Not to be confused with Slovenia: Top 15 attractions in Slovakia

Bratislava Castle

Towering above Slovakia's capital, Bratislava Castle is not just a symbol of the city, but a true window into the country's rich history. With roots dating back to the 9th century, this majestic castle went through many transformations before finding its current Baroque appearance.

Visitors will find a coronation hall that preserves the memory of the crowning ceremony of Hungarian monarchs; a unique treasury with priceless historical artifacts and jewelry; an observation deck that offers a breathtaking panorama of Bratislava and the winding Danube River; and many other fascinating spots.

The castle is located in the heart of Bratislava.

Bratislava Old Town

The Old Town is the heart of Bratislava. It is not hard to guess that traditionally for Europe, a large number of historical monuments are concentrated here.

These are medieval cobbled streets with houses of classical architecture. St. Martin's Cathedral, St. Michael's Gate, Archbishop's Palace and others are located here.

The dates of construction of most of the buildings here are from XIII to XVIII century. Tourists will be pleased with the many cafes, souvenir stores and hotels in the area.

Csáhtice Castle

Situated on a limestone hill 350 meters above sea level, Czachtice Castle was once almost inaccessible and defended the western borders of Hungary.

Tourists are attracted here by the legend of the local "blood countess" Elisabeth Bathory: the "Lady of Czachtice" tried her best to preserve her youth and beauty and for this purpose she took baths from the blood of young virgins - her maids. It is rumored that the Countess-Dracula destroyed in this way about two thousand girls. In 1610, Elizabeth Bathory was walled up in her room in Cachtice Castle, where she died four years later.

Jasov Cave

Excursions in Slovakia are often organized exactly from the town of Štos towards the village of Jasov. There is an interesting underground formation for tourists there, namely on the territory of the park of national importance. The Premonstratensian monastery stands nearby, so until now the cave was used only by monks.

The total length of the dungeon is 2811 meters, but only 720 meters are open for excursions. The attraction of Slovakia is interesting for its bizarre limestone layers and underground waterfalls.

Spišský Grad

Spišský Grad is rightly considered one of the largest castle complexes in the whole of Central Europe. It is no wonder that this architectural marvel is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Spišský Grad was founded in the 12th century and for centuries played a key role in the administration and defense of the region. Despite a period of neglect in the 18th century, the castle was revived thanks to extensive restoration work in the 20th century.

Nowadays there is a Romanesque chapel from the 13th century, which preserves the spirit of medieval spirituality; a Gothic palace, which impresses with its architectural elegance; a knights' hall with a striking display of medieval armaments and a lookout tower, which offers a panoramic view of the picturesque surroundings.

High Tatras

There are Slovakia and magnificent mountain ranges that numerous travelers aspire to, their name is the High Tatras. This is part of the Carpathian Mountains and one of the most popular destinations for outdoor activities and tourism in the country.

Here you can see:

• Štrbske Pleso - a picturesque mountain lake with crystal clear water.
• Lomnický Štít Peak - one of the highest points in Slovakia (2634 m).
• Studenovocký - a nice cascading waterfall 25 meters high.
• Or just have a picnic or hike in the lap of nature.

Pieniny National Park

Peniny is a national park located in the north of Slovakia and crossing the border with Poland. Among the most visited places here is the Three Crowns mountain. Its slopes are home to a unique species of butterfly, seven species of endemic plants and the stenolaz - a small bird with crimson wings that prefers to nest exclusively in rocky mountains.

Hence, judging from the description, it is easy to guess that this place is ideal for outdoor recreation and exploring Slovakia's natural environment.

You can book a hotel in Slovakia with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Trenčín Castle

Another attraction of Slovakia is the castle, which appeared on the place where there was once an old settlement. That's when the semi-circular building with a dome and a residential tower grew.

The description says that later the castle was repeatedly rebuilt. It belonged for a certain period of time to the powerful noblewoman Matusa Čaka. Guides in Slovakia, when visiting this place, tourists pay attention to such components of the complex as Barbara's Palace, Matusova Tower, Cannon Bastion. It is impossible not to mention the uniqueness of these defense buildings, because their scale does not leave indifferent.

SNP Bridge

Bratislava pedestrian bridge of the "Slovak National Uprising" is erected on the Danube River, practically in the very "heart" of the city. It is a unique landmark of Bratislava.

The main feature of the bridge is that it is devoid of supports in the riverbed. They are only on land. The SNP bridge is the largest in the capital. In addition, it is incredibly good looking.

Kežmár Castle

Kežmár Castle is a famous attraction in Slovakia, located in the High Tatras. It has been beautifully preserved to this day. The first mention of the Kežmár Castle dates back to 1463. The citadel was built on the site of a destroyed church.

Tourists can get into the castle by passing through the tower, which had a defensive function in the olden days. The arches of the castle, its high windows and a number of other architectural elements testify to the Renaissance period. The building was rebuilt several times. Initially, the citadel was built in the late Gothic style. Soon, thanks to the efforts of architects from Italy, the castle acquired Renaissance features.

Nowadays, the citadel presents different expositions covering the historical period - from the appearance of ancient tribes to the prosperity of the XIX century. Tourists will enjoy the Town Hall with unique furniture and antique items such as a ballot box, a crucifix used for the oath-taking ritual, and the chair of the head of the town.

Slovak Paradise National Park

Slovak Paradise National Park is another unique monument that allows you to enjoy the beauty of wildlife and active vacations in Slovakia.

There is a picturesque canyon with waterfalls and stairs, named Suhaja Belaya Gorge. There is also Dobrzynska Ladova - one of the largest ice caves in Europe and the Tomaševský vid observation deck, which will give you a panoramic view of the park.

Chuchmany village

The village of gingerbread houses is how we would like to describe the ethnographic village of Cičmany, an amazing example of a place where elements of folk Slovak architecture are carefully preserved.

The dark wood of the houses is adorned with a lace of white intricate patterns and ornate frills of red geraniums on the windows. In winter, people come to Čičmany for skiing, and tourists on forums praise the selection of unusual local souvenirs.

Liptovska Mara

The town of Banská Štiavnica and the Štiavniki Lakes

This tiny town, which today has only 10,000 inhabitants, is located in a picturesque valley that is actually the caldera of an extinct ancient volcano.

Even today in Banske Štiavnica you can visit the interesting Open Air Mining Museum, which allows visitors to go underground into a real mine from the 17th century. In total there are 200 architectural monuments in the town, including preserved mining settlements of the past centuries, three castles (Old, New and Mira Anton Manor), Kammerhof, St. Mary's and St. Catherine's churches and the Lutheran Church.

Scattered around the town are the Stiavnice Lakes ("Taihi"), small quarries left over from the heyday of industry. They are filled with clear water and in summer they gather numerous connoisseurs around them.

The fairytale village of Habakuki

The charming village of Habakuki is a great option for a weekend trip with family or friends.

Children will have the most fun in the village, where the fairy tales of Slovak writer Pavol Dobrzynski come to life. However, even adults sometimes want to be a child and visit the Shell Castle, the Cursed Black Town or the house of the prophet Rak and buy ice cream for a few habakuki coins (local currency).