The Best Places to Visit in Slovakia
Slovakia is one of Europe’s most underrated destinations by far. You often here people say ‘visit Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna,’ and that’s the most exploration they get in the country. However Slovakia has so much undisturbed beauty all across the country, from remarkable mountain ranges to appealing towns and beautiful castles. Formerly a part of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia offers a much quieter dynamic compared to some of it’s neighbors, who’s cities get crowded with tourists every month of the year. Home to 5.5 million welcoming residents, you cannot miss Slovakia on any trip.
Capital: Bratislava
Currency: Euro
Language: Slovak
When to visit: May to December
1) High Tatras
Up in northern Slovakia, you can find the country’s gem known as the High Tatras. It’s a beautiful are containing dramatic alpine peaks and glacial lakes, plus the country’s best hiking options. The mountain range is shared with southern Poland, and the whole area has amazing public transport where all the main towns are connected via Tatra Electric Railway.
Things to do:
The best base towns in the Tatras are Štrbské Pleso, Poprad, or Ždiar. Either way, the trains can connect you mainly everywhere as mentioned. There are so many incredible hiking options in the region, so I’ll give you 2 easy ones first. The Štrbské Lake Loop is an easy trail, circling around Štrbské Lake, a stunning emerald lake right by the town. The second easy one on my list is the hike to Skok Waterfall, also starting in Štrbské Pleso. It only takes about a few hours and is super worth it for such a short distance. Now, if you want to commit to a full day hike, take one of the trains to Tatranská Lomnica and then take the cable car up to Skalnaté Pleso, a lovely emerald lake on the edge of the mountain. From there, you can complete the Green Lake Hike, which takes you to Zelene Pleso, Arguably Slovakia’s most beautiful lake. Make sure you’re comfortable climbing on rocks, as the hike can get challenging taking around 7 hours there and back. Make sure you buy a return ticket for the cable car and end your hike back by Skalnaté Pleso. There are many more hikes you can try, but these are my 3 recommendations if you have a few days in the Tatras.
How to get there:
Take a train from Bratislava to Poprad, and from there you can take one of the regional trains to wherever your base is.
2) Bratislava
Bratislava is Slovakia’s biggest city and capital, with a population of about 700,000 in the wider metro area. It really is one of Europe’s smaller capital cities, which is great as it offers a different vibe for visitors who may have felt the crowds in nearby cities like Prague, Vienna or Budapest. It’s got two separate styles on opposite sides of the river. The historic core is on the north bank, whilst newer, modern parts spread out across the flats and hills on the south side.
Things to do:
Bratislava’s beautiful, medieval Old Town is where most spend their time. Some of the highlights inside are St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, The Blue Church and of course the Main Square. The streets are so charming and so enjoyable to walk through. The city’s most iconic spot is by far Bratislava Castle, the magnificent renaissance style white castle up on the hill with views overlooking the Danube. Walk around the area, and go inside to check out the museum if you please. To walk over to the other side of the river, you may find yourself crossing the UFO Bridge (Most SNP). It has a massive flying saucer observation deck high in the sky attached to the bridge, and you can go up for panoramic views. The city has great vibes all around, plus if you’re looking for a half day trip, slightly outside the city is the interesting ruins of Devín Castle, too.
How to get there:
Bratislava Airport (BTS) has direct flights from many European cities. Alternatively you can also fly to Vienna as it’s closeby.
You can easily train from all the major cities in the area (Vienna, Budapest, Prague, plus Slovakian cities like Poprad/Kosice).
Bus is also always a cheaper option with great connections.
3) Košice
Kosice is Slovakia's second-largest city, sitting in the east of the country near the borders with Hungary, Ukraine, and Poland. It's got around 230,000 people living there, so it's a lot smaller and calmer than Bratislava. It has a great historic center which attracts most of the visitors, and it’s pretty walkable and underrated. While not a lot to do, it’s worth the stop if you’re nearby.
Things to do:
Hang out in the city’s Old Town - the main street running through it is lined with cool bars and shops. You can’t miss St. Elizabeth Cathedral, the epic gothic cathedral in the heart of the Old Town. Right next to it is Urban’s Tower, a clock tower you can go up for views. Further along is the National Theatre of Košice, a nice baroque building adding to the dynamic of the Old Town. Everything in the Old Town is very easy to spot, and you can see it all in a day. Once you’ve explored Kosice, my biggest recommendation is to please take a day trip to Spiš Castle. It’s about 1-1.5 hours away, and you can either take a tour which includes transport, or take a bus which likely will require a couple changes. It is a breathtaking complex of castle ruins atop a hill, complete with thick walls and fortifications. It was originally built in the 12th century, but has faced collapse and restorations many times since. It’s definitely worth the stop.
How to get there:
You can easily train from Bratislava, as well as Budapest, Krakow and more.
You can take a FlixBus for cheaper from all these places too.
4) Oravský Podzámok
Oravský Podzámok is a small village in the far north of Slovakia, best known for being the home of Orava Castle (Oravský hrad), one of the most dramatic and best-preserved castles in the country. It's basically just a little settlement at the foot of the castle hill, with a few houses, a church, restaurants, not much else. The whole point of visiting is for the incredible castle and views.
Things to do:
Seeing Orava Castle from below is incredible in itself. You can tour the inside of it with a guide, it features armor, weapons, old furniture, and stuff like that. One of the best photo spots for the castle is from the Orava River Bank, as well as some of the surrounding hillsides. It isn’t near any big cities, so the way most experience it is as a trip to or from the Tatras. The closest ‘big’ town is Dolný Kubín, which you can get to from Žilina.
How to get there:
From Bratislava, take a train to Žilina than swap over to a train going to Dolný Kubín. From there you need a local bus or taxi.
It is quite hard to access wthout a car.
5) Banská Štiavnica
Banská Štiavnica is a historic mining town in central Slovakia, tucked in the Štiavnica Mountains. It's one of the most beautiful and best-preserved old mining towns in Europe, and it's a UNESCO World Heritage site. Most people have never even heard of this place, but it’s incredible with some amazing pieces of architecture for you to revel at.
Things to do:
The town has two main castles: Old Castle (Starý zámok), an old stone complex with a church and museum, and New Castle (Nový zámok) which is a smaller fortress with a very cool design. Definitely visit both if you’re here. Don’t forget about the Old Town Center, with it’s aesthetic streets and Town Hall inside. The Holy Trinity Square is one of the best parts, with its big plague column right in the middle of it. Don’t miss all the churches in the area, too. And of course, we can’t forget the subject of the image - The Banská Štiavnica Calvary Complex. It is the most important Baroque calvary in Slovakia, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site too. It’s an entire compound of reiligious sites which you can visit, and it continues all the way up and through the hill it was built in. You can see the standout pastel colored main chapel at the top of the hill, it’s the biggest building in the cavalry complex.
How to get there:
If you’re coming from Bratislava take a direct train (~3hrs). You can train from elsewhere in Slovakia with transfers.
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