Devin Castle

Belongs to the national cultural monuments of Slovakia. Devín castle is located on a cliff above a confluence of the river Danube and Morava. The area has been populated since the late Stone Age. In the 9th century an important Great Moravian fortress stood here. Devín is an excellent location for walks for its splendid view on the surrounding countryside. It is an important symbol of Slovak history.

Bratislava Castle

The castle dominates the city. The first written mention is from the 10th century. The castle’s hill was populated since the late Stone Age. Later, the the Roman Empire border ‘Limes Romanus’ ran through the area. During the Greater Moravian Empire, Slavs built a fortress that became an important centre. In the 11th century, when Bratislava was already an integral part of the Hungarian state, there was a pre-Romanesque stone palace. In the 15th century the castle was built in Gothic style as an anti-Hussite fortress. In the 16th century, King Ferdinand ordered to rebuild the castle in Renaissance style and Queen Maria Theresa rebuilt the Bratislava Castle in a baroque style in the 17th century. After its devastation the castle’s reconstruction finished in 1968.

Today the castle houses the Slovak National Council and the collections of the Slovak National Museum. In summer, Shakespeare’s Festival and concerts are organized at the castle.
The Slovak National Museum contains an exhibition of historical furniture and jewels. Exhibits of the Treasury contain the Venus of Moravia- almost 25 thousand year old statue.

Michael's Gate

In the medieval times the town was surrounded by fortified walls, and entry and exit was only possible through one of the four heavily fortified gates. The gate has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. It was built around 1300 and in the 18the century it was reconstructed to its present baroque style. The tower houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Bratislava City Museum. Michael's gate is attractive also for its luxury shops and restaurants. These street is one of the most expensive streets in Central Europe.

Old Town Hall

Located in the heart of the city center, is one of the oldest stone buildings in Bratislava, and the oldest city hall in Slovakia. The building was used as a town hall between the 15th - 19th centuries. However, it also housed a prison and mint, and was a place of trade and celebrations. It was also used as the city's arsenal depository and municipal archive. Today it hosts the Bratislava City Museum, displaying exhibitions of Bratislava, including torture instruments, the old town dungeons, antique weapons and armour, paintings and miniatures. During the summer the concerts are organized on its courtyard.

Main Square

Located in the historical centre of the Old Town, is one of the best known squares in Bratislava. The most important landmarks are the Old Town Hall and Roland Fountain. The square is popular by its numerous cafes, market stoods and beautiful burger houses.

Grassalkovich Palace or the Presidential Palace

This palace is the seat of the President of Slovakia. The building is a Rococo summer palace with a French garden. It was built in the 18th century for the Chairman of the Hungarian Royal Chamber, Count Anton Grassalkovich, and advisor to Marie Theresa. The building became a center of Baroque musical life in Bratislava. Joseph Haydn premiered several of his works here. The garden behind the palace complex offers a place for walks and concerts.

Primate's Palace

Is a neo-Classical palace built in the 18th century. The palace and its most famous chamber, the Hall of Mirrors, have played host to many significant events. The most famous of them is the signing of the fourth Peace of Pressburg in 1805 after the Battle of Austerlitz. During reconstruction in 1903, a rare collection of tapestries were found behind a wall, they were woven in the 1630s at the royal weaving workshop at Mortlake in England.

Summer Archbishop's Palace or Summer Archiepiscopal Palace

In the 17th century it was originally a Renaissance summer seat for the archbishops of Esztergom. The palace garden with many of its precious decorations and statues lasted until the 19th century, when the palace was turned into a military hospital. Today, the palace with its English garden houses the government of Slovakia.

St. Martin's Cathedral

It is the largest, finest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, built in the 13th century. The cathedral became the coronation church of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Hungary. In total, the coronations of 11 kings and queens plus 8 of their consorts took place here between 1563 and 1830, including that of Maria Theresa of Austria.

To commemorate the cathedral's glory and importance these events represents the Crown of St.Stephen It is made of gold, weighs 300 kg and measures over 1 m in diameter.
Below the St. Anna Chapel there are large catacombs that contain the sepulchers of many significant figures, such as presidents of the historic Pressburg county.

The cathedral has been a National Cultural Monument since 2002. There's a festival called Coronation Feasts, held since 2003, simulating coronation of one of the Kings.

Franciscan Church

It was constructed in the 13th century. Selected persons were knighted here in the 16th - 19th centuries each time when kings of the Kingdom of Hungary were crowned in Pressburg (now Bratislava). Two chapels and a Franciscan monastery from the 14th century stand adjacent to the church.

Church of St. Elisabeth or Blue Church

Is an Hungarian Secessionist Catholic church consecrated to Elisabeth of Hungary. It is also called "Blue Church". The façade was at first painted with light pastel colours. Later the church got its characteristic blue colour. A line of blue tiles and wave-strip encircles the church.

The Slovak National Theatre

Address: Slovenské Národné Divadlo/ SND, Gorkého 4, Bratislava

Belongs to one of the most important cultural institution of Slovakia. The Slovak National Theatre is the oldest Slovak professional theatres and consists of 3 ensembles: opera, ballet and drama. It was founded in 1920. The old building in the Neo-Renaissance of the theatre is situated on the Hviezdoslav Square. It was built in the 19th century according to a design of the Viennese architects. Today the building houses only the opera and ballet ensembles.

The new modern building near the Danube was designed in the 1980s and finally opened in 2007 and has all three ensembles of the Slovak National Theatre, although the ensembles continue to use the old building in the Old Town. The building is designed to hold 1700 spectators at a time in its three sections.

Performances of the Slovak National Theatre are held every day except Sunday for opera and drama or except Monday for drama.