Slovakia is one of the lesser known countries in central Europe and is a real gem. Most of the travelers only visit Bratislava, it was my case on the first occasion. I fell in love with its capital and some time later we dared to tour the country and it is 100% worth it.
To get to know the country and do a road-trip, I recommend 8 to 10 days. Here you have a complete guide of what to see in Slovakia.
In this post I will tell you about the 20 most beautiful places to see in Slovakia and I will add some travel tips that will help you organize yourself.
THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO SEE IN SLOVAKIA
1. Bratislava, an essential city to see in Slovakia
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. It is a small city, which you can visit in a couple of days. There are many places to visit, here are 30 things to see and do in Bratislava, but its charm lies in walking through its streets. Bratislava is only 1 hour from Vienna and both cities are very well connected, so many trips to the capitals of Europe include both capitals.
Articles from Bratislava that may interest you:
You have the option to do a couple of free tours in Bratislava:
2. Košice and its cathedral, one of the most beautiful cities to see in Slovakia
Košice is the second largest city in Slovakia and one of the most beautiful in the country. The main attraction of the city is the Cathedral of Santa Isabel. It is the largest and most important in Slovakia and one of the best examples of Western Gothic architecture in this part of Europe. The streets of the historic center are beautiful and it is worth getting lost in them without haste. The city can be visited in one day and it is a good option to stay for one night if you are doing a road trip through Slovakia.
3. Lomnicky Peak and the High Tatras
The High Tatra is a beautiful natural area where you can do several hiking trails and mountain sports.
This mountain range is located right on the border between Slovakia and Poland, although most of the peaks are in Slovakia. You can easily climb Lomnicky Peak, the second highest in the Tatras at 2,633 meters. Once at the top you can enjoy spectacular views. The ascent to the peak can be done on foot or with a cable car.
4. The beautiful Orava Castle, one of the most beautiful castles to see in Slovakia
You will not be short of castles to visit in Slovakia, there are many. One of the most beautiful is built on a cliff above the Orava River.
Dating back to the 13th century, this castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Slovakia and is popularly known as Nosferatu Castle.
The exterior of the castle was used for the recording of Nosferatu, a silent film that is considered a classic in the horror genre.
The surrounding landscape is incredible. Of leafy forests, on top of a small mound and on the banks of the river.
5. Popradske Pleso Lake
For me, one of the biggest attractions to visit Slovakia, are its natural landscapes. And the Popradské Pleso glacial lake is a real wonder. It is located an hour's walk from the village of Štrbské Pleso, in the Tatra Mountains National Park at an altitude of 1,494 meters. You will be able to see the peaks reflected in the water of the lake, even if you dare to bathe in those frozen waters you will be able to do it.
6. Bojnice Castle
This is one of the most charming and best preserved castles in Slovakia. The first written record of the castle's existence dates back to the year 1113 in the Zobor Abbey document. The castle is located in the village of Bojnice, one of the oldest spa towns in the country. It is a good option to make a stop on your route through the country and spend a night here.
The castle stands out for its architectural mix. You will be able to appreciate various architectural styles such as romantic, gothic and renaissance. Its interior does not disappoint either, I recommend you visit it.
7. Slovak Paradise National Park and Dobsinska Ice Cave
This national park is a space of more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails, lush forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, caves and canyons. The most popular place in the park is the famous Dobsinska ice cave, one of the most beautiful places to see in Slovakia.
8. The Gorge of Suchá Belá
In the same Slovak Paradise National Park you will find a path through lush forests that will take you to the Suchá Belá gorge. The path goes along the side of the river that forms the canyon and the views are beautiful. You breathe a lot of peace and it is an incredible natural setting.
9. The Dunajec River and its wooden rafts
The Dunajec River is one of the most beautiful places to see in Slovakia. It is located in the Pieniny National Park. In this park you can do many activities, although the most popular is to get on a wooden raft and navigate calmly along the river. The ride is calm. Downstream, there is an area where the river starts to go faster and you can hire a rafting descent.
10. Bardejov, one of the most charming towns to see in Slovakia
The historic center of Bardejov is beautiful, medieval and very well preserved. You will find bourgeois houses, churches on almost every corner and a very well preserved fortification system. The walls date from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It is a small city or large town, which can be visited in one day.
