The castle is large and it has been built on top of a hill in Bratislava. It costs only €7 to enter.Once inside there are many exhibitions and you can enjoy videos showing how the castle was and who were its occupants over the years.There are exhibitions, museum & a collection of art to see. You can also climb all the way to the top of one of its towers and enjoy the view of Bratislava. I think it is 80 steps.Over the river you can see the industrial part of the City, while on the other side is the more elegant residential side.The Castle itself has been restored and you can see the grand marble staircase but a lot of the detailed decorations have been lost after the fire.
We walked to the Castle twice from the city centre, once around the back & once from the front up the steps.The grounds were very nice - it was just a pity that there's a lot of work being done at the moment so you'll see trucks, workmen & cranes behind the castle working on a garden area.The views from the castle & the surrounding walls were absolutely stunning. The original castle burnt down so you'd be right in thinking that the castle looks quite new. We didn't go inside.
Different exhibitions and plenty of information about the restoration of the castle. I'm not really much of a museum goer but enjoyed spending a couple of hours looking at the varied exhibits here. The gardens were being dug up to be re done when I visited in February.
Bratislava Castle is worth seeing if you're in Bratislava. The current castle is a rebuilt version of the castle that was destroyed in an 1811 fire, so it doesn't have the historical significance of many other European castles. But it's worthwhile visiting, as it's the dominant feature of the city. If rating this as an attraction to visit, I'd give it 3.5 to 4. But rating it as something to photograph, it's a 5, so I've included tips here for photographers.I visited during the day, including buying a ticket to go inside (more to see the inside of the palace than to see the exhibitions). It's worth going inside to see the large staircases. But you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a castle such as the royal castles in Vienna, as Bratislava Castle is sparsely decorated. I didn't have time to linger in the exhibitions, although there seemed to be interesting exhibitions on a variety of topics. You can take photos inside. Inside photo tip: Look out the windows, as some give you a good vantage point over part of the city.The better photos are outside. Because of the small site the castle sits on, you can't get far enough away as you would want to take a photo of the castle as a whole. I have a full-frame DSLR, so managed to get enough of the building in the shots while on the site, but you'll have a harder time with many types of cameras. While you're outside, also get some shots of the Danube.My two top outside photo tips:(1) Come back after dark. The castle itself shuts at 6pm (if I recall correctly), but the grounds are open later. The castle is lit up at night, so you can get some good night shots. (2) For the best outside shots of all, especially as afternoon turns to night, go up the UFO lookout on the Most SNP (bridge). From here, you have a clear view of the castle, and can get fabulous shots of the castle on the hill in front of the Danube. Once it's lit up at night, you'll need to increase your shutter speed to avoid a flaring effect from the lights. Be warned: It's an open viewing platform up top and cold in winter, so dress accordingly. But it was worth it for the photos! I also took some good photos when I returned to ground level and could see the castle at that angle across the river from the other side of the river bank.
Note: Everything I am writing and wrote is my opinion, taste and experience only and could be different to others.First it must to walk to the castle since there are many beautiful buildings on the way, views, street.The atmosphere is great, very quite.From the castle you could have a view to the Bratislava city and to the river and the other side of the river. We loved it.Recommended to visit Bratislava Castle.
Hrad castle is an impressive mixture of Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque architecture. It is believed that the site on which the castle was built has served as an acropolis as far back as the Hallstatt era. The current structure is situated on a hill that straddles the Danube River. Construction started in the 9th century and continued off and on for the next 900 years. A fire in the early 19th century destroyed much of the castle, so most of what exists today was reconstructed in the 1950s and 60s. It takes a bit to walk up to Castle Hill from the city center, but it is more than worth the effort. There is a peaceful English-style park outside the castle with lots of shade trees and a few monuments. The hill provides an amazing view of the city, specifically the UFO observation deck and the beautiful Danube River. When in Slovakia be sure to set aside a few hours and tour this jewel of Bratislava!
We were so lucky! Excellent weather and top view! We reached with the small red tour bus and had a stop there! Will never forget!
The many steps that it takes to reach the top of the hill on which the rebuilt version of the castle is located are worth it. There are lovely views of the UFO bridge, the skyline, the Danube and more as you climb the steps and walk out onto the viewing area. We were there on a beautiful clear (cold day) and got loads of photos of the stark white of the castle against a gorgeous blue sky. The museum inside has a great WWI exhibit, pencil drawings of the castle itself, a portrait gallery and more. There is also a lovely little coffee shop serving Julius Meinl coffee - a great stop halfway through your visit. There is a small children's play area that is clean and well-appointed. Our visit was one of the highlights of our trip to Bratislava.
We had a day in the city and chose to visit the castle. There is a nice variety of exhibitions and extensive English text so plenty to read. The WW1 exhibit was most interesting, covering a side of the war we rarely consider. Nice tea room on the upper floor as well.
This castle quite dominates the city and is easily identifiable. Despite this it is not signposted very well! Even though it overlooks the city it is not a difficult walk to reach, no great amount of steps but rather a gentle stroll. There is a lot of renovation going on but this didn't distract from the beauty or history of the place. Time was against me so I didn't visit the inside but I'm told by those who did, that it is very interesting. Views of Bratislava from the castle are very impressive. Well worth an hour or so.