04/06/2020

5 tips for trips around Bratislava

5 tipov na výlety v okolí Bratislavy
Although most domestic tourists are enthusiastic about traveling to the mountains of central Slovakia, the west also definitely has something to offer. Today we will focus on quick trips around Bratislava and look at interesting places on the banks of the Little Danube.

Lagoon in Čilistovo

Just half an hour by car from Bratislava and you are in a place where you will feel almost like you are in Croatia. A beautiful pebble beach, anchored boats and sunsets that I guess all photographers pray for. You will find exactly that in Čilistov, a part of Šamorín on the banks of the Gabčíkovo waterworks. It is an ideal sports and recreation zone for all those who need to clear their heads after a hard day at work (or at home office).

However, you don't have to go to Čilistovo only by car, there is also a cycle path leading there directly from Bratislava, which is easy and can be easily mastered by recreational cyclists. However, if you want to treat yourself to an exceptional experience, you can also take a boat from the capital to Čilistovo. A return ticket for an adult costs 17 euros, children under 15 years of age can travel on the boat for 12 euros. You can read more about the trip to Čilistovo on the blog Shemakesmetravel .

Lookout tower in Hamuliakovo

Once you've imagined yourself on the bike seat, stay on it for a while. We'll take you to Hamuliakovo, a village that's also part of the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power station cycle route. The entire circuit is around 100 kilometers long and should take you about 5 hours to complete. But why rush when there are so many interesting places to stop along the way?

If you make such a detour in Hamuliakovo near the Cafe Dunaj café, you can reach a hitherto almost unknown lookout tower in the treetops in a few minutes, from which there is a beautiful view of the Little Danube basin. Just follow the signs on the cycle path, get off the asphalt road onto the forest road and walk through the forest past the café for about 10 minutes. You will come to a small clearing where you will find ladders reaching into the crown of a tall tree towering above the clear water. There is also a makeshift swing hanging from the tree and you can cross to the other bank on a small raft. This place will delight all adventurous souls. You can read more about the trip to Hamuliakovo on the blog Shemakesmetravel .

Watermill in Jelka

A little further, about 40 minutes by car from Bratislava, in the middle of wide fields, lies the picturesque village of Jelka and its famous water wheel mill. In 1905, when it was built, it served as a classic ship mill and only over time did it become the mill as we know it today. In the 1990s, it underwent extensive reconstruction and became the seat of a small museum that documents the agricultural history of the village.

The water mill is not freely accessible, as it is under the management of a museum, you have to pay an entrance fee and respect the opening hours. However, the price is symbolic – two euros for adults and half for children – and the opening hours are generous. You can visit the mill daily between ten in the morning and six in the afternoon. The entire area is beautifully landscaped, there are benches and clean and well-maintained toilets. The mill itself has three floors and as part of the exhibition you can see mill technology and various period tools. There is also a small exhibition of historical carriages in the barn next door. You can read more about the trip to Jelka on the blog Shemakesmetravel .

Zalesie Promenade

If you have an Instagram account, we probably don't need to introduce this place to you, it became a big star this spring. The brand new wooden promenade just a few kilometers from Bratislava was created thanks to financial assistance from the European Union and hardworking locals who decided to turn a garbage dump that had been spoiling their banks of the Little Danube for years into a cultural gem.

Since the project is still in the construction process, the surroundings are not yet in their final and perfectly arranged state. However, the promenade is fully functional and accessible to the public, there is no entrance fee and you can visit it at any time. In addition to this promenade, a larger embankment with a comfortable relaxation zone and facilities for boaters should be built in Zálesí in the near future. You can read more about the trip to Zálesie on the Shemakesmetravel blog .

Lookout tower Hniezdo in Malinov

Another treasure on the banks of the Little Danube is the educational trail "On the Good Trail" in the village of Malinovo, which was built by the residents themselves, even with the help of students from the local elementary school. The trail is not just a boring walk full of information boards, its creators really played with it and diversified the entire walk with interesting attractions.

The biggest attractions on this route are the Hniezdo lookout tower, the Green Oasis with a gazebo and the Beaver Castle hidden in the forest. You can easily complete this entire walk even with small children, for whom this trip will be a great experience. And a nice break for you, since the attractions are so close to each other that your child will not even have time to ask the famous "When will we be there?" question. You can read more about the trip to Malinov on the Shemakesmetravel blog .

About the author of the article

Veronika Šipoš Rosputinská is a journalist and blogger, one half of the travel duo She Makes Me Travel. While she longs to travel the world, her husband Karol would rather buy a server and sit at home. But since they both know that compromises are necessary for a healthy and happy relationship, they travel. They don't have a server. Not yet. You can read the experiences of the passionate traveler and the avid baker on their blog www.shemakesmetravel.com or follow them on Instagram@veronikarosputinska and @hater_karol .

04/06/2020