Bratislava is the only capital in the world that borders two other countries, Austria and Hungary, and for more than 250 years it was the city where the kings of Hungary were crowned. Its old town sits between the castle hill and the Danube and is small enough to cross on foot in a few minutes. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Bratislava
- One city, three names: for centuries the city was known as Pressburg in German, Pozsony in Hungarian and Prešporok in Slovak. The name Bratislava only became official in 1919.
- A stand-in capital: after the Ottomans took Buda, Pressburg served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1536 to 1783, and the Hungarian parliament met here.
- Nineteen coronations: between 1563 and 1830, 11 kings and queens and 8 royal consorts were crowned in St Martin's Cathedral. Maria Theresa was crowned Queen of Hungary here in 1741.
- A crown on the spire: the cathedral's 85-metre tower is topped by a gilded replica of the Crown of St Stephen, put up in 1847. It weighs about 150 kg and rests on a gilded cushion.
- Crowns in the pavement: small brass crowns set into the streets of the old town mark the route of the coronation processions, from the cathedral through the old town.
- A church that is blue all over: the Church of St Elizabeth, built between 1908 and 1913 to designs by the Hungarian architect Ödön Lechner, is blue inside and out, down to its glazed roof tiles.
- A man in a manhole: since 1997 a bronze workman called Čumil has been peering out of a manhole in the old town, resting on his arms and watching the passers-by.
- A souvenir from Napoleon: a cannonball fired during the French siege of 1809 is still lodged in the wall of the Old Town Hall tower.
- A flying saucer over the Danube: the bridge known as Most SNP opened in 1972 with a restaurant and viewing deck shaped like a UFO on top of its single pylon. Locals simply call it the UFO.
- The last gate standing: Michael's Gate, crowned by a statue of the archangel Michael, is the only gate of the medieval town walls that survives.
A coronation day in Pressburg
When a new king or queen of Hungary was crowned, the whole town became a stage. The ceremony took place in St Martin's Cathedral, where the monarch was anointed and crowned with the Holy Crown of St Stephen. Then the procession set off through the streets now marked by the brass crowns. In the Franciscan Church the new ruler knighted chosen nobles, and in front of the crowds the monarch swore to respect the rights of the kingdom. The day ended by the Danube, where the king rode up a mound of earth brought from every county of Hungary and cut the air with the sword of St Stephen towards the four points of the compass, promising to defend the country from every side.
What to eat in Bratislava
- Bryndzové halušky: small potato dumplings with bryndza, a tangy sheep's cheese, and crispy bacon. This is the national dish.
- Kapustnica: a sauerkraut soup with smoked sausage and mushrooms, eaten all winter and especially at Christmas.
- Bratislavské rožky: crescent-shaped pastries filled with poppy seeds or walnuts, a speciality of the city for centuries.
- Lokše: thin potato pancakes, filled with duck fat and liver pâté or with something sweet, a favourite at the Christmas markets.
- Small Carpathian wine: the vineyards begin at the edge of the city, and towns such as Svätý Jur, Pezinok and Modra make good white wines.
Good to know before you go
- The grounds and gardens of Bratislava Castle are free to walk around and give wide views over the Danube and, on clear days, into Austria.
- Devín Castle, a ruin on a rock where the Morava flows into the Danube, is an easy trip by city bus. A memorial nearby recalls the people killed trying to cross the Iron Curtain.
- Vienna is about an hour away by train or bus, and in the warmer months boats run between the two capitals on the Danube.
- For the classic view of the old town, go up to the UFO's viewing deck at sunset. It needs a ticket, which also covers the lift.
Explore Bratislava with World City Trail
Our Bratislava scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 31 minutes of walking, and its stops include the Blue Church of St Elizabeth and St Martin's Cathedral.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like.
Play the Bratislava scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.