Paying a Quick Visit to the City of Nitra, Slovakia

In a country like Slovakia, you’d think being one of the oldest cities there and the first major centre of Christianity would make you a natural tourist destination. And yet the city of Nitra, which is both of those things, is a far cry from making it onto most peoples’ Slovakia itineraries. It was really by chance and convenience that I decided to visit Nitra, beginning my last Slovakia trip there.

Truthfully, I didn’t need to stop in this city in the country’s west as it’s quite close to Bratislava and Vienna. But I’m glad I did, if only because I now know that Nitra is worth visiting.

This city built on seven hills may not be a massive destination, but there are enough things to do in Nitra to keep you easily entertained for a day. Visiting also helped me learn more about Slovakia and its history, which was a bit of a black hole in my understanding of the region’s history. Here’s what I found visiting Nitra, the fifth largest city in Slovakia, during my brief time there.

Nitra Castle

If there’s a main attraction in the city of Nitra, it’s without question the city’s hilltop castle. To be fair, how often is a castle not a major attraction? But in the case of Nitra Castle, it really is the most interesting landmark in the city and a great place to start your visit. Sure, it may not be as immediately breathtaking as some other castles in Slovakia, but there’s plenty to do here.

Arriving at the castle it immediately makes an impression on you, thanks to thick outer walls and ornate Marian Column standing opposite the main gate. The Marian Column is a plague column, built in 1750 like most plague columns as both a memorial and offering to God to prevent further epidemics.

Having admired the ornate column, it’s best to take the bridge up into the castle proper. This elegant Baroque gate was added in the 17th century as part of the castle expansion and fortification driven by Bishop Palffy. Through there you’ll encounter the Renaissance gate that is one of the best preserved examples of its kind in Slovakia.

Once inside the castle grounds, you have various attractions vying for your attention. You can choose to head into the Diocese Museum and learn more about Nitra’s relationship with Christianity. Or you can wander down into the crypts, where bishops and canons were interred. My personal favourite though is to find a high point and enjoy the sweeping views of the city that give you a sense of just how large Nitra is.

St. Emmeram’s Cathedral

Before leaving the castle, there’s one final stop to make. That’s St. Emmeram’s Cathedral, a lavish cathedral made up of several former churches. With marble and frescoes creating a visual feast inside, make sure you don’t miss the masterful altarpiece of Christ the Redeemer at the centre of it all. Unlike the rest of the castle, you can only see the cathedral with a guided tour.

The Upper Town

Having seen the castle’s sights, it’s time to move on to the so-called Upper Town. This is the historic part of the city that sits in front of the castle and has retained much of its old-fashioned character. Think noble old buildings like the Grand Seminary, cobblestones and a much slower pace than the rest of Nitra.

Following the snaking road that leads from the castle will take you through the Upper Town to the County Hall down at the bottom. To get up to the castle area, you actually need to take a passage through the building below, whether by car or by foot. It’s these buildings that begin to give you an inkling of Nitra’s former importance. 

The City Centre

Soon enough you’ll reach the modern town centre of Nitra, an interesting mix of historic and modern buildings. The best place to start is with Svätopluk Square, where you have both the city’s 20th century theatre and more classic architecture from previous centuries. Next, head down the city’s main pedestrian street, that’s again comes from an uneven mix of time periods. One moment you’re passing a book vending machine, the next there’s an old timely clock standing in the street.

Wander around the city centre and you’ll uncover most of the other Nitra attractions. There’s naturally a handful of churches, with the Church of St Ladislaus probably the most impressive. But you’ll also find the Nitra Synagogue in this part of town, which is hard to miss with its elaborate brick facade. Actually, its design really reminded me of another detailed synagogue over in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Nitra Calvary

Rounding out my Nitra visit was a trip up to the Nitra Calvary. You’ll actually find calvaries in many places in Slovakia and I think they’re always worth trying to visit if you can. After all, you don’t need to be religious to enjoy the hilltop views they typically offer.

Pulling up behind a local church, we began the steep climb alongside quite a few locals. Passing the various shrines and stations, the way up up is quite uneven but really not that far. Sadly the chapel was under renovation at the time so it wasn’t much to look at once we reached the top. The same certainly can’t be said of the view though, making it yet another great viewpoint in Nitra.

Other Sights That I Missed

That was all I imagined to really see during my brief visit to Nitra. But I do know that there are at least a few other things worth seeing around the city. Probably the most important is the Zobor peak, a mountain that overlooks the city offering a great panoramic view of the region. Mind you, I was pretty happy with the views that I encountered.

Then there’s the historic Dražovce Church or Church of St. Michael the Archangel that lies on the city’s outskirts. It’s one of the oldest churches in Slovakia, a landmark who’s extensive past is easy to believe based on its appearance. Definitely something I’d like to see given another opportunity.

Travel Tips for Visiting Nitra

I think it’s worth saying that Nitra is really quite an easy place to visit when you’re in Slovakia. One day here seems like an appropriate amount of time to comfortably go sightseeing there. But the other benefit is that it has convenient public transport connections to other cities in Slovakia. While it does have train connections, travel by bus is best if you’re travelling to or from Bratislava or Banska Bystrica.

Given all of that, there’s no wrong answer when deciding between a day trip and staying overnight. I will say that there are quite a few places to stay in Nitra, should you decide to stop here. I chose to stay at Hotel Oko, which was good value and uncomplicated, not far from the main square.

Have you ever heard of or visited Nitra Slovakia? Does it look like somewhere you’d like to add to your next Slovakia trip? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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