Slovakia Destinations

Bratislava

Slovakia’s capital of Bratislava is a lively old city that is being revitalized along with the rest of Eastern Europe. Although the city was under Communist rule for forty years and produced such eyesores as the Novy Most(New Bridge), its Hungarian past shines through in its monuments and architecture.

Visitors can wander the streets without the crowds of Prague and Budapest; take in a top notch opera production, and visit palaces, cathedrals, and rich museums.

Vysoke Tatry

Many venture into Slovakia for its mountains, particularly the High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry). The towering peaks of the Tatras stand out amongst Slovakia’s other mountains which are round topped limestone ranges hidden under dense forests. The Tatras are the only alpine mountains in central Europe and not only offer rugged peaks for hiking and skiing but provide an oasis of clear mountain lakes and waterfalls below. Stary Smokovec is a resort town that serves as a base for visiting the mountains in summer and winter and there are cable cars, chairlifts and a funicular railway to lead you to the trails and slopes.

The resorts ringing the base of the mountains can get crowded in the summer but once you climb up a bit, you will be alone in the wilderness surrounded by breathtaking views.

Spis Region

A distinctive area of Slovakia, the Spis region has beautiful scenery and old medieval towns. You can check out the extensive Spis Castle, which was important to the trade route of the Germans who colonized the area in the 12th century and influenced the entire region.

The walled town of Levoca has a main square of beautiful Renaissance buildings and the small town of Kezmarokhas remarkable architecture with a backdrop of dramatic alpine mountains and green hills.

Also in Eastern Slovakia lies the Slovensky Raj (Slovak Paradise), a national park. Perfect for hikers, it is filled with cliffs, forests, waterfalls, canyons, and hundreds of different species of butterflies.

By Bethany Sousa

Destinations – Slovakia