Experience all the charm of the old
Europe in a newly independent country.
No crowds, no slick marketing, no
mass tourism. It won’t stay
like this long – come now before
everyone else finds out!
The cobblestone streets of the Old
Town are filled with history and youthful
vitality. Tucked away in centuries-old
cellars, courtyards or alleyways are
cafés, cabarets, restaurants,
and pubs popular with locals, especially
young people. Savor excellent coffee,
Slovakia’s own wonderful, bargain-priced
beers and wines, a variety of cuisines
and music. Catch the energy and optimistic
spirit of the city’s 60,000
students, attending three universities.
And
watch an entire nation reinventing
itself.
Read more here.
 
For a small country, Slovakia has
an amazing number of castles -- 300.
Take your pick from evocative ruins
on a cliff overlooking a river (Devin
and Orava), to fairy-tale perfect
where knightly games are re-enacted
(Bojnice), or ghostly remains of the
largest walled fortress in Central
Europe (Spis), and even refined chateaux/manor
houses with elegant parks and gardens
(Betliar, Strazky).
Read more here.
Compared to prices in Western Europe,
you’ll get good value
for your dollar on everything
from beer and wine to museum entrances
and entertainment.
Read more here.
 
Explore perfectly preserved medieval
and Renaissance towns, walk cobblestone
streets and imagine the merchants
and craftsmen who lived there hundreds
of years ago. Many Slovak towns rose
to wealth more than 500 years ago,
then dropped out of sight –
and off the path of progress. Such
was the fate of Bardejov, Banska Stiavnica,
Levoca, Kezmarok, Spisska Sobota and
others, places
frozen in time.
Read more here.
 
Most built without a single nail.
This was the law for centuries when
non-Roman Catholic churches were forbidden
to use hard materials, such as stone
and metal. No other country has preserved
as many of these breathtaking wooden
beauties as Slovakia has. Dozens are
concentrated in the northeastern area.
Read more here.
The mountains, and pristine natural
areas of Slovakia have long been considered
the nation’s main attraction
by tourists from neighboring countries.
The High Tatras are the Alps of the
East – a chain of picturesque,
snow-covered peaks. And the High Tatras
are just the beginning. Whether you
hike, ski, climb or simply gaze at
them, the beauty of Slovakia’s
mountains will remain with you
after you return home.
Read more here.
 No
other European country has as strong
a tradition of diverse folk arts and
crafts as Slovakia. See it in museums,
filled with lush embroidery, vivid
costumes, carved wooden figures, musical
instruments, painted Easter eggs.
Wander through living villages like
Cicmany or Vlkolinec, where people
still build and decorate their houses
according to centuries-old designs.
Or see fine collections of folk architecture
in one of ten open-air museums.
Watch a performance of folk
dance or music. Or catch
one of the many folk festivals
held all around the country.
Read more here.
 So
unusual that UNESCO
named several of Slovakia’s
caves "World Heritage Sites".
The top 12 of the country’s
4,000 caves can easily be toured --
no spelunking skills required. See
a rare aragonite cave (only 3 in the
world admit visitors) with flowerlike
formations. Or learn the meaning of
"chill out" in two ice caves.
Spectacular stagmites, stalactites
and underground rivers, including
a real River Styx, await you.
Read more here.
Compared to more popular destinations
where people are blasé about
tourists, Slovakia has warm and unaffected
people, eager to meet Americans and
show you their country. Some American
travel writers have likened Slovakia
today to the way Western Europe was
after World War II – just waiting
to be discovered.
But
it may not stay that way long –
come soon!
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