In our 10 tips for trips near Bratislava, families with children, adrenaline adventurers, and demanding gourmets with refined taste will find something for themselves.

 

First-class zone not only for Olympians

Do you want to experience the atmosphere of a real Olympic sports resort, where athletes from all over the world train? Head to the x-bionic® sphere in Šamorín, which can be reached in half an hour from Bratislava. One million square meters in the middle of the magical Danube floodplain forests will win you over in addition to professional conditions for the performance of up to 26 Olympic disciplines, as well as top restaurants and a quality offer of relaxation for the whole family. Break your record in the 50 m Olympic pool, compete with friends in basketball or handball, breathe in the freedom in the saddle or try an adrenaline-fueled fast ride on the nearby Slovakia Ring racing circuit. While you regenerate in the exclusive wellness center, your children will go crazy to their heart's content in the water world with various attractions or the Adventureland children's playground under the supervision of animators. In the sports and leisure resort with its hotel, all lovers of a healthy lifestyle will find something for themselves all year round. (Photo: www.x-bionicsphere.com)

     

    Adrenaline on wild water and modern art

    And how about combining cycling with adrenaline on wild water and an artistic experience recommended by the world's most prestigious bedekers? No problem on the Slovak section of the EuroVelo 6 route starting in Bratislava! If you want to complete the whole way to Štúrovo on the Slovakian-Hungarian border, a hearty 168 km challenge awaits you. The route leading along the Danube will never cease to amaze you with nearby attractions. After only 20 km, you can make a detour to the Water Sports Complex in Čunovo, which is a frequent venue for the World Championships in water slalom. Wild cascades await you on the artificial water channel there, where you can try the whole spectrum of adrenaline activities, including rafting, wakeboarding, hydrospeeding, or aquazorbing. Just a short distance away, the peninsula with one of the most romantic museums of modern art in Europe – the Danubiana – will enchant you with its captivating symbiosis of works of art, modern architecture, and the surrounding nature. Since its opening in 2000, it has held dozens of exhibitions of the most important personalities of the world art scene, including Joan Miró, Sam Francis, and Ilona Kesserü. A walk on the roof of the museum at sunset with a view of Bratislava, the Malé Karpaty mountains, and the majestic flow of the Danube is also a unique experience. However, the rest of the cycle route does not spare interesting stops. At the dam in Gabčíkovo, you can watch the lifting of ships, in the European Square in Komárno you can admire the architecture typical of the individual countries of the old continent. Not far from the village of Iža you will find the remains of the Roman defense system Limes Romanus with the UNESCO mark, in Štúrovo you will have a view of the dome of the Esztergom basilica cupola staying on the Bridge of Maria Valerie. (Photo: www.bratislavskykraj.sk)

      Through the Iron Curtain line on the EuroVelo asphalt

      In Bratislava, you can also connect to EuroVelo 13, the longest European cycle route that passes through 20 countries. Its 10,400 km follow the line of the Iron Curtain, which divided Europe into two worlds for almost four decades in the 20th century. A 90 km section starts in Bratislava on the border with Austria, continues along the border with the Czech Republic, and ends in Moravský Svätý Ján. It offers cyclists a ride through beautiful nature in close contact with the fauna and flora of the Morava River, which is a paradise for waterfowl. On the route, you will discover a system of bunkers that were built before the Second World War in the Petržalka district of Bratislava, the majestic Devín Castle, the important paleontological location Sandberg, as well as the picturesque villages of the Záhorie region, among others Vysoká pri Morave with a 17th-century Baroque church. The route, on which there are practically no elevations, leads on asphalt roads of varying quality, mostly with minimal or no car traffic. Its great advantage is that you can easily combine it with other cycling routes in the Záhorie region, in the Danube Region, as well as in Austria and Hungary. (Photo: Bratislava Tourist Board)

