The Bratislava CARD is a must-have for anyone who is visiting Bratislava for more than a day and wants to explore the Bratislava museums. The ticket includes a single visit to numerous museums within days of purchase.

In this blog, we will guide you through everything you need to know about the Bratislava CARD and how to purchase it. We will also highlight some of our favorite museums, like the Michael’s Tower, Bratislava City Museum, Museum of Viticulture, and Museum of History. Whether you’re an art buff or a history enthusiast, these museums have something for everyone.

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The Bratislava CARD is the official tourist destination card that can help you explore the best of Bratislava and the surrounding region while saving time and money. You can opt for either the standard plastic card or the digital version, which is compatible with iOS and Android devices.

IN-PERSON

The Bratislava CARD can be purchased at the Tourist Information Centre or selected sales points. The staff will activate the card according to your requirements, or you can activate it yourself by filling in the necessary information on the reverse side of the card legibly.

ON-LINE

The Bratislava CARD can be purchased online at card.visitbratislava.com. The printed voucher can then be exchanged for a plastic card at one of three locations in Bratislava.

DIGITAL CARD

A digital card can be purchased and used by downloading the free Bratislava CARD app for iOS or Android. The card can be activated right before its first use by entering the card number into the app. The app also works in an offline mode.

To receive the discount, simply present the card at participating establishments. For public transportation, just show the card to the bus driver or train attendant.

Depending on the Bratislava CARD purchased, it will be valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours from the time of activation.

Michael’s Tower is a famous landmark located at the center of Bratislava with a rich history of over seven centuries. It is the only one of the original four city gates that have survived and predate Bratislava’s official city status granted in 1291. Throughout its long history, the tower has undergone various transformations in its appearance and primary purpose. Despite this, it still stands today as a testament to Bratislava’s sophisticated fortification system. In its prime, significant roads passed through the tower’s gateway.

Following an extensive restoration effort between 2021 and 2022, Michael’s Tower is now open to the public as an exhibition. The “Michael’s Tower: Reconstructed” exhibition aims to present the monument in all its historical layers of development. The tower’s facade now showcases a cohesive, predominantly Baroque aesthetic with a white color scheme characteristic of Michael’s Tower in recent decades.

Inside, the tower has been transformed into a museum exhibit. Rather than displaying historical weapons, which were on display until recently, the monument itself assumes the role of the primary exhibit. This approach allows us to unveil older layers and materials that would otherwise remain concealed from the view of visitors beneath a layer of unifying plaster. It provides insights into the historical evolution of the building and the gradual transformation of the tower’s function.

Address: Michalská ulica 22 806/24, 811 03 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Wed – Mon 10:00 – 18:00

Last entry 30 minutes before closing time.

Price: 6 €

The Bratislava City Museum (Múzeum mesta Bratislavy) is in the Old Town Hall. The City History Exhibition showcases the history of Bratislava’s inhabitants and the background of events that took place from the Middle Ages until the late 1940s. Towards the end of the exhibition, visitors can watch the documentary “People and the City” for an overview of the most significant milestones in the modern history of Bratislava.

Address: Radničná 577, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

Price: 8 €

The Town Hall Tower not only provides stunning views of the historic center of the city, but also allows visitors to take a peek into the office of Ovid Faust, a significant Bratislava archivist and museum curator. Additionally, historical bells are on display within the tower.

Address: Hlavné námestie 1, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 18.00

Price: 4 €

The Rococo house is a unique architectural gem on its 1st and 2nd floors. It was originally built by Count Juraj Apponyi in 1761-1762 and is named after him. Count Apponyi undertook a radical reconstruction of the older Baroque house, which resulted in its current appearance while preserving the interior decorations.

In 1867, the city purchased the house and added its coat of arms to the cartouche above the gate. By 1904, the rooms on the ground floor were labeled as the City Museum’s premises. In 1926, the Museum opened an exhibition on its 1st floor piano nobile, followed by a gallery on the 2nd floor in 1930, and the Bratislava Museum of Viticulture on the ground floor the following year. In the following decades, the 1st floor was used for exhibition purposes in connection with the Old Town Hall. The 2nd floor was initially used as offices, then as a deposit, and the Regional Library.

