Start the day in the Old Town’s maze of narrow, car-free streets, linking up the tightly packed landmarks on foot or aboard an open-air trolley. Buildings here span a long history, so a guided tour is a great way to get oriented. These generally include the Old Town Hall, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and SNP Square (short for Námestie Slovenského Národného Povstania, or Slovak National Uprising Square).

Take a break for lunch in one of the Old Town’s many atmospheric cafés. A rich blend of potato dumplings, sheep cheese, and bacon,bryndzové halušky is Slovakia’s national food, but another favorite is paprika-rich goulash. If you want to sample a little of everything, consider a food tour that visits a series of eateries.

As sunset approaches head to the Bratislava Castle, the perfect place to watch the evening light on the Danube River, Old Town, and UFO Tower.

Soviet architecture is a stark reminder of Slovakia’s years under Communist rule, so those sites are a fascinating introduction to the city’s more recent history. Many Communism-themed tours visit historic apartment buildings, homes of former Communist leaders, bunkers, and even the border that once divided Czechoslovakia from Austria.

Pick one of Bratislava’s excellent museums for a deeper dive: the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, the history-focused Bratislava City Museum, or the impressive Slovak National Gallery.

Energetic nightlife has earned Bratislava a party-town reputation, so join a local crowd at pubs and bars on your final evening here. Craft-beer tours, wine-tasting tours, and pub crawls take you straight to the action, and they can be a great way to connect with fellow travelers, too.