I had no idea I would enjoy Bratislava as much as I did after reflecting on my 24 hours spent there. Getting there from Budapest was easy—a 2.5 hour smooth train ride that dropped me off near the city center. As I arrived at the train station, I noticed more remnants of the Communist regime than I had in Budapest—there was graffiti everywhere and the surroundings looked gray with concrete buildings dotting the nearby areas.

Here’s a little bit of history: communism was still an issue until about 30 years ago in Slovakia. In fact, it used to be a part of Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) and became an independent state only in 1993. The communist regime played a large part in the slow development of Slovakia’s economy, however it has grown largely since then.

Here’s what I accomplished in the 24 hours I spent there:

1. Marrol’s Boutique hotel: I first took a tram from the train station to my beautiful hotel. I was really excited about staying here because I had read rave reviews and the fact that it was an old-timey boutique hotel appealed to me. I definitely was not disappointed! The room was small but adequate and clean with furniture from the early 1900s. The hotel even had a little library room with a bar where you could have a nightcap! For ~$100/night it was a unique experience and it also came with a delicious breakfast spread the next day 🙂

2. Bratislava Flagship restaurant: This was recommended to me by the hotel concierge of the boutique hotel. The establishment has an old and dark ambience because it used to be a monastery a few centuries ago. Then, during the 1900s, it was converted into a restaurant and brewery, which now serves all kinds of Slovakian food and local beer. I opted for the latkes (potato pancakes) and soup for lunch along with a pint of their traditional beer (which was so light and smooth and only cost me $2!)

3. Walking tour of the historic town: Like I’ve said before, I truly enjoy participating in these walking tours so I have a better idea of what I want to do more of with my remaining time in a certain city. The walking tour guide was a Slovakian local who knew the ins and outs of Bratislava. We even had an interesting conversation about the similarity between American and Slovakian politics! The great thing about this city is that you can truly explore most of the highlights in 24-48 hours, which is why it is usually a brief stopover point while you’re city hopping through Europe. In fact, some other tourists on the walking tour were only there for 12 hours or less! The tour covered the historic downtown plaza and the Bratislava castle along with the history of some of the Slovakian rulers.

4. Dinner at the Slovak Pub: Since I only had 24 hours here, I wanted to make the most of it by opting for more traditional food that evening. This restaurant did not disappoint! I had the creamy garlic soup that came in a delicious bread bowl, which I am still thinking about to this day. I of course opted for another beer instead of water and even tried the traditional sheep’s cheese pierogies (dumplings). The sheep’s cheese was not my favorite—the flavor was super strong, but it is a local delicacy that many people love.

I ended the night with a free cocktail at the boutique hotel bar (sparkling wine!) and spent some time reading my cheesy, romance novel.

Next day….

5. The Blue Church: I had a few hours before my train to Vienna in the afternoon, so I decided to walk around the city to find the much photographed ‘Blue church’ after my hotel breakfast. Although the church wasn’t open to visitors at the time, I loved standing outside of it and admiring its blue colors and gorgeous architecture. Even on a cloudy day, it was beautiful and worth the short walk from the hotel.

6. Old town hall and church: This landmark came highly recommended by my walking tour guide. The admission ticket was nominal and it was interesting to read about Bratislava’s history and the construction of this church. The city is small compared to other European cities, however, it truly was a breath of fresh air when I walked up to the highest point of the church (not that high) for a view of the Old town plaza.

7. Dessert time- Pollito: After my visit to the old town hall, I stopped by this cafe. Its logo was a cute chicken (pollito means ‘little chicken’ in Spanish) and I was intrigued by the name. I ordered a dark chocolate raspberry cheesecake with their house special iced tea with rose and hibiscus. It was easily one of my most favorite desserts during this trip. The cheesecake wasn’t too sweet and fulfilled my dark chocolate cravings. It was the perfect mid-day snack.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time in Bratislava and although it’s not a popular enough destination compared to Budapest or Vienna, it still packs a punch. It’s a great option for a day trip!