| 18 Mar 2025 | Today, we set off on an exciting day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia! OBB, the Austrian rail service, has a great rate for Vienna to Bratislava: two, round trip flexible tickets for €38. Our journey began with a target of catching the 8:45 am train from Wien Hauptbahnhof. To be safe, we left our hotel an hour ahead of time, anticipating a Monday morning commute rush on the subway. But to our surprise, the trip was smooth and relative uncrowned; we arrived at the station with plenty of time for a coffee and pastry before boarding our train.

Bratislava is just a short hour away from Vienna by train, sitting right on the border of Slovakia. Upon arrival, we decided to walk into the city center, crossing the iconic Stary Most bridge. This pedestrian and tram bridge offers fantastic views of Castle Hill and Old Town, setting the tone for the charming day ahead.

Our first stop was the famous Modrý kostolik, also known as the Blue Church. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, this beautiful little Art Nouveau church is famous for its striking blue color and unique architectural details.

Next, we wandered through Old Town, getting lost in the maze of medieval towers, ancient stone streets, and historic buildings.

For lunch, we headed to Meštiansky pivovar, a local brewery and restaurant recommended by our friend Paul. The food was exceptional, the beer was cold, and the staff were incredibly friendly

After lunch, we decided to hike up to Bratislava Castle. Walking around the castle’s exterior wall we had a great vantage point to view Old Town. We wandered around the ancient city walls before making our way down narrow, winding alleys that led us back into the heart of the city.

On our way out, we couldn’t resist stopping by Pasteleria, a charming little café and cake shop tucked away in a courtyard. We treated ourselves to a sweet treat  before trekking back to the station for our train ride back to Vienna.

Arriving in Karlsplatz on the way back to our hotel, we decided to round off our adventure with a quick snack at Kaiser Sausage Stand, a recommendation from our friend Amber. She had raved about the currywurst, but we opted for the classic sausage. It was a tasty, satisfying end to a successful day trip.

Bratislava was full of old world charm, offering a perfect blend of history, culture, and delicious food. It was the ideal day trip from Vienna.