Things To Do In Bratislava, Slovakia

Originally posted Jul 2019. Updated September 2026.

 
Quick answer: Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is a walkable city on the Danube River near the Austrian border, about 65 km (40 miles) from Vienna. Top things to do include Bratislava Castle, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Michael’s Gate, Grassalkovich Palace and an Old Town (Staré Mesto) tour. You can fly into Bratislava Airport (BTS), 9 km from the city center, or Vienna International Airport (VIE), 40 km away.

In 2018, I was visiting Czechia and took a side trip to Bratislava via bus and train.

Let’s take a look at why you should have this city in your travel plans.

 

Where is Bratislava, Slovakia?

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia is located in the western part of Slovakia near the Austrian border. It’s about an hour by bus from Vienna, Austria

It is also close to two other capitals. By road, Bratislava is about 65 km (40 miles) from Vienna, 200 km (124 miles) from Budapest and 330 km (205 miles) from Prague, according to Visit Bratislava, the city’s official tourism board.

How To Get To Bratislava

There are many ways to get to Bratislava, Slovakia, let’s take a look:

By Air: Bratislava Airport (BTS) and Vienna Airport (VIE)

The closest airport is Bratislava Airport (BTS), officially M. R. Štefánik Airport, named after Milan Rastislav Štefánik. It is the largest international airport in Slovakia and sits 9 km (about 5.6 miles) from the city center in the Ružinov district. The airport handled more than 2.4 million passengers in 2025. You may also use Vienna International Airport (VIE) in Austria, about 40 km (25 miles) west of Bratislava.

Airlines at Bratislava Airport (BTS)

The following airlines serve Bratislava Airport (BTS) with nonstop flights: Air Cairo (SM), Air Montenegro (4O), Pegasus Airlines (PC), Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK), SkyAlps (BQ), Smartwings (QS), SunExpress (XQ), Wizz Air (W6) and Wizz Air Malta (W4).

Getting from Bratislava Airport to the city center

• Bus: City bus No. 61 runs from the stop in front of the Departures terminal to the Main Railway Station (Hlavná stanica). Night bus N61 covers the late hours.
• Airport shuttle: Slovak Lines runs an hourly shuttle to the Nivy bus station.
• Taxi: The ride to the city center takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Taxi prices are posted on info panels in front of the Arrivals terminal.
• To Vienna: FlixBus and Slovak Lines buses to Vienna leave from the stop in front of the Arrivals terminal.

Airlines at Vienna International Airport (VIE)

The following airlines serve Vienna International Airport (VIE) with nonstop flights: Aegean Airlines (A3), Aer Lingus (EI), Air Algérie (AH), Air Arabia (G9), Air Cairo (SM), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air Corsica (XK), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air Serbia (JU), airBaltic (BT), AJet (VF), All Nippon Airways (NH), American Airlines (AA), Animawings (A2), Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ), Austrian Airlines (OS), Azerbaijan Airlines (J2), Blue Bird Airways (BZ), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern Airlines (MU), Condor (DE), Corendon Airlines Europe (XR), Croatia Airlines (OU), easyJet (U2), EgyptAir (MS), El Al (LY), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Etihad Airways (EY), Eurowings (EW), EVA Air (BR), Finnair (AY), flynas (XY), Georgian Airways (A9), Hainan Airlines (HU), Iberia (IB), Jet2.com (LS), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), KM Malta Airlines (KM), Korean Air (KE), Kuwait Airways (KU), LOT Polish Airlines (LO), Lufthansa (LH), Luxair (LG), Norwegian (DY), Pegasus Airlines (PC), People’s (PE), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Jordanian (RJ), Ryanair (FR), Ryanair UK (RK), SalamAir (OV), SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK), Saudia (SV), Scoot (TR), Sky Express (GQ), SkyUp MT (U5), SunExpress (XQ), TAP Air Portugal (TP), Transavia France (TO), Tunisair (TU), Turkish Airlines (TK), Volotea (V7) and Vueling (VY).

American Airlines is coming to Vienna in 2027

American Airlines will start daily Philadelphia (PHL) to Vienna (VIE) flights on May 6, 2027, on the Airbus A321XLR, running through early January 2028. That gives U.S. travelers another nonstop option to Vienna, about 40 km from Bratislava. Read more in American’s 8 New International Routes for Summer 2027: A Non-Rev Reality Check.

