The geographical position of Bratislava is very similar to that of the neighbouring Vienna or Budapest. These three Central Europen metropolises lie on the banks of the river Danube in places, where the grat river leaves behind mountain ranges.

Bratislava is only 65 kilometres from Vienna and 50 kilometers from the Vienna`s international airport of Schwechat. The distance between Bratislava and Budapest is 180 kilometers, and that between Bratislava and Prague is 330 kilometers. The position of Bratislava is eccentric with regard to the territory of the Slovakia. It is situated in its extreme south-western corner.


A comparatively long section of the city border coincides with the frontier, a rare phenomenon in comparsion to other European capitals. Bratislava is one of the youngest European capitals. It was capital during the short existence of the Slovak State in the years 1939-1945. Later in 1993 it again became the capital of the independent Slovak Republic. The territory also referred to as Greater Bratislava has an area of 367,5 square kilometres with population 429 000 equalling to about eight per cent of Slovakia`s total population.