This European Town With Staggering Castles Is Breaking Tourism Records

With summer season all however wrapped up, it is time to shine a lightweight on the second half of 2025. As onerous as it’s to consider, fall is correct across the nook.

Europe exudes timeless attraction and fall magic publish Labor Day, and you will get away with sporting white since there are not any unwritten societal guidelines governing your closet.

There’s one pleasant metropolis filled with head-turning quirks, Outdated City attraction, and a staggering fortress overlooking the calm riverfront and vibrant cityscape.

As such, it is simple to see that certainly one of my favourite European cities is dropping its “hidden gem” card, changing into a serious draw as an alternative choice to Europe’s well-documented overtourism considerations this summer season.

The winding cobbled maze, inviting pubs, and outright weird arts scene right here can have you simply as magnetized as some other metropolis, and it is solely turn out to be simpler to succeed in by air lately with a brand new report many guests join from main hubs like London and Milan.

We at Travel Off Path acknowledge Slovakia will not be a reputation you had in your bingo card for a fall journey, but being an hour away from Vienna and providing ample flight choices, do not sleep on certainly one of Europe’s most magical and pleasant cities, who simply had their best summer on record.

Bratislava: Time Your Journey Simply Proper To Beat The Crowds

Teetering on the nook of the Slovakia-Austria border lies Bratislava, a metropolis that is undeniably rising in reputation however nonetheless missing mainstream fame.

To be sincere, I used to be blown away by how superior this metropolis was after I went on a whim after I used to be priced out of Vienna, deciding to hop aboard an inexpensive FlixBus to take a look at a neighboring nation I knew diddly squat about on the time.

I did not realize it was anchored by an unmissable spaceship. I positively wasn’t anticipating all of the oddball artwork installations, nor did I even notice the Danube River flowed by means of, making for an ideal solution to begin your day with a scenic riverfront stroll.

Although it has been years, Bratislava is stamped in my thoughts’s eye as one of many locations that shocked me most in the perfect of how, in good firm with Luxembourg.

Apparently, I am not alone. Within the month of July alone, Bratislava noticed a whopping 358,898 air passengers, which suggests fellow Flix-ers would not have been tallied.

Summer time is unfortunately coming to an in depth, a time when most vacationers use their PTO. The record-breaking numbers will certainly drop off quickly, however the excellent news is Bratislava is beautiful this time of yr.

Backdropped by the staggering (and rightfully named) Bratislava Fortress, the Danube tree strains blush with crimson and gold within the crisp air, good for perusing cafe-laden Outdated City or higher but, the primary metropolis I attempted mulled wine (sure, that is positively a suggestion).

Who Says No To Fortress-Hopping? Bratislava Oozes Storybook Vibes

In case you can flip away from the sudden UFO Bridge (which you’ll go inside for the observation deck and dinner), you must go to Bratislava Fortress, perched on a Stone Age hillside, standing the take a look at of time.

This highly effective image of Slovakia is steeped in historical past, however we’ll save your eyes from a dry historical past lesson.

You may go to the on-site Museum of Historical past, that includes everlasting and rotating exhibitions that chronicle Slovakia’s timeline, from the Center Ages to the current day.

Given it is set atop a steep hill, count on a little bit of a trek. In reality, I am simply going to inform you to pack sturdy sneakers as a result of the cobbled stones listed here are one other stage of, properly, cobble?

When you attain the height (and it will not take lengthy), plan to remain some time and savor the views.

I’ll say even a number of years in the past, simply as Bratislava was edging on “fashionable” standing, it was onerous to snap a photograph with out strangers’ heads in the best way, so count on that much more so now.

Nevertheless, that is all of the extra motive to go to one other lesser-known fortress close by —Devin Castle.

Positioned about 6 miles west of Bratislava, this sight to behold has been fortified since prehistoric occasions and solely prices $9 for admission.

You may benefit from the views of the Danube much more realizing there are few vacationers to fret about crashing your good photo-op.

That is simply the tip of the nonexistent iceberg, although. Listed here are a number of extra close by castles to go to :

• Červený Kameň Fortress (50 minutes away)
• Pajštún Fortress (35 minutes away)
• Schloss Hof (half-hour away; in Austria)

Do not Sleep On Slovak Delicacies

The $9 admission price could have caught your eye. Sure, Bratislava may be very reasonably priced throughout.

I stayed at Hostel Outdated City and it was an ideal bang for my buck, not solely price-wise, however I swear it may need been extra spacious than my present residence.

But when there’s one side I used to be genuinely shocked by, it was the meals scene. Some Central and Japanese European international locations get a foul wrap, however I used to be pleasantly shocked.

In case you’re the Oktoberfest type, you then’ll positively love what Slovakia has to supply. Assume hearty sausages and hefty mugs of ice-cold beer that put Bud Mild to disgrace.

It is peasant meals finished proper – not the tasteless stuff.

Plus, one little-known side about Bratislava is that it is really a wine nation, set within the Little Carpathians Wine Area with its personal official wine route for enjoyable day journeys exterior town limits.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist primarily based in San Diego has visited 36 international locations and written over 1000 articles with a give attention to sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a lightweight on lesser-known gems.