This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2014. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I mention the city of Bratislava, Slovakia?
I bet it’s probably a movie. Many of you would have seen Hostel, where a bunch of innocent backpackers get unceremoniously tortured and murdered by high paying international businessmen in an unknown Slovakian location.
Otherwise it would be Eurotrip, where American travellers accidentally arrive in a sketchy Bratislavan neighbourhood, surrounded by some alarmingly uncivilised locals, and with no way of getting out of the city due to a lack of railway network.
Even if you haven’t seen these movies, you may know about them. But is Bratislava actually as dangerous as its reputation?
Bratislava is the charming capital of Slovakia, and it often flies under the radar in comparison to other European cities, but it is a destination that’s becoming increasingly popular with tourists.
If you’re wondering whether to add Bratislava into your Europe trip itinerary, here’s an overview of my experience visiting Bratislava in 2014 which may help you make an informed decision about your visit.
Are the hostels safe in Bratislava?
When we visited Bratislava in 2014, we stayed at Hostel Possonium which was actually themed on the movie Hostel. There were posters on the walls featuring movie scenes, and the movie was playing on repeat on a screen in the hostel bar, which was set in the basement with a wonderful array of fake blood spatters decorating the walls. It seems that this hostel has now been converted to boutique apartments and (unfortunately) it looks like they’ve removed the horror movie theme!
One night we ate dinner at the restaurant of Downtown Backpackers Hostel, and what do you know – this one has also been converted to a B&B Hotel. The location of this place was better than where we stayed, so it might be a good option if you want to be near the old city centre.
I felt safe staying in a hostel in Bratislava, and found it to be a similar experience to backpacking in any other Central European country.
Is it safe to wander the streets in Bratislava?
During the day, we noticed plenty of other backpackers enjoying Bratislava’s gorgeous old town, even in the middle of winter. We wandered along narrow cobblestone alleyways, walked up to the castle for some awesome views, and visited the Bratislava City Museum which gave us a fantastic account of the local history and included entry up the Old Town Hall tower. At no time did I feel as though I was in any danger.
The public transport system in Bratislava is generally known to be safe (though as with any public transport system, you should keep an eye on your belongings). Taxis or ride-sharing apps are also available for getting around–just ensure you use licensed and reputable services as you would in other destinations.
We did a 30 minute walk from the main train station to our hostel in the late evening. While the streets around the station were fairly quiet, they were well lit. I felt fairly comfortable walking with my partner at night, though it’s sensible to avoid getting into situations where you may become a target, such as walking alone at night or wandering drunk on dark streets. Use your common sense.
Obviously you should always be cautious in an unfamiliar place. Like other major cities, Bratislava isn’t crime-free, but violent crime rates are relatively low compared to many other European capitals. There’s no reason to think that Bratislava is more unsafe than any other city–in fact, I felt so much safer here than I did in Paris or Brussels.
Are the people trustworthy?
Nobody tried to scam or pickpocket us while we were in Bratislava (and we definitely had some nasty experiences in other European capitals). The locals we came into contact with were nice, straightforward people, which proved to us that Bratislava is not the scary dangerous place it’s made out to be.
Slovakia is a democratic country, and Bratislava has experienced political stability for many years. There is some general distrust in the police/secret service and political corruption is not unheard of, but tourists visiting the country are usually unaffected. Social unrest and demonstrations are rare, but situations can change so it’s always a good idea to stay informed about the local news and current events during your visit.
I found Bratislava to be a lovely city with an interesting history. While no destination is entirely free of risks, don’t worry – the likelihood of you being tortured and murdered here is slim to none.
The old town looks so pretty, I’d really love to go there (despite its reputation!)
It looks so lovely!
Did you by any chance get to talk to any locals who gave their opinion on the reputation those movies may have given their city? I’m curious to know!
No, I didn’t think to! But I did read an article once on the response of the tourist board of Slovakia, who invited the film’s director on an all-expenses paid trip to Slovakia to show him that it wasn’t the dangerous and horrible place he might have thought it was!
Really! Well, it seems that have made efforts to show that the movies aren’t a real representation of the city. Good on them!
I’m local. There are two types of people. Those who laugh on the movies and those who are angry about the stupid american movies! 🙂
Bratislava is definitely a city full of young people (especially city centre on Friday and Saturday), cheap drinks and a friendly atmosphere! I live in Munich now but I am from Bratislava. Yes, you just need two days there and you are familiar with the culture. That´s it! Bratislava is pretty safe city, you don´t need to worry but as in any other city, you need to take care of yourself 😉
Absolutely – danger can be present in any city, even your own home town, but Bratislava is no more dangerous than any other. Thanks for sharing your tips Karin!
