Things to do in Slovakia

Slovakia is landlocked and small, with mountains in the north and the Danube in the south. The capital, Bratislava, sits in the far south-west, close to Austria and Hungary. Most of the country lies to the east.

How the country is laid out

• Bratislava. The capital on the Danube, about an hour from Vienna.
• The western castles. Trenčín's hilltop fortress and the Romantic castle at Bojnice, on the way north-east.
• Central Slovakia. Banská Štiavnica, a mining town on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and Banská Bystrica below the Low Tatras.
• The High Tatras. The highest peaks of the Carpathians, topping out at 2,655 metres. Hiking in summer, skiing from December.
• Spiš and the Slovak Paradise. The hilltop ruin of Spiš Castle, a World Heritage site, and a national park of gorges climbed by ladders and boardwalks.
• Košice and the east. The second-largest city, European Capital of Culture in 2013, some 400 km from Bratislava.

How the days are built

Tours in Slovakia start in Bratislava. They are a Danube cruise, self-guided city walks and private drives to Vienna and Budapest. The mountains and the east you reach by train or a rented car.

Distances are the catch. Bratislava to Košice by train takes around five hours.

Practical

• Weather. Bratislava reaches about 27C in July and sits near 2C in January. Tatra resorts, at 1,000 to 1,350 metres, see July days around 18C and snow from December to March.
• Tatra trails. Many high trails close over the winter, in most years until around mid-June. Check the dates before planning a hike.
• Storms. Summer afternoons in the Tatras often bring thunderstorms. Start early and turn back when the sky darkens.
• Money. The euro has been the currency since 2009. Cards are widely used, and 10 percent is a normal tip in restaurants.
• Trains. The main line runs east from Bratislava, and Poprad, the Tatra gateway, is about four and a half hours along it. Mountain villages need a car or a local bus.
• Food. The national dish is bryndzové halušky, potato dumplings in sheep cheese.
• Language. Slovak is official. English is common in Bratislava and thinner in the villages.