“Bratislava?”, I heard them say after I’d booked the tickets, “Why on Earth would you go there?”

And I think the question was a genuine one, as opposed to a slight towards the Slovakian capital. You see, it’s rare these days to find a holiday destination for which we have no preconceived idea of. It’s eluded many British tourists from what I can tell, but what better way to carve an adventure to explore the unknown!

The weekend away with my bestie came and went in April this year and I can now say that I’m stunned the small but jam-packed city hasn’t quite become an established Euro hotspot yet, as it was one of the most fascinating places I may have ever been.

Only a 2 hour flight from the UK and cheaper for a whole weekend than a single night stopover in Wales (I checked), you can really get a good bargain with Bratislava.

With travellers often opting to spend less than a day here, stopping off via the Danube River from Budapest or Vienna, it appears its location and size have meant its fallen short to its equally beautiful neighbouring cities.

But you know what that means? It’s a cheap break and there are hardly any tourists so now is the time before everyone else is in on this little secret. So if you’re wondering the same question: “Why on Earth Bratislava?”, then let me give you 10 great reasons why I, for one, fell in love with the city.

1. The Street Art

I’m aware there are those who actively dislike graffiti, but Bratislava does well to define the difference between this and street art. Of course, like any inner-city you’ll find graffiti ‘tags’ (with my favourite spotted to be ‘Tomato’ on this particular trip), but thanks to Bratislava Street Art Festival, which seems to occur every June after a quick Google search, there are dedicated pockets of the city which showcase some of the most fantastic pieces of local art, with buildings as a canvas. Every corner turned, was another artist’s work showed off proudly. I feel like if I visited next month, I’d be able to discover the city all over again through the next set of masterpieces.

2. The Food

I’m going to do a post on each place we visited as I’d recommend each and every one of them, but I’ve gotta say, as a whole, the food in Bratislava massively exceeded my expectations. There was a bit of everything; ice creams stalls on every corner, and food which I’ve personally associated more with my trips to Hungary and Germany: Goulash and Stroganoffs which were, quite frankly, some of the best meals I’ve ever had. And most importantly, incredibly coffee. There is not much more that I love about travel than finding a coffee shop, soaking up the scenery and people watching while I plan the day. This was an excellent city for it.

3. They have a UFO!

How many places on Earth can you go and have a cocktail in a UFO on a Saturday night? (Genuinely interested to hear that answer). “Most SNP”, “New Bridge”, “The UFO Bridge” – it goes by many names, but ultimately what you need to know is that along this bridge which crosses the Danube river, there is a UFO, complete with bar, restaurant and observation deck. You can see the UFO from most of the city, and the view you get from up high is utterly amazing. Admittance is €7 which I think is really reasonable (and highly recommend going at sunset for fewer crowds and stunning pictures) but here’s a tip, if you want food and/or drink, reserve a table online prior to visit and the price of the observation is absorbed. I can’t think of anywhere better that I’ve sat for cocktails.

4. Churches of Distinction

I’m not a person of religion, but like many others, do love to see a good Church in a new and exciting city. There is no denying that they take us back to another time in history, where a story was told through architecture, and decorated with an intention of celebration. The two unmissables for Bratislava include The Blue Church – an Art Nouveau church decorated entirely in pastel blue which looks like a wedding cake if you ask me! – and St. Martin’s Cathedral, famous for the coronation of Hungarian Kings and is now identifiable by the beautifully golden steeple as well as the street art on nearby walls.

5. The Royal Charm

Bratislava Castle, known as the main castle of Bratislava, can be seen from most of the city due to its prominent position on top of its very own hill. Whilst we didn’t go inside on this occasion, the grounds are beautiful, with impeccably kept gardens and well-preserved ruins – not to mention the symmetry of this rectangular structure which looks regal in every sense of the word. Devin Castle is a more ruinous attraction made more for outdoor wanders and is accessible by car, bus or boat about 10km up the Danube. If you don’t find yourself with time to visit castles, look out for the golden crowns in the cobblestones of the city which map out the coronation route of Bratislavan royalty in the 16th Century.

6. The Greenery

Did you know that Bratislava is the 3rd most green place in the world – falling short only to Iceland and New Zealand? I didn’t either! The city itself is compact with all the key tourist hotspots within 1km, but even if you can’t see the masses of forests and natural parks which lie just on the other side of the historical buildings, you’ll certainly notice it on the houses themselves! Many homes, particularly downtown, are currently bring pruned due to overgrowth but typically, this Slovakian gem takes huge pride in their greenery. If you want to sit and have a picnic or go hiking in a forest, it’s all here.

7. The Unbelievable Views

There’s no shortage of places to get amazing views in Bratislava. The UFO and the Castle were our favourites and on a clear day, you can see as far as Austria (with the border being only 5km away). But other unmissable spots include the Old Town Hall, a stunning building complete with multicolour pixel-roofed windows and a viewing tower. A little further out is the Kamzik Tower, a TV tower in the middle of the forest with an observation deck (the second highest in Bratislava) and a rotating restaurant with 360-degree panoramic views! We didn’t get chance to visit that last one but I’ll have to go back just to try it out.

8. The Architecture

I took a lot of pictures of buildings you guys. Like, loads. I’m talking gingerbread-esque rooftops, pastel perfection side streets, gothic Wes-Anderson-inspired facades. Every corner was a treat for the eyes which I wholly didn’t expect. Quite naive of me perhaps, as I’d not long ago visited Budapest and there were striking similarities in the style of their streets (I’m told even moreso in Prague). Tours are available to highlight the specialist socialist history of much of the construction, and if you look beyond the city across the water, you can see the communist concrete high-rises, decorated in pastels which only makes them appear as imposing lego towers. It’s a striking contrast to the ornate details, and ice-cream colour combinations splattered across the city centre, and whatever the history, are fantastically photogenic.

9. The Photo Opportunities

Hands up if you LOVE a good photo opportunity? I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ll clamber onto anything in order to get a good memory locked in. Evidence below! Each city has its quirks, and whether you’re a fan or not, I can’t resist getting in on the action. In Bratislava, human-sized sculptures line the streets, mostly around Main Square in Old Town – of figures related to their history. Napoleon Soldier, Schone Naci & Cumil are all favourites with tourists and can often have a group hanging around waiting turns for a picture. If you’re not into waiting, do what we did and wander the city around breakfast time – you’ll have the place to yourselves.

10. The Variety

Considering the main city is so compact, with most sights and landmarks less than a mile from one another, it’s quite amazing how varied a city we found it to be. Forests, UFOs, antique shops, gourmet restaurants, Victorian re-enactments in the streets (playing recorders – one I wholly wasn’t expecting to see!) And yet, the recommended duration is less than one day. Well, we went for 2 days and still didn’t see it all. In fact, we missed out on plenty! The Slovak Radio Building is shaped like an inverted triangle. The Eurovea shopping center is meant to be incredible. Oh, and there is a Dino Park, indicating it’s probably a great place for kids too.