A Student's Guide to Exploring Slovakia

Slovakia is a hidden gem in the heart of Europe, offering a wealth of experiences for students and travelers alike. This beautiful country is renowned for its stunning landscapes, from the majestic peaks of the High Tatras to the serene beauty of its numerous national parks and nature reserves. Slovakia is home to enchanting castles and historic towns that seem frozen in time, each telling stories of a rich and varied past. Whether you’re exploring the cobbled streets of Bratislava, hiking through untouched forests, or indulging in the country’s delicious traditional cuisine, Slovakia promises an unforgettable adventure.

National parks

Slovakia is home to 9 national parks, each showcasing the country's diverse natural beauty and offering a variety of outdoor activities. Each of these parks offers a unique experience, whether you’re interested in hiking, wildlife watching, exploring caves, or simply enjoying the tranquility of nature:

Tatra National Park (TANAP): The most famous and oldest national park in Slovakia, located in the High Tatras, this park is known for its dramatic mountain peaks, alpine meadows, and glacial lakes. It's a haven for hikers, climbers, and nature enthusiasts.
Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT): Spanning the Low Tatras mountain range, this park is known for its extensive forests, deep valleys, and the highest limestone mountains in Slovakia. It’s ideal for hiking, skiing, and exploring caves like Demänovská Cave of Liberty.
Pieniny National Park: Located on the border with Poland, Pieniny is famous for the Dunajec River Gorge, where visitors can enjoy scenic rafting trips. The park also boasts unique rock formations and a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Slovak Paradise National Park: True to its name, this park is a paradise for outdoor lovers, featuring rugged canyons, waterfalls, and dense forests. The park is known for its challenging trails that include ladders and chains to navigate the terrain.
Muránska Planina National Park: This park offers a blend of karst landscapes, expansive plateaus, and rich biodiversity. It’s a quieter destination, perfect for those looking to explore less-trodden paths and discover hidden caves and gorges.
Poloniny National Park: Situated in the northeastern part of Slovakia, Poloniny is known for its ancient beech forests, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The park is also home to traditional wooden churches and is a refuge for large mammals like bears and wolves.
Malá Fatra National Park: This park is famous for its diverse landscapes, including rocky peaks, deep valleys, and rich meadows. It’s a popular destination for hiking, with trails leading to stunning viewpoints and natural features like the Jánošíkove Diery gorge.
Veľká Fatra National Park: Veľká Fatra is known for its rolling hills, extensive forests, and pastoral landscapes. The park is ideal for hiking, with routes that offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Slovak Karst National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park is renowned for its extensive network of caves and karst formations. The Domica Cave is a highlight, with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and underground river.

UNESCO heritage sites

Slovakia originally had three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993: Spiš Castle and its surroundings, the historic mining town of Banská Štiavnica, and the traditional village of Vlkolínec. In 2000, the list was expanded to include the historic town of Bardejov in the Šariš region. This was followed by the addition of the Wooden Churches of the Carpathian Mountain Area in 2008 and the Spiš town of Levoča in 2009. Most recently, in 2021, two Roman-era monuments were added: the Gerulata Roman military camp in Bratislava-Rusovce and the Kelemantia Roman military camp in Iža.

Slovak towns

Slovakia is home to 138 towns, each with its own unique history, notable figures, and significant events. These towns are constantly evolving, especially in larger cities where new leisure facilities and shopping centers are regularly opening. Visitors can explore museums, galleries, and other cultural attractions that showcase the rich heritage of these urban areas.

Several cities boast designated Town Monument Reserves, where you can take guided sightseeing tours to delve deeper into their historical and architectural significance. Throughout the year, especially during holidays and the Christmas season, numerous cultural events are organized, offering a delightful way to experience local traditions. For more detailed information, travelers can visit tourist information centers or consult local travel agencies.

Spa

Slovakia boasts a rich spa tradition, deeply embedded in European wellness culture. Renowned for its natural thermal springs and mineral-rich waters, Slovak spas have long been revered for their therapeutic benefits and relaxing environments. Whether you're seeking rejuvenation, medical treatments, or a tranquil escape, Slovakia's spas offer a unique and restorative experience.

We recommend visiting at least the following five Slovak spa towns:

Piešťany: Perhaps the most famous spa town in Slovakia, Piešťany is celebrated for its healing mud and thermal waters. Known for treating musculoskeletal disorders, the spa here offers a luxurious and tranquil environment perfect for relaxation and wellness.
Rajecké Teplice: Nestled in a picturesque valley, Rajecké Teplice is renowned for its beautiful setting and therapeutic waters. The Aphrodite Spa here is particularly famous for its classical architecture and extensive range of wellness treatments.
Trenčianske Teplice: This historic spa town is one of Slovakia’s oldest, known for its sulfuric thermal springs. The town's beautiful surroundings and elegant spa facilities make it a popular destination for those seeking both medical treatments and relaxation.
Bardejovské Kúpele: Located near the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bardejov, this spa is famous for its mineral springs, which have been used for centuries to treat various health conditions. The town’s charming atmosphere and historic architecture add to the appeal.
Dudince: Dudince is unique for its combination of mineral-rich waters that treat both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions. The spa town offers a peaceful environment, making it an ideal place for those looking to relax and rejuvenate.

