Freedom Square, known locally as Námestie Slobody and colloquially referred to as Gottko, is a significant urban feature in the Old Town of Bratislava. This major city square is strategically located in the wider city center, close to Kollárovo Square and directly in front of the Summer Archbishop's Palace.

Historically, the area where Freedom Square now lies was covered with vineyards during medieval times. It likely began to take its current form in the 17th century, starting with the construction of the Summer Archbishop's Palace. This palace, a historic structure, now serves as a government building for Slovakia.

Under socialist rule, the square was named Gottwaldovo in honor of Klement Gottwald, the first Czechoslovak communist president, and featured his statue. This period also saw significant architectural additions, including the construction of the Post Office Palace, which claims the title of the world's largest post office, and several buildings belonging to the Slovak Technical University, which collectively enclosed the square.

A prominent feature of Freedom Square is the Fountain of Union, the largest fountain in Bratislava and the Slovak Republic. Built between 1979 and 1980 by a team of sculptors and architects, the fountain includes a basin and a towering 9-meter-tall linden flower sculpture that weighs 12 tons.

Today, Freedom Square stands as a testament to Bratislava's rich history and evolving urban landscape, reflecting changes in governance, architecture, and public sentiment throughout the centuries.

The only surviving gate from the city's medieval walls lies at the end of Michael's Street. Michael's Gate (Michalska Brana) was built around 1300 and once stood with three others leading into town. It is one of the oldest buildings in town.

The tower's baroque exterior is a result of reconstruction works carried out in the 1750s. The statue of Saint Michael and the Dragon was placed at the top during this time.

The gate got its name as the Church of Saint Michael stood just outside the city walls here.

At one point, the city was surrounded by medieval fortifications. Entrance to town was only possible through the four gates, all of which were guarded and fortified. The other gates, now demolished, were the Laurens Gate, Fisherman's Gate on the river Danube, and Vydrica Gate.

At its height, the gate was part of a much larger system of fortifications. They included two rings of city walls, two bastions, a barbican, and a bridge over a moat. The barbican is still present and today has been built into houses. The original bridge over the moat was replaced by a stone one in 1727. Some of the moat is also still visible.

The view from the top of the seven-floor, 51-meter tall tower is spectacular. There is no better place from which to view the old town of Bratislava. To get in the tower, enter through the Museum of Arms. The museum contains excellent exhibits about the fortifications and the history of the city.

The street leading from the Michael's Gate, Michael's Street, is lined with shops and attractions. In addition to the Arms Museum, you'll also find the Pharmacy Museum nearby in a very old shop building. There are also bars, cafes, and restaurants lining the street.

The Old Town Hall of Bratislava is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Originally constructed in the 14th century, with the tower dating back from approximately 1370, this is one of the oldest stone buildings in the Slovakian capital. It was originally designed to accommodate soldiers guarding the fortress surrounding the medieval town.

Presently, the Old Town Hall represents a complex of buildings created through merger of several adjacent townhouses, namely: Jacobus' house with a tower, Pawer's house, Unger's house, and the Apponyi palace. Over the ages, the property had undergone numerous reconstructions and served different purposes: as a prison, mint, market, municipal archive, and arsenal depository, until it finally became a town hall in the 15th century. In this capacity it had served until the late 19th century.

During the Renaissance period, the complex passed through various transformations, including those after being damaged by an earthquake and then fire.

Today, it houses the Bratislava City Museum, featuring a collection of historic artifacts: cannonballs; dungeons with instruments of torture; antique weaponry and armour; as well as paintings and miniatures. One of the cannonballs, the one embedded in the tower wall, is of a particular interest to visitors. It has been there since 1809, resulted from the bombardment of the city by the invading Napoleonic army.

In the summer, the courtyard plays host to musical concerts. In the attic of the Apponyi Palace there is a Study Depository of Glass and Ceramics. The beautifully-tiled roof of the building is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The top of the Old Town Hall tower is open to visitors, as part of the Bratislava City Museum exhibition, offering a round view of the old part of Bratislava and its environs.

In the town's early history, worshipping was done at the Bratislava Castle. But in the early 13th century, the King of Hungary requested that the pope allow him to relocate the church. So, as the town grew, the construction of a Gothic cathedral began in 1311.

