How to spend one day in Bratislava with kids
Bratislava was the first stop on our 2 week Eastern Europe trip and I have to be honest… we didn’t plan to go!
I just happened to find cheap flights to Bratislava, so it made sense to start from here.
BUT, we are so glad we got to see this amazing city! It quickly became one of the highlights of our Eastern Europe trip!
Bratislava is such an underrated and often overlooked city. We only really had one full day but found it compact, walkable, full of history, and surprisingly fun for kids.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to make the most of one day in Bratislava with kids
You’ll find information on the best sights, kid-friendly stops, as well as how to get there and where to stay, helping you and your family enjoy this hidden gem of a city.
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Why visit Bratislava with kids?
We’ve visited lots of cities (because I love exploring cities) and my favourite thing is to wander with my map, ticking off the tourist spots but also getting lost down the quieter streets.
Not too crowded…
The thing that struck me about Slovakia’s capital city Bratislava, is the low number of tourists.
This is a city that rarely appears on the typical European tourist routes. which makes it perfect for getting around with kids.
Even during school holidays, it’s laid back and relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to explore with little legs. And there’s no queues or fighting for that perfect photo spot!.
Compact and walkable…
This means you can pretty much get around the top tourist sites in Bratislava one day. If you want to spend your time more leisurely, I’d suggest 2-3 days (we’d have happily stayed longer).
A good mix for kids and adults…
An impressive castle always makes a destination great for kids and Bratislava is no exception with loads of space to run around and amazing views from its perched position on top of a hill.
The pedestrian-only, medieval Old Town is a safe place to explore with a good mix of history, quirky sights (hello, Blue Church and funky statues!), and green spaces to keep kids entertained.
And the local vibe? Bratislava is becoming more popular for stag and hen parties, but the nightlife we experienced was more of a trendy social scene as opposed to a booze-fuelled party destination. Think lively but not rowdy.
How to get to Bratislava with kids
By plane:
If you’re flying in, Bratislava Airport (BTS) is just 8km from the city centre so super handy for families!
Our favourite flight booking tool is Skyscanner because I love the ‘Explore Everywhere’ search function and the way it shows you which dates are the cheapest to fly.
Our return flights from Manchester to Bratislava for all 4 of us including 1 x 20kg checked luggage and 1 x 10kg cabin bag cost £362.06
Find out more…
Read our step by step guide to using Skyscanner to help book the cheapest flights – even during school holidays.
From Bratislava airport, you can catch a bus or use Bolt for a short 20-30 minute ride into the centre.
We took the bus because it is the cheapest option and you get to see and experience Bratislava like a local.
For more information, use our itinerary which details how to get the bus from Bratislava Airport to the city centre.
By train:
If you are travelling to Bratislava from neighbouring European cities like Vienna , Budapest or Prague, then trains and buses are an easy, affordable and more relaxing way to travel.
Once we’d flown to Bratislava, we chose to travel by train to the other destinations on our Eastern Europe trip.
We love travelling by train with kids because it’s cheap and gives you space to move about. It also means you don’t need to worry as much about travel sickness or toilet stops as there are onboard toilets.
By bus:
The bus is probably the cheapest method of travel but for long journeys, we prefer train for the reasons I’ve outlined above.
Rome2Rio is a useful resource great for checking all train and bus route options and costs.
And Google Maps is amazing for providing real time public transport information, stop names, platform numbers, and even alerts for when to get off.
on any bus or train journey. We honestly can’t travel without it!
Both of these resources can be downloaded as an app and used on your mobile phone.
By car:
Depending on your itinerary, hiring a car to travel to Bratislava might be more cost-effective if travelling in a group of 3 or 4 people and will give you more flexibility.
Remember, if you plan to visit multiple cities, check whether a multi-country car rental is allowed and whether you’ll need a vignette (road tax sticker) for driving in Slovakia.
For reliable car hire we use Europcar.
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Where to stay in Bratislava with kids
Our HIGHLY recommended hotel...
The LOFT Hotel Bratislava was perfect for us and we’d highly recommend it for staying in Bratislava with kids.
We chose the LOFT Hotel Bratislava because of its location, being centred between the Old Town and the train station. It’s just a short 10 minute walk to both and also right next door the Presidential Park and Gardens.
