Where is Slovakia? Slovakia is an inconspicuous country in the center of Europe, but very attractive for tourists. Useful information for tourists
Slovakia has exactly two “chips” - but what kind! Healing thermal springs with the full periodic table and a crazy number of medieval castles (with ghosts, of course). Cozy Bratislava, treatment in Smrdaky and Dudince - all about Slovakia: tours, holidays, prices and photos.
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According to some, not very experienced tourists, Slovakia serves as a kind of “addition” to the market Czech Republic. Let's be honest: this opinion is not only offensive, but also fundamentally wrong. This country with its beautiful nature, spectacular mountain peaks, numerous castles and fortresses (each first with its own ghost and every second with its own dramatic history) can easily compete with the “veterans” of excursion tourism.
Time difference from Moscow
− 2 hours in summer −1 hour
- with Kaliningrad
- with Samara
- with Yekaterinburg
- with Omsk
- with Krasnoyarsk
- with Irkutsk
- with Yakutsk
- with Vladivostok
- from Severo-Kurilsk
- with Kamchatka
Climate
Moderate continental, with pronounced altitudinal zonation. Average temperatures in July are +19...+21 °C on the plains and +8...+12 °C in the mountains, January +1...+4 °C on the plains and up to −10 °C in mountainous areas. The coldest month is January, the warmest months are July and August. It often rains in autumn, and in winter it is often windy in the mountains. Ski season lasts from November to March. The most comfortable time to visit the country for the purpose of treatment and broadening your horizons is from May to September. Thermal resorts can get chilly in the evenings, so it is advisable to bring a sweater.
The import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from non-EU countries, amounts over 10,000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration. Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 regular cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco is allowed; 1 liter of alcoholic drinks with a strength over 22 °, 2 liters of wine; 50 ml of perfume, 250 ml of eau de toilette, as well as personal items worth no more than 430 EUR. Prices on the page are indicated for October 2018.
Medicines and medicines can be imported duty-free in quantities necessary to meet minimum personal needs. Tobacco products can only be imported by persons over 16 years of age, alcoholic products - over 18 years of age.
The import and export of weapons, explosives, pornographic products, narcotic substances, as well as cultural and historical values that do not have documentary evidence of the legality of their acquisition are prohibited.
It is prohibited to import products containing meat or milk into the territory of the European Union, including sausage, canned food, lard and even chocolates. If they are found, they will be confiscated and the passenger will be fined. The ban does not apply to baby food and special medications necessary for people with certain diseases (in this case, the products must be carefully packaged and their weight should not exceed 2 kg).
- How to get a visa to Slovakia for traveling by car
Tax Free
In Slovakia there is a system Tax free: by forking over 175.01 EUR in one check, you can get back up to 20% VAT. First, you will need to take a special form at the checkout with a list of purchased goods and enter your passport data there. At the airport, the completed form (along with the usual cash receipt, passport and freshly purchased items in undamaged packaging) must be presented to the customs officer to receive a stamp, and then exchanged for cash at the point of issue Global Blue. If time is short, you can send a stamped Tax free check to the Bratislava office (but no later than 3 weeks from the date of registration) and wait for a refund to your bank card.
How to get to Slovakia
The second largest Slovak airport is in Košice. From Moscow they deliver “LOT” here (157 EUR one way, from 4 hours with a transfer in Warsaw), “ Czech Airlines» (165 EUR, from 10 hours via Prague) and other carriers. Connecting flights from St. Petersburg are organized by Czech Airlines (223 EUR one way, 23 hours via Prague), Austrian Airlines (260 EUR, 21 hours 40 minutes via Vienna) and Turkish Airlines (399 EUR, 29 hours 20 minutes via Istanbul ).
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Transport
The country is small in size and most transport is carried out by trains and buses. The main railway line Kosice - Bratislava goes through Spisska Nova Ves, Poprad, Zilina and Trencin. Tickets are sold at the office. on the carrier’s website (in English), you can get from the capital to Trencin for 6-8 EUR, to Ruzomberok for 11-23 EUR, to Kosice for 13-40 EUR (morning flights are cheaper). On popular routes The Slovak Expres system operates (office site in English): round-trip tickets for night trains cost 18-27 EUR.
