Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and the country's largest city with a population of about 431,000. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries. Bratislava and Vienna are two of the closest European national capitals to each other, at less than 60 kilometres apart.

Bratislava is the political, cultural, and economic centre of Slovakia. It is home to several universities, museums, theatres, galleries and other important cultural and educational institutions.

Many of Slovakia's large businesses and financial institutions are also headquartered there.

The history of the city, long known by the German name Preßburg, has been strongly influenced by people of different nations and religions, namely by Austrians, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks, and Jews. The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, a part of the larger Habsburg Monarchy territories, from 1536 to 1783.