An hour by train from Vienna and a three-hour romantic cruise from Budapest on the longest European river. The capital of Slovakia, which spreads on the border of three states, will win you over with its coziness, lots of greenery, and eclectic architectural contrasts. Take a close look at the distinctive silhouette of Bratislava Castle, from which Maria Theresa, the most powerful monarch in Europe, loved to enjoy the cityscape. The brass crowns on the pavement will take you through the Old Town’s narrow streets to the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin, where 18 Hungarian kings and queens were crowned. On Main Square, enjoy the skill of street artists, the lively café bustle, and the famous Bratislava croissants with a generous poppy or walnut filling. The Old Town Hall can see from a distance thanks to a colorful tiled roof and a cannonball built into the wall of the tower, which was fired by Napoleon's soldiers in the 19th century. With one of them, you can take a picture right in front of the roaring Roland Fountain. If you are asked for Art Nouveau, do not miss the nearby Blue Church, which is one of the most photographed monuments in Bratislava. As well as the suspension Bridge SNP with a restaurant and a lookout tower in the shape of a UFO. At 95 meters above the Danube, you can easily succumb to the imaginative combination of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine and the atmosphere of the vibrant city below you.

Head to the metropolis of eastern Slovakia, which never sleeps. The generously wide Hlavná Street, which stretches along with the narrow ribbon of the glistening Čermeľský brook, will take you through a plethora of restaurant terraces and tempting windows of larger and smaller shops to the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth. From the northern tower of the largest church in Slovakia and at the same time the easternmost western-type cathedral in Europe, you will have a wonderful view of the entire center. If you are attracted by mysterious stories, in the 14th-century Urban Tower, once the dome's bell tower, you will get to know the region's influential historical figures in the wax museum. Or go to the East Slovak Museum, where they will show you the Golden Treasure of Košice. Along the way, stop in a green oasis with a singing fountain, whose streams change color according to hundreds of melodies. If you are traveling in pairs, do not miss the 14-meter-high Immaculata Plague Column, which is one of the most beautiful Baroque sculptures in Slovakia. In its foundation stone, a reliquary with the remains of St. Valentine had been walled up in the 18th century. Košice also has its bridge of love. The turquoise-green roof of the neo-Gothic Jacob's Palace, which was once the seat of Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš, will take you to a railing dotted with the locks of lovers. All creative people are welcome in the cultural-creative Tabačka Kulturfabrik!

Welcome to the "silver" city with a UNESCO gloss! Banská Štiavnica will be revealed from a distance by the hill with the baroque Calvary, whose chapel-lined slope you can overcome by serpentine sidewalks. Wonderful views emerge from the cozy Klopačka teahouse, from where a wooden device called „klopačka“ informed miners about the work starting. From here you will see not only the Old Castle but also the elegant clock tower of the town hall, which weaves tourists with a mysterious exchange of minute and hour hands. On the Town Hall Square is the world's unique hidden in a former gold mine: the Bank of Love – a safe created from the verses of Marina, officially the longest love poem in the world. You will be drawn into the immortal story by old oil paintings in eleven languages, which, thanks to the latest technologies, will come to life like talking paintings from Harry Potter. Keep the symbol of your love in one of the thousands of boxes, measure your love with a love meter or walk under a magical sky of hearts. For refreshment, head to the nearby Počúvadlo tajch, one of the many artificial mining water reservoirs where you can take a bath in the summer.

All those who love nice cafés, quality wines, and living culture will enjoy this town. Feel the everywhere-present „genius loci“ of the famous Middle Ages and enter Trnava. Of the sacral buildings, for which abundance is Trnava also called the Slovak Little Rome, visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist with a rare wooden altar from the 17th century or the two-towered Basilica of St. Nicholas, which will enchant you with the grandeur of Gothic with Baroque elements. There are also two former synagogues in the town. In one of them, there is the Synagogue Café, you can taste fragrant coffee and homemade desserts in an impressive place full of refined art details. Don't forget to visit the Nádvorie (Courtyard) in the heart of the city. In its inner square you will find freelancers using modern coworking spaces, visitors to the local restaurant or design shop, as well as artists coming from Malý Berlín (Little Berlin) - a cultural center with a wide range of film projections, theater performances, and concerts. You will be also impressed by visiting one of the vaulted cellars, which Trnava - as a region of world-renowned wines - excels. You can also get to know the history and presence of the local mead. In the manor house in nearby Dolná Krupá, where Beethoven is said to have composed the Moonlight Sonata, you can taste several types of this exceptional drink. (Photo: Trnava Tourism)

