9 Unmissable Things To Do In Slovakia For Your First Visit

When it comes to European destinations to visit, Slovakia isn’t usually at the top of most people’s skillet list.

I didn’t know anything well-nigh Slovakia surpassing going, and had limited expectations. Well, what a pleasant surprise awaited.

It turns out it’s a trappy country with so much to offer. It’s a land full of castles, thermal baths, caves, jaw-dropping tracery – not to mention zaftig opportunities for cross-country skiing in the winter.

Needless to say, there are a ton of things to do in Slovakia, which makes it one of the most unique tourist destinations and still a true subconscious gem.

If you’re not sure what to do in Slovakia, then here are some of the top attractions you should add to your itinerary on a first time visit.

Things To Do In Slovakia

1. Visit Bratislava

Bratislava Slovakia

Slovakia is in Eastern Europe, a landlocked European Union country of virtually 5.4 million people. It was once the ‘Slovakia’ in Czechoslovakia, surpassing an peaceable independence in 1993.

Bratislava is the wanted of Slovakia, and where scrutinizingly half a million people live, so it’s definitely the most popping part of the country and where you’ll find a increasingly lively atmosphere.

For us, we felt Bratislava was very romantic. We floated in a ferry lanugo the famous and trappy Danube River and took the old-style red tourist tram to get some history and an orientation, which stops at the iconic castle for a trappy view of the city.

Stroll through the old town and trammels out the Old Town Hall. Stop off for a zest to eat or drink in the squares and laugh with the buskers. Have a sundowner in the Sky Bar for the most wondrous view over the old town while the sun goes down. Try out some of their succulent Slovak cuisine, such as bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings), the national dish of Slovakia, and yummy cocktails too.

One of the unconfined things well-nigh Bratislava is that it confines Hungary and Austria. It’s only an hour yonder from Vienna in Austria and only a 3.5 hour momentum to Prague in Czech Republic, which ways you can hands take day trips to other countries. It’s position hands makes it one of the weightier places to visit in Slovakia.

2. Visit The Upper Tatras

But as lovely as Bratislava is, it wasn’t what had brought us to Slovakia. We were headed for higher heights. We picked up a rent car and started the scenic 350km momentum to Nová Lesná and the Upper Tatras.

The Upper Tatras is a national park in an zone of wondrous natural eyeful that spans the Tall mountain range that divides Slovakia and Poland.

With peaks of over 2500 meters and its glacial lakes it is a paradise for visitors and flipside of the best places to visit in Slovakia!

Nová Lesná is one of the small towns that services skiers in winter and hikers in summer, and we stayed in an suite with views wideness the mountains in the trappy little town.

The Upper Tatras has so much to do it makes it easy to alimony everyone happy. Our biggest problem each day was trying to segregate between all the wondrous things on offer.

These are the activities we loved the most in the Upper Tatras…

Walking and Hiking on the Limitless Trails

The hiking trails range from 1-hour loops for young kids through to technical multi-day expeditions.

Just remember, you are up high, and the weather can transpiration fast.

We recommend hiking the Strazyska Valley which confines with Zakopane in Poland, as there is a nice waterfall up there and some incredible mountain views.

Always be prepared with plenty of water and snacks and have the right gear. Let someone know where you are going.

Row Boats on Crystal Clear Glacial Lakes

Štrbské Pleso

We visited the second largest lake in the area, Štrbské Pleso, and if you do the same.

Surrounded by the Tatra Mountains, the lake offers sweeping valley views and a endangerment to kick when and unwind.

Despite stuff one of the most popular places to visit in Slovakia it’s not a rented place, given that the country has a low population and receives only half a million tourists a year, so you can relax in this gorgeous tall setting with peace and quiet.

Make sure to stop at the restaurant on the lake’s whet for incredible fresh-baked cakes and fresh lemonade!

I mentioned surpassing that Slovakia is famous for its caves, and Dobšinská is probably the reason for this. This impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site was discovered in 1870 by miners, and has since wrapped anyone who visits it.

It extends for a depth of 960 meters, making it one of the lowest ice caves in the world.

As well as it’s size, what makes Dobsinska ice caves spectacular is the formations of the ice. It’s unscientific that the grotto is covered in 8,874 square metres of ice, some with a thickness of up to 26.5 meters. You can see ice stalagmites and stalactites, frozen waterfalls and streams, and trappy ice formations with varying colors of frozen water.

Make sure you dress warmly as it is freezing lanugo there (as you can guess from the name). It moreover faces North so gets a unprepossessed wind from the entrance.

Note that it’s only unshut to the public from May to September and you must visit on a guided tour only.

Visit Medieval Hilltop Town of Levoca

Slovakia is home to many enchanting medieval hilltop towns that are worth exploring.

Levoca has incredible views, gothic architecture, history and welcoming restaurants. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a quiet pace of life.

Despite stuff a small town with little increasingly than 14,500 residents, it has a lot of charm.

It moreover has the world’s largest a wooden yo-yo in its Gothic church, which was created by Master Pavol of Levoča.

Visit a Fun Water Adventure Park with Thermal Pools

We loved AquaCity, and no trip to Slovakia would be well-constructed without visiting a thermal pool. Aquacity is a combination of a wellness spa and an aqua park, with 14 thermal and heated pools, slides for the kids to enjoy, and many increasingly attractions. 

