Officially known as the Church of St Elizabeth, the beautiful Blue Church in Bratislava – Slovakia’s capital – is definitely one of the top icons to visit in this city.
Made famous through a certain social media platform (not naming any names Instagram!), this stand-out coloured church (known as Modry Kostol in the Slovak language) lies just outside the historic centre of Bratislava and is famed for its unique appearance and picturesque image.
So if you’re heading to this central European city and want to check out the Blue Church, then this is the perfect guide for you.
Filled with all the top visitor tips, including how and when to get the best Blue Church snaps, opening hours, costs and location, it’s your one stop shop for all the info you need…
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Why Visit Bratislava’s Blue Church?
If I haven’t yet spelled it out in the introduction, then you really want to visit Bratislava’s Blue Church if you’re looking to see one of the Slovakian capitals most quirky sights.
Built in an Art Nouveau architectural style and resembling something out of a fairy tale, this Hungarian Secessionist Catholic Church and was dedicated to Elisabeth of Hungary, daughter of King Andrew II, 700 years after her birth at the beginning of the 20th century.
Famous for its Disney-like appearance – it almost resembles a marzipan cake in its vibrant colours and intriguing design – this is definitely one of the top sights to visit in the Bratislava – a city which isn’t foreign to quirky design features (it also has a UFO Bridge and a Brutalist triangular radio station!)
If you’re visiting the capital of Slovakia for 1 day (or longer!), then I highly recommend putting the Blue Church of Bratislava on your itinerary after the Old Town, especially if you’re a photographer.
History of the Blue Church
The Blue Church was envisioned in 1907 – 700 years after the birth of St Elizabeth in Hungary.
A princess who was widowed at 20 and died at just 24 years old, Elisabeth has been canonised (made a saint) thanks to her Christian charity and work in a hospital for the sick that she founded.
Built after a new district of the city was springing up, to the east of the Old Town, and where a new Catholic grammar school had just been built, the Blue Church was originally intended as a place where the students, and new local community, could come to pray and worship.
The idea was approved by Franz Joseph I himself, after the Church of Vienna became involved thanks for the Austro-Hungarian alliance.
The design was headed up by Budapest architect Edmund Lechner (widely acknowledged as the father of Hungarian Art Nouveau) and the construction was headed up by Bratislava resident Anton Duray, with the first stone laid on 1909.
At almost 31m long and 37m high (thanks to the clock tower), the Church was small but not insignificant and certainly enough to accommodate the Catholic population of the new Bratislava district.
In 1910, the Church cross was ceremonially installed and church bells were added in 1911.
The Church was finished and opened for use in 1913, when tiny, blue ceramic plates and blue-gazed roof tiles were embedded on the outside of the Church to increase its aesthetic appeal.
So for over 100 years this building has been known as the Blue Church.
It remains an active place of worship to this day.
Where to Find the Blue Church?
Bratislava’s Blue Church lies to the east of the Old Town along a street called Bezručova.
It’s easy to walk there from the Old Town in about 10 minutes and Google maps has the church clearly marked, making it easy to find.
Alternatively you can find it on the north side of the Danube River, if you cross Stary Most (the green bridge), and then walk northwards for about 10 minutes too.
The sky blue colour of the Church also helps its stand out of course!
There’s no gate or courtyard to enter, you can simply visit the church straight off the road, although there’s a small, open courtyard infront.
Blue Church Opening Times & Prices
You can visit the outside of the church and take photographs any time of the day, as there’s no barrier or gate.
However going inside the church is a only possible at certain times.
These are:
Mon – Sat: 6:30am-7:30am + 5:30pm-7pm
Sunday: 7:30am-12pm + 5:30pm-7pm
The above times are when you can visit the inside of the church as a tourist, for which there is no charge.
Yes the Blue Church is free to enter.
Do beware, you will be mixing with a local mass attending congregation however, so need to show respect and conduct yourself / dress appropriately.
If you want to attend a religious ceremony at the Church, then the mass times are:
Mon – Sat: 7am + 6pm
Sunday: 8am, 9:30am, 11am, 6pm
Times may vary during holidays, so check here for the latest info.
The Church does allow marriages and baptisms.
Blue Church Exterior & Interior
The defining feature of the exterior of the church, beside its colour, is the round clock face at the top of the blue tower.
Above the church’s main entrance there is also is Italian mosaic picturing St. Elisabeth; several bouquet of roses adorn the outside too and pay homage to the legend of the saint the church is named after.
Inside the Church the blue theme continues, with light pastel-colour pews set against cream and white colour walls, gold stars and chandeliers.
Above the altar is an oil painting of St Elizabeth, depicting her charity work, and there’s space for a choir either side too, as well as an organ that was built by a company called Schonhoffer, who Bratislava-based.
