Why go to Slovakia? The 10 good reasons to go Slovakia
Winter sports
Each massif has several ski areas, offering the possibility of skiing at low prices.
Meet wild animals
40,000 species of animals are recorded: lynx, elk, chamois, wolf and brown bear.
The historical legacy
Slovakia offers the traveller more than a hundred castles and twice as many manor houses.
Taste the local spirits
We drink a lot here, and beer is very popular and inexpensive.
A little known nature paradise
23% of the territory is protected area, three quarters covered by mountains, 40% by forest.
A hiker's paradise
More than 15,000 kilometres of marked trails have been laid out in this unspoilt nature.
A rich architectural heritage
Slovak sacred architecture is symbolized by wooden churches, especially in the east.
Thermal waters: cure or bathing
The country offers a large number of thermal springs with various therapeutic virtues.
The caves
Slovakia has more than 7,000 caves, including one of aragonite, which is unique on this continent.
The skanzens
These open-air museums bring together in one place the typical houses of a region.
What to visit Slovakia?
Interview: My Slovakia
By Lucia Palenkasova, Slovak guide
Lucia is a young Slovak girl in love with the nature of her country. Born in Banská Bystrica, she shares her passion with the travellers she guides to every corner of the country she knows like the back of her hand. Organization, efficiency, listening, warm contact, irreproachable French, she masters her subject and knows how to adapt to all situations to make a wonderful stay.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Slovakia
Timetable
Most stores are open Monday to Friday without interruption until 5pm in the provinces, and later in the capital. Some shops, including small local mini-markets, are open on Saturday mornings from 7am to 1pm. Generally speaking, shops open and close earlier than in France. You'll need to get used to this to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
For meals, lunchtime starts at 11 a.m. and service is often continuous, but restaurants close early: it's very hard to find restaurants open after 10 p.m., and it's even difficult to get service after 9 p.m.
To be booked
You don't really need to make a reservation except for accommodation in high season, especially for the Christmas holidays or long weekends, or if you want to take the cable car up to Lomnický štít, the summit of the High Tatras (online reservation at: www.vt.sk).
Budget & Tips
Many of the country's museums and castles open their doors to visitors free of charge on the first Monday of every month - find out more on the relevant websites. Otherwise, visits to the main sites are not very expensive (€2 to €8). Children, students and pensioners benefit from reduced rates, and admission is often free for children under 6.
There are various formulas available, such as the Bratislava City Card (€18/25) (http://card.visitbratislava.com) or the Orava Pass or Liptov Region Card, which offer substantial savings on entrance fees to sites and on certain restaurants and partner accommodation.
Main events
Among the country's major events are the Bratislava City Days, a major historical costume festival held at the end of April. Košice hosts a film festival in June, Art Film Fest, but the biggest cultural event is undoubtedly the Pohoda Music Festival, which takes place every July on the site of Trenčín airport. Over three days, concerts by big-name stars (Fatboy Slim, Liam Gallagher...) follow one another, an important date for Slovak youth.
Guided tours
There are various ways to discover Bratislava: on foot, by bike, in an old car, on a small train, on a Segway... A multitude of operators, individual guides and agencies offer their services. The small historical centre of Bratislava can be easily visited on foot. As for the rest of the country, small local structures are mainly dedicated to active, sports and nature tourism.
Tourist traps
Scams are rare, as almost all guided tours leave from the tourist office or are operated by approved independent agencies or guides.