The family rooms are modern, beautifully decorated and the beds are extremely comfy. You also get a free mini bar with beer and crisps that get topped up every day – BONUS!
But… probably the best thing about this hotel is the breakfast! It is one of the best we’ve had with everything you can think of (well almost, they didn’t serve curry and dim sum like we had at the Novotel Sukhumvit in Bangkok).
Our 2 night stay at the LOFT Hotel Bratislava for the 4 of us cost £226 including breakfast and city tax.
It certainly wasn’t the cheapest hotel but it was well worth the money.
Best budget accommodation...
For budget-conscious families, this unique hostel is the first to offer exclusive capsule-style accommodations with a modern twist.
Best luxury accommodation...
For those seeking luxury, this hotel offers elegant rooms and is situated along the Danube River, offering scenic views.
How to spend one day in Bratislava with kids
1. Grassalkovich Palace (Presidential Palace)
After fuelling up for the day on an amazing breakfast at the LOFT Hotel Bratislava, our first stop was the Presidential Palace, Park and Gardens.
If you choose to stay at the LOFT Hotel Bratislava or are heading into the centre from the main train station (Bratislava hlavná stanica), then the Presidential Park and Gardens are on the way to the Old Town. They are free to enter and open 08:00 – 22:00 in the summer and 08:00 – 21:00 in winter.
The gardens are full of beautiful bright coloured flowers in the summer and there is a great playground for the kids to burn off some energy. This is a popular park for people to come and relax or exercise and definitely worth stopping by.
If you exit the gardens at the end closest to the Presidential Palace, you can walk around to the front of the palace on Hodžovo Square. From this side, you’ll see why the palace is also known as ‘Slovakia’s White House’.
Unfortunately, the palace is not open to the public (apart from 1 day a year in June) but it’s still worth sitting down by the fountain and admiring the impressive building though its grand gates.
2. Bratislava Castle
The main tourist attraction and best place to visit in Bratislava with kids has to be the castle.
If you don’t plan on doing anything else during your one day in Bratislava, then make sure you visit Bratislava Castle.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Old Town and Danube river, there are several routes to get to the castle.
You can walk the road or take a bus from the Old Town. Or, we enjoyed walking up through the narrow streets and steps – much more fun with kids and more to see.
There are 4 entrance gates to the castle – we walked up via Castle Hill which gave us beautiful views across the Old Town. It’s also a lovely green space for kids to run around and climb along castle walls.
When you walk through the entrance, you’ll be greeted by the castle – a huge, rectangular white building with 4 towers and a big courtyard.
There’s a beautifully maintained baroque style garden that the girls enjoyed running around.
Make sure you take in the views of the Danube river and UFO Bridge from the Yard of Honor, directly in front of the castle.
The castle grounds and gardens are free to walk around.
You can enter the castle if you want to visit the Museum of History located inside. Basic admission is €14 per adult or €33 for a family ticket (prices accurate – April 2025).
3. Bratislava’s historical Old Town
As you walk in the Old Town from the Bratislava Castle, make sure you walk down Beblavého, a pretty little cobbled street. At the top, there is a fantastic restaurant called Modra Hviezda – I would recommend this for an evening meal.
If you want more recommendations on what to eat and where to eat in Bratislava, check out this awesome guide.
And if you love this street as much as we did, go to Drink in Gallery Andy for cheap beer and prosecco on tap. We paid less than €5 for a pint of beer and glass of prosecco – BARGAIN!
4. St Martin’s Cathedral
At the bottom of Modra Hviezda, you’ll see St Martin’s Cathedral with its 85m high tower. We admired the building from the outside but the church is free to enter.
5. St. Michael’s Gate & Tower
From St Martin’s Cathedral, I’d recommend either taking the Staromestská road towards the UFO Bridge (see further down), or walking the opposite way towards St. Michael’s Gate & Tower.
You can’t miss the St. Michael’s Tower at 51 metres high and its iconic copper roof. You’ll enter the Old Town through the Gate in the Tower and walk down the charming Michalska street, which is lined with lots of shops, restaurants and cafes. This is also a great place to come in the evening.