There are in the country and water transport: The Danube connects Bratislava with neighboring cities and abroad (Vienna and Budapest). The cost of a sightseeing cruise around the capital's waters is 7 EUR for adults, 4.50 EUR for children (schedule - on the carrier's official website in English).
In Slovakia, there is a system of youth and student discounts; on weekends and holidays, travel by intercity buses is getting cheaper.
Public transport within cities
Trams, buses and trolleybuses serve as urban transport. Travel is paid with coupons, which are sold in orange machines at stops - they must be punched in the passenger compartment. Tickets have a limited validity period (15, 30 or 60 minutes), so you should buy them strictly before your trip. Single tickets cost 0.7-3.1 EUR, 3-day passes cost 8 EUR. They can be purchased at DPHMB offices, underground passages, kiosks and railway station ticket offices.
Taxis in Slovakia are inexpensive, equipped with meters, and due to the small size of the cities, they are not very popular. Ordering them by phone is more profitable than catching them on the street. The standard tariff is 1-2 EUR per landing plus 0.50-1 EUR for each km.
Rent a Car
By renting a car in compact Slovakia, you can explore its main attractions in a few days: medieval cities, castles, national parks. The roads are good (though some of them are toll), there are few traffic jams, the drivers are polite and careful. There may be problems with parking: the ancient streets are not adapted to the abundance of modern vehicles. Most parking lots are paid: special coupons and cards are sold in tobacco and newsstands; an hour in an indoor parking lot will cost 1-3 EUR per hour (depending on the location - the center is the most expensive).
Rent a compact car - from 30 EUR, a standard model - from 52 EUR, a station wagon - from 56 EUR per day. The cost of gasoline is 1.44 EUR per 1 liter.
Car rental is possible if you have a driver’s license (both international and Russian), passport and credit card. Cash is often accepted for payment, but a credit card as collateral is required. Sum rent depends on the car and rental period, as well as on the day of the week - on weekends (from 15:00 Friday to 9:00 Monday) and holidays it is slightly higher (not taking into account the distance). The driver must be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience. The cost of renting Czech car brands is significantly lower than all others.
The maximum permitted speed within settlements- 50 km/h, outside of them - 90 km/h, on highways - up to 130 km/h. Low beams must always be on and seat belts must be worn. Drinking any alcohol (even beer) and talking on a cell phone while driving are prohibited. Radar detectors are illegal in Slovakia. For exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h, the driver will have to pay a fine of 100 EUR, and by 70 km/h - already 650 EUR. Driving while intoxicated can cost up to 2,500 EUR.
It is worth additionally taking out insurance against accidents (around 10 EUR per day) and against theft (for the same money). Insurance will cover any damage to the car only if the driver is sober.
Communications and Wi-Fi
There are several in Slovakia mobile operators: Orange, O2, Telekom and Swan. Orange is a leader in the number of subscribers and quality of communication. SIM cards costing from 3-15 EUR are sold in company offices and supermarkets (you need a passport for registration), the balance is topped up via the Internet or using scratch cards. For the Orange operator, calls to Russia cost 0.47 EUR per minute, for Telekom - 0.30 EUR.
There are payphones on Slovak streets that accept telephone cards with a value of 5-10 EUR. They can be bought at post offices and newsagents and called as local numbers, and abroad. Communication with your homeland from a call center will cost 10-15%, and from a hotel - 30% more than from a payphone.
Free Wi-Fi is available in hotels, catering establishments (you will have to order something to gain access) and on the central streets of Bratislava. IN major cities Internet cafes are common, offering connections for 2-4 EUR per hour. Here and there you can find free Internet kiosks that allow you to check your email, send a message, or surf the web (but the connection speed is annoyingly slow).
Hotels in Slovakia
There are few 5* hotels in the country, most of them are located in Bratislava. The basis of the number of rooms in Slovakia are “three rubles” and “fours”. The price/quality ratio is as follows: 5* mainly belong to global hotel chains, the level is appropriate, 4* - very expensive and very good, 3* - from expensive and good to inexpensive and simple. Most leisure opportunities are in a hotel rather than a resort. In 90% of hotels, check-in is at 14:00, check-out is at 10:00.