Between 2004 and 2008, the house underwent extensive renovations. After its completion, the Museum established exhibitions of the Period Rooms Museum and the Museum of Viticulture, with the study deposit of ceramics, china, and glass in the loft. The house became an individual building without any connection to the Old Town Hall.

Address: Radničná 577/1, 811 01 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

Last entry 30 minutes before closing time.

Price:

The museum showcases the city’s history of viticulture and wine production from ancient times to the 20th century. The exhibition includes the works of two prominent Bratislava vintners, J. E. Hubert and F. Palugyay. Additionally, the museum houses the National Wine Salon, where visitors can enjoy a tasting of the permanent collection of 100 best Slovak wines.

Address: Radničná 1, 811 01 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 18.00

Price: 8 €

The Museum of Pharmacy is located on the ground floor of a Baroque burgher’s house, in a section previously used as a pharmacy known as the Red Crayfish. The collection includes various equipment and containers made from faience, stoneware, wood, china, and glass, which were used for storing medicines. The room’s ambiance is complemented by Baroque-Classical paintings depicting healing themes and three figurative compositions on the vaulted ceiling.

Address: Michalská 1484/26, 811 03 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Wed – Mon 10:00 – 18:00

Price: Free

The Rococo House at the Good Shepherd was built between 1760 and 1765 and is a small masterpiece of Central European burgher architecture. The lower part of the building was intended for commercial and craft activities, while the upper floors were designed for housing. Today, visitors can explore a collection of clocks from the 17th to 20th centuries, mainly crafted by Bratislava’s masters, which is displayed across three floors.

Address: Židovská 1, 811 01 Bratislava-Hrad, Slovakia

Hours:

May thru October: Thu – Sun 11.00 – 18.00

Price: 3 €

The permanent exhibition about the life and work of the composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1770 – 1837) is in a Renaissance garden house in the city center. It showcases a collection of musical instruments from his estate and sheet music with his compositions.

Address: Klobučnícka 2, 811 01 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Fri 10.00 – 18.00; Sat – Sun 11.00 – 18.00

Price: 3 €

Located Outside Bratislava

During the 9th century, a large stronghold was built by the Great Moravian civilization 212 meters above sea level where the Danube and Morava rivers. Unfortunately, Devín Castle was destroyed in 1809 by Napoleon’s army. However, the ground plans of an early Christian chapel from the 4th century and the foundations of the Great Moravian church from the 9th century can still be seen in parts of the castle.

Address: 10, Muránská 1050, 841 10 Bratislava-Devín, Slovakia

Hours:

April thru May and September: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 18.00

June thru August: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 19.00

October and March Tue – Sun 10.00 – 17.00

November thru February Tue – Sun 10.00 – 16.00

Price:

April thru October: 8 €

November thru March: 4 €

Bratislava City Gallery (Galéria Mesta Bratislava)

Mirbach Palace is a stunning example of Rococo architecture in Bratislava, built between 1768 and 1770. Although only two rooms with wooden wainscoting walls decorated with rare period-colored engravings have been preserved from the original building, the Bratislava City Gallery located here offers visitors the chance to view temporary or permanent exhibitions of both historical and contemporary art. You can also relax on the patio or in a café, or participate in an art workshop in the Art Studio.

Address: Františkánske námestie 8-11, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue, Thu – Sun 11.00 – 18.00 and Wed 13.00 – 20.00

Price: 6 €

In the 19th century, Count John Pálffy converted a burgher´s house into a Classicist palace.

Address: Zámocká 2128/47, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue, Thu – Sun 11.00 – 18.00; Wed 13.00 – 20.00

Price: 6 €

Slovak National Museums (SNM)

The Bratislava Castle Museum showcases the development of Slovakian society from medieval times to the present day. In addition to the fascinating exhibitions on display, a visit to the museum includes a tour of the impressive castle interior. You can walk up the splendid staircase that dates back to the reign of Maria Theresa and then continue your ascent to the top of the Crown Tower, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city and surrounding area.

Address: Zámocká, 811 01 Bratislava-Hrad, Slovakia

Hours: 10.00 – 18.00 daily except Tuesday

Price: 14 €

The Natural History Museum focuses on the research, documentation and presentation of the diversity of the natural environment (animate and inanimate nature) primarily within the territory of Slovakia. Its collections (containing approximately 2.5 million objects) make it an important natural science museum in Europe. It has mineralogical collections from Slovak and global sites and its collection of fossils illustrates the Earth’s geological past. It is a central methodological workplace covering all of Slovakia.