These Slovak spas provide not just health benefits but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the country’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Caves

Slovakia is blessed with an abundance of diverse underground karst formations, boasting over 7,500 known caves, of which twenty are open to the public. These caves offer a fascinating glimpse into the natural beauty hidden beneath the surface and are a must-see for any visitor.

Here are five of the most beautiful caves worth visiting in Slovakia:

Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa (Dobšiná Ice Cave): A UNESCO World Heritage site, this spectacular ice cave is one of the largest and most stunning in Europe. With its impressive ice formations, it remains a breathtaking sight year-round.
Ochtinská Aragonitová Jaskyňa (Ochtiná Aragonite Cave): This unique cave, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the only one of its kind in Europe. Its subterranean chambers are adorned with delicate aragonite crystals, forming intricate patterns that resemble corals and snow-white shrublets.
Domica Cave: The largest known cave in the Slovak Karst, Domica is famous for its underground river, the Styx. Visitors can take a boat ride through its dark passages, exploring the stunning formations and learning about the cave's rich history.
Jasovská Jaskyňa (Jasov Cave): Located in the Slovak Karst region, this cave is known for its rich history, including ancient inscriptions on its walls. The cave is also home to a diverse array of stalactites, stalagmites, and underground lakes.
Belianska Jaskyňa (Belianska Cave): Situated in the Tatra Mountains, this cave is renowned for its beautiful stalactite formations and underground waterfalls. It’s one of the most accessible caves in Slovakia, offering a spectacular journey through its winding passages.

These caves not only showcase Slovakia's natural wonders but also offer a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors interested in exploring the underground beauty of the country.

Castles

Slovakia is a treasure trove of cultural and historical landmarks, boasting more castles per capita than any other country in Europe. With over 100 castles and at least twice as many manor houses, Slovakia's landscape is dotted with these magnificent structures, each reflecting different historical eras and architectural styles. These castles once played a pivotal role in the country’s history, with their owners shaping the life and fate of the nation. Many of these castles are surrounded by beautiful gardens or parks, and the smaller manor houses, known as curias, can be found in almost every Slovak village.

Here are the top five castles in Slovakia that are truly worth a visit:

Devín Castle: Devín Castle standing on a massive rock hill above the confluence of the Danube and Morava is an unusually impressive landmark. It is part of the oldest history of Slovakia.
Oravský hrad castle: The most attractive tourist locality of the northern Slovakia is the Orava Castle lying on the river Orava near the village Oravský Podzámok, below impressive cliffs.
Spišský hrad castle: Spiš Castle with its area of more than four ha, and partially in ruins, is one of the largest castle compounds in Central Europe. Spiš Castle was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
Bojnice castle: The ”fairy-tale” Bojnický zámok Castle, one of the most visited and most beautiful castles not only in Slovakia, but also in central Europe.
Castle of Trenčín: The Castle, which is along with those of Spiš and Devín one of the biggest in Europe, is the National Cultural Monument.

Slovak folklore

Slovak folklore - From music and dance ensembles, to handicrafts, open-air markets and festivals, folk traditions continue to receive a warm reception in the country. Songs, costumes, dances, architecture. They are mutually different and combined create a unique diversified heritage, not so easily found just anywhere. These traditions are still alive and you will get to know them best by visiting some of the grand cultural festivals in the summer season, such as:

Echoes of Old Slavic under Kráľova hoľa mountain:The festival of multi- voice church and folk singing focuses on seeking and maintaining original styles of multi-voice singing in regions of Slovakia and Eastern Europe
Radvanský jarmok fair in Banská Bystrica: Renowned Radvanský jarmok fair in Banská Bystrica is also called the fair of all fairs. The fair, where folk crafts dominate, became famous also due to the fact that the best-known highwayman Juraj Jánošík used to visit it in the past.
The Folklore Festival Poľana - The international festival of folklore and traditional folk culture - Folklore Festival Poľana is one of the most successful events in Slovakia.
The Jánošík´s Days: The festival held regularly in Terchová, the birthplace of the Slovak national hero Juraj Jánošík, situated in the norh-west of Slovakia early in August in a large open-air theatre providing 6000 places and a big festival pavilion with the capacity of 2000 spectators.
Festival in Východná - The greatest folklore festival in Slovakia the Folklore Festival Východná, is the top show of the best home and foreign folk ensembles and traditional folk culture.

Life in Slovakia