Slovakia isn’t usually at the top of someone’s “5 most desired travel destinations”, but I unexpectedly visited its capital, Bratislava, several years ago and was pleasantly surprised. I was doing some city-hopping through Eastern Europe, and ended up exploring Bratislava’s historic castles. Slovakia as a whole has an abundance of castles, over 100 of them, but I was content with seeing at least a glimpse of it and be transported into what felt like a by-gone era.

Bratislava Castle is the most famous one, built in the 9th century, and sitting on top of the Old Town, overlooking the Danube River. It contains the Museum of History, and has an extensive and impressive array of various art inside. I was there during the off-season, and happened to be the only one inside the museum; a rather unique situation. The winters in Slovakia are brutally cold, but perfect if you want to tour a castle of this magnitude alone or with very few people around. It’s very much deserted in the winter months following the holidays. Just bring extra warm clothes!

The next day I visited Devin Castle, which is approximately 12 km, or 7 miles, from the city center, in the borough of Devin. The quickest way to get there is by cab, since it’s off the beaten track. Considering the below-freezing temperatures, I opted out of public transportation and eliminated the risk of having to wait a long time for a bus. I simply told my cab driver I’d call him once I’m ready for a pick-up again.

Devin Castle is one of the oldest castles existing and turned into an absolute favorite of mine. The walking path up to the castle, as well as remaining exterior grounds, will give you a feeling of serenity, beauty, and peacefulness. The museum inside the castle is closed during the winter, but the outdoor scenery alone was worth the trip. One one side, you see cute village houses, hills and greens, and on the other side you have the almighty Danube River, which was partially frozen during my visit, and had ice floating on top of the water.

Once again, I was the only person visiting at the time, and it was beautiful and perfect; the grounds showing remnants of snow.

I can’t speak for other seasons, but in winter, Bratislava is perfectly cold and calm; a combination that I cherish whenever I get a chance to experience it. That being said, if you’re looking for a unique travel destination, I reckon that Bratislava might just be what your heart desires.

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