In addition, the country has a wide selection of private apartments, campsites and sanatoriums, many of which, built under socialism, are now being modernized with all their might. The hostels are for the most part clean, tidy, but possible disadvantages include old furniture, poor sound insulation, cramped rooms and problems with Wi-Fi.
Electrical voltage - 220 V, 50 Hz, two-pin sockets with a safety plug.
Police: 158, emergency and first aid on roads: 154, ambulance: 155, fire brigade: 150, emergency service: 112.
City codes: Bratislava - 2, High Tatras resorts - 52, Low Tatras resorts (Jasna) - 44.
Stunning views of Slovakia
Diving
Near Bratislava good conditions for diving - on the Senets Lakes and Lake Gulashka, and in good visibility ( in early spring And late autumn) - also on the Golden Sands and Štrkovecki lakes. You can also dive on the Danube Island, in the vicinity of the towns of Banska Stiavnica (lake Rihnavskoe, Vindshakhtskoe) and Kraljovani (Shutovo), at the Liptovska Mara reservoir, at the Dedinki and Ruzhin dams.
The best time for diving is late spring and early autumn. The water in Slovak lakes is surprisingly clear, but almost always cool, so you have to prepare yourself for the thrill in advance. The bottom is mostly rocky, overgrown with all kinds of greenery; carp, eels, pike and small fish are found in the depths. Diving equipment can be rented from schools and clubs located in Bratislava and some other cities. The average cost of a two-hour rental is 10-15 EUR, a dive with an instructor will cost 55-70 EUR, two-week diving courses with theory and practice - from 350 EUR.
Skiing
Rafting
There are 63 water streams in Slovakia suitable for water tourism. People travel along the local rivers by boats, kayaks, kayaks and canoes. In Eastern Slovakia the most popular rivers are Poprad, Gornad, Torisa, Toplja, Ondava and Laborec, in Central Slovakia - Hron, Orava and Slana, in Western Slovakia - Vah, Nitra, Small Danube and Danube.
A two-hour rafting trip on Bela or Vagu will cost 23-30 EUR, taking into account equipment and an instructor.
The wildest river in Slovakia is the Bela, which is flown down from April 15 to September 30. Less difficult is rafting along the Vah River in the area from Červeny Klastor or along the bend of this river through the Great Fatra under the ruins of Strečna Castle. Beginners and even families with children have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature during an easy descent along the Orava River (from Parnice in Zaskov Brod to Kraljovan). Vivid sensations promise the descent along the Dunajec in national park Pieniny and mountainous sections of the Hron River, which is characterized by alternating quiet and stormy currents.
Rafting in Slovakia
Treatment in Slovakia
Tourists often come to Slovakia to improve their health: there are more than 1,200 thermal and mineral springs. Most resorts are located in the mountains: enjoying clean air, idyllic landscapes, peace and quiet in itself provides a healing effect. Doctors are also not lagging behind, creating effective wellness programs based on local ingredients for patients with any diagnosis and offering a high level of service in a European manner.
Nature of Slovakia
Cuisine and restaurants of Slovakia
The cuisine of Slovakia combines the features of European schools and strong national components. Local sheep cheeses, “oshtepki” and “parenitsy” are especially popular, and business card The local cuisine includes soups made from vegetables, broths and various complex soups made from meat and vegetables, dumplings with cheese, potato dumplings, cheese dumplings, as well as poultry dishes. You should definitely try the national cabbage soup (made from sauerkraut) and Segedin goulash.
Slovakia produces excellent local wines that occupy a worthy place among the best European varieties, and at the same time are very inexpensive. The most popular strong alcoholic drinks are “slivovitz” (plum vodka) and “borovichka” (juniper vodka), as well as a variety of herbal liqueurs. The best desserts are walnut roll “Orekhovnik”, steamed buns with plum jam, poppy seed cake “Makovnik”, strudels and “trdelniki” (spiral tubes of yeast dough).
Most resorts have traditional restaurants“salash” and “koliba”, where you can taste national dishes accompanied by authentic Slovak music.
Pivnitsa beer bars also offer a wide selection of local treats: by the way, prices there are often lower than in other eateries. In major cities there are establishments with French, Italian, Chinese and Indian menus. Confectionery shops, pubs, wineries, coffee shops - there are places to satisfy both hunger and thirst. Lunch in an inexpensive cafe will cost 10-15 EUR per person (the farther from the center, the cheaper), a fast food snack - 5-8 EUR, dinner in a restaurant - from 35-40 EUR for two, excluding alcohol.
Guides in Slovakia
Entertainment and attractions
Excursion to the sights of Slovakia - an amusing trip in time: the elegant architecture of centuries past coexists with the monuments of our time. A striking example of this is Bratislava: the eclectic Old Town Hall, the elegant Capuchin Church, the Cathedral of St. Martin crowned with a gilded crown, the solemn Presidential Palace - witnesses of a glorious past. And nearby is the impressive SNP bridge, the Slavin memorial complex in honor of the soldiers of World War II, numerous museums and street sculptures - heroes of today.
Trencin not only has a majestic castle, churches and chapels, but also the Milos Bazovsky Gallery with an interesting collection of Czech and Slovak modern art.
The pride of Kosice is the luxurious St. Elizabeth Cathedral, built in the 14th century in the best Gothic traditions. Neo-Baroque ceiling opera house decorated with frescoes on the themes of Shakespeare's plays, and the jets of a singing fountain, illuminated by hundreds of light bulbs, soar to a 17-meter height. In the town of Komárno, works of Hungarian culture have been preserved, and in the village of Vlkolínec - traditional Carpathian farmsteads.
Castles of Slovakia
Slovakia is a magnet for fans of scary ghost tales and heart-warming love stories: countless local castles carefully guard their legends. For example, an inconsolable young lady, separated from her lover, once jumped from one of the towers of the Devin castle - the Maiden Tower. But on the other hand, much later, one resourceful comrade flew on a hang glider from socialist Czechoslovakia straight to unenslaved Austria.
Bojnice Castle annually hosts International festival spirits and ghosts: a lot of them have probably accumulated here over 10 centuries.
The mighty Bratislava Castle, towering over the Danube, stood in ruins for many years: they say that in the 19th century it was burned by drunken Austrian soldiers, and it only came to reconstruction towards the end of the next century. To build the Kezmar Castle, a small church had to be destroyed: there were not enough materials, and earthly values turned out to be more important to the owner than spiritual ones.
In Orava Castle there is a bench, sitting on which you can get rid of infertility. And in the largest Slovak castle, Spissky Castle, the ghost of the nanny Hedwig still wanders, grieving for her stolen pupil.
National parks
The country has 16 protected natural areas and 9 national parks. The most picturesque - "Low Tatras" with karst caves, full of bizarre limestone cascades, stalactites and stalagmites. Most the park is occupied mountain ranges: not tall, but very impressive. Hiking trails of varying difficulty levels are laid through beech and coniferous forests, alternating with lawns and alpine fields.
IN Low Tatras You can meet bears, wolves and lynxes: they keep a respectful distance from people and pose no danger.
The Tatra National Park contains the highest point in the country - Mount Gerlachovský Štit. Here you can find endemic animals (for example, the Tatra chamois), many birds, several species of reptiles and amphibians; Both walking and cycling routes have been created for visitors. In the “Great Fatra” there is the largest yew grove in Europe, in the “Little” there is the Vratnaya Valley, beloved by skiers, the ancient village of Stefanova and the ruins of several castles. The main treasure of the park "Poloniny" is the virgin Carpathian forests, "Pienyny" is famous for the beauty of the Dunajec River gorge, and "Slovak Paradise" - stormy waterfalls, the highest of which is the 70-meter Zavojovi.
The best photos of Slovakia Adrenaline Rush, Slovakia Speleology in Slovakia
There are about 4,000 registered caves of all types in Slovakia: rock, ice and aragonite. 12 of them are open to visitors. Of particular interest are the Dobshinskaya Ice Cave, Gombasetskaya and Yasovskaya Caves, the Domitsa Cave and the Okhtina Cave - all of them are included in the UNESCO List.
The Freedom Cave in the Demanovska Valley is popular for its colorful limestone formations: “mushrooms”, “trees”, pillars and icicles, painted in soft pink, terracotta and other shades. The Prepost Cave in Bojnice has been turned into the Museum of Ancient Man: the artifacts found here - tools, bones, jewelry - are more than 30 thousand years old. There are as many as 250 cave systems in the Muranska Platina National Park, but all of them are dangerous and therefore closed to tourists. But the “Slovak Karst” is a haven for adventure seekers: endless labyrinths of grottoes, passages and faults keep many amazing secrets.
Fishing
Fish from the carp and salmon families, including trout and grayling, are caught in the rivers and lakes of Slovakia. The most popular among fishermen are the rivers Danube, Váh, Hron, Turiec, Orava, Gornad, Ondava, Latorica, Laborec, Nitra, Ipel, Dunajec, Liptovska Mara reservoir, Zemplinska Širava, Oravska dam, Velka Domasa, Slnjava, Duhonka, Ruzhin, Teply Wierch and Dedinki.
Holidays and Events
January 1 in Slovakia - not only New Year, but also Republic Day, so the fun is in full swing. The main holiday of spring is Easter with solemn services, warm family dinners and ancient customs such as general dousing with water. May 1 is Labor Day (greetings from the socialist past), May 8 is Liberation Day from Fascism. On July 5, Cyril and Methodius are honored, who once visited Moravia on a Christian mission. August 29 is the Day of the National Uprising against the dictator Tiso, September 1 is Constitution Day. On November 1, deceased relatives are remembered, and November 17 honors students who participated in the 1989 demonstrations.
December passes under the sign of Christmas: a special, fairy-tale atmosphere reigns in decorated cities throughout the month.
Slovakia loves festivals: the capital hosts Jazz Days in the fall, and Coronation Day with colorful theatrical processions in the summer. The local analogue of Maslenitsa is Fashanka with songs, dances and street fairs; on Ivan Kupala (St. John) there are round dances and fortune telling for the betrothed. Starts in Kosice in October International Marathon world, in December, cities pass the baton of the Febiofest film festival to each other. Trencianske Teplice hosts music shows all summer long, a large crafts fair is organized in Kezmarok in July, and in Pezinka in September they organize “Vinobranie” - a wine festival with competitions for the title of the best Slovak alcohol.
This may seem surprising, but last years The increase in the number of tourists in Slovakia is due to sporting events held in this country. This means that Slovakia still remains an unknown country for most tourists. Meanwhile, Slovakia has everything that tourists need - a thousand-year history, a large number of medieval castles and fortresses, the amazing nature of the Tatras and Carpathians, numerous thermal spas and beautiful ski resorts.
Geography of Slovakia
Slovakia is located in Central Europe. In the west, Slovakia borders with the Czech Republic and Austria, in the north with Poland, in the east with Ukraine, and in the south with Hungary. total area Slovakia is 49,000 square kilometers, and the total length of the state border is 1,524 km.
A significant part of the territory of Slovakia is occupied by mountains. East of Bratislava is the Danube Lowland. The entire north of the country is occupied Carpathian mountains, near the border with Poland there are Low and High Tatras. The most high peak Slovakia - Gerlachovsky Štit (2,655 meters).
The main rivers in Slovakia are the Danube, Váh, Hron and Ipel.
Capital
The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava, which is home to more than 470 thousand people. On the site of modern Bratislava, human settlements have existed since Neolithic times.
Official language
The official language in Slovakia is Slovak, which belongs to the West Slavic subgroup of the Slavic language family. Hungarian is a widely spoken language in southern Slovakia.
Religion
More than 60% of the population of Slovakia consider themselves Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. Another 6% of Slovaks profess Protestantism, and 4.1% are Orthodox Christians.
State structure
Slovakia is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the President, elected for a 5-year term by direct universal suffrage.
Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - the National Council of the Slovak Republic, consisting of 150 deputies.
Climate and weather in Slovakia
In general, the climate in Slovakia is continental. Although Slovakia is small country, but the weather there can differ markedly in the north, where mountains predominate, and in the flat south.
The warmest region of Slovakia is Bratislava and the south of the country, where in summer the temperature can rise above +30C. In winter in Bratislava, daytime temperatures range from -5C to +10C.
In the mountains of Slovakia, snow lies all the time in winter, until April. Summer in northern Slovakia is mild, with average temperature+25C.
Rivers and lakes
Several large (by the standards of this country) rivers flow through the territory of Slovakia - Vág (403 km), Hron (298 km) and Ipel (232 km). Slovak rivers are of great interest to rafting enthusiasts.
Lakes in Slovakia are popular places summer holiday for Slovaks and foreign tourists. The largest of them are Velke Gincovo Pleso, Zemplinska Sirava, and Strbske Pleso. There are more than 180 mountain lakes in Slovakia.
History of Slovakia
Ancient people lived on the territory of modern Slovakia back in the early Paleolithic era. Roman legions came to Slovakia in the 6th century AD. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes and Goths invaded Slovakia. Around the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th centuries, Slavic tribes settled in Slovakia, and the Principality of Nitra was formed, which then became part of Great Moravia, and later - part of Hungary.
Under attack Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Kingdom of Hungary split into three parts, and in 1526 Slovakia became part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Only after the end of the First World War did Slovakia gain independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and unite with the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia was formed).
In 1939, Slovakia, as well as the entire territory of Czechoslovakia, was occupied by German troops.
After World War II, the Communist Party came to power in Czechoslovakia. In 1968, troops from the Warsaw Pact countries suppressed attempts by the leadership of Czechoslovakia to build “socialism with human face“, and instead of Alexander Dubcek, Gustav Husak began to lead the country.
The Communist Party lost power in Czechoslovakia in 1998, and the country eventually split into two in January 1993. independent states Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In 2004, Slovakia was admitted to the NATO military bloc, and in 2009 it became a member of the European Union.
Culture
Slovakia is a country with rich cultural traditions and folk customs. Slovaks are very proud of their culture and carefully preserve the traditions of their ancestors. Each Slovak region has its own typical folk costumes and customs. Slovak folk culture is known for its dances, music and songs.
Every summer, folk music festivals are held in many Slovak cities, some of which have already become international.
Cuisine of Slovakia
Slovak cuisine is unique. She is greatly influenced by Austrian and Hungarian cuisines. The main products of Slovak cuisine are pork, poultry, cabbage, potatoes, flour, cheese, onions, and garlic.
Traditional Slovak dishes include cheese dumplings, draniki (potato pancakes), pasta (pasta) with potatoes, breaded cheese, schnitzel, and cabbage soup.
Traditional alcoholic drink in Slovakia - slivovitz (plum vodka). Beer is also very popular in Slovakia.
Sights of Slovakia
In Slovakia, inquisitive tourists will find a large number of interesting attractions. In our opinion, the top ten best attractions in Slovakia include the following:
Cities and resorts of Slovakia
The most big cities in Slovakia - Bratislava, Kosice, Presov, Zilina, Banska Bystrica, Trnava, Nitra, and Trencin.
Every year, ski resorts in Slovakia become more and more popular in Europe, combining beautiful nature and excellent skiing infrastructure. The most famous of them are Strbske Pleso, Liptovsky Mikulas, Tatranska Lomnica, Smokovec, Jasna, and Podbanske.
On the territory of Slovakia there are 1,470 mineral and thermal springs water. Resorts have been built near many of them. The most popular of them are Piestany, Smrdaky, Sliac, Sklenne Teplice, Trencianske Teplice, and Lučky.
Souvenirs/shopping
From Slovakia, tourists most often bring dolls in Slovak folk costumes, giant shepherds’ flutes (“fujara”), shepherd’s hatchets, ceramics, glass and porcelain, wine, chocolate, and sheep’s cheese.
Office hours
– interests everyone planning to spend time in the mountains in December-April - the Carpathians, High and Low Tatras; in May-September - enjoy the natural beauty, go to sightseeing tours, go fishing and rafting on Slovak rivers.
Slovakia: where is the “land of caves and mineral springs”?
The location of Slovakia (the capital is Bratislava; the country's area is 49,034 sq. km) - Central Europe. Landlocked Slovakia is surrounded to the northeast and north by the Western Carpathians. The most high point in the form of a 2650-meter peak Gerlakhovsky-Stit, located in. Slovakia has common borders with (670 km), (90 km), (420 km), (90 km) and (200 km).
Slovakia consists of the Žilina, Presov, Košice, Trnava, Nitra, Bratislava, Trenčín, and Banská Bystrica regions.
How to get to Slovakia?
To get to from, travelers will have to fly through, as a result of which the journey will last 6 hours, after - 14 hours, through the capital - 7.5 hours, through - 15 hours, through the Italian capital - more than 8.5 hours.
Tourists who need to be in will be offered to make a stop in the Austrian capital (passengers will have an 8.5-hour flight), in (the journey will take 7.5 hours), in the Czech capital (tourists will arrive in Kosice 6 hours 40 minutes after departure from Moscow), in (the journey will end 11.5 hours after boarding the first flight).
Those wishing to use the train services will get to Slovak capital, Liptovsky Mikulas and Kosice with Kievsky railway station Moscow in about 42 hours.
Holidays in Slovakia
Those who decide to spend a vacation in Slovakia are advised to pay attention to Bratislava (famous for the castle, Bratislava Castle, SNP Bridge, St. Martin's Cathedral, St. Stephen's Capuchin Church), (those who want to get rid of arthritic psoriasis, acne, dermatitis and eczema through mud and mineral baths flock here, light and hydrotherapy, reflex and manual massage, electrotherapy, rehabilitation exercises), (the resort consists of 2 ski areas: the Nova Gola area is aimed at professionals, and Zagradishte is aimed at beginners; for snowboarders there is a Fu Arena snowboard park; Donovaly has 16 lifts , one of which, Telemix Nova Gola, has a 1300-meter cable car), (famous for the castle of 1069, the Executioner's House, the Church of St. Mary, the Chapel of St. Michael, the Town Hall; if you wish, you can stay at the Ostrov camping site, located on the shore of Lake Vah, and also come to Trencin for the Pohoda music festival that takes place annually here), waterfall Skok (its water flow, with a temperature of +4-6˚C, falls from a 25-meter height; these scenic spots suitable for hiking, especially those laid over the waterfall hiking trails with pointers).
Slovak beaches
- beaches on the shores of the Zemplinska Sirava reservoir: the local 12-kilometer beach has bungalows, private villas, bars, boat rentals, tennis courts, mini golf courses. Those who wish can go fishing, because the reservoir is home to bream, eel, carp, pike perch, and pike.
- beaches on the shores of the Senets Lakes: they are suitable for diving and fishing, and their equipment includes a water park, cottages, boarding houses, volleyball courts, and rental shops for sports equipment.
Souvenirs from Slovakia
Those leaving Slovakia should not return to their homeland without Figaro chocolate, painted gingerbread, Tatranka cookies, pumpkin butter, sheep’s cheese, plum brandy, boletus, Janosik’s hat, wickerwork, homespun rugs, and “volašek” (shepherd’s crook).
Slovakia is the youngest country in Europe. The state received complete independence only in the early 90s of the 20th century. For a long time, being in the shadow of other powers (Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.), Slovakia does not seem to want to play an important role in the economy or politics of the continent. Remaining a “thing in itself,” the country has retained the entire tourism infrastructure that it has nurtured for a century.
They come here for the amazing nature, miraculous mineral springs, clean mountain air, cheerful character of Slovaks and excellent cuisine, incorporating the best traditions several peoples at once, while maintaining their originality. Despite the fact that it is difficult to find masterpieces of architecture or painting that would be known throughout the world in Slovakia, every city and every village here is filled with a cozy and warm atmosphere and unique European charm.
The undoubted advantages of traveling to one of the most inconspicuous countries in Europe include very modest prices with a high level of service. Domestic travel companies Most often they sell winter ones, ski tours to Slovakia. And the country offers tourists the most vibrant and memorable beauty all year round.
Budapest
The bus takes 3 hours and the ticket costs 9 euros. Excursion bus- 16 euros. Not everywhere there is an audio guide in Russian. It’s better to stock up on a printed guide – 9 euros.
Krakow
If you don't mind long bus journeys, then from Bratislava you can easily get to Krakow. The trip costs from 34 euros one way, the journey, including all stops in Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava and Katowice, takes at least 9 hours. Better to take the night bus and start exploring ancient capital from early morning.
Overnight in an inexpensive Krakow hotel - from 17 euros. Sightseeing bus with audio guide - 14 euros.
A visit to Slovakia is not only about impressions new country, natural beauty, castles, museums and ski slopes. The location of the country guarantees you impressions of other European cities that you may not have intended to visit. An inconspicuous and “modest” country conceals vast opportunities for those who have not yet “discovered” the Old World for themselves. Forward!