Bratislava Oldtimer Sightseeing Tour Along the Danube

Bratislava Castle

Bratislava Castle sits on a rocky hill above the Danube, its square white body and four corner towers visible from almost everywhere in the city. People have lived on this hill since prehistoric times, and the castle you see today was rebuilt after a fire in the 19th century left it in ruins for more than a hundred years. For centuries Bratislava was the coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary, and the crown jewels were once kept here.

On this tour the oldtimer climbs the castle hill and stops for about 20 minutes, enough to walk around the courtyard and the terraces and enjoy the panorama over the river, the Old Town and, on clear days, Austria and Hungary. Entry to the castle museum is not included. If you are wondering how to get to Bratislava Castle without a steep walk, this ride is the easiest way up.

Slavín memorial hill

Slavín is a war memorial and cemetery on a hill north of the castle, in a quiet district of villas and embassies. It honours the soldiers of the Soviet army who died in the battles for Bratislava in April 1945 at the end of the Second World War. Built between 1957 and 1960, it is dominated by a tall column topped by a soldier holding a flag, surrounded by graves, sculptures and well-kept gardens.

Beyond its history, Slavín offers the finest panoramic view of Bratislava: the castle, the red roofs of the Old Town, the bridges over the Danube, the modern towers and the vast housing estates of Petržalka on the other bank. The panoramic ride stops here for about 15 minutes, a perfect moment for photos. Few visitors reach it on foot, so it is one of the highlights of this tour.

The Old Town and its landmarks

The ride passes through and around the compact Old Town of Bratislava, a pedestrian maze of baroque palaces, small squares and pastel facades. Along the route you see the Slovak National Theatre with its neo-Renaissance facade, the Reduta concert hall, the Gothic coronation cathedral, sections of the old town walls and the Presidential Palace, a rococo summer palace with a beautiful French-style garden open to the public.

The audio commentary tells the stories of these buildings, from coronation processions to the fall of communism in 1989 and the birth of independent Slovakia in 1993. You also see the Slovak Radio building, an upside-down pyramid of the 1980s that is one of the most unusual buildings in Europe. After the ride, many travellers return on foot to the Old Town to explore Michael's Gate and the main square.

The UFO Bridge and the Blue Church

The second ride heads to the Danube and the modern side of the city. The Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising, known to everyone as the UFO Bridge, opened in 1972 with a single slanting pylon topped by a flying-saucer-shaped structure about 85 metres above the river, which holds an observation deck. The bridge cut through part of the old Jewish quarter, and the commentary explains how it changed the city.

The ride continues to the Blue Church, a small Art Nouveau church built in the early 20th century and painted entirely in shades of pale blue, with blue glazed roof tiles and decorations that look like icing on a cake. It is one of the most photographed spots in Bratislava, and the best time to visit the Blue Church is in the morning or late afternoon, when the light makes the colours glow.