        Smell the golf and the famous Skalica specialty

        How about trying a gentleman's game where every stroke counts? Take advantage of the fact that the largest golf area in Slovakia is only an hour's drive from Bratislava. Penati Golf Resort in Šajdíkove Humence is rightly ranked among the European and, according to some experts, even the world's top. Here, on 217 hectares, two 18-hole fields with different characters will test your skills: the combed, manicured Legend and, in contrast, the naturally rebellious Heritage. Will you be able to conquer the longest hole in Central Europe, which is 712 meters? There are sand obstacles with smooth shapes that masterfully benefit from the natural beauty of the Záhorie region: the ubiquitous pine forests combine here with whitish dunes and the mirrored surfaces of the lake. Near the resort, the royal city of Skalica is situated. Take a tour of the Rotunda of St. George, built in the early Romanesque style in the 11th century, and be sure to visit the reconstructed Mill of the Pilárik brothers, whose premises are as if cut out from the interwar times of the Czechoslovak Republic. Take a good look at the unique mill equipment there. It is used to grind flour for the famous Skalica trdelník cake, a local specialty made from leavened dough, which has been produced in our territory since the 19th century. Remember that when you enjoy a hollow cylinder of trdelnik with cinnamon or nut sprinkles during an early evening walk through the square with an unusual triangular shape.

          In the dunes of the Slovak Sahara

          Are you longing for photos as if from an African exotic? The surroundings of Bratislava will easily make this dream come true. Halfway between Plavecký Mikuláš and Lakšárská Nová Ves, hundreds of hectares of the Slovak Sahara – Šranecké piesky – spread out. Dunes, which were blown here by the wind from the Morava River millions of years ago, surround pine groves with wetlands and small streams that resemble tropical forests. It teems here with rare species of butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and anthills that can be found in the sand. At any moment, our largest lizard – the green lizard – will run in front of you. The endangered crested hoopoe, skylark European, or the colorful golden bee-eater will always fly over the sandy landscape. The sands of Šranecké piesky have been used for military training for many years, so go here on the weekend, when there is usually nothing to prevent you from enjoying a piece of Záhorie region exotica with a fantastic view of the Malé Karpaty Mountains and Plavecký Castle from the 13th century.

            Secrets of the Malé Karpaty Mountains

            Get to know the mountain range, where steeper slopes covered with beech and oak forests alternate with vineyards on gentle sunny slopes and which boast mysterious buildings and a rich karst subsoil. The Štefánik cycle highway, named after the Slovak astronomer, military aviator, and brigadier general of the French army Milan Rastislav Štefánik, will lead you through the Malé Karpaty Mountains from south to north. Its 100 km symbolically connects the capital of Slovakia with its native village Košariská. You can start it from Koliba in Bratislava. On the way, be sure to visit the Červený Kameň castle near Častá, which once belonged to the richest man in the world – the well-known businessman Anton Fugger. Due to its medieval charm, the castle is sought after by filmmakers from all over the world - you could see it in the fairy tale about the intrepid princess Fantaghiró or in the American fantasy Dragon's Heart. Enter the Terrena Hall, which amazes with paintings by the fresco painter Tencalla or a cave made of karst rocks, and explore one of the largest cellars in Europe, which could fit several trucks. You can also find a fairytale castle in nearby Smolenice. Its English park is an ideal place for a family picnic. Don't miss the underground pearl of the Malé Karpaty Mountains - the Driny cave with its magical sinter decoration, which will remind you of curtains, a cake, or elephant ears. If you are lucky, during the tour you will also see protected species of bats that inhabit the Driny. At the end of the cycle route, get ready for a more physically demanding ascent up to Bradlo hill, where the monumental mound of Štefánik rises. You will be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding rural settlements.