11. Devín Castle, an essential thing to see near Bratislava
Very close to Bratislava, about 10 kilometers away, is the Devín Castle. Today, you will only find the ruins of what was once an incredible fortress. It is located on a cliff at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, allowing it to monitor the trade routes between the two rivers. For this reason, this area has been inhabited since the Neolithic.
Devín Castle is one of the oldest castles to see in Slovakia. Its construction dates back to the period of the Great Moravian Empire between the 9th and 10th centuries. Later, after the fall of Moravia, the castle deteriorated until it was destroyed in 1809 by Napoleon's troops. The last renovation dates back to the 20th century and since then there is a museum there and you can visit it.
You have some options to visit the Castle from Bratislava with a tour:
12. Janosikove Diery, one of the most beautiful gorges in Slovakia
One of the most amazing and wild places in Slovakia is this gorge. And if you like hiking and nature, you can't leave Slovakia without visiting the Janosikove gorges.
They are located in the Malá Fatra mountain range in northern Slovakia. There are three different gorges, which are accessed through various trails of varying difficulty. You will pass through beautiful canyons and waterfalls.
The routes are well signposted and have different categories and difficulties. The easiest trail is the Donle Diery. Along the way you will find two beautiful waterfalls.
13. Banská Štiavnica, a town inside a volcanic caldera
Banská Štiavnica is a beautiful medieval town and a must on any route through Slovakia. It is located inside a volcanic caldera and is perfectly preserved. The most emblematic buildings of the town are its churches, the squares surrounded by beautiful houses and even the remains of some castles.
14. The Demänovská Cave of Liberty
In the Demänovská Valley you will find the Demänovská Cave of Freedom. To visit it you must join one of the two guided tours they offer: the short one lasts 60 minutes and the long one, 100 minutes. You can check the schedules and more information on the official website of the cave.
During the underground tour you can enjoy one of the most incredible natural wonders; there is a tour full of stalactites, stalagmites, emerald-colored lakes and other completely amazing formations. Inside the cave it is quite cold (around 6ºC) take warm clothes.
15. The huge Spiš Castle, a must see in Slovakia
In Slovakia you will find many castles. And Spiš Castle is one of the most impressive. It is the largest fortified castle in Central Europe. It was built in the 12th century and over the centuries it has adopted various architectural styles.
It is located on top of a 600 meter high hill in the outskirts of the town of Spisska Kapitula. It was formerly owned by the King of Hungary, although throughout history it has passed through various owners and since 1945 it has been owned by the state.
16. Jasná, for snow lovers
From December to April is the ideal period to enjoy its more than 45 kilometers of ski slopes. If you happen to be traveling to Slovakia during this period and you like to ski, you have the opportunity to enjoy a snowy day on the Jasná ski slopes.
17. Visit the Palaces of Oponice
The beautiful town of Oponice offers a beautiful historic center. It has a great variety of palaces and mansions in all its streets. Many of them were owned or still are by nobles from Europe.
If you are thinking of making a route through Slovakia, I recommend that you make a half-day stop (at least) to explore its streets.
This city is famous for having the best Slovak cuisine, so take the opportunity to enjoy some of its traditional dishes.
18. Enjoy a hot bath in the hot cave at Spa Sklené Teplice
Although the entire procedure takes about an hour, you will actually only be in this cave bath for about 20 minutes. The water here is at a temperature of 42°C! After the hot bath, you will enter a relaxation area where you can lie down, breathe deeply and allow your body temperature to return to normal.
19. Banska Bystrica
Banska Bystrica is one of the mining towns in Slovakia. The city grew thanks to this exploitation. Start by visiting the city from Namestie NSP Square. You must climb the 101 steps of the Clock Tower, because the views from the top are beautiful. The city is very small and can be visited in mid-morning. It has two gothic churches and a historic center full of historic buildings and mansions.
20. Vlkilinec, a charming town to see in Slovakia
Vlkolinec is a small town nestled in the mountainous area of Slovakia. It is one of the most beautiful towns in Slovakia and you should include it in your route through the country yes or yes.
The magic of the town is really walking its streets, appreciating its traditional houses and enjoying the surroundings. Some of the houses are house museums and can be visited to understand what life was like in the mountains in the old days, how they lived once they were "locked up" by the snow...
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEPEP TBY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Slovakia very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!