Where to stay in Bratislava
Bratislava splits its tax and its parking by district. The Old Town costs EUR 3.50 a night in tax and EUR 2 an hour at the kerb, Petržalka EUR 3 and EUR 1.
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How the areas differ
Staré Mesto holds the old town around Hlavné námestie, with the Old Town Hall, whose history goes back to the 13th century, and Michael's Gate, the only one of the four medieval gates still standing. Above it, Bratislava Castle rises 80 metres over the Danube and houses the Historical Museum; the castle grounds open daily from 08:00 to 22:00, and the Slavín memorial stands on the hill above.
Downstream, in Nivy in the Ružinov district, Eurovea turned a former industrial zone into a new downtown, with more than 200 shops, a promenade on the river and the new Slovak National Theatre. Across the Danube, Petržalka has Sad Janka Kráľa, laid out in 1774 to 1776, and the UFO deck on the SNP Bridge.
Nové Mesto lies north of the old town, below Kamzík, 439 metres, with its TV tower and forest trails, about 8 km by road from the airport. Devín, 10 km west, is a village under a castle ruin above the meeting of the Danube and the Morava, on the Austrian border.
Staying with a rental car
The city's parking scheme, PAAS, charges visitors by the hour. A green PAAS sign marks the spaces open to non-residents and shows a four-digit section code; payment goes through the PAAS, bmove, HOPIN, ParkDots, EasyPark or Ubian apps, or by SMS to 2200 with the code, the plate and the hours, with a 20 per cent fee on SMS tickets. Tickets are virtual and checked by plate. In a regulated zone a car may stand only in a marked space, even outside charging hours.
The bands run from A at EUR 2 an hour to D at EUR 0.50. The old town sections charge EUR 2 from 08:00 to 24:00 on working days, and the SM0 sections such as Námestie SNP drop to EUR 1 at weekends. The castle hill section charges the same. Most Ružinov and Nové Mesto sections charge EUR 1.50, Petržalka EUR 1 from 12:00 on working days, Karlova Ves EUR 1 from 14:00. Electric cars pay half once registered.
PAAS sends visitors to hourly tickets and to its park and ride sites: Macharova, 95 spaces, 3 minutes from the centre by public transport, Lanfranconi North, Komisárky, cintorín Vrakuňa, Jasovská and Tesco Petržalka among them. A towed car costs EUR 179 plus the fine, and EUR 5 a day from the 10th day at the pound on Technická 6. GetCar's car rental page for Bratislava compares cars to hire for the trip.
Slovak motorways need an electronic vignette, sold only through eznamka.sk: EUR 8.10 for one day, valid until midnight, EUR 10.80 for 10 days, EUR 17.10 for 30 days and EUR 90 for 365 days for a car.
Tax and registration for a guest
The city's regulation VZN 4/2023 charges EUR 3.50 per person per night in Staré Mesto and EUR 3 in the other 16 districts, rates in force since 1 July 2023 and listed as valid in October 2026. The tax counts at most 60 nights a year with one host. Under-18s, over-70s, full-time students and people with severe disabilities are exempt, but the regulation withholds every exemption from stays arranged through a digital platform. The host must give the guest a receipt showing the rate, nights, guests and the total tax.
Hotels, hostels and guesthouses report their foreign guests to the police. A foreigner in private accommodation reports at the foreign police department for the address, within 3 working days of entering Slovakia for non-EU citizens and within 10 working days for EU citizens. Whether a flat let through a platform counts as an accommodation facility for this rule is unverified as of September 2026, so ask the host who files the form.
When to book what
Non-EU visitors count 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area, and the EU Entry/Exit System has registered them at the external border since 10 April 2026. Visitors flying in to Vienna from outside Schengen meet that border at the airport, not on the road to Bratislava.
For a short stay on foot, book in the Old Town or on the castle hill and budget EUR 3.50 a night in tax per adult. With a car, a stay in Petržalka or Nové Mesto keeps the kerb at EUR 1 to EUR 1.50 an hour. Compare prices on this page and check the district on the listing before booking.
Which area for which trip
A first visit on foot: Staré Mesto, around Hlavné námestie.
River views under the castle: castle hill and Palisády.
Shops and the promenade: Eurovea and the Nivy riverside.
A longer stay with cheaper kerb parking: Petržalka.
Forest walks and a short run to the airport: Nové Mesto and Koliba.
A castle village outside the city: Devín.
Questions
How much is the Bratislava accommodation tax in 2026?
EUR 3.50 per person per night in Staré Mesto and EUR 3 elsewhere, the rates in force since 1 July 2023, for at most 60 nights a year with one host.
Are children exempt from the tax in Bratislava?
Under-18s are exempt, as are over-70s and full-time students, but not on stays booked through a digital platform.
Where can a visitor park in Bratislava?
In marked spaces in the PAAS zones, paying by the hour, from EUR 2 in the Old Town to EUR 1 in Petržalka, or at a park and ride site such as Macharova.
Who reports a foreign guest to the police in Slovakia?
A hotel, hostel or guesthouse reports its guests. In private accommodation the foreigner reports within 3 working days, or 10 for EU citizens.
How far is Bratislava airport from the centre?
About 14 km by road to Hlavné námestie. The airport page of September 2025 lists bus 61 to the main railway station.