Photographing the Blue Church
You can easily photograph the Blue Church any time during the hours of day light, thanks to the lack of barriers, gates or restrictions.
The only thing you need to be careful of is the small amount of traffic driving along the road outside the front of the church and the other tourists around.
As always, it’s best to visit early in the morning for the thinnest crowds and the best light – remembering the church opens at 6:30am.
While the morning is quiet here, the light isn’t the best however because the sun rises behind the church.
As such, the afternoon light, particularly during golden hour / later in the day will be better, as the sunlight will fall onto the front of the Church.
Visiting after 6pm will also mean you get to see the interior of the church and that you are likely to encounter thinner crowds as many Bratislava day trippers will have left the city by then!
While you can take a picture of the church façade, straight on, angling your camera, so that you can see the dimensions of the church and its tower, might work better.
Towards the left hand side of the church (by the school gates), you’ll find a tree, which can help frame a lovely shot when it’s full of leaves or blossom.
It’s also wise to consider what to wear if you want to take Instagram shots of the Blue Church.
Yellow, pink or red dresses will stand out well against the pastel blue of the church if you’re looking for impact in the warmer months.
For a softer approach, consider white or pale pink as good mute colours that will lend a more gentile feel to your shots, especially in winter.
As always, a hat to suit the season will add flair to your shot and help you stand out against the background.
@bigworldsmallpockets Don’t miss the Blue Church when you visit Bratislava, the charming capital of Slovakia… #s#slovakia🇸🇰v#visitslovakias#slovakiatrips#slovakiatravelb#bratislavav#visitbratislavab#bratislavaoldtownb#bratislava🇸🇰b#bratislava_b#bluechurch ♬ original sound – Big World Small Pockets
My Blue Church Visit
I’ve been to the Blue Church twice – once during summer and once during spring – and I have to say, this spot never gets any less charming!
As the inside of this beautiful church is quite dimly lit (and I’m not religious) I’ve kept away from the mass service times and enjoyed snapping the outside charm of this cute church during quiet periods.
Even when the church is closed, you can peer in, through glass doors, for a peak of the interior and visiting when mass isn’t on, means you do avoid the worshipping crowds and keen tourists and can get better shots of the exterior.
Definitely one of the most unique religious buildings I’ve visited in Eastern Europe, this little blue church is a up there with the Bratislava Castle and St Martin’s Cathedral on my list of the top Bratislava sights.
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Mini Travel Guide to Bratislava
When to Visit Bratislava?
Go in the summer months of June, July and August for the best weather.
Otherwise, the spring months of April and May are a lovely time visit without the crowds.
I’ve enjoyed both!
How to Get to Bratislava?
Getting to Bratislava from many parts of central or eastern Europe (such as Budapest or Vienna) is easy via bus, train and even river boat.
As always, I book all my travel across Europe using Omio.
The main train station in Bratislava is Bratislava hl.st, which is just a short distance north of the Slovak capital.
Alternatively, you can also fly into Bratislava directly from many European cities.
As always, I recommend checking Skyscanner for the best flight prices.
How Long to Spend in Bratislava?
Despite being the largest city in Slovakia, Bratislava is still pretty small and I think 1-3 days is a great amount of time to spend there.
Where to Stay in Bratislava?
No question in my mind that the best hostel in Bratislava is Safestay Bratislava.
For mid-range travellers the fantastic the APLEND City Hotel Perugia is located a stone’s throw from the Main Square in the Old Town (literally) and has well-priced, comfortable rooms with a fantastic local restaurant Koliba Kamzík Zelená attached – the perfect place for a traditional Slovak dinner.
Otherwise, if you want something with self-catering facilities and a little more space, then this city centre apartment in Bratislava offers great facilities and gets top reviews.
Best Central Europe Tours
If you’d rather visit Slovakia’s capital as part of organised tour, check out these options, many of which combine Bratislava with other destinations in central Europe such as Vienna and Budapest.
Packing Essentials for Bratislava
#1 Good Camera
I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!
#2 Good Walking Shoes
Make sure your feet are comfortable with a pair of New Balance Trainers.
#3 Good Water Bottle
Ensure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because Bratislava tap water is drinkable… and free!
#4 Good Backpack
In my opinion, you can’t go past the Bobby Anti Theft Backpack, which is also perfect for helping you avoid pickpockets.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.
Travel Money for Slovakia
The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and ATM transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card in Slovakia. Get yours here.
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So there you have it, my complete travel guide to visiting St. Elizabeth’s Church, otherwise known as Bratislava’s Blue Church.
Any questions about this seeing this place still?
Please just drop them into the comments box and I’ll get back to you…
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