Slovakia Travel Guide

Slovakia OVERVIEW

It's landlocked so surfing does not come into play. It's post-communist so the relics of social realism block out pearls of architecture. It's entered the euro zone so beer is no longer dirt cheap. Then who in their right mind would like to go there on holiday? Why should they, first of all?

Well, if overwhelming calmness and unpretentious beauty are insufficient recommendations, then you should indeed book a 5-star hotel somewhere in the tropics. But if you are able to appreciate bucolic charm of villages set against a dramatic backdrop of the High Tatras and pure essence of hiking experience, Slovakia is the place. Scale the slopes of Mala Fatra, wash your face in emerald lakes, watch a daredevil chamois running downhill right under your nose, and spend a night or two in an electricity devoid chalet perched on top of Rysy. If you're lucky to get your share of mattress right under the skylight (you actually thought there were beds???), you'll see a night spectacle beyond reckoning. After the time spent wearing out your shoes, relax in one of numerous thermal spas the country is dotted with.

Of course, don't miss Bratislava. The freshly restored old town almost entirely closed to cars, cozy cafes and traditional pubs, the gentle, rhythmical lapping of the Danube, and booming businesses of all kinds will make a worthy, urban addition to this overall peaceful voyage. And there's this knedlicki thing. Even if the mountain scenery has made little impression on you, they will.