43 PHOTOS THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO VISIT SLOVAKIA

by Slavka

Are you planning to visit Slovakia and you have no idea what to expect? Start with this photo essay and see some of my favourite places. Unfortunately, Slovensko, as it’s named in the Slovak language, has been overlooked by mainstream tourism and overshadowed by its big neighbours. The world outside Europe does’t even know anything about this hidden gem. The photos below will show you that Slovakia has tons to offer to those who venture out beyond Prague, Vienna or Budapest.

Before we get any further, please sign up for our free email to join hundreds of readers getting family travel tips, road trip itineraries, free check lists, travel resources, hiking and gear ideas twice a month.

 

BRATISLAVA – THE CAPITAL OF SLOVAKIA

Bratislava capital of Slovakia

View of Bratislava Castle and historic downtown from the SNP Bridge observation platform

Main Square in Bratislava

Main Square in Bratislava Old Historic Town

 

Slovak National Theatre building

Historic building of the Slovak National Theater

 

Old Town Hall of Bratislava

Old Town Hall of Bratislava – today the seat of the City Museum

 

Hviezdoslav Square in Bratislava Slovakia

Hviezdoslav Square –  a great place for a Sunday afternoon stroll

 

Bratislava Castle Gardens

Bratislava Castle Gardens

SNP Bridge

Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising, also known as the New Bridge, but foreigners call it the UFO Bridge

 

Danube in Bratislava

Bratislava on the Danube River

Check out Bratislava with one of these fun tours:

 

CASTLES

Castles of Slovakia

Some of the 600+ castles, fortresses, palaces and castle ruins that are located in Slovakia

 

–> Check out the medieval hilltop castle in Stara Lubovna.

 

NATIONAL PARKS AND MOUNTAINS

High Tatras Slovakia best European destination for 2019

Popradske Pleso Mountain Lake

 

Hiking in High Tatras

High Tatras National Park – great destination for hiking and climbing. Click this photo to read more about High Tatras.

 

Read more about the High Tatras:

:: 16 THINGS YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THE HIGH TATRAS

:: 13 RULES OF THE HIGH TATRAS

 

cycling and Nordic walking in Slovakia

Cycling and Nordic walking trail to Sliezsky Dom Mountain Challet

 

Hiking and trekking in Slovak mountains

Forest around Terchova village

 

Strbske Pleso Slovakia

Strbske Pleso Mountain Lake in the High Tatras National Park

 

Skok waterfall High Tatras Slovakia

Skok Waterfall – looks small, but it’s tall. It’s a trickling stream from the mountain lake right above the wall.

–> Watch this video about hiking to the Skok Waterfall.

 

WINTER WONDERLAND

Mountains in Central Slovakia

Skiing trails in Central Slovakia

 

winter wonderland in Slovakia

Winter beauty somewhere around Banska Bystrica

 

mountain cable cars in winter Skalnate Pleso

Skalnate Pleso

 

Lomnicky Peak in winter

View from the second highest peak of the Carpathians

 

CAVES

Ochtinska Aragonitova Cave UNESCO Site Slovakia

Ochtinska Aragonitova Cave – one of the three aragonite caves in the world and the only one in Europe, also a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site

 

FOLKLORE

Slovak Folklore Dancers

Slovak Folklore Dance is fun, energetic and very social. It involves high and low jumps, tapping, clapping, stomping, tons of swift footwork, fast turning and quick changes of positions. Click this photo to read  the article about Slovak Folklore.

 

ARCHITECTURE

Cicmany wooden village

Cicmany – painted wooden village – world’s first folk architecture reserve.

 

Modern architecture in Bratislava

Modern architecture in the capital city

 

Baroque Cathedral in Nitra Castle

Baroque St. Emeram Cathedral in Nitra Castle

 

Slovak Koliba wooden cottage log house

Typical Slovak log houses

 

SNP Museum in Banska Bystrica

WW II Memorial and the seat of the Slovak National Uprising Museum in Banska Bystrica. The building has a shape of Janosik’s higlander hat cut in half. Janosik is the Robin-Hood-type Slovak national hero.

 

St. Michael's Church in Drazovce near Nitra

Early Romanesque Church of St. Michael The Archangel in Drazovce near Nitra – one of the oldest churches in the country dating back to the 11th century

 

Oponice Chateau near Topolcany

Oponice Chateau near Topolcany

 

River Mill on Little Danube River in Slovakia

Historic Water Mills on the Little Danube River in Southern Slovakia

 

Petrzalka - Communist Soviet-style architecture

Petrzalka, Bratislava – you don’t have to travel to Russia to see Soviet-style architecture

 

Vlkolinec wooden village

Wooden village of Vlkolinec enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Click the photo to read the Vlkolinec travel guide.

