The main reason I’ve decided to visit Nitra, Slovakia, was one of the greatest examples of brutalist architecture in the region. And the building of the local University of Agriculture did not disappoint!

But as it quickly turned out, there were more great things to do in Nitra, and eventually, I enjoyed the city so much more than I expected. This is the oldest city in the country, the cradle of Slovak statehood and identity, and numerous historical monuments of great importance are the best proof of that. Moreover, Nitra is this pleasant Central European city that is so easy to enjoy, with its laid-back vibe and beautiful architecture. This is actually one of the best places to visit in Slovakia.

If you are visiting Slovakia (especially Bratislava and its surroundings) and are looking for an interesting off-the-path place to stop it, you should give Nitra a chance. You might be surprised, just like I was.

Where is Nitra, Slovakia

Nitra, with a population of almost eighty thousand inhabitants, is the 5th largest city in Slovakia, located in the southwest of the country. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is 90 km from Nitra, and Kosice, the second-largest city, is 350 km away.

How to get to Nitra

Getting to Nitra is rather easy, especially if you travel from Bratislava. There are frequent buses, with a bit over one hour travel time. You can also take the train, but you must change somewhere along the way (there are a few options), and the journey time is closer to two hours. You can check the connections here.

If you travel from Budapest, Hungary (that’s what I did before continuing my trip to Bratislava), you have to change trains in Nove Zamky; the journey takes 2,5 hours.

In Nitra, the bus and train stations are located next to each other, 20 minutes walking to the main square – Svätoplukovo námiestie.

Where to stay in Nitra

Nitra can be a great option for one of the day trips from Bratislava. Still, you can also stay there overnight and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in the evening. That’s what I did, and it was a good decision.

If you are looking for Nitra accommodation, here are some of the recommended options:

• Grand Hotel Sole (8.4/10)
• BOUTIQUE HOTEL11 (9.0/10)
• Hotel Capital (8.7/10)
• and more!

What to see in Nitra

The main Nitra attraction is the castle, towering on the hill above the city. The first settlements here date back to the Bronze Age, but after the Celts’ presence in the early AD, the area was abandoned until Slavs arrived in the 7th-8th century.

In the 9th century, the first wooden structure was created by Slavs in this place, and they’ve been present in the area ever since. In the 11th century, the castle replaced the wooden fort, and even if it’s been reconstructed over the years, you can still see some old remnants in the Romanesque style.

Once you reach the castle, you must cross the stone bridge and the 17th-century Renaissance gate inside. Nitra Castle might not be as impressive as other well-known castles in Slovakia: Spis Castle, Trencin Castle, or Orava Castle, but it surely is interesting.

The most valuable place you can find inside is St. Emmeram’s Cathedral, with adjacent Bishops’ residence, the seat of the Diocese of Nitra. Parts of the cathedral (which is, in fact, three churches) are from the 11th century. Still, most of the structure was built in the Gothic style in the 14th century. In contrast, the Baroque Bishop Palace is from the 18th century.

The interior of St. Emmeram’s Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful in Slovakia, with stunning decor and frescoes, mainly from the 18th century – be sure to see the place from the outside and inside. Unfortunately, I was not that lucky; when I visited Nitra castle, it was late-ish in the afternoon, and while the castle area was open to explore, all the attractions were already closed.

Even if it’s too late to visit all the attractions inside the castle, it’s worth coming here as you can admire beautiful views of Nitra and surroundings from the castle premises.

Right in front of the castle, you can find the votive column from 1750 that commemorates the plague victims that took over the city a few years before – as a result, one-third of the citizens died.

Again, I was unlucky here as I could only see the upper part of the column – the lower one was covered for renovations. That’s a pity since the structure is also known for its rich details, with bas-relieves showing the life of the Virgin Mary as well as statues of four saints and numerous angels.

Going down from the castle towards the center, you will pass the Upper Town. In the past, the area belonged to the bishop and was divided from the Lower Town by the Gothic castle fortifications.

Now you can admire here some beautiful buildings, most of them serving religious functions and being part of the protected historic center of Nitra. This part of Nitra, together with the castle, is the best testimony of the city’s rich past.

One building you can’t miss when going from the Upper to the Lower town is the so-called “saltworks house.” Back in medieval times, the main city gate was located here, but in the first half of the 19th century, an impressive palace was built in the Baroque style in its place, afterward rebuilt with the best art-nouveau practices.

The building is stunning and can easily impress everyone. Today this masterpiece is home to the local government as well as to Nitra Gallery, with over four thousand artifacts from the city and the region.

Once you are done with the Upper Town, it’s time to explore the neighboring Lower Town, which also has plenty of Nitra attractions. The architecture here dates mostly to the 19th and 20th centuries and resembles numerous other pleasant cities in Central Europe, a testimony to the Habsburg legacy. There are so many beautiful buildings around that impress even if they are in need of a proper renovation.

The main square of Nitra – Svätoplukovo námiestie – is a laid-back place where locals hang out. A peculiar mix of architecture surrounds the square, with the early 20th-century palace that works as a museum now, a modernist post office, and the monumental structure of the local theater, among other buildings.

From the square, you can walk down the pedestrian Stefanikova Street, a pleasant place lined with cafes and restaurants, where you can also find probably the quirkiest attraction of the city – the music clock. It looks a bit vintage, but what makes it special is the kind of music it plays. Normally, you would expect something sublime as the city ​​bugle call, but here the melody was with a bit of a jazz or blues twist.

Since Nitra played an important role in Slovakia’s religious life, you can be sure to see many churches all over the city, some of them beautiful both from the outside and inside. Be sure to visit some of them to appreciate their artistic value.

But you can see other religious structures in Nitra, too, such as the synagogue. It might look similar to grand synagogues in the former Habsburg Empire (like in Szeged, Oradea, or Subotica), but the interior is more modest. Still, it’s an interesting place, definitely worth seeing inside. The architecture of the building is a beautiful mix of Moorish and Byzantine influences. Today the synagogue works as a concert hall; there is also an exhibition about the Jews from Slovakia.

A short walk from the center, you can see the brutalist masterpiece, one of the best in Slovakia – the building of the Agricultural University. Together with some examples of brutalism in Bratislava and the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising in Banska Bystrica, this is an absolute must-see for every fan of concrete who visits Slovakia. After all, it was a reason for me to go to Nitra in the first place.

The UFO-shaped building was designed by the local architect Vladimir Dedecek and built in the 1960s. It can accommodate up to 600 students, so you can imagine how big the structure is. The whole university complex is considered the best architectural work in Slovakia from that time. On the way to the university, you will pass the boarding house with a mosaic on the wall.

Where to go next

Slovakia is one of those hidden gems of Central Europe, still in the shadow of more popular neighboring countries. But there are so many amazing places to visit in Slovakia, and I covered many of them on the blog.

Here are some of the articles you might find useful when planning your trip to Slovakia:

• 35 Amazing Places to Visit in Slovakia
• 13 Best Things to Do in Slovakia
• The ultimate list of things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia
• 17 Great Day Trips from Bratislava, Slovakia
• 30 Great Things to do in Kosice, Slovakia
• Trencin, Slovakia – More than the Impressive Castle
• Beautiful Trnava, Slovakia – a Perfect Day Trip from Bratislava
• and many more

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations).

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