Finding the Bratislava of Eurotrip: “I open my own hotel!”
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and a bustling tourist city these days. If you’re familiar with the Bratislava of the movie Eurotrip, you will likely be shocked to discover more about what “real” Bratislava is like. Let’s just say it’s not as grim as Eurotrip depicted it!
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The Bratislava of Eurotrip
As weird as it is, I first heard about Bratislava from a lovely movie called Eurotrip. If you are not familiar with this movie, you are missing out. Not because it is a great movie, but because it provides a whole host of stereotypes about Europe, including that Slovakia, Bratislava in particular, is very poor.
Now obviously this movie was not based on fact to begin with, as it is a comedy, but in addition to that, Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and is actually a pretty thriving country. Unfortunately, that means that for a nickel, I cannot open my own hotel. Thank you for the disappointment Eurotrip!!
If you’re not familiar with the Bratislava of Eurotrip – watch the clip now!
About Bratislava and Slovakia
Even though you most likely won’t be able to own your own hotel in Bratislava, it is far less expensive than Western Europe and Scandinavia. From accommodations to food, you will find everything is more cost effective. And of course, Bratislava still features one of the best parts of Europe: 1 euro ice cream cones.
3 Surprises about Bratislava
Admittedly, having the Eurotrip clip of Bratislava in mind, you will be shocked at what this European city has in store for you. Here are three surprising things:
- Bratislava is a really beautiful city offering many winding roads through town with lots of sidewalk cafes, charming buildings, and a significant number of souvenir shops.
- The Old City of Bratislava is extremely compact. You can easily walk from one side to another in probably 15 minutes, maybe less. Therefore you can explore it all in just a couple of days.
- There are a whole host of things to do in Bratislava and the surrounding region.
The Main Sights of Bratislava
You’ll find there are a number of attractions in Bratislava for travelers of all kinds. Here you’ll see them broken out by interest. If you have time, see them all!
City Explorers in Bratislava
Get to know Bratislava by wandering the city streets, taking a walking tour, or sightseeing by bus. You’ll want to seek out these key sites.
- The Historic Centre of Bratislava
- Michael’s Gate
- Grassalkovich Palace (not open to the public)
- Hviezdoslavov Square
- Maximilian’s Fountain
- Cumil Sculpture (“Man at Work” at the Laurinska and Panska St. intersection
- The medieval Kapitulska Street
History Lovers in Bratislava
If you’re interested in history, you won’t want to miss the many historic locations and monuments in Bratislava. Or you can take a tour to get to know the Soviet Era and Post Communist side of Bratislava.
- The Slavin War Memorial
- Devin’s Castle
- Old Town Hall
- Most SNP: Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising
- Chatam Sofer Memorial
Architecture Admirers in Bratislava
Bratislava features a number of sunning buildings throughout the city. Make sure to add these to your itinerary!
- St. Elizabeth’s Church – best known as the Blue Church
- Primatial Palace (open to the public)
- Bratislava Castle
- Slovak National Theatre
- St. Martin’s Cathedral
- Heydukova Street Synagogue
Museum Seekers in Bratislava
If you can never learn enough, you’ll want to check out some of the amazing museums in Bratislava.
- Slovak National Gallery
- Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum
- Galeria Nedbalka
- Museum B-S4
- Bratislava Transport Museum
While there are a lot of things to see in Bratislava, you will find that the streets themselves are one of the key draws to the area. There is so much charm within Bratislava! (Not at all like the Bratislava of Eurotrip!)
The Culture of Slovakia
In general, Europe is a bit slower paced than much of the United States. Not in a “can’t get anything done” kind of way but more in a way where Europeans enjoy each day far more than most people in the United States. They focus more on the present versus the “rat race” of life (as I would call it).
Seeing people relaxing in cafes or having a coffee or beer with friends at any time of day seems typical, no matter if it is Saturday or Tuesday. This part of the cultural is something meant to be embraced! Enjoy a long dinner or that street cafe. After all, chances are good you’re visiting on vacation!
Best Side Trips from Bratislava
One of the best parts of Bratislava, Slovakia is that it is so centrally located within Europe. This means that there are so day trips and side trips that you can add on when visiting Bratislava!
Top 3 Day Trips from Bratislava
If you have an extra day in Bratislava, you can easily get outside of the city to explore further. Here are three of the must-visit gems nearby.
- Devin Castle and Red Stone Castle in Slovakia: Spend a day exploring the castles located just outside of Bratislava.
- Bojnice Castle in Slovakia: Take the train to this fairytale castle. It’s an easy day trip from Bratislava and gets you into the smaller towns and countryside of Slovakia.
- Vienna, Austria: While you can visit Vienna as a day trip from Bratislava, it is very deserving of its own trip. Even though it’s just an hour away, it’s worth making a trip to Vienna a multi-day event!
Best Cities to Visit with Bratislava
Centrally located in Europe, you have a host of amazing cities nearby, and of course they are connected by the awesome European rail and bus systems! Here are the best cities to add on to your trip to Bratislava.
- Vienna, Austria: Of course we’re going to have to revisit the fact that Vienna is the perfect add-on to a trip to Bratislava at just one hour away.
- Budapest, Hungary: Located just two hours away, this stunning city is perfect to pair with Bratislava.
- Prague, Czech Republic: A central Europe gem, Prague has really picked up in popularity the past few years. If you haven’t been, definitely try to add it on – it’s just 3.5 hours away!
- Kosice, Slovakia: A lesser known city, Kosice is located within Slovakia about 4.5 hours away. It is the best place to see more of Slovakia and really get to know the people and culture a bit more.
As you can tell, the “real” Bratislava does not compare to the Eurotrip Bratislava – it surpasses it! In fact, it’s a beautiful city and well worth a visit.
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Julia I am loving reading all of your posts. I work 9-5 at SAS (35 hours a week baby!).