Bratislava through the native-born eyes
Half-day experience
First Option
We are from Bratislava; we have been born in Bratislava. This adds specific flavor, different recognition to our sight-seeing tour.
Yes, the Old Town is compact and pretty. You can easily walk from the hotels nearby and experience the galleries, medieval palaces, churches, with lots of people around. We can show you the District of Old Town with one significant difference: you will meet no tourists, you will experience authenticity embedded in the history and spirit of Bratislava.
Firstly, it is a good choice to wear comfortable walking shoes:)) You will discover, right in the city center a true forest, called Horský park (Forest Park). The Park covers an area of 22 hectares and it was established in 1868 by the innovative Mayor of Bratislava Henrich Justi. The tea house, gamekeeper’s lodge with small playground for children, and open air gallery with the statues of well-known Slovak sculptors; this all is located within the area. We start our tour walking through Deep Road (Hlboká cesta) through which, they say, part of Napoleon army tried to conquer the city. It will lead us up the hill to the local Lurdy Cave (Grotto) with thousands of thankful epitaphs, and then to the church, which tower was cut in communistic era not to shade Slavín, the monumental WW2 Soviet memorial with excellent overview of the city. Another Memorial of French Partisans with four lion’s heads is hidden in the shade of pine trees edging the Forest Park. We can refresh in a popular beer tavern “Funus” (“Funeral”) of native residents under horse chestnut trees, very social especially during the summertime. Moreover, while walking you will see remarkable villas and private houses of all architecture styles as this part of the Old Town is residential, but rather discrete. We can finish walking by visiting the old remains of Calvary from 1694, hidden among trees on the nearby hill that could be found only with locals and/or end up, for example, at the other local secret – small but excellent winery shop with live music.