The museum’s acquisition activities are focused on the territory of Slovakia, and its collections are at the disposal of both the scientific public for research purposes and the general public in the form of expositions, exhibitions and events, as well as monographs, specialized and popular science books and through the media. It is located in the main building of the SNM on Vajanského nábrežie 2 in Bratislava.

Address: Vajanského nábrežie 2, 810 06 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: daily (except Monday) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Price: 6 €

The museum is dedicated to the preservation, study, and display of archaeological artifacts from Slovakia’s prehistoric times to the late Middle Ages. The museum is located in the Kamper Mansion House, a historic building.

Address: Žižkova 12, 811 02 Staré Mesto, Slovakia (entry from Žižkova 16)

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 17.00

Price: 4 €

The museum acquires, preserves, processes, and makes available collections of musical artifacts that document the cultural history of Slovakia from its earliest times to the present day.

Address: Žižkova 18, 810 06 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: The museum is open during temporary exhibitions only.

Price: 4 €

The Brämer Mansion houses a museum dedicated to the cultural and historical heritage of the Hungarian ethnic minority in Slovakia.

Address: Žižkova 4497/18, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Price: 4 €

The museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and presenting artifacts that represent the material and spiritual culture of the Carpathian Germans. It also seeks to present their history and culture in an objective manner.

Address: Žižkova 14, 810 06 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 17.00

Price: 4 €

Located Outside Bratislava

The museum specializes in the presentation of the material and spiritual heritage of the Croatian ethnic minority in Slovakia, which was preserved only in 4 localities. The life of Croatians in our territory is presented in the two permanent exhibitions of the museum, along with regularly organized exhibitions and events that thematically focus on the presentation of the rich history and culture of this ethnicity.

Address: Istrijská 68/841 07, 841 07 Devínska Nová Ves, Slovakia

Hours:

November thru March: Tuesday – Friday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

April thru October: Tuesday – Friday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday: from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Price: 2.00 €

The beginnings of Červený Kameň Castle date back to the 13th century. Today, the Renaissance-Baroque castle is a seat of the specialized Slovak National Museum branch concerned with the housing culture of the nobility.

Address: 900 89 Častá-Červený Kameň, Slovakia

Hours:

October thru April: Tue – Sun 9.30 – 15.30

May: Mon – Fri 9.30 – 15.30; Sat – Sun 9.00 – 17.00

June thru November: Mon – Sun 9.00 – 17.00

Price: 7 €

The Museum of Slovak Ceramic Sculpture has two permanent exhibitions showcasing ceramics. The first one is the Museum of Slovak Ceramic Sculpture which presents the unique Slovak handcraft tradition. The second one is the Ignác Bizmayer Gallery which features a representative selection of works by the national artist I. Bizmayer and other notable figures in figural ceramic sculpture in Slovakia. The gallery is located in a rounded bastion of the town walls from the 17th century.

Address: Kukučínova 15, 900 01 Modra, Slovakia

Hours:

November thru March: Tue – Fri 8.30 – 16.00

April thru October: Tue – Fri 08.30 – 16.00; Sat 09.00 – 15.00

Price: 6 €

The museum has two permanent exhibits that are dedicated to Ľudovít Štúr, the founder of the Slovak nation. One exhibit, Ľudovít Štúr and Modern Slovakia, showcases his personality, life, and contributions to Slovak society. The other exhibit, the Ľudovít Štúr Memorial Room, is the actual location where Štúr spent the last three weeks of his life.

Address: Štúrova 84, 900 01 Modra, Slovakia

Hours:

November thru March: Tue – Fri 8.30 – 16.00

April thru October: Tue – Fri 8.30 – 16.00; Sat 10.00 – 16.00

Price: 5 €

The Museum of Transport is in the historic building of the first Bratislava steam engine railway station from the 19th century. The museum boasts an impressive collection of diesel and electric locomotives, while the road transport section features an array of vehicles ranging from the earliest means of transport to cars and motorcycles from the interwar period, as well as motor vehicles from the period spanning 1960s to 1980s.

