Trip to Bratislava and Devin Castle

When planning a trip, we often forget that we don't always have to hop on a plane to travel abroad - there are neighbouring countries that can offer the same experience as a more distant destination. And exploring them is a really cost-effective way to travel. Bratislava, for example, is only 2 hours from Budapest, yet few people think to go there at the weekend instead of shopping, even though it's well worth a day in and around the Slovak capital. I hope this post makes you want to take a weekend trip too.

Practical information

Getting there: The easiest way to get to Bratislava from Budapest is by car or train. By car it takes about 2 hours (200 km). By train it takes 2.5 hours from the Western Railway Station.

Transportation: With 475,000 inhabitants, Bratislava is a very small capital city. Whether you arrive by car or train, it is easy to get around on foot. It is a 15-20 minute walk from the train station to the city centre, but there is also a tram service. We visited on a Sunday and found it easy to park on the street near the centre and parking was free.

How Long To Go For?: 1day is enough to see the sights. We arrived around 9am and saw everything by early afternoon, so we had time to visit Devin Castle, 20 minutes from Bratislava.

When is it worth visiting? Any time of the year is a good time to visit, it's only a 2 hour drive and doesn't require any special organisation. If it's sunny in the morning, get in the car and drive to Bratislava!

How expensive is it? Slovakia is also part of the eurozone. Prices are similar to here at home. We went on a Sunday, so parking was free. We didn't buy a Slovak motorway vignette as Bratislava is very close to the border, so it's not worth it for that little stretch, opting for the non-toll roads. Admission to Devin Castle is only €4 until the end of March, €8 from April. We also had lunch for €30.

Things to do and places to see in Bratislava

Bratislava Castle

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bratislava is the castle, and for good reason: this square, corner-towered fortress is a true symbol of the city. The castle grounds are open to the public free of charge, except for the museum. On a clear day you can see as far as Austria and Hungary from the top, and the beautifully landscaped gardens are well worth a visit.

Walk around the old town

The Old Town is very small, so take a slow stroll and plan your lunch or coffee break here. There are so many restaurants and cafes to choose from, many with vegan options, or you can sample the local cuisine.

Worth a visit are St Martin's Cathedral opposite the castle, the statue of Cumil, a bronze statue of a canal cleaner, and the main square with a charming fountain in the centre. The Old Town Hall is also on the main square, and not far away is the Primate's Palace, an elegant building dating from 1781. Don't miss the Michael's Gate, which dates back to the 1300s. A little further from the Old Town is the Grassalkovich Castle, now the residence of the President of Slovakia. In front of the castle is a large park with a statue of Maria-Theresa.

Danube bank and UFO lookout

If the weather is good, take a stroll along the Danube promenade or climb the 95-metre UFO observation tower on the SNP bridge for a spectacular view of the city.

Castle of Devin

This brings us to the best programme (at least in my opinion), the castle of Devin. Devin is only a 20 minute drive from Bratislava, so don't miss it if you're in the area. The castle is perched on a huge rock at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, with stunning views from above and below. You don't have to walk far to get to the top, as the car park is just below the castle.

If you want to see more of Bratislava, follow my Instagram and Tiktok pages.

Safe travels!

Heni

Accommodation

Although Bratislava can be visited in a day trip, it's worth spending a long weekend here and seeing the surrounding sights. I always use booking.com when booking. You can find more accommodation at the link below.

More programmes

If you want to book your tickets in advance or are looking for organised activities in Bratislava, here are some options: