1. Bratislava
Bratislava doesn’t provoke admiring swoons; it intrigues. In the midst of Slovakia’s capital, a flying saucer hovers above forest-fringed riverbanks. Its castle presides over a pastel-hued old town, but a concrete jungle looms behind. Despite the march of modernism, Bratislava is green. It banks the Danube River, by the Austrian border, and its hilly parks are threaded with hiking and biking trails. The Male Karpaty (Small Carpathians) roll north, with vineyards in their lowlands. No wonder Bratislava feels like a frenetic mix of wild and urban, classic and contemporary: it became capital of newly independent Slovakia only in 1993. Bratislava preserved spires and squares from its 18th-century heyday, but now socialist-era monuments (and an eyebrow-raising cast of statues) have joined the party. Speaking of which, Bratislava’s nightlife is crowd-pleasing whether you prefer beer halls, rooftop cocktails or stag-party mayhem. In a city this exciting, who needs postcard pretty?
2. Slovenský Raj
You don’t simply visit Slovenský Raj National Park. It’s more accurate to say that you clamber, scramble and get thoroughly drenched in this dynamic landscape of caves, canyons and waterfalls. Hikers in ‘Slovak Paradise’ climb ladders over gushing cascades, trek to ruined monasteries and shiver within an ice cave – and that’s just on day one. The park is hugged by the Low Tatras and the Slovak Ore Mountains, with deep gorges sliced by the Hornád River. The nearest major town is Spišská Nová Ves, 23km southeast of Poprad. Closer to the action are the park’s three major trailhead villages, each with food and accommodation options: most popular is Podlesok, outside Hrabušice, a 16km drive southeast of Poprad; pretty and low-key Čingov is 5km west of Spišská Nová Ves; and lakeside Dedinky fringes the park’s southern edge.
3. Pieśťany
Piešťany is Slovakia’s most distinguished spa town. Most of the soaking and soothing happens on Kúpelne Ostrov (Spa Island), a sanctuary wrapped in the Váh River. Visitors to the island idle by lily ponds, clad in towelling robes, waiting for their next hot mud wrap; and turn-of-the-century buildings impart a grand, slightly nostalgic feel. Wellness treatments offered at Napoleon, the main booking office, range from a simple dip in thermal water through to massages and breathing in the seaside-like air of a salt cave. Spa Island is connected to the rest of town by Kolonádový Bridge. West of the bridge brings you from spa serenity back to reality: a tourist office, shops and cafes, with enough lush parks and fountains to remind you of the healing springs simmering beneath.
4. Banská Štiavnica
Banská Štiavnica has a glittering history, quite literally. Gold, silver and minerals brought enormous wealth to Slovakia's oldest mining town. Wonderfully intact Gothic and Renaissance buildings date to its 16th-century prime (though miners are believed to have toiled here for centuries before). It grew into the third-largest town in the Kingdom of Hungary. After the 19th century, minerals were depleted, mines closed and townspeople began to leave. But for visitors, Banská Štiavnica's frozen-in-time feel is part of the allure. Medieval castles, burghers' houses and sacred sights all contributed to the historic centre's UNESCO listing in 1993, and you can still get a flavour of the old mining days at an open-air museum.
5. Poprad
Gateway to the High Tatras, Poprad is the place to mug up on hiking or skiing information before you head into the wilds. Well-loved in Slovakia due to its status as a holiday resort, this city in the north of Slovakia is also known as an entry point to the High Tatra Mountains via the Tatra Electric Railway. The city is also known for its historic centre that features Baroque and Renaissance architecture in the form of the Church of John the Baptist and the Renaissance Bell Tower. To take in all that the city has to offer head to the Aqua City Poprad where you can enjoy the thermal waters and the local saunas, as well as a whole host of other fun activities such as water tobogganing and playgrounds. Poprad itself is a great base to dip in to mountain hikes, lakes and gorges in the surrounds: by road, Starý Smokovec is 14km north, Štrbské Pleso 26km west and Hrabušice (for Slovenský Raj National Park) 15km south.
6. Bardejov
There's magic in the air in Bardejov's main square, whose Gothic spires and burgher houses provide a flashback to medieval Slovakia. Bardejov received its royal charter in 1376 and grew rich on trade into the 16th century. The Unesco-listed houses of the main square have unique gables and inscriptions, while medieval walls encircle the centre, offering romantic views of the surrounding hills. A historic synagogue and surrounding buildings testify to Bardejov's centuries of Jewish history, cruelly halted by WWII. Bardejov is an excellent springboard to discover the wooden churches further east. Meanwhile the tiny spa satellite town of Bardejovské Kúpele, 5km away, is an ideal retreat for soothing weary limbs.
7. Spiš Castle
Crowning a travertine hill above Spišské Podhradie village, this vast castle is one of Slovakia’s most impressive medieval fortifications. Spiš Castle spreads over four hectares, making it one of the largest in Central Europe. Its bulwarks and thick defensive walls date to the 12th century, and once housed Hungarian royals and nobles. Highlights are views from the 22m-high tower, and a museum of medieval history within the former palace. The castle collapsed in the 12th century and was remade soon after. A Gothic renovation during the second half of the 15th century, under Štefan Zápoľský, paved the way for prestigious courtly life. As the threat of invasion lessened, Spiš Castle became a place for balls and upper-class hobnobbing, and much less of a strategic fortification. Details like the castle's Gothic-style windows are an example of harmony between defensive and decorative design. After a fire in 1780, the castle began to fall to ruin. Restoration began in earnest during the 1970s, propelling Spiš Castle to fame; it remains one of Slovakia's most popular attractions.
8. Košice
Equal parts pretty and gritty, Košice lures you with its dazzling historic core but holds your interest with free-spirited nightlife. The pride of Eastern Slovakia's largest city is Hlavná, the central square with the country's largest concentration of historic monuments. Since its tenure as European Capital of Culture 2013, Košice has grown increasingly confident. The cultural scene continues to bloom in unconventional ways: offbeat bars, Soviet city tours and vegan dining share the limelight with well-established draws like the showstopping Gothic cathedral, philharmonic orchestra and, yes, ice hockey. Košice is also a convenient anchor for day trips to Eastern Slovakia's most weird and wonderful sights. Within a two-hour drive of the city you can discover the gnarled limestone caverns of Slovak Karst National Park or the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce.
9. Malá Fatra National Park
The irresistible pull of the High Tatras has allowed some of Slovakia’s national parks to remain light on crowds. Malá Fatra National Park, encompassing a 226-sq-km swathe of the Western Carpathian mountains, is reasonably popular with locals but doesn’t draw anything close to the visitor numbers of the High Tatras further east. The landscape is somehow peaceable and perilous all at the same time: rough crags of limestone rise behind wildflower meadows and fuzzy evergreen forests. Hiking trails have similar contrasts, with level pathways veering abruptly into steep waterfall ascents by ladder. Though trails can be tough, hiking areas are tantalisingly easy to access from straggling gateway town Terchová, such as the short cable-car ride to the dizzy heights of Vrátna Valley. Heightening the mystique is the region’s association with Slovakia’s Robin Hood, the righteous outlaw Juraj Jánošík, who is thought to have prowled these hills and gorges.
10. Žilina
From its small historic nucleus, busy Žilina spreads along the banks of the Váh River. As a major town close to Malá Fatra National Park, Žilina is a prime draw for hiking enthusiasts looking for a lively base. But don't rush to the wilds straight away: Žilina's postcard-pretty squares, grand cathedral and cafe scene are worth an afternoon.
Source: Lonely Planet; The Crazy Tourist
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