Hotel Bôrik sits gracefully atop a hill, just moments from Bratislava’s city centre and the iconic castle. Originally built to host high-level government officials, the hotel still plays a vital role today, welcoming state visits, conferences, and important meetings.

Perhaps its greatest treasure is its location. From the terraces and guest rooms, guests are treated to sweeping vistas over the Danube River, the western quarters of Bratislava, and, on clear days, all the way to the Austrian hills and the Danubian Lowland. The classic “Bôrik view” is legendary: it captures the city’s rooftops, Bratislava castle, the winding Danube, and the riverside forests, often glowing in the golden light of sunset. It’s a perspective that leaves a lasting impression on both official guests and anyone lucky enough to visit.

Yet, my heart is drawn in another direction-toward Karlova Ves, the neighborhood where I grew up. Looking that way, you’ll spot the distinctive red-and-white Družba dormitories, home to generations of university students, standing proudly along the banks of the Danube’s backwaters. This area is a rare blend of city and nature, where quiet inlets and green spaces offer a peaceful escape from the city’s bustle.

Higher up the hill lies Dlhé Diely, an extension of Karlova Ves built in the final years of socialism. Once gardens and vineyards, it has become a densely packed concrete jungle on the foothills of the Small Carpathians-a stark contrast to its tranquil past, best left to the imagination. And far across the Danube’s distant bank, you can glimpse Lower Austria.