Getting from Vienna Airport to Bratislava

Buses from Vienna International Airport to Bratislava leave every 30 to 60 minutes. Slovak Lines, RegioJet and FlixBus all run this route.

By Car

Bratislava is easily accessible by car. Use a mapping software such as Google Maps for directions

If you drive on Slovak motorways, you need a valid electronic motorway vignette (diaľničná známka).

By Train

There is a train station in the city not too far from the center and accessible by buses and trams. From here you can go any place in Europe via various trains.

The Main Station (Hlavná stanica) is about a 15-minute walk from the city center. Slovak Railways (ZSSK) and RegioJet run trains to Prague, Budapest, Vienna and cities across Slovakia. Some trains also use Petržalka station, south of the Danube.

By Bus

Eurolines, FlixBus and RegioJet serve the city.

The main bus station is Mlynské Nivy (Nivy), and Slovak Lines also runs service here, including hourly coaches to Vienna.

By Boat

The Twin City Liner catamaran sails on the Danube between Vienna (Schwedenplatz) and Bratislava.

Things To Do In Bratislava

I love this city. It’s walkable and very easy to find everything. If you don’t want to walk you can take the trams or buses.

The main attraction is the Bratislava Castle, but it’s not the only attraction in the city.

The city is a walking city although its quite a large city. Here are some sights as you walk the city.

Bratislava, Slovakia – Grassalkovich Palace

 

 

 

 

 

St. Martin’s Cathedral and the Coronation City

St. Martin’s Cathedral is a big part of Bratislava’s history. According to Visit Bratislava, Hungarian coronations moved to Bratislava in 1563, when the traditional coronation city was under Ottoman control. Ten Hungarian kings and eight royal consorts were crowned here, including Maria Theresa on June 25, 1741. That is why Bratislava calls itself the Coronation City.

Old Town (Staré Mesto) Tour

You can also take an Old Town Tour (Staré Mesto). This wheeled tram will take you around the old town.

Save With the Bratislava CARD

The tourism board sells the Bratislava CARD, a visitor pass with discounts and benefits around the city. From April to October, you can also take a boat trip on the Danube. Round trips last about 45 minutes.

Getting Around Bratislava

Trams run from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and night buses run about once an hour after midnight. Public transport tickets are sold at ticket machines and kiosks and are valid from 30 minutes up to 7 days. Uber, Bolt and HOPIN also operate in the city.

Where To Stay In Bratislava

The city is full of places to stay. You have a choice of local names as well as household popular brands.

Check hotel prices in Bratislava

Check rates at Hotel Tatra Bratislava

 

Check rates at Crowne Plaza Bratislava

 

Check rates at ibis Bratislava

You may also check the map below.

 

 

Where To Eat In Bratislava

The city is full of places to eat and has an entertainment district area. It’s Europe so the cafes are trendy. Just walk around and get into a place you like. And be sure to have a local beer.

 

 

 

Bratislava FAQ

Where is Bratislava?

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, in the western part of the country near the Austrian border, on the Danube River.

How far is Bratislava from Vienna?

Bratislava is about 65 km (40 miles) from Vienna by road and about an hour by bus. Vienna International Airport is about 40 km (25 miles) from Bratislava.

Which airport is closest to Bratislava?

Bratislava Airport (BTS), officially M. R. Štefánik Airport, is 9 km from the city center. Vienna International Airport (VIE) in Austria is the other nearby option.

How do I get from Bratislava Airport to the city center?

Take city bus No. 61 to the Main Railway Station, the Slovak Lines shuttle to the Nivy bus station, or a taxi, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Why is Bratislava called the Coronation City?

After coronations moved to Bratislava in 1563, ten Hungarian kings and eight royal consorts were crowned at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava, including Maria Theresa in 1741.

Is Bratislava a walkable city?

Yes. The city is walkable and it’s very easy to find everything. If you don’t want to walk, you can take the trams or buses.

Have you been to Bratislava? Please leave a comment below if you have or if you have any comments.