              Raft with a touch of wilderness

              An unforgettable experience for the whole family is also rafting the Little Danube, which is an inland branch of the second longest European river. It forms the largest river island on the old continent, which is also considered one of the largest reservoirs of drinking water – Žitný ostrov (Rye Island). Its surroundings are an oasis of silence and home to river otters, muskrats, and other rare animals that, if you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of them during the rafting. The Little Danube is also one of the last places in Europe where wheeled water mills have been preserved. You can take a close look at ingenious buildings standing on thin wooden legs like in a fairy tale in Jelka, Tomášikovo, or Dunajský Klátov. Thanks to the untouched nature around the river, in some sections you will feel like Tarzan in the jungle. Especially if you subsequently visit the nearby Oasis of the Siberian Tiger in Kostolná pri Dunaji, which is a unique tiger farm that participates in the rescue of this endangered animal. If you go on a trip with your children, don't miss Kráľová pri Senci. In the unique museum Včelárska paseka (beekeeping meadow) will show you ancient beehives, logs, and wicker baskets. The museum area is suitable for a pleasant walk during warm summer days, where you can enjoy the smell of blooming flowers under the trees, and the buzzing of bees – you can get to know these, so important for our world beings, in a playful way.

                Pacific exotic within reach

                The sand will pleasantly warm your bare feet, the summer breeze will refresh you while boating, and the evening barbecue will saturate the air with delicious smells and catchy laughter...An all-inclusive destination with an abundance of sunny days and the smell of Pacific exotic is closer to Bratislava than you might expect. Discover Slovak Tahiti, only 25 km from the capital! That's how they used to be called the Slnečné jazerá (Sunny Lakes) in Senec a hundred years ago, where you can enjoy the water in a thousand ways even without the sea. Wind your surfboard, get into a boat or rent a water bike or paddleboard, from which you can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature in addition to the 100 hectares of clear surface. Passionate fishermen will also enjoy themselves here, and thanks to the tennis courts and pitches for soccer or beach volleyball, even lovers of team sports. If the weather is not as good as you want, you can spend a fun day in the aquapark, which is connected to the Senec thermal water well. Children will be entertained here by water castles, toboggans, or an adrenaline-pumping water ride in a huge funnel, while you treat yourself to perfect relaxation in the sauna world, made special by a sauna ceremony or a full-body massage. (Photo: OOCR Región Senec)

                   

                  Fly away on Modra experiences

                  At the sports airport in Dubová pri Modre, just 40 minutes by car from Bratislava, you can get into the cabin of a sports plane, right next to a professional pilot. You will fly over the Malé Karpaty mountains with views of castles, vineyards, and picturesque villages, but also over the capital. Remember that you are in the famous Malokarpatska wine-growing region, and go for a tasting of Green Veltliner, Rhenish Riesling, or other noble varieties of delicious local wines. Don't forget to take one of the most popular souvenirs from Slovakia with you from Modra – colorfully painted ceramics. If you make it to the workshop in the studio of Slovak folk majolica, you can even try the technique of painting on raw glaze with your own hands under the supervision of experienced masters. Take a look at the well-preserved city fortifications and numerous sacred buildings of various architectural styles, and visit the interactive Ľudovít Štúr Literary Museum, named after the father of the literary Slovak language. You can symbolically mingle with the most famous Modra native in the Cuvée wine bar, where a modern and fresh approach is combined with traditional coziness. If you are attracted by a walk through a quiet forest, go up to the tourist lookout on Veľká Homola, which offers a circular view of the panorama of the Malé Karpaty, Považský Inovec, Tribeč, and the Austrian Alps.

                     

                     

                    In the kingdom of crispy roast goose

                    And finally, a tip for all gourmets: you simply cannot leave western Slovakia without visiting Slovenský Grob, which was nicknamed the Kingdom of Goose thanks to its famous goose farmers. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world travel here for its fragrant tasting menu. The more than a century-old gastronomic tradition of this picturesque village surrounded by the Malé Karpaty mountains, only 25 km from Bratislava, is also reminded by the huge golden goose on the main street. Enter one of the family-run restaurants there and taste goose or duck baked to a crisp, which are still prepared according to ancient recipes handed down from generation to generation. The delicious specialty tastes best with the famous Grob lokša (pancake made from potato dough) and with burčiak (new wine) or award-winning Malocarpathian wine from local vineyards. (Photo: Bratislava Tourist Board)