While traveling through Europe, I spontaneously decided to hop on a train from Vienna to Bratislava. I had been touring various European countries and thought, why not spend a couple of days exploring Slovakia? I’ve always believed that small countries often hold the most surprises, so I was excited to see what this one had in store.

Bratislava, the capital city, welcomed me with its serene and peaceful atmosphere—so serene that it almost felt too quiet. Day one made it clear that a couple of days would be more than enough to explore what the city had to offer. The city center was charming, with trams buzzing by every minute and people leisurely strolling along wide sidewalks. The shops along both sides were quite intriguing; I found a lovely Indian restaurant with authentic cuisine, a mosque run by the local community, and a huge, multi-story bookshop-cum-library offering numerous activities for visitors. It was a delight to browse the shelves and see people of all ages engaged in reading and creative workshops.

The Old Town, with its statues, museums, churches, restaurants, and historical architectural monuments, gave me a taste of Bratislava’s unique character. I was particularly struck by a museum I visited, which had a special exhibition on feminism. That, without a doubt, became the highlight of my brief stay and offered a thought-provoking experience I didn’t expect to find there.

For this journey, I feel I’ve seen what Slovakia had to offer. A quick stop, but filled with small moments that made it memorable!