Cultural discovery

Highlights of Slovakia

Discover the hidden gems and highlights of Slovakia.
Holiday code: DHS
Countries: Slovakia
More info
1
Activity level
Min. age: 16
6days
From 975 € excl. flights
Dates & Prices
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

On this six-day tour, you´ll discover the highlights of Slovakia. Starting in Bratislava, Slovakia´s capital, you´ll explore the gems of this charming city, situated on both banks of the Danube at the foothills of Little Carpathians, near Vienna. Then, taking a scenic train across Slovakia to the High Tatra mountains, here you´ll explore Slovakia´s oldest and biggest national park as well as fairy-tale castles, medieval towns and mountain villages.

Over six days, you´ll discover:

  • Bratislava Slovakia´s capital.
  • Tatra Mountains Slovakia’s oldest and biggest national park.
  • Spissky Castle is the biggest UNESCO castle in Central-Eastern Europe.
  • Levoca UNESCO medieval town with the biggest wooden altar in the world.
  • Pieninsky national park, the natural border with Poland.
  • Spissky Jerusalem, which recalls ancient Jerusalem in on-to-one scale.
  • Scenic traditional rafting on wooden rafts in one of the longest canyons in Central Europe.

Map & itinerary

On your arrival, you will be met by your tour guide who will brief you about the programme for the next six days. After the introductory briefing, we´ll head to explore Bratislava´s old town.

Bratislava, often called the beauty of the Danube, has a very good strategic location, situated on both banks of the Danube at the foothills of Malé Karpaty (Little Carpathians), near Vienna. With this excellent location, Bratislava was always the centre of busy life.

During the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Bratislava was in 1536 declared the capital of Hungary. Despite the rich history, Bratislava is one of the youngest capitals of the world. Visitors are attracted by the cosiness of the city and historical monuments.

The dominant feature is Bratislava Castle towering majestically above the Danube. During our guided tour, you will also see Michalska Brána Gate, Primate’s Palace and the President’s Palace, St Martin’s Cathedral, and more.

Hotel Devín **** (breakfast)

Today you head out of the city and into the heart of the Tatra Mountains. Travelling by train in Slovakia is a comfortable experience and, in a little over three and a half hours, you will arrive at Poprad Tatry, the gateway to the mountains.

The High Tatras are an area of exceptional natural beauty. The mountains are home to lakes, waterfalls, flowers, valleys, craggy peaks, ridges, and much more. All of this is the perfect habitat for mammals and birds, and over the next few days, you’ll explore this beautiful area and its attractions.

Meeting our driver in Poprad, we´ll transfer (20 min / 19 km) to Tatranska Lomnica, the biggest village in the Tatras, our home for the next four nights.

Hotel Kukučka **** (breakfast)

This morning you take a cable car to Skalnate Pleso lake (1 751 m), one of the most popular destinations in the Tatras. Here we will enjoy the fresh Tatra air and beautiful views of the Tatra villages below us.

Returning to Tatranska Lomnica, we´ll take a famous mountain tram to Stary (Old) Smokovec, the oldest village in the Tatras. Then, taking a short funicular ride to Hrebienok will be our starting point of a short, easy and enjoyable walk to Rainerova hut, the oldest hut in the Tatras, and impressive Cold creek waterfalls.

Our mountain tram journey then continues to Strbske Pleso, Slovakia´s highest village, home to a beautiful mountain lake, ski jumps, stadium for cross country skiers and many popular walks. After exploring the most beautiful corners of Strbske Pleso, we´ll take our mountain tram back to Tatranska Lomnica for a well-deserved dinner.

Hotel Kukučka **** (breakfast)

This morning you’ll transfer (38 km / 30 min) to the charming region of Spiš, which is home to a number of remarkable UNESCO sites. The first one on the list will be the medieval town of Levoca. This authentic town with beautifully preserved city walls is the jewel of the Spiš region. In the heart of the town you´ll find the ancient square of Master Paul, the creator of the highest wooden altar in the world, whose beauty you can admire during your visit in the basilica of St James. You´ll also visit the town’s hall.

The next highlight on the list will be Spissky castle, the biggest castle site in Central-Eastern Europe. Your tour then continues with a hike to Spisske Podhradie, a little town beautifully nestled below the castle.