It wasn't completed until 1452 due to financial difficulties and the Hussite Wars. Additions were made in the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Baroque Chapel of Saint John the Merciful.

The present appearance of the building has been steady since 1877 when significant restoration efforts were completed after earthquakes, fires, and war had damaged the cathedral.

The cathedral is most famous as the coronation church for the Kingdom of Hungary from 1563 onward. Eleven kings and queens and eight of their consorts were coronated in the building.

In recognition of this honor, the cathedral tower is topped with a replica of the Crown of Saint Stephen. This replica of the Holy Crown of Hungary weighs 330 pounds (150 kilograms) and is gold-plated.

The cathedral was built over a cemetery and lay atop an unknown amount of catacombs and crypts. The building is designated a national cultural monument, but it is, unfortunately, decaying due to vibrations from the traffic passing on the Novy Most bridge.

The imposing Bratislava Castle is the most conspicuous landmark in the town of Bratislava. It stands on an isolated rocky hill above the town, and had been built and rebuilt continuously throughout the 9th-18th centuries.

The site of the castle has been of strategic importance for most of the area's history. It is located roughly in the center of Europe. Still, more importantly, it is along the route between the Carpathians and the Alps at a convenient crossing point of the river Danube.

The hill and surrounding area have hosted settlements since before the early Iron Age. Evidence suggests that the first settlements here started around 3,500 BC. In those early centuries, the hill was used as an acropolis for the surrounding town.

Archeological evidence shows a history of Celt and Roman occupation through 500 AD. The current structure was begun in the 10th century but worked lagged over the years. As the need for defense increased for the Kingdom of Hungary, the castle was added on to.

The Kingdom was abolished in 1781, and the castle was more or less dismantled and abandoned. The structures were used as a seminary and military barracks for some time during the 19th century. By the middle part of the 20th century, the castle was in ruins.

A massive restoration effort was begun in 1957 and completed in 1968. The 1968 Federation Law, which formed the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic, was signed in the castle. Many years later, the constitution of now independent Slovakia was also signed in the castle's Knights Hall.

The castle is beautifully restored and houses exhibitions from the Slovak National Museum. Even if you choose not to visit the museum and interior rooms, walking around the castle grounds and enjoying the views of the city and the Danube is not to be missed.

One of the most iconic features of modern-day Bratislava is the Novy Most, or "New Bridge." This modern thoroughfare connects the two halves of the city separated by the river Danube. Since 2012, the official name of the bridge was changed to "Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising" to commemorate the Slovak National Uprising against Nazi during World War II, but locals prefer to call it "UFO Bridge" for its UFO-shaped observation desk at the top.

The Novy Most was built between 1967 and 1972. The total length of the bridge is 1,413 feet or 430 meters. It is an asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge made of steel. It is the world's longest bridge that has only one pylon with one cable-stayed plane. One of the best features of the bridge is that the lower levels are reserved for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only.

Of course, the most notable feature of the Novy Most is the UFO-shaped restaurant and observation deck. The building is mounted on top of the bridge's 278-foot-tall (84.6-meter) pylon.

While the restaurant serves some delicious Slovak and international cuisine, the real lure of the UFO is the view of the city and river from above.

The Hungarian Secessionist Catholic Church, known as the Church of Saint Elisabeth or the Blue Church, is located in Old Town Bratislava. The construction was consecrated to Elisabeth of Hungary, who was a princess and, later, became a Roman Catholic saint. She was widowed young and surrendered her wealth for a life devoted to the poor and indigent. After her death at the age of 24, many miracles of healing were accredited to her. She was canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1235.

Built in 1908, the structure was designed by Odon Lechner, a recognized Hungarian architect. He was known to embellish his constructions with Zsolnay tile patterns. Zsolnay tiles were manufactured by a Hungarian company known for its intricate porcelain, tiles, stoneware and pottery. The tiles on the church’s roof were generated using the pyrogranite process, which involves firing ceramic under exceptionally high temperatures, producing resilient materials which are resistant to acid and frost. The structure has attained its name because of the blue color of the mosaics, which decorate its roof and walls.

The building features a cylindrical tower and bell dome common to the Hungarian Art Nouveau and the Romanesque movement in art and architecture. The single nave church contains vaulted ceilings along with hints of barrel vaults. Romanesque double pillars encompass the entrances and the windows.