Bratislava - a capital city of wine
Bratislava is our capital, but historically it is a city of wine. It belongs to the Small Carpathian wine-growing region. Wine, water, bread meant security and well-being throughout history. Wine has always been part of the life of Bratislava residents.
From history
First it was Posonium in the Roman period, Breslau during the time of the Great Moravian Empire, during the rule of Pozsona, Pressburg according to the name of the German colonists or the secularized Prešpork. Viticulture played an important role in the history of Bratislava, it became one of the incentives, thanks to which Bratislava gained the status of a free city. The oldest archival report on grape growing dates back to 1291.
Attractions in Bratislava
Museum of Viticulture
You will find it in the heart of the Old Town. The museum is also the seat of the Slovak National Wine Salon - the highest wine competition in Slovakia and a presentation of the top 100 Slovak wines. The museum exposition documents the history of viticulture and winemaking in the territory of the capital.
Slovak National Gallery
Over the years, SNG thus became the guardian and caretaker of the national cultural wealth in the field of historical as well as modern and contemporary art culture. Over the years, its scope has expanded from Bratislava to other areas of Slovakia.
Danubiana is a museum of modern art located about 15 km south of Bratislava near the Čunovo district. The museum is located on a peninsula on the Danube river. Its founders are Dutch collector and supporter of art Gerard Meulensteen from Eindhoven and Slovak gallerist Vincent Polakovič. Since its opening in 2000, the museum has held dozens of exhibitions of the most prestigious personalities of the Slovak, European and world art scene, including Joan Miró, Sam Francis, Karel Appel, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Lucebert, Walasse Ting, Antoni Clavé, Martín Chirino, Markus Prachensky, Ilona Kesserü Ilona, Jozef Jankovič, Rudolf Sikora, Vladimír Kompánek, Miroslav Cipár, Vladimír Popovi.
The SNP bridge with the well-known UFO observation tower is a dominant feature of the city of Bratislava. The SNP bridge enjoys a lot of visitors, especially foreign tourists. If you want to see the capital of Slovakia from a bird's eye view, experience a perfect view, or capture a beautiful sunset over the Danube, the UFO observation tower is the right place. You can reach the 95-meter-high tower in 45 seconds using the elevator. A fabulous view awaits you here with a view of up to 100 km. From a height you will see all the landmarks of Bratislava, such as the Bratislava Castle, St. Martina, the Slovak Parliament, the Danube with all its bridges, the Kamzík Transmitter or Janko Kráľ Garden. Skywalk is also a new feature of UFA - i.e. walking around UFA with a safety harness, you can sit down and watch the SNP BRIDGE and its traffic below you, Janka Kráľa Garden, Dunaj.
Where to bike in Bratislava?
In Bratislava, you can choose from several cycle routes. The Lower Zem road - leads from the Apollo Bridge, the Port Bridge of Rusovce, Jarovce, Čunovo and continues to Rajka. During the ride, you pass 2.87 km through a well-maintained forest, a 2 km long bicycle path, 2.38 km long grassy areas and unpaved paths, also through a residential area, with a length of 1.90 km. Vinohradnícka cycle highway - leads along the red line, through Svätý Jur, Bratislava, Vajnory, Central Rača and Rača. Stupavský okruh - a colorful 45 km long cycle route that leads along a green sign through a well-maintained forest on an unpaved road and footpath, a residential area, a meadow and horticultural settlements. The profile of the route is varied with 23 km of ascent, 18 km of descent and the rest is just plain. The Stupav Circuit passes through the Lesser Carpathians and the Borska Plain. Marianske cycle route - a green cycle route that takes you through the Borská lowland. It also includes stages of the route, such as: Bratislava (11.1 km), Záhorská Bystrica (6.5 km), Devínska Nová Ves (4.6 km) and Marianka (686 m). You can find more about cycling routes in Bratislava here.
Restaurants and cafés
In recent years, Bratislava has become a center of gastronomy with restaurants with all the tastes of the world, but also cafes with specialized coffee, quality homemade cakes and stylish bars. It is difficult to choose only a few, but we recommend restaurants and cafes that are something special.