After lunch in Spisske Podhradie you’ll continue hiking to Spisska Kapitula, the main seat of the church administration in the region in the 12th century. Today’s hike ends with a walk across Spissky Jerusalem, which recalls ancient Jerusalem in on-to-one scale. It’s a magical end to this walking adventure with stunning views over the Spisska Capitula, Spissky castle and the Tatra mountains. You’ll then return to Tatranska Lomnica.

Hotel Kukučka **** (breakfast)

After breakfast, we´ll drive to the national park of Pieniny, which forms a natural border with Poland. Here we’ll visit one of the most magical sites in Slovakia - Cerveny Klastor (the Red Monastery), home to the Cistercian monks. We´ll learn about the most famous monk, Cyprian, the inventor of a hang-glider and author of the oldest pharmacy in Central Europe.

The Pieninsky national park is also home to Dunajec Gorge. At 23km, it´s one of the longest gorges in Europe. A spectacular way to see it is from the water, so take to your rafts, grab an oar and head along the river surrounded by towering, forested peaks.

After our scenic and easy rafting adventure, it´s time for lunch in a traditional restaurant. Here we´ll meet our driver, who will drive us back to the High Tatras.

Hotel Kukučka **** (breakfast)

This morning we´ll take a fast train back to Bratislava, where your trip ends.

Dates & Prices

This trip operates daily, so you can pick a date that suits you. Choose a day between April and October, and we’ll make all the arrangements for you. Just let us know when you want to travel.

Go Self-Guided or Guided.

Self-Guided

Self-Guided means you'll experience this tour independently, following perfectly prepared maps and route descriptions. The main advantage is the lower price of the trip.

Guided Groups

You'll be accompanied by one of our friendly leaders, who will lead you along the way and take care of everything you might need.

Available

Friday 1st April 2022

to Monday 31st October 2022

Self-Guided

Single room option +100 EUR

Adult price 975 €

Available

Friday 1st April 2022

to Monday 31st October 2022

Guided Groups

6 - 7 guests. Single room option +100.

Adult price 1025 €

Available

Friday 1st April 2022

to Monday 31st October 2022

Guided Groups

4 - 5 guests. Single room option +100.

Adult price 1215 €

Available

Friday 1st April 2022

to Monday 31st October 2022

Guided Group

2 - 3 guests. Single room option +100.

Adult price 1755 €

Holiday information

This well-thought-out trip is a great choice for people who like cultural discovery holidays. This trip is classified as easy with no demanding walks, so it can be managed by people with an average level of fitness.

  • Five nights in four-star hotels
  • Five breakfasts
  • Fares for trains and mountain trams as listed in the itinerary
  • Activities: Spissky castle, Levoca, Red monastery, rafting
  • All local transfers to/from activities
  • English-speaking local tour guide from start to finish
  • International flights
  • Arrival and departure airport transfers
  • Cable cars (approx.. 35 EUR per person)
  • Travel insurance

This tour starts in Bratislava.

This tour ends in Bratislava.

To enhance flexibility our holidays do not include flights. This gives you the freedom to choose a local airport that works for you and shop for the best deal.

List of airports with distances to the first hotel in Bratislava:

Bratislava Airport (14 km / 20 min)
Prices of private airport transfers:

1-3 guests: 43 EUR
4-8 guests: 72 EUR

Vienna Airport (64 km / 50 min)
Prices of private airport transfers:

1-3 guests: 86 EUR
4-8 guests: 130 EUR

During this tour you´ll stay in four-star hotels.

If you need to arrive or leave on a different date, please contact us and we’d be more than happy to arrange extra pre or post tour accommodation for you.

Please note, we want to run this trip following the day-to-day itinerary on the trip notes. However, sometimes operational circumstances may sometimes prevent us from doing this. Your tour leader will keep you fully informed of any alternative plans that are necessary on-the-ground. Also, based on feedbacks from past travellers, occasionally our itineraries are amended. Final version of your trip notes will be emailed to you prior to travel.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. Our knowledgeable and helpful team is here to help, and we look forward to welcoming you to our spectacular country soon!

Customers reviews

Trip notes & FAQs

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list

To download trip notes, please submit your email address down below.

why book with slovakia explorer?

This holiday is operated by our expert, in-country team at Slovakia Explorer. By booking with us, you’ll benefit from our unrivalled local knowledge, and have 24/7 support during your trip.

Our holidays offer unique experiences, which give you an unparalleled insight into Slovakia. During the planning and booking process, we pay attention to every detail of your holiday to ensure your trip is perfect.

Slovakia Explorer offers great value, high quality holidays.

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Highlights of Slovakia