Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum
The Sailing Gallery
About
This temple of modern art is an architectural masterpiece in its own right. Designed in the shape of a historic Roman ship, it sits in the middle of the eternal Danube River on a peninsula connected to a dam system. Explore stunning modern paintings and sculptures by some of the finest local and international artists while watching the water through glass panels that offer a sailing-like experience.
Danubiana was established in 2000 by Dutch collector and art patron Gerard Meulensteen of Eindhoven, together with Slovak gallerist Vincent Polakovic. Since then, it has welcomed more than a million visitors, including King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Sonja of Norway, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The core of the gallery’s permanent collection is the Meulensteen Collection, assembled over decades and loaned to Danubiana by its Dutch founder. It is complemented by the gallery’s own collection, acquired through generous donations. The interior exhibitions are enhanced by an exterior sculpture park featuring dozens of works by some of the world’s most acclaimed artists.
Logistics
- Danubiana, Bratislava
-
Tuesday – Sunday
10.00 AM – 06.00 PM
Last entry at 05.30 PM -
Gallery: 10 € | Children (under 6): Free
Reduced prices available for students, seniors and families. - Note the distant location from Bratislava (20 km). The gallery's website provides some transportation tips.
- www.danubiana.sk
Tips
Vista
Rooftop
Nearby restaurants
Visit the gallery’s own Art Café for a cup of coffee and something sweet to complement it. On your way back, stop by Cunovo at Attila Csarda for delicious Hungarian cuisine, or head to Rusovce to enjoy a meal at one of the Italian restaurants, Gatto Matto or Antica Toscana.
Things to do nearby
Danubiana is located about 20 km south of Bratislava, in an area offering plenty of opportunities for sports enthusiasts. The riverbank is a popular route for cyclists, and on warm summer days, you’ll see thousands of them riding by. Just steps from the gallery, you’ll find Divoka voda (Wild Water), a center for water sports offering activities for both professionals and amateurs. These include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, hydrospeed, jet skiing, quads, and paintball.
The gallery’s location is unique, nestled within a water dam system. Here, where the Danube River widens to the size of a lake, you can take a leisurely stroll and watch the water flow by. On your way back to Bratislava, be sure to stop in Rusovce and visit the Roman military camp of Gerulata, a UNESCO World Heritage Site once part of the Limes Romanus. Another nearby gem, the Rusovce Manor House, a beautiful neo-Gothic building with its English Park, is currently under reconstruction (2024-2029).
The primary function of this waterworks is to provide additional water flow during peak times for the main stage of the Gabcikovo Hydro Power Plant (installed capacity: 720 MW), located 30 km downstream. The Cunovo Power Plant (installed capacity: 24 MW), with its four turbines, serves not only as an additional power source but also as a training zone for water sports. Even if you don’t plan on doing any sports, take the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the scenic views of the river.
For those seeking an adrenaline rush, the Wild Water center offers plenty of exciting opportunities. Whether you’re looking for individual or group activities, instructor services, equipment rental, there’s something for everyone! The center, which hosted the 2011 World Championship in Water Slalom, offers more than just water sports. You’ll also find beach volleyball courts, a football field, paintball and archery zones, as well as a hotel with wellness facilities and a gym.
Both banks of the Danube serve as major cycling routes, popular with thousands of people on warm, sunny days. The southern (Petrzalka) side, which also leads to the Cunovo Water Dam, is busier and lined with more facilities, but the farther you go, the quieter it becomes. Note that the river can be crossed at several points in Bratislava via bridges, by ferry between Vojka and Kyselica, or via the Gabcikovo Water Dam. The Cunovo Water Dam, however, does not connect the two banks. If you’re up for a cycling trip along the Danube with an art experience as a bonus, this is the ultimate vacation combo. And good news—the gallery offers free bicycle locks for its guests.
Remnants of the Roman military camp of Gerulata, established in the 1st century AD to protect the Limes Romanus, can be found in what is today the Rusovce borough of Bratislava. Its main role was to guard the eastern flank of the Roman legions stationed in Carnuntum, the capital of the Upper Pannonia province. Visit the Gerulata Museum to explore the camp’s foundations and view archaeological findings uncovered at the site.
