The Slovak National Gallery (Slovenská národná galéria, SNG) is the country's main art museum, housed in a complex of buildings on the Danube embankment. The permanent collection covers Slovak and Central European art from the medieval period through to the 20th century, with particular strengths in Gothic altarpieces, Baroque painting and sculpture, and Slovak Modernism.
The Baroque building at the core of the complex was originally the 18th-century Water Barracks, later expanded. The 1968 Brutalist extension — the glass bridge connecting the two buildings over the embankment footpath — remains controversial but the interior spaces work well for displaying large-format work. The collection of Gothic wooden sculptures from Slovak churches is among the best in Central Europe.
Temporary exhibitions change regularly and often feature international contemporary art. The gallery shop has a good selection of art books and local design products. Entry to the permanent collection is free on the first Sunday of each month.