 

Architecture in High Tatras

Typical houses in Stary Smokovec

 

TOWNS & CITIES

Banska Bystrica in Central Slovakia

Slovak National Uprising Square in Banska Bystrica, Central Slovakia

 

Levoca

Medieval town of Levoca on a UNESCO World Heritage Site list

 

Bardejov in Northern Slovakia

Town Hall Square in Bardejov, Slovakia, during the annual Bardejov Fair – UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Spisska Sobota

Spisska Sobota near the town of Poprad

 

 

COUNTRYSIDE

Blooming sunflower fields

Sunflower fields in southern Slovakia

 

Mountains in north-central Slovakia

Nature in Liptov Region

 

mineral water spring

One of thousands of mineral water springs

 

Goats and hikers

Goats and hikers

 

Sheep herds

Sheep farming in the mountains

 

Countryside around Stara Lubovna

Countryside around Stara Lubovna

 

Village in western Slovakia

Western Slovakia village

 

Visit Slovakia

 

WHY VISIT SLOVAKIA

You should know by now 🙂

Conveniently located in the geographical centre of Europe, it’s easily accessible and on route to other favourite travel destinations. Around 80% of the country are mountains and hills which makes it a perfect place for sports, wildlife observing and hiking.  Clearly, Slovakia can be described by three words: mountains, castles and caves. Not only has Slovakia nine national parks and many nature reserves but also 13 caves open for visitors (out of approx. 1000 known caves) and over 600 castles, fortresses, castle ruins and palaces.  As you drive across the country, it seems every 10th hill has a medieval castle sitting on its top.  Similarly, it seems almost every village has its own mineral water spring and its own distinct folk costume and traditions. There is more to discover.

I hope I have inspired you to come and visit Slovakia. If you watch this video by the talented local videographers from Hike the World, you will inevitably fall in love with Slovakia and put it on you bucket list:

 

  • Travelling to Slovakia? Don’t forget to get your travel insurance and your Schengen visa.

 

–> You might also like these articles about Slovakia:

16 THINGS YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT HIGH TATRAS

VLKOLINEC – UNESCO SITES IN SLOVAKIA

VISITING STARA LUBOVNA CASTLE

Planning to visit Slovakia, bookmark this page now and read later:

43 photos to inspire you to visit Slovakia43 photos to inspire you to visit Slovakiawinter wonderland in Slovakia

Inspiration for Slovakian travelInspiration to travel to SlovakiaWhat to see and do in Slovakia

This post may contain compensated links.  All purchases or bookings you make through this blog come at no extra cost to you. More details in Privacy Policy & Disclosure.

You may also like

17 comments

Tal Bright January 8, 2020 - 00:01

Love this post! I’m going to Slovakia for the first time later this year and these pictures are inspiring!

Jan January 8, 2020 - 17:13

Love this photo blog! I am definitely inspired to add Slovakia to my bucket list. Great photography! My favorites are: Skok waterfall, Popradske Preso Mountain Lake, the awesome sunflower field and the colorful town hall square! 🙂

Slavka January 8, 2020 - 20:24

Thank you 🙂 Slovakia is beautiful, definitely a must-see country 🙂

Ann January 8, 2020 - 18:34

Your way of Slovakia sure is pretty, thank you for guiding us through it 🙂

Slavka January 8, 2020 - 20:16

And there is so much more to see 🙂 🙂

Jay Artale January 9, 2020 - 09:00

Fabulous photos. You paint a gorgeous picture. I’m not really a cold weather person but those images of the winter wonderland look very enticing. Looks like the time of year I’d like to visit.

Sarah January 9, 2020 - 10:09

Was just planning a girls weekend away. Slovakia was one of the options, looks fab. Think I’ll give it a go. Thanks for the inspiration.

Georgina January 9, 2020 - 15:43

Superb photos! I am so inspired to visit Slovakia. Looks like a country full of culture, history and rich architecture.

Karthika January 9, 2020 - 21:23

I love the visual walkthrough – looks like such a pretty place with so much to see and do.

Angela January 10, 2020 - 08:18

What a wonderful journey around Slovakia through your photos. I have heard of Bratislava but didn’t realise there was so much more that the country offers. It looks wonderful.

Kristina Johnson January 21, 2020 - 07:28

Ok, done! You’ve inspired me, Slovakia is now officially on the list of “places I need to see”. It’s looks stunning.

Erin Foster February 11, 2020 - 16:57

Slovakia looks gorgeous! I definitely want to visit after seeing these photos. I’ve added it to my list. I agree that it would be a great jumping off point to explore more of Europe as well!

Jenn | By Land and Sea February 12, 2020 - 01:10

You have definitely inspired me! I love that it is both cool cities and beautiful natural areas!

Courtney February 19, 2020 - 10:01

Beautiful! Visited bratislava last year and it was lovely, though didn’t do half of your list so wish i had it then?

Nadia May 16, 2020 - 03:47

You had me at castles and national parks with mountains! Slovakia has been on my list for a while! Thank you for the beautiful photography inspiration!

Sue June 10, 2020 - 16:17

You have definitely inspired me to visit! What a beautiful country! I have to admit that I had never really considered Slovakia before but having seen this I will certainly be adding it to my list. Thank you for highlighting & your amazing photos.

Sam September 19, 2020 - 14:44

Great collection of pictures of beautiful Slovakia!

Comments are closed.

error: Content is protected and copyrighted !!!