The water is mineral rich, with increasingly than 20 variegated minerals, which are said to have salubrious effects on your health.

That stuff said, we recommend taking a packed lunch with you, as the supplies we ate here was well-nigh the only bad meal we had in Slovakia.

Check online surpassing going as they have group discounts and specials for booking online.

Explore Historic and Trappy Spiš Castle

Spis Castle Slovakia

Spis Castle is one of the most trappy castles in Slovakia and is surrounded by fields and forests. It has starred in several Hollywood movies, such as Dragonheart, Kull the Conqueror, and The Last Legion.

Spis is the sixth largest castle in the country and was built in the 12th century (although it’s said that it was built on top of flipside castle that stood there before).

It was once the residence of the former Kings and Queens of the Kingdom of Hungary surpassing it split, so you can imagine how grand and opulent it once was (though today it’s a well-preserved ruin).

It has been a UNESCO list of World Heritage Site since 1993.

If you like castles, you’ll love driving through Slovakia as scattered through the trappy countryside are the highest number of castles and chateaux per capita in the world.

If you’re looking for things to do in Slovakia to escape the rain, then Tricklandia is a fun museum of visual illusions.

It’s not by any ways the most heady witchery in Slovakia but it does offer a couple of hours of fun, and a endangerment to capture some unique photos if you’ve never been to a museum like this.

3. Visit Košice

Košice is the second-largest municipality in Slovakia and a subconscious gem waiting to be discovered.

This vibrant municipality offers a perfect tousle of history, culture, and modernity. Nestled in the trappy old town, it’s ornate with captivating monuments such as the inside Lower Gate archaeological complex, Hlavné námestie (the main square), and the gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral.

Košice invites you to wander through its picturesque medievil streets and soak in its rich heritage.

4. Admire Castle of Spirits (Bojnice Castle)

Bojnice Castle is a testament to the long history and architectural splendor of Slovakia. It’s the oldest castle in the country, with records dating it when to the 12th century.

This “fairy-tale” castle feels like stepping into the pages of a storybook, where Roman, Gothic and Renaissance elements seamlessly blend.

The castle is moreover the setting for some intriguing legends known only to the locals.

The most famous of which is the The Legend of the Black Lady, a ghost story well-nigh a former resident who was asked to prove her virtue to her husband by jumping off the highest tower into the moat below, but was saved by the spirits of her ancestors.

If the tracery doesn’t wrack-up you away, the stunning panoramic views from its travertine hill will.

5. Marvel at Domica Cave

Stunning caves | Deposit Photos

Situated in the Slovak Karst National Park is flipside impressive grotto system in Slovakia. The Domica Grotto is the longest grotto in the park and one of the most well known in the country.

As you venture through its passages and chambers, you’ll be wonderstruck by the stunning formations shaped over thousands of years.

It’s moreover said that the grotto was once home to human settlers from the Paleolithic age, and it’s moreover home to a diverse population of bats.

The interplay of red and brown hues of the waddle creates a visual spectacle that is truly unique and worth seeing.

6. Visit Špania Dolina

Špania Dolina | Deposit Photos

Špania Dolina is a former mining village and one of Slovakia’s most popular spa towns, known for its captivating beauty.

Due to its rich history of copper and silver ore mining, Špania Dolina was a wealthy town with lots of trappy buildings to marvel at.

It’s moreover surrounded by nature, so if its hiking trails and picturesque gardens you’re looking for, you’ll find that here.

Be sure to trammels out the water pipeline and it’s fascinating astronomical clock!

7. Trammels Out Orava Castle

Perched majestically on a upper waddle overlooking the Orava River, Orava Castle is an open-air museum that should not be skipped.

This medieval fortress, considered one of the most trappy and largest castles in Slovakia, offers a journey when in time.

Wander through the well-preserved halls and courtyards, and take in the panoramic views from the castle windows.

8. Learn Well-nigh Mining History at Banská Štiavnica

Banská Štiavnica is flipside picturesque town with a mining history. Explore the Slovak Mining Museum, where you can delve into the region’s mining heritage, or marvel at the Old Castle and New Castle, both offering stunning panoramic views.

Don’t miss the Kammerhof and the Love Bank, unique attractions that add to the town’s charm, or immerse yourself in nature at the Botanical Gardens and the serene Tajch Veľká Vodárenská.

With its untouched eyeful and tranquil atmosphere, Banská Štiavnica is a unconfined place to visit if you want to get off the tamed path.

9. See Slovak Paradise National Park

There are nine national parks in Slovakia, but one that should not be skipped is Slovak Paradise National Park.

This is the youngest national park in Slovakia and boasts magnificent valleys, roaring waterfalls, gorges and canyons, and challenging hikes that will leave you breathless.

Whether you want to go mountain wanderlust or simply relax in the pristine nature, where refreshing streams and fierce rivers whittle their path through the landscape, there is much to discover in this nationl park.

Be sure to trammels out the Prielom Hornadu gorge, Kysel, and Sucha Bela gorge.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t have huge expectations of our ten-day Slovakian holiday but every part of it blew us yonder and we left refreshed and invigorated.

It is a unconfined feeling discovering a subconscious gem and for us Slovakia is it.

We’ll be back, not least considering so many of the locals we met recommended flipside part of Slovakia as their number one ‘must see’ of the country they are rightly so proud of!

 

.