Bratislava Essential Sights

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle, the dominating landmark of the city, is situated on the hill overlooking the Danube river and the entire city. It is a massive building in the shape of an upturned bed. Bratislava Castle has a rich history, reaching back to the late Stone Age. In course of the later centuries, the Celts, the Romans, the Germans, the Slavs, the Hungarians and the Austrians have ruled the area and Bratislava Castle was repeatedly rebuilt. Nowadays, it is used for the state functions and exhibitions. On the ground floor, there is the Treasury of Slovakia, an interesting collection of archeological findings, and taking up a couple of floors is the branch of the Slovak National Museum, covering historical furniture, modern art and history.
The Museum of History is open everyday except Mondays, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The admission is SKK 60 / 30 adult/child. If you are not into the history, Bratislava Castle complex is the most convenient place for a pleasant walks, offering stunning views of the city free of charge.

St. Martin´s Cathedral

Situated under the Castle hill, St. Martin’s Cathedral is Bratislava’s foremost Gothic structure. The church, originally built in the 13th century in the Romanesque style, was replaced by a 3-nave Gothic Dome in the late 14th century. The new St. Martin's Cathedral was consecrated in 1452 and underwent several lengthy reconstructions in later centuries. In the 16th century, the Dome became the coronation church of Hungarian kings and there were 19 Hungarian Emperors (including Maria Theresia) crowned in the cathedral until the 19th century.
The sights not to miss in St. Martin's Cathedral are St. Stephen's Crown, a 1 m high copy of the Hungarian royal crown placed on the church tower, some 85 meters (280 feet) above town, and the 18th century statue of St. Martin and the Beggar sculpted by famous Austrian baroque sculptor Raphael Donner.
Unless the church is going through one of the numerous renovations caused by vibrations from the New Bridge Traffic, the admission is available from 10:00am to 4:45pm free of charge.

Michael’s Gate

Michael’s Gate, the eastern entrance to the Old Town, is the only surviving watchtower of the original city fortification. Over 50 meters high, the tower was built in the early 14th century, and was rebuilt many times since. Except for the stunning view of Bratislava, Michael’s Gate also features the Museum of Arms and City Fortification, open Tue – Sun, from 9:30am to 4:30pm in the summer season. Underneath the tower, the so-called zero kilometer is placed, showing directions and distances to 29 cities in the world.

The Main Square

The Main Square, the real heart of the Old Town, is especially charming in the summer season, when it is full of outdoor café seating, market stools, trees in bloom and the steady trickle of the splendid Roland fountain. There is no better place to take a seat, have a coffee and watch the intimate atmosphere of the Old Town. Except for the numerous cafes, beautifully renovated burghers’ houses around and the historical Old Town Hall, the Main Square’s extension, Frantiskanske namestie, features a 17th century Church of the Holy Saviour, the originally Gothic Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the 18th century Mirbach’s Palace, with the small collection of Renaissance religious art.

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Bratislava, the oldest city hall in Slovakia, is a fascinating composition of a number of constructions build over various stylistic periods. Its core is a 14th century Gothic house of the then Mayor Jacob. The city purchased the house for its purposes. Gradually, the neighboring houses were bought as well, and the whole complex was steadily rebuilt over the later centuries. Today, the Old Town Hall with the clock tower and the romantic courtyard with renaissance arcades, is one of the most appealing historical buildings of Bratislava and houses the Municipal Museum. The oldest museum of Bratislava offers a large collection documenting the city’s rich history, including the torture chambers in the basement.
The Museum is open 10am to 5pm Tue-Fri, 11am to 6 pm on weekends. The admission: adult / children SKK 30/10. It is also possible to climb the Old Town Hall’s tower (adult/child SKK 30/10) on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm and on weekends from 3pm to 5pm.

Archbishop's ( Primate's ) Palace

Archbishop’s (nowadays called Primate’s) Palace, a pink massive classicist building, is one of the most significant sights of Bratislava. It is likely that the Archbishop’s house was located here as early as the 13th century. As the building was not meeting the necessary requirement, it was pulled down in the 18th century and much larger and more luxurious palace in the spirit of French Classicism was built. In 1903, the palace was bought by the city and today it is the mayor’s residence.
Its ceremonial rooms house the permanent exhibition of the European paintings and also the famous Bratislava tapestries. This part of the City Gallery is open Tue – Sun, 10am – 5pm.

The Slovak National Theatre

This beautiful Neo-renaissance building crowning Hviezdoslavovo square (namestie) is one of the few in the Old Town of Bratislava, that is still used for their original purpose. It is home to the finest Opera and Ballet performances. To attend them is the only way to see the splendid interior of the theatre. This “gem” of Bratislava architecture, designed by the Viennese architects F. Fellner and H. Helmer, was built between 1884 and 1886, in place of the original theatre of estates. Two years later the Ganymede’s fountain was placed in front of the Theatre.

Bratislava Jewish History Sights

Except for the 3 major nations living in Bratislava, the Slovaks, the Germans and the Hungarians, there has always been a strong Jewish community, that played an important role in the political, economical and cultural life of the city. The historical Jewish quarter under Bratislava Castle was destroyed in 1972 due to the construction of the New Bridge, the pride of the communist regime. The only surviving house of the former Jewish neighborhood is the Zsigray Mansion from the 17th century on Zidovska street, now the Museum of Jewish Culture. It shows the everyday life of the Jewish community, furnishing of synagogues, important Jews in Slovakia's History, as well as a section on the Holocaust. The most significant sight of the Jewish history is situated next to the tunnel cutting trough the Castle hill. There is a part of original Jewish Cemetery with graves of twenty important rabbis including the grave of “wondrous Bratislava rabbi” Chatam Sofer, the most important figure in the history of Jews in Bratislava.

The Museum of Jewish Culture on Zidovska 17 is open daily except Saturdays, 11am to 5pm, admission: adult/children SKK 40/20.

The Chatam Sofer Memorial situated on Nábrežie arm. gen. L. Svobodu (Danube Embankment near the Tunnel) is not a museum, it is a Jewish funerary shrine and place of religious worship. Visitors to this monument are kindly advised to arrange their visit to the site by prior contact with the Jewish Community in Bratislava.