Palace & modernBratislava & Western Slovakia

Starý most: the Old Bridge over the Danube in Bratislava

Starý most (Old Bridge) crosses the Danube in Bratislava and links the historic centre with the district of Petržalka. It began in the 1890s as the Franz Joseph Bridge, was rebuilt after the Second World War and finally replaced in 2016 by a steel arch for trams, cyclists and pedestrians. It is a fine place for a riverside walk and for a look at the city's layered history.

Meant to last ten or fifteen years, the bridge built in 1946 served for almost seven decades under four names, then returned in 2016 as a green arch on the old stone piers.

WhereOver the Danube in Bratislava, between the Old Town and Petržalka

TypeSteel arch bridge for trams, cyclists and pedestrians on historic stone piers

Best forRiverside walks, photographers, cycling and anyone curious about the city's history

Getting thereIn central Bratislava, on the Danube embankment; open to trams, cyclists and pedestrians but closed to cars

The history of Starý most

Before the Old Bridge there was no permanent crossing of the Danube at Bratislava. Wooden bridges, which were damaged again and again by ice floes, gave way in 1825 to a pontoon bridge named after Carolina Augusta, which stood near today's Ľudovít Štúr Square and served until a fixed bridge was ready. The new bridge was built in the years 1889–1890 and named after Emperor and King Franz Joseph I, who attended the opening in person. It carried road, rail and pedestrian traffic and sat on the railway line from Bratislava to Szombathely, opened in the same period. The idea to build it is linked to the Hungarian transport minister Gábor Baross. The iron superstructure, made at the Vítkovice ironworks, rested on stone piers.

After the First World War the bridge was renamed Štefánikov most, after the Slovak politician and general Milan Rastislav Štefánik. In the early 20th century an electric railway to Vienna, the Pressburger Bahn, also ran across it, sharing the road deck with the city trams. Near the end of the Second World War, in spring 1945, the steel part was destroyed as the front moved through the city, although the stone piers survived. The Red Army and German prisoners of war rebuilt the crossing within about half a year, and it opened in early 1946 as the Bridge of the Red Army (Most Červenej armády). Planned as a temporary solution, it remained the only bridge over the Danube in Bratislava until the SNP Bridge opened in 1972.

Tram tracks were laid on the road deck, and trams ran to Sad Janka Kráľa from 1951 until 1961, when the bridge's poor state ended the service. The railway track stayed in use until the early 1980s. In 1984 the old deck was replaced by a concrete one, a decision that later proved fatal for the structure, which began to sag under heavy traffic. After the political changes of 1989 the bridge was renamed Starý most in 1990. It was closed to ordinary traffic at the end of 2008, and in 2010 to buses, pedestrians and cyclists as well. Foot and bicycle traffic returned in 2011, but on 2 December 2013 the bridge was closed for good and dismantling began.

Work was slowed in 2014 when objects on the river bed were first taken for ammunition; a sonar survey showed they were not unexploded mines. The rebuilt bridge kept some of the old stone piers, raised, with one new pier replacing two of the old ones so that ships have more room. Its steel structure arches over the river on five piers and six spans, is about 465 metres long, and was painted green at the public's request. The bridge opened to pedestrians and cyclists in May 2016 and trams began to run over it in July 2016. About 85 percent of the cost came from EU funds.

Curiosities about Starý most

The bridge has carried many names: Franz Joseph Bridge, Štefánik Bridge, Red Army Bridge and, since 1990, Starý most, the Old Bridge.
Planned in 1945 as a temporary solution, the rebuilt bridge stayed in service until December 2013 and was the only Danube bridge in Bratislava until 1972.
Before the first fixed bridge, the city relied on a pontoon bridge built in 1825 near today's Ľudovít Štúr Square.
In 2014, metal objects found on the river bed were first taken for ammunition, delaying the demolition of the old piers; a sonar survey showed they were not unexploded mines.
Starý most is the only Danube bridge in Bratislava that cars may not use; it is reserved for trams, cyclists and pedestrians.
Viewing platforms above two of the piers let walkers stand out over the river, and the bridge is 30 metres wide at those points.

Tours near Starý most

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

5-Course Small-Group Bratislava Food Tour with Local Guide

★ 5 (47 reviews) · 3.5 h

See details ›

Military Guns Shooting Experience with GunMates Bratislava

★ 5 (44 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Bratislava Off the Beaten Path Tour - recommended also by Rick Steves

★ 5 (36 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Private Day Trip to Banska Stiavnica Unesco Site

★ 5 (32 reviews) · 10 h

See details ›

Visiting Starý most

The bridge is open to pedestrians, cyclists and trams. A walk across takes you from the old town to Petržalka along walkways 4.5 metres wide, with separate lanes for cyclists and walkers.
Two viewing platforms above the piers offer open views of the Danube and the city skyline; the SNP Bridge is visible nearby.
The green steel arch is best seen from the embankment and from the riverside promenade on both banks, which makes the bridge a popular subject for photographers.
Other places on this site within about a kilometre include Aspremont Palace, the Church of St. Elisabeth, the Clarissine Church and Esterházy Palace.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Starý most is

Photos of Starý most

Questions

What is Starý most in Bratislava?

Starý most (Old Bridge) is a bridge over the Danube in Bratislava that links the historic centre with Petržalka. Since 2016 it has carried trams, cyclists and pedestrians.

Can you drive over Starý most?

No. It is the only Danube bridge in Bratislava closed to cars; it is used by trams, cyclists and pedestrians only.

Why is it called the Old Bridge?

It took its present name in 1990, after earlier names such as Franz Joseph Bridge, Štefánik Bridge and Red Army Bridge. It was long the city's oldest standing Danube bridge.

When was the original bridge built?

The Franz Joseph Bridge was built in 1889–1890 and opened by Emperor Franz Joseph I. Its steel part was destroyed in 1945 and the bridge was rebuilt by the Red Army by 1946.

What does the bridge look like today?

The current bridge is a steel arch painted green, about 465 metres long, standing on five piers, some of them old stone ones. It opened to walkers and cyclists in May 2016 and to trams in July 2016.

Can you cross Starý most on foot?

Yes. Walkways 4.5 metres wide run along both sides, and there are viewing platforms above two piers.