CITY OF HISTORY, ENERGY AND BASKETBALL
Bratislava is not just the capital of Slovakia - it is a city full of energy, history, and movement. Every street, square, and public space pulses with life, and the city’s long history shapes its present.
Located on the banks of the Danube River, Bratislava sits at a unique crossroads in Central Europe, bordering Austria and Hungary. With approximately 475,000 residents, it is the largest city in Slovakia.
Bratislava has more than 2,000 years of settlement history. It has been part of the Kingdom of Hungary, later the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and then Czechoslovakia, before becoming the capital of independent Slovakia in 1993. For centuries, it was a trilingual city, with Slovak, Hungarian, and German spoken daily; shaping a cosmopolitan and open-minded identity.
The current name, Bratislava, has been used since 1919. Before that, the city was known as Pressburg (German) or Pozsony (Hungarian).
Bratislava is only 66 kilometers from Vienna, making them among the closest capitals in the world, while Budapest is about 200 kilometers away. These three capitals are connected by the Danube River and share a long and intertwined history.
Bratislava is young in spirit, international in character, and proud of its roots. The city offers a rich mix of culture, sport, music, festivals, and a growing creative scene. From historic castles to modern arenas, from traditional cuisine to global influences, Bratislava moves forward while honoring its past.
Historic landmarks in Bratislava include Bratislava Castle, the iconic fortress overlooking the Danube and the city; Devín Castle, a dramatic castle ruin perched on a cliff at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, recognized as one of Central Europe’s most important historical and archaeological sites; and the Old Town, a beautifully preserved medieval center with narrow streets, bustling squares, churches, and centuries-old buildings.
With cutting-edge sports facilities, Bratislava is compact, connected, and competitive. It is also a stage for Europe’s brightest young basketball talents. Bratislava is a city where history and modern life walk hand in hand, offering both heritage and innovation in a vibrant urban setting.