Best Places to Eat

¨ Traja Mušketieri (p381)

¨ Koliba Patria (p386)

¨ Republika Východu (p391)

Best Places to Stay

¨ Hotel Marrol’s (p380)

¨ Grand Hotel Kempinski (p386)

¨ Hotel Bankov (p391)

When to Go

Jun & Jul Fes-tivals abound across the coun-try, High Tatras hiking trails are all open.

Jan & Feb Peak ski season in the mountains, but many other sights are closed.

Sep Fewer crowds but wine season means it’s ripe time for alcohol-themed festivities.

-20/-4

40/104

0/32

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Bratislava°C/°F Temp

20/68

Rainfall inches/mm

2/50

2.9/75

3.9/100

0

1/25

4.9/125

SlovakiaWhy Go?Going strong over two decades as an independent state after the breakup of Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Europe’s most cas-tellated country, is a bastion of untrammelled wildernesses, where some of the continent’s densest forest coverage gives way to dramatic fortresses and craggy mountains harbour-ing outstanding hiking. It savours wine over beer and, in its tradition-steeped hinterland, cradles an entrancing folk culture most European nations have lost.

Slovakia’s small size is possibly its biggest attraction. You can traipse woodsy waterfall-filled gorges one day and yodel from 2500m-plus peaks the next.

Dinky capital Bratislava is awash with quirky museums and backed by thick forests, but don’t leave without head-ing east, where fortresses tower over tradition-rich medieval towns such as Levoča or Bardejov and hiking trails lace the hills. Down a slivovica (firewater-like plum brandy) and drink a toast for us – nazdravie!

Includes ¨Bratislava ................... 377Poprad ........................383High Tatras .................384Levoča ........................ 387Spišské Podhradie .....388Slovenský Raj & Around .......................389Košice.........................390

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Slovakia

Slovakia

Slovakia S

lov

AK

iA H

igH

ligH

TS

Missing image: ../Images/39-slovakia-eur9.

1 li

nger

ove

r drin

ks a

t one

of

myr

iad

side

wal

k or

rive

rfro

nt

cafe

s in

old

tow

n Br

atis

lava

.

2H

ike

betw

een

mou

ntai

n hu

ts in

one

of E

urop

e’s

smal

lest

al

pine

mou

ntai

n ra

nges

, the

Hi

gh Ta

tras

(p38

4).

3W

ande

r the

ruin

s of

Spi

š Ca

stle

(p38

8), a

mon

g th

e bi

gges

t in

Euro

pe.

4Cl

imb

crea

king

ladd

ers

past

cra

shin

g w

ater

falls

in th

e dr

amat

ic g

orge

s of

Slo

vens

ký

Raj N

atio

nal P

ark

(p38

9).

Slov

akia

Hig

hlig

hts

66#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

###

##

#

#

#

#

#

^^

\

\

\

^

\

_

_

\

\

]

]

\

\

^

^

_

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\\\

\\

\

\

\

\

\

HUN

GAR

Y

POLA

ND

CZEC

HRE

PUBL

IC

UKRA

INE

AUST

RIA

ROMAN

IAN

eusi

edle

rSe

e

Lake

Fert

ő

M

orava River

Dy je River

Tisza

Dan

ube

(Dun

ay)

Tisz

a

Kež

marok

Ždiar

Zako

pane

Tren

čín

Nitra

Ban

ská

Bys

trica

Preš

ovŽilin

a

Trna

va

Prievidz

aMartin

Ruž

ombe

rok

Bojnice

Micha

lovc

e

Pieš

ťany

Jasn

a

Lipt

ovsk

ýMikulàš

Koš

ice

Popr

ad

Győ

r

Brn

oUz

hhor

od

Mis

kolc

Deb

rece

n

BUDA

PEST

VIEN

NA

Barde

jov

Mod

ra

Pez

inok

Svidník

Levo

ča

Čičman

yVlkolínec

Ban

ská

Štiav

nica

/·E75

/·E571

/·E77/·E7

7

/·E572

/·E50

/·E571

/·E50

/·E371

/·64 /·64

/·77

/·18

/·62

/·64#÷

#÷

#1B

rati

slav

a

#2H

igh

Tatr

as

#4 Slov

ensk

ý R

ajN

atio

nal P

ark

#3Spiš

Cas

tle

#e

#÷

#÷

#÷M

alá

Fatr

aN

atio

nal P

ark

Low

Tat

ras

Nat

iona

l Par

k

Mur

áň P

lain

N

atio

nal P

ark

Polo

niny

N

atio

nal P

ark

Pien

iny

Nat

iona

l Par

k

010

0km

050

mile

s