Hotel was actually filmed in the Czech Republic although they said it was Slovakia.
I stayed at Downtown Backpackers Hostel…I was amazing!!! I loved Bratislavia although I agree you only need 1-3 days. I headed out to the ruins of an old castle right outside Bratislavia and also climbed to the top of the Red Army Memorial (amazing!). Definitely a hidden-gem city in Europe 🙂
I totally agree Jordan, Bratislava is definitely worth a visit! I’m glad you enjoyed yourself there 🙂
It’s such a relief that you say Bratislava’s a lovely place… I’m travelling there soon and now I feel better about it 🙂
I went to Bratislava for a day on a school trip ages ago and I barely remember how it looks like, I definitely need to return and explore it better and this time take Dale with me 🙂 By the way I didn’t know about Bratislava reputation of not being safe maybe because I didn’t see the film 😉
If you haven’t seen either of the films then you may be blissfully unaware of the reputation they give the city! It’s definitely worth a re-visit Franca!
I’ve never been to Bratislava, but so far I only heard neutral to negative reviews from travellers who have been there. It’s good to hear a positive review! I was starting to doubt if it was worth exploring… If at least one person says it’s good, it’s worth it! 😀
I usually wait until at least 2 people recommend a place before I go ahead and explore it! Bratislava isn’t at the top of most people’s lists, but that’s not to say it’s not worth visiting!
Lived for one and a half years in Bratislava a few years ago and still really enjoy each visit of the city. Bratislava might be small, but the city got it’s own charm to say the least. 🙂
Regarding the safty in the city then it is probably as safe if not safer than most other European capitals. We felt a lot safer in Bratislava than we do in Stockholm when walking outside late at night. We even used to walk home to Petrzalka on the other side of the Danube in the middle of the nigth. It might have been stupid as some Slovak friends insisted of telling us, but we never saw anything during those walks. Reason for not going was that the bridge (Most SNP) historically has been famous for having a lot of drug addicts around it.
Thanks for your comment, Jesper. I agree, I think Bratislava is less dangerous than many other European cities! On top of that, it’s also charming and an interesting place to walk around. I’m glad you enjoyed your stay there!
I was in Bratislva for 2 days, a couple of months ago, and it’s not only a beautiful charming little european capital but also one of the safest ones. I stayed at a hostel attended by travelers just one block away from the Christmas Market in the main square and everything was great. Explored a lot, went out to a bar, came back at 3am walking all around Old Town and never felt in danger. It’s not on my top list, but it’s worth the visit!
I completely agree, Francisco! It wasn’t one of my top European destinations, but it was definitely worth a visit. I loved debunking the myth about how “unsafe” Bratislava is 🙂
I went to Bratislava in 2006 with some friends. We actually wanted to go to Budapest but the flights were really expensive so we booked Bratislava instead without the slightest idea what it was going to be like. I found it to be one of the least dodgy cities I have ever visited, at no time did I ever feel the city felt threatening, I loved it. Unfortnately like most cities there is loads of graffiti about which spoilt the appearance of parts of the city but the old town seemed mainly free of graffiti and was a very attractive area. One night my friends were still drinking at 3 in the morning and I felt as though I’d had enough so I walked about 20 minutes back to our apartment under the influence of quite a few beers! I didn’t get any bother from anyone and felt completely safe. In hindsight I guess you should get a taxi in any city but because I felt so safe there it didn’t even enter my mind at the time. I really enjoyed it there and hopefully I’ll get back there again one day but it’s a big world and I’m still trying new places at the minute. If you are concerned about safety in Bratislava then I can genuinely say don’t be. I found Prague, Barcelona, Amsterdam to feel far less safe than Bratislava.
don’t worry. One of the safest. Bratislava is not a very attractive place to vistit. I can honestly say that Bratislava is better place to live than visit. Crime is low because population is more less homogenous . People are friendly and girls are so pretty 🙂 infrastructure is horrible public service as well needs to be improve. Slovakia is independent from 1993 you can’t expect miracles:)
Surely you have to be particularly stupid to think a city is unsafe die to two third rate horror films.
You may as well believe that The Avengers is a documentary and expect alien invaders if you go to New York, or North Korea to attack if you visit Washington