2 Locations to Go to in Slovakia (It surprizes and amazes)…

We stay in a seaside city in Spain and so when steamy August rolls round we’re prepared for cooler climes.

My husband instructed we go to Slovakia final 12 months and, as work was loopy for me, I simply mentioned, “sure positive, ebook it in!” and left him to rearrange all of it.

I didn’t know something about Slovakia and had restricted expectations.  Properly, what a pleasing shock awaited.

Slovakia is in Jap Europe, a landlocked European Union nation of round 5 million folks that was the ‘Slovakia’ in Czechoslovakia earlier than an amiable independence, in 1993.

Our arrival within the capital, Bratislava, was very romantic. We floated in a ferry down the well-known and delightful Danube river, a brief hour journey from Vienna.

Locations to go to in Slovakia

Bratislava

Bratislava is a gorgeous, European capital metropolis that borders Hungary and Austria. It appears to have taken the very best on supply from exterior with out dropping its sense of self.

 Our prime issues to do in Bratislava:

1. Take the old-style crimson vacationer tram to get some historical past and an orientation (E10 for adults and E5 for teenagers) which stops on the iconic fort for a gorgeous view of town.
2. Stroll via the outdated city, consuming and consuming within the squares and laughing with the buskers.
3. Have a sundowner within the Sky Bar for probably the most superb view over the outdated city whereas the solar goes down. Check out a few of their scrumptious Thai meals and yummy cocktails too.

Another excuse to go to Slovakia – nice worth for cash

One of many joys for travellers is that Slovakia is nice worth for cash.

We took benefit of this and splashed out and used some free nights we had accrued on Inns.com  and stayed on the historic Marrol’s Boutique Resort, a five-star gem within the coronary heart of Bratislava’s historic centre.

Even in excessive season the equal value via Inns.com was lower than the small Airbnb we stayed within the night time earlier than in Vienna.

It was superb, a gorgeous room with an expensive tub, a breakfast buffet that made lunch nearly redundant, and employees splendidly well mannered and welcoming.

Feeling like a film star made it this 12 months’s favourite lodging for all three of us.

This worth for cash proved true all all through our journey, with consuming, consuming and visiting sights all cheaper than their equivalents in close by European nations.

For our first meal we thought the mains have been “tapas” plates as a result of they value three or 4 Euros every.

Think about our shock once we ended up with 2 predominant programs every and an odd look from the waitress!

Go to The Excessive Tatras

However as beautiful as Bratislava is, it wasn’t what had introduced us to go to Slovakia.

We have been headed for larger heights. We picked up a rent automobile and began the scenic 350km drive to Nová Lesná, and the Excessive Tatras.

The Excessive Tatras is a nationwide park in an space of wonderful pure magnificence that spans the Alpine mountain vary that divides Slovakia and Poland.

With peaks of over 2500 meters and its glacial lakes it’s a paradise for guests.

Nová Lesná is likely one of the small cities that companies skiers in winter and hikers in summer season, and we booked an Airbnb with views throughout the mountains within the stunning little city.

Our Airbnb hostess Katerina and her daughter Klara typified our expertise of a Slovakian welcome. They spoke nice English, and nothing was an excessive amount of bother.

They gave us glorious recommendation on issues to do and the place to eat, and popped by often to supply us a few of their home-baked bread, cake and Polish-style goulash which we gratefully accepted and wolfed down!

We discover Airbnb is usually the very best for household lodging.

Having a nine-year-old means we should generally stability doing the issues that Al and I really like with those who Sam loves.

The Excessive Tatras makes it simple to maintain everybody joyful.

Our largest drawback every day was making an attempt to decide on between all of the superb issues on supply.

eight Issues to do within the Excessive Tatras

These are the actions we liked probably the most within the Excessive Tatras:

1. Strolling and Climbing on the Limitless Trails of the Nationwide Park.

The walks vary from 1-hour loops for younger youngsters via to technical multi-day expeditions. Simply bear in mind, you might be up excessive, and the climate can change quick.

All the time be ready, have the proper gear and let somebody know the place you’re going.

There’s a great deal of nice data on selecting a path on-line, begin right here, or attempt downloading the Excessive Tatras app right here. (Click on right here for tips about climbing with youngsters)

2. Catching Ski Lifts or Gondolas up the Mountain.

You’ll discover many journey parks filled with enjoyable actions like tubing, zorbing, Lego world, go karting and different household enjoyable.

three. Rowing Boats on Crystal Clear Glacial Lakes.

We visited the second largest within the space, Štrbské Pleso, and when you do the identical, be certain to cease on the restaurant on the lake’s edge for unimaginable fresh-baked truffles and contemporary lemonade!

The boat rent was €15 for 40 minutes which was sufficient for us.

four. Exploring Dobsinska Ice Caves

Ensure you gown warmly for Dobsinska ice caves, it’s freezing down there as you possibly can guess from the identify. The associated fee was €eight for an grownup and €four for teenagers.

5. Go to Medieval Hilltop Cities

Like Levoca, with its unimaginable views, structure, historical past and welcoming eating places.

6. Visiting a Enjoyable Water Journey Park with Thermal Swimming pools

We liked AquaCity, however advocate taking a packed lunch as this about the one dangerous meal we had in Slovakia.

Test on-line earlier than going as they’ve group reductions and specials for reserving on-line.

7. Exploring Historic and Stunning Spis Fort

€5 admission payment for adults, Spis Fort is surrounded by fields and forests and has starred in a number of Hollywood films.

In the event you like castles, you’ll love driving via Slovakia as scattered via the gorgeous countryside are the best variety of castles and chateaux per capita on the planet.

eight. Tricklandia

Escaping the rain on the very enjoyable Tricklandia, a museum of visible illusions, and a DVD again at our cosy Airbnb (sure, with fresh-baked cake from our hostess!).

Tricklandia was €9 for adults, €6 for teenagers, and free for littlies beneath four years outdated.

Our week within the Excessive Tatras glided by in a rush.

The clear air, the welcoming folks, and the meals produced from stunning contemporary native substances all contributed to a beautiful place to go to.

I didn’t have big expectations of our ten-day Slovakian vacation however each a part of it blew us away and we left refreshed and invigorated.

It’s a nice feeling discovering a hidden gem and for us Slovakia is it.

We’ll be again, not least as a result of so most of the locals we met really helpful one other a part of Slovakia as their primary ‘should see’ of the nation they’re rightly so pleased with!

Planning a Journey to Slovakia