Vienna and Bratislava are the two closest capitals of Europe. Appropriately, it only takes one hour by car and about 50 -60 min with train and train tickets from Vienna to Bratislava cost between 10 to 16 euros. Bratislava is rather small for a capital city with a population of little  over 400,000. Many recommend to take a short (a day or an overnight) trip to Bratislava from Vienna if you want a mini getaway. Unfortunately, I did not take an overnight trip this time due to poor planning, and my primary purpose of this trip was visiting its Austrian embassy for my visa.

Anyway, there are several things I found interesting besides its tourist attractions like its castle, Michael’s Gate and St. Martin’s Cathedral. The city’s old town is a lot like Vienna’s first district without as many tourists; it is cute and lovely. But a bit outside the center, you will notice many box-like buildings for residences presumably built a few decades ago. This juxtaposition of architecture within the city limit is very interesting and frankly gives a general overview of the city’s modern history. Not surprisingly, Slovakian cuisine is very similary to Austrian cuisine, or at least that is what I noticed in many „Slovak Houses“ in the old town.

Yes, the old town is highly touristy just like any other city centers in Europe, so you will find rahter expensive eateries. But overall, food and drinks are cheaper than those of Vienna. In addition, Bratislava is famous for its vibrant and young nightlife. Another reason to take an overnight trip right?

For those who are staying in Austria relatively long, Bratislava along with other neighboring cities is definitely worth visiting!