Železná studienka
A forested valley with four ponds, an old mill and meadows on the edge of the Little Carpathians, reached by city bus from the centre.
Why visit
Železná studienka (the Iron Well) is the gateway to the Bratislava Forest Park, a valley along the Vydrica stream on the edge of the Little Carpathians. It takes its name from an iron-rich spring that once made it a popular spa.
Water mills used to line the stream, and the four ponds were built to drive them. Today the valley is where locals come to walk, run, cycle and picnic without leaving the city.
What to see
- The ponds: four ponds linked by the Vydrica, with fish and turtles visible near the surface on sunny days
- Partizánska lúka: the busiest meadow, with playgrounds, a barbecue shelter, sports courts and a small amphitheatre
- Suchý mlyn: the only one of the valley’s nine mills to survive
- Forest trails: marked paths continue up the valley and on to the Kamzík TV tower
Plan your visit
The area is open and free all year. Bus 43 is the easiest way in and goes further up the valley than cars may; parking near Červený most fills quickly on weekends.
Allow half a day. The further you walk from the car parks, the quieter it gets, and barbecue shelters fill early on sunny weekends.
Address
Cesta na Červený most, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovensko
Tourist Information Center
Get maps, travel tips and information about Bratislava and the surrounding region. The centre has a step-free entrance and offers a tactile city map, talking cubes with information about 12 landmarks in six languages, and magnifying glasses.
More info