Entrance to the tower is via the Museum of Arms which has an entrance fee of €5 for adults, €3 for children or a family ticket for €9,50.
6. Old Town Hall
Bratislava’s Old Town Hall is the oldest city hall in the country. It houses the Museum of City History which has an entrance fee of €8 for adults, €4 for children or a family ticket for €18.
You can also climb the tower for beautiful views of the Main Square, UFO Tower, and Bratislava Castle.
7. Primate’s Palace
Next door to the Old Town Hall is Primate’s Palace, you can’t miss this beautiful pastel pink building.
Head through the archway and stone pillars towards a pretty courtyard. Here you’ll find a great photo spot in front of a fountain with the statue of St. George.
8. Church of St. Elisabeth (aka Blue Church)
Challenge the kids to be the first to spot this unique fairy-tale, pastel blue church located on Bezručova.
It might feel like you are walking away from the main tourist sites and then all of sudden, this magnificent blue building appears in front of you.
Everything about this place is blue – some call it the ‘Smurf Church’. Even the pews inside are blue, the girls thought it was magic!
Entrance to the church is free.
There are plenty more notable buildings including the Slovak National Theatre, Slovak National Museum and the Blumenthal Church but you’d struggle to fit them all into one day.
If you are spending just one day in Bratislava, you also need to keep it fun and mix it up a little for the kids.
9. UFO Bridge and Observation Deck
Bratislava’s UFO Bridge is the 7th largest hanging bridge in the world. Walk across the bridge and cross the Danube river via the pedestrian path underneath the bridge’s road.
It only takes a few minutes but make sure you stop to admire the fantastic views back over towards Bratislava Castle.
You can also visit the UFO Observation Deck for incredible views over the city. The entrance fee is €11.90 for adults and €3.50 for children unless you are visiting the restaurant, then the fee is waivered.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to go up but have heard the best time to go is sunset.
10. Danube Riverbank
Make sure you don’t leave Bratislava without taking a stroll along the riverbank.
There are lovely bars and cafes starting to pop up, which are lovely for a morning coffee or afternoon tipple. We even saw a couple with artificial beaches – great for the kids to have some fun in. Check out Magio Beach or Pláž Staré Mesto.
Top tips for one day in Bratislava with kids
- Unless you really don’t like walking, the whole city is walkable and we didn’t use any method of transport at all.
- Get the kids on the lookout for the quirky statues dotted around the Old Town including Cumil the Sewer Worker (aka Man at Work).
- If you buy the Bratislava Card, public transport is included. For us, spending one day in Bratislava with kids didn’t warrant us buying the Bratislava Card. If you are spending longer than one in Bratislava and intend on visiting some of the museums, then it might save you money. Find out more about the Bratislava Card here.
- If the weather is unkind to you during your visit to Bratislava, then you can spend some time shopping in the Eurovea Shopping Center.
Staying longer than one day in Bratislava?
If you plan on spending longer than one day in Bratislava, then you can simply explore further or venture a little further with the kids…
- Devin Castle – an impressive castle on a massive cliff approximately 10km from Bratislava Old Town.
- Danube Cruises – a fun way to see the sights, you can also take a river cruise to Devin Castle and back.
- Vienna – frequent trains can get you from Bratislava to Vienna for a day trip in just under an hour.
- Bratislava Zoo – one of the largest zoo’s in Slovakia and less than 5k from Bratislava Old Town.
- Botanical Garden of the Comenius University – a peaceful place to visit with over 4,000 plant species. It’s a great place for children to explore nature.
Final Thoughts…
Bratislava is a compact, affordable city packed with history, culture, and family-friendly fun. From hilltop castles and scenic river walks to quirky statues and hidden gems, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained and adults inspired.
We spent one day in Bratislava and have shared everything we did, in the order we experienced it, to help you make the most out of your visit.
If you’re visiting Bratislava with kids, this guide offers a great mix of must-see sights and fun activities for the whole family.
If you have more than one day, then I’d recommend taking a slower pace and perhaps enjoying a Danube river cruise to Devin Castle.
Bratislava is a hidden gem for families. I hope this post inspires you to explore it and shows you just how much this city has to offer.