Address: Šancová 6419/1B, 811 05 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10.00 – 17.00

Price: 8 €

BIBIANA – International House of Art for Children provides children and teenagers access to non-traditional, experimental forms of art across three floors through interactive exhibitions in Slovak and English.

Address: Panská 41, 811 02 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: Tue – Sun 10:00 – 6:00

Price: 2 €

Located Outside Bratislava

The museum specializes in viticulture and offers a unique exposition on the wine-growing history of Pezinok town and its surroundings. Visitors can explore the largest collection of wine presses in Europe, experience the different aromas of local wines, and even try their hand at corking a bottle. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a glass of wine while admiring a unique 3D relief map of the Small Carpathians, accompanied by a video showcasing over 2,000 years of local history. One of the highlights of the museum is the story of Klara’s press, narrated by a local winemaker named Jozef Janáč.

Address: M. R. Štefánika 21/4, 902 01 Pezinok, Slovakia

Hours:

May thru October: Tue – Fri 09.00 – 12.00, 13.00 – 17.00; Sat 10.00 – 17.00; Sun 14.00 – 17.00

November thru April: Tue – Fri 09.00 – 12.00, 13.00 – 17.00; Sat 10.00 – 16.00

Price: 7 €

Museum of Photography is located right in the historical centre of Bratislava in the building of Central European House of Photography on Prepoštská Street. On a relatively small area, it presents the beginning and evolution of Slovak photography from 1839 until 1918. Along original works of the greatest Slovak photographers from this period, the exposition displays photographic equipment, information boards about the outset of Slovak and world photography, and examples of photographic techniques.

In a special section, an interactive exposition allows visitors to see how camera obscura or stereophotography work, to create their own studio photography or try colorization. A separate room hosts thematic exhibitions of historical photography.

Address: Prepoštská 4, 811 01 Staré Mesto, Slovakia

Hours: 1:00 – 6:00 (every day except Monday)

Price:

The Slovak National Gallery (SNG) was established in 1948 with a mission to not only accumulate and conserve art, but to also find ways to make it accessible to everyone, while educating and inspiring them. The gallery in Bratislava is made up of several buildings. The main building, called the Water Barracks, was built in 1759-1763 as a four-wing baroque residence on the Danube embankment. It has since been reconstructed, with an extension built in 1969-1977 to meet modern needs, all designed by architects G.B. Martinelli, F.A. Hillebrandt, and V. Dedecek.

Address: Rázusovo nábrežie 2, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia

Hours: Thur 12:00-20:00; Fri – Sun 10:00-18:00

Price: 4 € (50% discount with Bratislava CARD)

If you plan to spend more than a couple of days in Bratislava and want to explore all its museums, the Bratislava Card is definitely worth it.

In comparison to Vienna, Austria, Bratislava is much cheaper for food and accommodations.

We spent a month in Bratislava and feel it is definitely worth visiting. For further analysis, see “Is Bratislava Worth Visiting?“

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, has plenty to offer visitors. Here are some highlights:

1. Bratislava Castle: This iconic landmark sits on a hill overlooking the city and offers stunning views of the Danube River and its surroundings.
2. St. Martin’s Cathedral: A beautiful Gothic cathedral that dates back to the 13th century, it is known for its impressive architecture and historic significance.
3. Old Town: Bratislava’s charming Old Town is filled with narrow streets, colorful buildings, and historic sites like Michael’s Gate and Primate’s Palace.
4. UFO Observation Deck: Located on top of the SNP Bridge, this futuristic observation deck provides panoramic views of the city.
5. Devin Castle: Just outside of Bratislava, Devin Castle is a well-preserved medieval castle situated on a cliff overlooking the Danube River.
6. Slovak National Theatre: If you enjoy cultural performances, catch a show at this stunning theater that hosts opera, ballet, and drama productions.

These are just a few examples of what you can see and do in Bratislava. The city also boasts numerous museums, parks, cafes, and restaurants that offer a taste of Slovakian culture and cuisine.

If you are planning a trip to Bratislava, there are plenty of excellent places to stay. However, for the best experience, we strongly recommend staying in the Old Town. The castle marker on the map below is the heart of the Old Town. We suggest staying as close to it as possible, depending on your budget and preferences.

The below interactive map provides hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!