This European Town With Staggering Castles Is Breaking Tourism Records

With summer time all however wrapped up, it is time to shine a light-weight on the second half of 2025. As exhausting as it’s to consider, fall is true across the nook.

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

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

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

The winding cobbled maze, inviting pubs, and outright weird arts scene right here can have you simply as magnetized as every other metropolis, and it is solely turn out to be simpler to succeed in by air in recent times 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 one in every of Europe’s most magical and pleasant cities, who simply had their best summer on record.

Bratislava: Time Your Trip Just Right 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 once I went on a whim after I used to be priced out of Vienna, deciding to hop aboard an affordable 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 undoubtedly wasn’t anticipating all of the oddball artwork installations, nor did I even notice the Danube River flowed by, making for an ideal solution to begin your day with a scenic riverfront stroll.

Though it has been years, Bratislava is stamped in my thoughts’s eye as one of many locations that stunned me most in the most effective of the way, in good firm with Luxembourg.

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

Summer is unfortunately coming to a detailed, 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 12 months.

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

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

If you’ll be able to flip away from the sudden UFO Bridge (which you’ll go inside for the observation deck and dinner), it’s important to go to Bratislava Castle, 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 can go to the on-site Museum of History, that includes everlasting and rotating exhibitions that chronicle Slovakia’s timeline, from the Middle Ages to the current day.

Given it is set atop a steep hill, count on a little bit of a trek. In truth, I’m simply going to let you know to pack sturdy footwear as a result of the cobbled stones listed below are one other degree of, properly, cobble?

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

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

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

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

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

That’s simply the tip of the nonexistent iceberg, although. Here are just a few extra close by castles to go to :

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

Don’t Sleep On Slovak Cuisine

The $9 admission payment might have caught your eye. Yes, Bratislava could be very reasonably priced throughout.

I stayed at Hostel Old Town and it was an incredible bang for my buck, not solely price-wise, however I swear it might need been extra spacious than my present condominium.

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

If you are the Oktoberfest type, then you definately’ll undoubtedly love what Slovakia has to supply. Think hearty sausages and hefty mugs of ice-cold beer that put Bud Light to disgrace.

It’s peasant meals achieved 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 Region with its personal official wine route for enjoyable day journeys outdoors town limits.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & 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 light-weight on lesser-known gems.