City Breaks along the Danube
Delve into the historical world of the Slovak capital and explore numerous attractive sights, starting in the Old Town. Its Mediterranean flair welcomes you to take part in leisure activities from dawn till dusk.
Just an hour away from Vienna, you can enjoy a sweeping panorama view from Bratislava Castle, visit various events at the National Theatre or stroll through idyllic gardens in front of the Grassalkovich Palace. The landmark of Slovakia’s largest city is the Bratislava Castle with four towers, which takes you on a journey through history.
Travelling to Bratislava by ship
Step on board the A-ROSA cruise ships and discover the city of Bratislava from the river.
You will dock directly in the centre of Bratislava during your city trip with the A-ROSA BELLA, the A-ROSA DONNA, the A-ROSA MIA, the A-ROSA RIVA or the A-ROSA FLORA. Bratislava is the only capital in the world that borders more than one neighbouring country. Even in ancient times, the capital Bratislava was characterised by its excellent location and different ethnicities. These diverse influences are noticeable in every corner of the city. Experience the colourful cultures and lively jumble of languages in the alleyways of the Old Town, which are lined with many well-maintained Baroque and Rococo city palaces. And it’s almost as if you can still hear the music from the Habsburg period echoing through the alleys.
A-ROSA River Cruises to Bratislava
Excursions and Sightseeing in Bratislava
THE OLD TOWN
Explore the historical traces of Bratislava in the quaint Old Town. The small city centre is delightful, with numerous boutiques, cafés and restored old buildings. During the day, the Old Town is a great place to take a stroll or do some shopping, and, in the evening, you can relax in one of the welcoming inns. The Baroque architecture gives the buildings an antique charm. Pay particular attention to the many statues and figurines!
BRATISLAVA CASTLE
The ‘Bratislava City Express’ takes you to Bratisavský Hrad – or Bratislava Castle – the landmark of Bratislava. Enjoy a sweeping view over the Danube from the 85-metre-high cliff. The city owes its name to its commissioner Count Wratislaw, who had the site built in the middle of the 17th century. A century later, Maria Theresa decided to renovate it for representational purposes. Did you know that the castle also features as the design on Slovak euro coins?
SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE
The Slovak National Theatre was founded in 1920 after independence from the former Czechoslovakia and to this day still combines the performing arts of theatre, opera and ballet. Since it was founded, the theatre has been housed in a historical building, which had been built in 1884-86 as a state theatre by architecture studio Fellner & Helmer at Hviezdoslav Square.
ST. MARTIN´S CATHEDRAL
The Gothic hall church is situated on the western edge of the Old Town and is the largest and oldest church building in Bratislava. The cathedral served as a coronation church for Hungarian rulers and today still impresses its visitors with its ornate interior. Today, the gold-plated show pillows and gilded crowns are particularly reminiscent of imperial times.
GRASSALKOVICH PALACE
Heavenly gardens surround what is known as the White House of Slovakia, built for the aristocracy and currently the presidential residence. Admire the impressive Rococo architecture from the outside of the luxurious palace and enter the Grassalkovich Garden, which is open to the public and where you will find many statues by contemporary artists. In terms of recreational activities, the open-air bandstands are just as inviting as the possibility of taking long walks.
THE HISTORICAL TRAM
Hop on and off we go! The historical tram follows a route developed especially for you, and takes you to particularly fascinating buildings in the city, such as the university, the old parliament, the President’s Palace, the National Theatre and the National Gallery. With the help of travel guides who know their way around the city, you will quickly find the best sights in the city without any problems. After this, take a walk through the medieval alleyways of the Old Town and discover exciting testimonies to the city’s history.