It’s always a great way of working out a city’s bearings from up high. And beautiful Bratislava has the bonus of nine towering spires dominating the skyline.
One of the most impressive is the gold onion shaped roof of St Michael’s Tower, which stands proudly guarding the historic old town of Slovakia’s capital.
From the top of this stunningly restored monument, the other colourful tops mingle in with pastel shaded roofs, adding a layer of warmth to the city which is not only one of the cheapest in Europe, but also boasts being the world’s third greenest behind Reykavik in Iceland and New Zealand’s Auckland.
It must also be due an award too for having the most friendly and helpful people, with the gentle Slovakians eager to help the most noticeable of tourists working out where everything is.
Not that it’s difficult as Bratislava is a compact city, easily walkable and why not, when the architecture is so stunning.
A 20 minute bus ride arrives at the edge of centre and the DoubleTree by Hilton, a great place to base and right next to the Tipos Arena, home to ice hockey team, HC Slovan Bratislava.
The four star hotel has the kindest staff, ready to greet with a delicious welcome cookie during check in. The airy reception gives a peek as to what to expect in the smart and modern accommodation.
Doubletree by Hilton Bratislava is next to the ice hockey stadium – Photo credit: Doubletree by Hilton
Deluxe rooms with a view of the city are well decorated and lit and have all the modern amenities you’d expect. From a large flat screen Smart television to a daily re stocked tea and coffee making tray, mini bar, safe and plenty of storage.
The super comfy beds mean lots of discipline in getting up and the bathrooms have a shower and bath, with wonderful toiletries from Crabtree and Evelyn.
The double wash basins give plenty of room for two and family rooms allows children under 18 to stay for free, with under 11’s enjoying a complimentary breakfast as well in the Opus restaurant.
And good job too as the breakfasts are sublime and just what is needed to set yourself up for the day, with a cheeky prosecco for the adults to start with and plenty of freshly squeezed juices for the youngsters. The buffet features local produce from smoked cheeses and meats to out of the oven breads and as well as the usual cooked food, there is a chef on hand to make egg dishes or pancakes.
The hotel also has fine dining restaurant Cloud, with such delights as beef carpaccio with herb mayonnaise and parmesan, along with soups like Jerusalem artichoke cream, pickled enoki, dill oil and cream for starters, the finest steaks or beetroot risotto with goats’ cheese for mains and rounded off with indulging dishes of tiramisu or crème brûlée topped with fruit. Fine wines are available to wash it all down with and there is an air of elegance in the dining room.
Food can be worked off in the top floor sauna, steam room, pool and fitness centre and it’s a lovely spot to relax after a hard day sightseeing.
A fun way of having a whistle-stop tour is by hopping aboard a vintage bus and one of three tours, which take in the sights, with the longer ones digging deeper into the history. Run by Tours4U, it is a lovely way to meander around this beautiful city. The Panoramic Tour is a great choice, as it takes you past some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods, as well as impressive monuments including the upside down pyramid, which houses the Slovak Radio building.
Image of the Blue Church by Hans Hansen from Pixabay
Winner of The Building of the Century in Slovakia’s social structures category, it’s a rare sight and close to a huge Slavin war memorial which can be seen around the city. It is the burial ground of thousands of Soviet Army soldiers who died during World War II while in battle with the Germans.
One truly stunning piece of architecture is Bratislava Castle, perched on the rocky hill of the Little Carpathians and overlooking the River Danube which dominates the city. It’s a great viewing platform too and on a clear day you can see Austria and Hungary in the distance.
Inside is the national museum of history and the treasury, crammed with artefacts, the baroque garden, designed under the orders of Empress Maria Theresa and lined with silver linden trees and stunning statues.
The castle is just one of many museums free of charge with the Bratislava Card, a great aid for visitors, with unlimited public transport too and available for 24, 48 and 72 hour slots.
It can be used too for a journey outside the city to Devin Castle, 10 kilometres away and built on the top of a high crag, with the joining rivers of the Danube and Morava forming the border with Austria.
It is the most visited attraction in Slovakia and it’s easy to see why, imposing and grand with a romantic feel to it, the castle is very majestic.
A quirky must see is “the man at work” sculpture in the heart of the old town. Called Čumil, the name means watcher and the bronze statue depicts a worker with a huge grin on his face, peeking from under a manhole cover.
Image the UFO tower by Alexander Gresbek from Pixabay
Close by is the ancient St Michael’s Tower blending well with the modern architecture. The huge asymmetrical cable-stayed Slovak National Uprising bridge (SNP) spans the river Danube and is watched over by a huge tower dubbed the UFO, because of its flying saucer shaped top. Views here are opposite of the ones from St Michael’s Tower and there is a reasonably priced restaurant on the observation deck.
Across the road lies the Bratislava City Museum, with a collection of 120,000 items of historical and architectural importance. A fascinating place to explore for a few hours, before heading back out to the old town to see such beauties as the magnificent Blue Church.
The Church of St Elizabeth, designed by Ödön Lechner in the Hungarian Secession (art nouveau) style, is made of blue majolica tiles. It really is an impressive sight, and the tiny blue interior is simple, but stunning and sums up just how beautiful Bratislava really is.
Fact Box:
Tourist information on the friendly city of Bratislava is available from: www.visitbratislava.com and for up to date offers for The Doubletree by Hilton Bratislava, please check out the hotel’s website: www.hilton.com/doubletree-bratislava.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2
Top image of Bratislava Castle by Peter Tóth from Pixabay
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