Slovakia

Slovakia is often passed through on the way between Vienna and Budapest, and it deserves more time than that. It is a country of castles on hilltops, wooden churches, spa towns and, in the north, the High Tatras, the highest mountains in the Carpathian range. It has been independent since the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia in 1993 and uses the euro.

Bratislava, the capital, has a compact old town of pastel buildings and cobbled lanes that is a pleasure to explore on foot. St Martin's Cathedral, where Hungarian kings were once crowned, the white Bratislava Castle on its hill and the UFO-shaped bridge over the Danube are the landmarks. Quirky bronze statues around the centre are a local signature. Outside the city, the ruins of Devín Castle and the vineyards of the Small Carpathians make good short excursions. Further east, Banská Štiavnica is a beautifully preserved mining town, Spiš Castle is one of the largest castle sites in Central Europe, and the High Tatras offer cable cars and mountain lakes such as Štrbské Pleso.

Slovak food is rooted in mountain farming. Bryndzové halušky, small potato dumplings with sheep's cheese and bacon, is the national dish. Kapustnica cabbage soup appears at Christmas, and the local wines, particularly white wines from the Small Carpathians, are a pleasant discovery. Bratislava's café culture is relaxed, and an evening by the river is a good way to end a day.

We offer a private walking tour of Bratislava and a full-day private tour to the city from Budapest. Slovakia also features on several of our Central and Eastern Europe private van tours, which link it with Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Bratislava is about an hour by road or train from Vienna, so it fits easily into a Central Europe itinerary as a day stop or a night of its own.