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 exhausting 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, Old Town attraction, and a staggering fortress overlooking the calm riverfront and vibrant cityscape.

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

The winding cobbled maze, inviting pubs, and outright weird arts scene right here could have you simply as magnetized as some other metropolis, and it is solely grow 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 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 recognition 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 understand the Danube River flowed via, making for an ideal strategy 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 perfect of how, 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 implies fellow Flix-ers would not have been tallied.

Summer 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 Castle, the Danube tree strains blush with crimson and gold within the crisp air, excellent for perusing cafe-laden Old Town or higher but, the primary metropolis I attempted mulled wine (sure, that is positively a suggestion).

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

If you’ll be able to flip away from the surprising UFO Bridge (which you’ll be able to go inside for the observation deck and dinner), you must 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, anticipate a little bit of a trek. In reality, I’m simply going to inform you to pack sturdy sneakers as a result of the cobbled stones listed here are one other degree of, effectively, 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 way in which, so anticipate 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 occasions 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 excellent 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 price could have caught your eye. Yes, Bratislava could be very inexpensive throughout.

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

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 foul wrap, however I used to be pleasantly stunned.

If you are the Oktoberfest type, you then’ll positively 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 finished proper – not the tasteless stuff.

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

Sam Sears

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