A young central European country with a remarkable medieval heritage

Czechoslovakia broke up into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.  Slovakia is a largely Catholic country and has highlands in the north and lowlands in the south. Western Slovakia is dominated by the nation’s capital, Bratislava, which has a beautiful medieval city centre, featuring St Martin’s Cathedral and Bratislava Castle.  There is also the scenic Danube River Valley to explore.  Central Slovakia is mountainous and includes Rajecke Teplice, a spa town surrounded by the splendour of the Mala Fatra National Park.  Eastern Slovakia offers you a trip back in time and features Kosice, European Capital of Culture in 2013; in the area, you can visit St Elizabeth Cathedral, the Slovak Paradise National Park and no fewer than 10 palaces!

Why Go?
Experience a youthful country finding its way in the world.  Ski in the starkly beautiful Mala Fatra hills or High Tatra Mountains. Enjoy some of the best-preserved medieval and baroque architecture on the continent.  Bratislava was once the capital of Hungary; it also has Austrian and Polish influences.

When to Go?
In Slovakia, the summers are sunny and the winters are cold, cloudy, humid and often snowy.  December to March is the best time for a ski-ing holiday.  Many travellers prefer the spring and the autumn, when the days are warm and sunny and the nights crisp. 

How to get there?
Bratislava MR Stefanika Airport (BTS) serves flights from all over Europe and is well used by Low Cost Carrier, Ryanair.  Eastern Slovakia is served by Kosice Airport (KSC); the north is served by Zilina Airport (ILZ) and the south by Sliac (SLD).  The last three serve Slovakia itself and Prague in the Czech Republic.  Krakow (KRK) in Poland is a useful starting point for exploring the Alpine peaks of the Tatra Mountains.

Must see
A Warhol Family Museum of Modern Art in Slovakia?  Indeed you will find this in Modzilaborce, birthplace of Andy Warhol.  How about an exhilarating raft ride down the River Dunajec?  Of numerous stunning castles, the hilltop 12th century Spis Castle is perhaps the most surprising. For a taste of recent Slovakian history, visit Slavin, a Soviet war grave in Bratislava, which also forms a wonderful city vantage-point.  Join 100,000 others for the Maria Pilgrimage in Levoca in July.  Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Banska Steaunica, a medieval mining town, or at Barjedov, with its entirely intact medieval town centre.