The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, is one of the least known and least Instagrammed destinations in Europe. Rarely on travelers’ itineraries exploring Central and Eastern Europe, Bratislava is overshadowed by its famous neighbors Prague, Budapest, and Vienna.
Bratislava was the perfect weekend getaway to escape the tourist crowds enjoying summer in Europe. Even if it is very small, to my surprise, Bratislava has a lot of Instagram spots that just beg to be discovered! The intimate historic old town has winding cobbled streets and charming narrow lanes. Because it is not too touristy, you can quickly get amazing photos with no one in them, something challenging to achieve unless you wake up at sunrise in most European capitals! So, if you want to know the top Instagram spots in Bratislava, keep reading!
Top 10 Instagram spots in Bratislava
Bratislava Castle & Its Lush Baroque Gardens
Bratislava’s most famous place is its Castle, located on a hill above the Old Town. In the 16th century, King Ferdinand rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style, and now, it has served as a venue for the Slovak Parliament and houses collections of the Slovak National Museum.
Not only is the castle worth checking out for its stunning views, but the Baroque Gardens behind the Castle are gorgeous and super Instagram-worthy as well!
The Vienna Gate, one of the four entrance gates, is also out of this world!
The Blue Church
The Church of St. Elizabeth, usually called the Blue Church for obvious reasons, is Bratislava’s most appealing art nouveau building and definitely one of my favorite places in the city!
It is located at Bezručova 2, just a 15-minute walk from the Old Town’s Main Square.
On a sunny day, the Church is the same color as the baby-blue sky. If you go there, visit the inside because it is also all blue! Definitely one of the most Instagrammable places in Bratislava!
And, as you stroll through the city, you’ll encounter other charming churches just waiting to be in your next post.
My favorites besides the Blue Church were the Capuchin Church and the Trinity Church.
Top of Michael's Gate Tower
Michael’s Gate is the Medieval entrance to the old city center. You can climb the adjoining tower, now the Bratislava Museum of Arms, and enjoy the incredible 360° views over the city.
The Main's Square
The Main Square of Bratislava (Hlavné Námestie in Slovak) is the historical center of Bratislava. Many famous city landmarks are located there, such as the Old Town Hall, home to the City History Museum, and the Maximillian Fountain with its tall Roland Statue. You can also climb up the steps of the Old Town Hall to get great views of the Old Town. It is a small city center but full of charm because it is made up of cute, colorful Baroque buildings!
A charming courtyard behind the Old Town Hall (pictured below) can also be found.
Primate's Palace
Located right next to the Main Square, the Primate’s Palace is a neoclassical palace built from 1778 to 1781 for Archbishop József Batthyány.
Thanks to its pink color, it is a great Instagram spot in Bratislava! You can find the pretty Hall of Mirrors, the location for Bratislava City Council meetings.
The Old Slovak National Theater
Located by the Hviezdoslav Square, the old Slovak National Theatre is called “old” because it used to house the Slovak National Theatre. Nowadays, it only shows opera and ballet ensembles. This Neo-Renaissance building was built during the time of Austria-Hungary. The restoration between 1969 and 1972 added a new modern building behind the old one.
The Presidential Palace
Also known as the Grassalkovich Palace, the Presidential Palace is the official seat of the president of Slovakia (even though she doesn’t live there!). It is located between the Old Town and the main train station. The main Gate looks like one of the gates in front of Buckingham Palace in London! Behind the Palace are the Presidential Gardens, which, contrary to the Palace itself, are open to the public.
The UFO bridge
The UFO Bridge, also called Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising (Most SNP) or New Bridge (Nový most) officially, is a road bridge over the Danube. It is one of the most recent landmarks of Bratislava. The UFO structure atop the bridge houses an observation deck and a restaurant called UFO (hence the bridge’s nickname).
You can take photos of the bridge from either side of the Danube, or you can also take gorgeous panoramic images of the city from the restaurant or observation deck.
Old Town's Hidden Charms
The Old Town is full of gorgeous Instagram spots, but my favorite streets are Kapitulská, Baštová, and Židovská. Kapitulská is one of the oldest streets, and it is rarely busy.
Fun fact: the first school in the city was established there. Walk around and get lost in the tiny streets. All of them are beautiful!
Devín Castle
Devín is a well-preserved castle in ruins on a cliff, offering gorgeous views of the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. Only a little more than 10 km (6 miles) away, this National cultural monument stands strategically on the frontier between Slovakia and Austria. Devín is an important part of Slovak history that deserves to be visited!
I didn’t have the time to go, but will definitely plan for next time. You can visit on your own or book a private tour with GetYourGuide.
Even if you might not be as wowed as when visiting Prague or Budapest, Bratislava is still charming and offers many surprising cute gems.
In this European capital, you can find the authenticity and atmosphere of a medieval old town mixed with modern and interesting architecture.
It’s worth a weekend trip!
Have you been to Bratislava? What was your favorite Instagram spot?
