Bratislava lures tourists to a treehouse stay in its popular city park
The capital, bordered by the Small Carpathians to the north, offers refreshing hikes in local forests, and scenic views.
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This article was published in the latest edition of our Bratislava City Guide, which can be obtained from our online shop with Spectacular Slovakia travel guides.
A creaking wooden floor and the wind swaying the branches of trees around you. Have you ever wondered how it would feel to spend a night in a treehouse? In Bratislava, you can give it a try. Starting from the city centre, it is easy to spend a night (or day) enjoying the forests and meadows along the city’s edges.
Try sleeping six metres above the ground in the branches of oak trees within Železná studienka park. Up to three adults can stay in the hidden three-bed cottage, but remember to bring your own food and water. Guests who have stayed in the house describe the beauty of being so close to the birds - and the surprise of hearing the house creaking in the wind. (You can sleep soundly knowing that the popular cottage undergoes regular checks by its builders.) Reserve your spot early, since summer weekends fill up quickly for this one-of-a-kind experience in Bratislava.
One of Bratislava’s closest hiking parks is Koliba, a forest on the southern tip of the Small Carpathians. “Everyone in Bratislava knows about Koliba,” said Bratislava native Darina Müllender- Taeter, who hikes there regularly. Cyclists can challenge themselves on a dirt obstacle course or glide through the forest on a paved road, while hikers and runners climb its shaded hills. Koliba’s popular gathering point is a meadow lined by outdoor restaurants, a high-ropes course and a summer bobsleigh track. Continuing north past the meadow brings you to Koliba’s cable car junction, and signs lead to a 15-metre wooden observation tower that offers panoramic views of the city and the Danube.
Looking for a new way to sightsee? Combine hiking and history by visiting the ancient Devín Castle on foot. Hikers can choose from several different treks, all of which lead to the area’s highest point of Devínska Kobyla with a lookout tower, offering picnic tables and an Austrian skyline - plus a smooth descent to the ultimate destination of Hrad Devín (Devín Castle). Hikers who follow the green marker will be impressed by the variety of scenery along the steep ascent, while the gentler red-marked trail offers a path through dense forests. From Kobyla, follow the red markers down the switchbacks and through the town of Devín. After touring the castle and sitting by the Danube and Morava rivers, you will feel as if you have earned the bus-ride back to the city centre.
Hiking in Bratislava
- From Bratislava to Devín Castle: Take bus 35 to Kuklovská and head toward the forest for an 11 km trek. Take the blue-marked trail until you catch signs for the red-marked trail to Devínska Kobyla (with lookout tower) and Hrad Devín. (Keep left when the trail splits with a white bar.) For a shorter but steeper route, follow the green-marked trail from park entrance in Dúbravka.
- Devínska kobyla (lookout tower and Sandberg)
- Železná Studienka area
- Kačín Treehouse (rezervacie.mlba.sk): Guests staying in the treehouse are given special permission to bring their car into the park, and a representative can meet you at Partizánska Lúka (7 km from city centre) to guide you to the cottage. You can also reach the treehouse by taking public transportation and walking through the park: on weekdays, take bus 43 to Železná studienka bus stop and turn left onto paved road toward Kačín. Just after passing a pond about 3 km down the road, turn right at the sign for Chata Kačín. The bus 43 can take you closer to the house on weekends: get off at Kačínska Dolina to head toward Chata Kačín. Three treehouses are available in this area.
- Koliba - Kamzík (TV tower with a restaurant and park)
- Lanoland - Ropes course (www.lanoland.sk)
- Bobsleigh
- Lesopark Vrakuňa (park and lookout tower): area along Brezová street and Malý Dunaj River
For more information about Bratislava see our Bratislava City Guide.
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