Slovak restaurant: Modrá hviezda (Blue Star)
Modrá hviezda is a restaurant under Bratislava Castle, a beautiful Slovak restaurant with honest cuisine. You can treat yourself to traditional bryndza gnocchi, meat in juice or seasonal duck/goose huda and Slovak wine and spirits.
Italian cuisine, which is popular almost everywhere in the world, but also in Bratislava, where it already has three establishments. You can treat yourself to classic antipasto, risottos, homemade pasta and traditional Italian desserts, and of course wines and aperitifs.
Café Emil in Mirbach palace
The coffee culture in Bratislava over the last ten years is incredible. Specialty coffee projects have gained great popularity, they are located in historic buildings, in subways, mobile cafes have also taken over. We bring to your attention the new cafe Emil in the Mirbacch Palace, because it is a connection of culture with high-quality specialized coffee, homemade cookies and wine. A combo that will please.
Accomodation
Everyone can choose in Bratislava. You can stay in stylish hotels, family guesthouses or redesigned airbnb concepts.
Hotel Beigli - a beautiful new hotel with a beautiful garden, which was renovated during the pandemic with preserved historical architecture and modern equipment. The hotel is a three-star hotel, but it looks like a four-star hotel and has excellent reviews. Beautiful garden spaces, event spaces and modern clean rooms right on Baštová in Bratislava are tempting. The price per night is from 117 euros/double room.
If you want to experience unique cuisine, wine tasting in a beautiful archival cellar and comfortable and pleasant accommodation near Bratislava Central Station, Hotel Matyšák will fulfill your expectations. The price per night is around 100 euros/double room.
Wine tasting in Bratislava
The National Wine Salon of the Slovak Republic - a unique concept in the heart of Bratislava. The National Wine Salon of the Slovak Republic is the highest wine competition that takes place twice a year. 100 Slovak wines are selected and presented on the ground floor of the Museum of Viticulture and Winemaking. You can taste the wines in a guided tasting with a professional sommelier or taste Slovakia through the tasting program: 72 wines in 100 minutes, which is composed in such a way that there are wines from all six Slovak wine-growing regions. You pour your own wines from sparkling wines, through light varieties, rieslings, pinots, aromatic and rosé wines in the next room to the last room with red wines. The price of the tasting is 30 euros/person. Book here. If you prefer guided tastings with a sommelier and learn more about wines and their producers, we recommend the Tasting for the curious, where you taste 5 wine samples and immerse yourself in the secrets and alchemy of wine. You can order a tasting here.
Prestige Wine tasting in the historic cellar of Hotel Matyšák. In this tasting, you will find yourself in the beautiful historic cellar of the Pallugyav family and taste the best of the Prestige and Prestige gold range from Víno Matyšák. Six wine samples are served with local cheeses and meat specialties and fresh pastries. The price of the tasting is 22 euros/person, the minimum number of people is 8 people. Book a tasting here.
What is Talska s Blau Frankish taste like?
Taste the taste of Frankovka blue from the Tál vineyards, from 60-year-old roots from the traditional winemaker Maťús from Rače, only 25 minutes from the center of Bratislava. The winery is easily accessible by tram. You will taste 10 wine samples: a welcome toast, young wines, white wines, rosé and ending with Frankovka, they are top wines produced by the Máťuš winery. You will experience the family atmosphere of the winery and when the weather is nice, you can sit outside in the warmer months. A plate with local products is served with the wines: cheeses, prosciutto, pastries. The price of the tasting is 24 euros/person and the minimum number of people is 4. Book the tasting here.
Introdaction wine tasting with Miro Fondrk ´s wines
The Miro Fondrk winery is located only 20 minutes from Bratislava. Miro Fondrk specializes in premium red wines and proves that Slovakia is also a country of red wines. Taste 6 wines served with refreshments in his tasting and see for yourself. Mr. Fondrk belongs to the top Slovak winemakers. The price of the tasting is 19 euros/person and the minimum number of people is 4. Book the tasting here.
Transport to Bratislava
You can get to Bratislava comfortably by car, you can get off by bus to the center at the new bus station: Nivy. By train to Bratislava Central Station and from there tram no. 1 and 2 to the city center. You can move around the city on foot, by renting scooters, by tram or by bus.
