8 Best Things To Do In Modra, Slovakia 2026

Modra is nestled in the heart of the Slovakian wine region on the edge of the Little Carpathian mountain range and famed for its delicious wines and hand-painted pottery. Honestly, what’s not to love?! So if you’re heading to Slovakia and want to sample tasty local foods, sip local wines and relax in the beauty of nature then Modra is the perfect place to visit.

Plus, as Modra is quite a compact town you really only need 24 hours to get a flavour of the place. With that in mind, here are my top recommendations for must do things in Modra, Slovakia. But first, let’s discuss where exactly Modra is and how to get there. If you’d like to skip ahead to the sights, jump using the options below.

1. Where is Modra?
2. How to get to Modra
3. Go on a wine & cheese tasting tour
4. Climb Veľká Homola lookout tower
5. Explore the Old Town
6. Cool off with gelato
7. Wander the vineyards at sunset
8. Get brunch pancakes
9. Shop local pottery
10. Visit Červený Kameň castle

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Best of Modra at a glance:

• My absolute favourite wine tour & tasting
• My favourite place to stay
• Best traditional Slovakian pottery shop
• Best brunch spot

Where is Modra?

Modra is perfectly placed in the west of the country, just 35 minutes north-east of Bratislava by car and nestled at the edge of the Little Carpathian mountain range.

This position close to the capital means it’s both an easy day trip or could be an overnight stop as part of a Slovakia road trip (if you’re looking for the latter, check out my full Slovakia road trip guide here). Whichever option you choose, you’re in for a treat as this is the heart of Slovakia’s wine region.

How to get to Modra

Because it’s so close to Bratislava, there are tour operators that run day trips to Modra so you can book onto one of those. They often have some excursions booked in as part of the trip but you will have time around that to explore.

If you’re wanting to be in full control of your agenda, I’d recommend renting a car to drive yourself. That way you can stay as long as you like.

The other option is to take public transport. There are train lines that can get you close to Modra, then buses to take you the final leg of the journey. But note, this could take up to an hour.

So consider which is right for you, the following treats await…

1. Go on a wine & cheese tasting tour

If you only do one thing in Modra, it has to be tasting the local wine. For the best experience I recommend booking onto a full tour. There are a few options to choose from as the town really is a haven for wine making but we booked ours with Fedor Malik & Son and it was brilliant.

For just £38 they show you around their wine making facility and cellars tucked behind the main high street in a beautiful building. After the tour you’ll sit in the sun-soaked courtyard and try six different wines including reds, whites and a sparkling wine. Alongside that, the owner steadily delivered incredible homemade food to our table. We were spoilt with fresh bread, stews, sausages and radishes. It was perfect!

You can book my favourite wine tasting tour in Modra here – I still regularly think about how good this was!

2. Climb Vel’ká Homol’a lookout tower

Another experience not to be missed is climbing the Vel’ká Homol’a lookout tower on the edge of town. Not only is the short walk up through the woods beautiful but the view from the top is stunning. You can get a 360 degree picture of the entire area and the satisfaction from scaling the tower.

The car park to access the tower is just a 15 minute drive from central Modra and the walk from the car park will take you around 30 minutes.

3. Explore the Old Town

The town centre itself is small but perfectly formed. The main high street features beautiful classic churches the oldest of which is the Chapel of Snow Virgin Maria built in 1760. Alongside sculptures from the 18th century and the original town walls which were built in 1610 – 1646. You can walk along the remains of the town wall to get a better look.

Plus, with lots of great restaurants, cafés and shops, there’s lots to stop and sample along the way.

4. Cool off with gelato

After wandering around town, you’re probably ready for a cooling snack. As with most towns and cities across Slovakia, the gelato is incredible. Not only is it fantastic value at €2 for a cone, but it’s delicious.

The two best spots in town to indulge your cravings are Staré Časy and Cafe Modur – both right on the main high street and less than five minutes walk apart. My personal favourite was the hazelnut gelato at Staré Časy, 10/10 would recommend!

5. Wander the vineyards at sunset

For gorgeous views, head behind the high street and after a few rows of houses you’ll be amongst the famed vineyards.

As this is all just open ground with free access paths, you can stroll and explore as you like. I’d recommend visiting around sunset for golden views across the vines. It really is such a beautiful spot, if you’re staying in town long enough, be sure to include a stroll here in your agenda.

6. Get brunch pancakes

Not only is the wine and gelato really good in Modra, but there are a couple of lovely breakfast/brunch spots too. Again right on the high street, our favourite was About Food & Coffee. They have a dedicated pancake menu plus a full range of coffees, more savoury dishes and soft drinks.

7. Shop local pottery

Modra is also famous for its pottery, with mentions recorded from as early as 1564 and the potters guild set up in 1636. Today you can still find shops selling the traditional style pottery with nature inspired folk designs in bright colours like green, yellow and blue.

Take some time browse the different styles in a shop like Keramika – Malinovský Miroslav where I bought a lovely little vase to take home with me as a reminder of my time in Modra.

8. Visit Červený Kameň castle

Last but by no means least, if you’re after a dose of history, visit Hrad Červený Kameň which translates to Red Stone Castle. Just under an hour away from Modra it makes a great stop if you have a bit more time in the area.

It was built in the 12th century and the last owner only left in 1945 so it has a lot of stories to tell. You can take a short or long guided tour depending on how much you’d like to know. Tickets for tours in English start at £7 for adults.