Overview to Slovakia: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Having only been separated from the Czech Republic since 1993, Slovakia has quickly emerged as a superb European backpacking destination in its own right. With Bratislava to the fore, it’s luring travelers away from its more prestigious (and more expensive) neighbors.
The country is dominated by the Carpathian Arc mountain range which covers nearly half of its landmass. The Tatra Mountains, in particular, provide a collection of stunning lakes, valleys and caves that make for great trekking and other adventure travel pursuits.
Much of the same terrain – along with the lower-lying land – is riddled with incredible and largely unvisited castle ruins. Slovakia is said to have the densest population of fortified structures in the world, and there's almost inevitably the odd ruin or two over each mountain.
One such formidable fortress can be found in the city of Levoca, which is situated to the east, not far from Slovakia’s second city Kosice. Over to the other side of the country on its very western tip, Bratislava sits as the proud civic and cultural capital.
Here cafés mingle with 15th century architecture (and the obligatory castle) to create a genuinely vibrant atmosphere. With over 20 galleries and a prestigious opera house too, Bratislava rightly lays claim to being one of Eastern Europe's artistic hubs.
In this sense, it is Vienna's shy identical twin; rich in cultural history and sophistication, Slovakia rarely disappoints. It is a destination that cries out for further exploration by those travelers eager to leave Europe’s well-worn paths behind.