tasting without the sommelier, but I felt having the wines explained in such a passionate and considerate way made the experience all the more rewarding.”
Marisa (read more reviews now!)
15. Take A Foodie Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (90 Reviews) Price: $122 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍Meeting Point: Planet of Peace Fountain Details: Read more on Viator!
If you love food then you can always explore the cool restaurants in Bratislava on your own but if you want a local perspective then I would recommend taking one of the foodie tours.
Its a 4 hour experience where a local will walk you through the small streets of Bratislava. You will get the a taste of the traditional Slovak food.
“The tour was fantastic! Tereza was so welcoming and friendly! The route was perfect even on a snowy day and all the restaurants were awesome! The staff at each of our stops took great care of us, clearly having worked with the tour before! Highly highly recommend!”
Kodi (read more reviews now!)
You know that feeling when you enter a restaurant and don’t know what to order no matter how many blogs you’ve read? Well… This way you get to skip it all and jump straight to all the delicacies. You’ll visit at least 5 different establishments during your quest. Plus you will learn about the history and the food traditions of the region.
⏰ Looking for a cool tour when exploring all the things to do in Bratislava in one day? I highly recommend taking the Foodie Tour. Its the perfect way to enjoy the local cuisine. 🥘
I loved the city so so much. There is so many things to do in Bratislava in one day but it really doesn’t mean that I would not advocate staying in the city for a longer time. Plus there are lots of places where you could head to for day trips. This is especially true if you have a car. We explored Vienna while we were here which was such a cool option.
Don’t Forget To Pin This Post
