Some tips for a trip around Slovakia 2

So welcome to the second part of Some tips for a trip around Slovakia. The first part was only about Bratislava Region and this part is going to be about Slovakia as general, which I personally prefer more .

Even though I am from Bratislava (the capital city of Slovakia) and I love it, I think there is much more to see in smaller cities or villages, which has closer to the beautiful Slovak nature. I chose 5 cities or locations, which I have visited and just loved it there.

Bojnice

Bojnice is a historical town in central Slovakia, which is best known for the oldest zoo in Slovakia and also for the most visited castle. It is also one of the oldest spa towns in Slovakia.

I visit this city at least twice a year. I personally consider Bojnice Castle to be the most beautiful castle I have ever seen. There is of course more, what to do. Many people from surrounding cities visit Bojnice because of playing mini golf or open air swimming pool called Čajka.

(English translation: Čajka – Seagull)

2. Piešťany

The world famous spa town of Piešťany is an hour away from Bratislava. Its fame is associated with the medicinal geothermal water and medicinal sulphuric mud. It is the largest and most successful Slovak spa, which attracts people from all over the world.

I visited Piešťany this May and I really enjoyed walking around, but I do not know if I liked more the city or the peaceful nature around. Probably the view from a bridge was the combination of both.

3. Dolný Kubín

Dolný Kubín is a city on the north of Slovakia, which is best known for Kubínska Hoľa. Kubínska Hoľa is located in the beautiful nature of mountains called Oravská Magura. It is one of the most visited winter sport centres in Slovakia. The resort was awarded by quality label and was classified as a 5 star ski resort. Definitely, it is one of my favourite ski resorts in Slovakia.

4. Terchová

Terchová is a large village in the Malá Fatra mountains in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia. The great location offers many opportunities for a trip also out of the village. Terchová is a birthplace of Juraj Jánošík, who is commonly referred as a Slovak Robin Hood. His statue is a symbol of the village. What I remember from Terchová is the beautiful nature, mountains and our delicious traditional meal.

( 1. Bryndzové halušky, 2. Pirohy, 3. Strapačky)

5. The High Tatras

And finally, the pearl of Slovakia. High Tatras are the highest mountain range, within the Carpathians, with 29 peaks over 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The highest peak is Gerlachovský štít (2,655 m – 8,711 ft). Another famous peaks – Kriváň, Lomnický štít.

(English translation: Štít – Peak)

In 1949, it was declared to be the first Slovak national park (TANAP) and in 1993 it was declared by the UNESCO to be the „Biospheric reservation of the Tatras“.

High Tatras are full of breathtaking mountain lakes – pleso. Pleso is a Slovak word for a tarn created either by the melted glacier or by the rain water. They are characterized by their by their circular shape. Štrbské pleso is the most famous one, but when you go deeper into the nature, you can find even more beautiful „plesá“ (mountain lakes) – Popradské pleso, Skalnaté pleso, Veľké Hincovo pleso, Zelené pleso.