Get to know the European Capital of Culture 2026 in advance. Its dominant feature is an ancient castle that rises on a steep rock. In the 2nd century, after the victory over the Germans, the Roman legions left an inscription carved into the rock, which you can see up close today from the summer terrace of the Elizabeth Hotel. By the way, the victorious expedition was led by Emperor Marcus Aurelius and later by his son Commodus, whom you will certainly know from the Oscar-winning film Gladiator. The bronze fountain of Marcus Aurelius, which stands in the heart of the Mierové námestie square, from where you have an exclusive view of the castle, also recalls this history. Visit the local 17th-century Piarist church - one of the most beautiful sacral Baroque monuments in Slovakia which resembles the Roman Jesuit church Il Gesù, and notice the ingenious illusive painting of the dome above the nave. In the area of Trenčín Castle itself, which is one of the largest in Europe, take a look at the well-known Well of Love and climb Matúš's Tower. In good weather, it offers a panorama of the Trenčín Basin and the White Carpathian mountains. In the city, be sure not to miss Štúrovo námestie square with a playful statue of the waterman Valentín, which is connected to the reconstructed well. Over a glass of refreshing drink on one of the many summer terraces, you can enjoy a view of the modern reinforced concrete synagogue with Byzantine and Moorish-Oriental elements.

The most visited zoo and the most photographed castle in Slovakia, a spa with healing water, or a thermal pool. Bojnice is rightly one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Slovakia. Film crews from all over the world also have them in their sights, especially for the "fairytale" Bojnice Castle, inspired by the beauty of the Gothic castles in the Loire Valley in France. Each of his rooms excels in its style and decoration. Enter the hall with a gilded angel ceiling, the oriental salon from the time of the Ottoman Empire, the Pillar Hall with large statues of Carrara marble, or the castle chapel with the medieval altar of the Florentine painter Nardo di Cione. Not enough? The castle hides a natural travertine cave with two lakes in its basement. If you want to look at the town from a bird's eye view, head to the Čajka lookout tower. In the palm of your hand, you will have not only Bojnice but also the Prievidza basin and the Vtáčnik mountain range. Near the tower, from which you can slide on the water slide, there is a rope park, a climbing wall, and climbing frames for children. Your children will appreciate the visit to the local zoo, which is home to more than 360 species of animals, including elephants, antelopes, and critically endangered guenons.

In the morning, a workshop in the Slovak Folk Majolica Studio, where you can try the raw glaze painting technique under the supervision of experienced masters. In the afternoon, a walk through the numerous sacral buildings of various architectural styles - from the Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist from the end of the 13th century to the German Evangelical Church with a neoclassical facade. In the evening, tasting of green veltliner, Rhine Riesling, or other noble varieties of wines from the Malé Karpaty mountains slopes. In Modra, a picturesque wine-growing town just in the surrounding of Bratislava, which is home to one of the most popular souvenirs from Slovakia - majolica ceramic products, a wide range of experiences awaits you. Take a look at the well-preserved city fortifications, including the Upper Gate and the Renaissance Round Bastion, and visit the interactive literary Museum of Ľudovít Štúr, named after the father of standard Slovak. You can symbolically drink to health with this most famous native of Modra in the Cuvée wine bar, which combines a modern and fresh approach with traditional coziness. Or go to the nearby tourist lookout tower on Veľká Homola, which offers a circular view of the panorama of the Malé Karpaty mountains, Považský Inovec, Tribeč, and the Austrian Alps.

Discover the Gothic pearl of northeastern Slovakia - the royal city of Bardejov, whose historic core, together with the Jewish suburbia, has been included on the UNESCO list. Take a walk along the original, stone-paved Town Hall Square, whose rectangular floor plan is lined with burgher houses with typical gabled facades with girders. The square is dominated by the medieval Basilica of St. Egidius with eleven Gothic winged altars from the 15th century. You can see from its lookout tower to the preserved fortification system. Also, take note of the town hall. It is the first Renaissance-Gothic building in Slovakia. Take a photo with the executioner and head to the five-storey Hrubá bašta, which today hosts a cultural and community center and a café on its exceptional premises. However, you can also taste craft beers here. Bardejov is also famous in the world for its wonderful health spa, which was also visited by Empress Sissi for the healing effect of its natural mineral waters. Visit the oldest spa park in Europe and be sure not to miss the local open-air museum with original folk buildings from the surrounding area, including two wooden churches.

The Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I, the Indian Maharaja, the composers Franz Liszt, Oskar Nedbal, and allegedly Beethoven himself - they were all here once. If you go to Piešťany, a sunny spa town in the southwestern part of Slovakia, you will fit into this good company. The local spa complex, which has healing springs of sulfur thermal water and inimitable healing mud, is one of the European leaders in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. In Piešťany, however, everyone who is looking for relaxation and the atmosphere of a holiday destination will find something to like. Enhance your stay by strolling along the colonnade at Swan Lake with water lilies, taking a picture with Barlolámač (statue of the man, who breaks his crutch), an inseparable local symbol, enjoying coffee on the summer terrace of one of the cafés, or tasting gourmet delicacies in the Art Nouveau restaurant Thermia Palace with an original by Alfons Mucha. The world-famous artist painted a four-meter painting for Piešťany out of gratitude for the healing of his daughter Jaroslava. If you are one of the enthusiasts of the gentleman's game, in which every stroke counts, head to the Golf & Country Club Piešťany resort with nine holes and more than a century of history. There are also pleasant walks in the area with many cycling routes and in-line skating around the Sĺňava reservoir.

A living village, which has become a symbol of the original Slovak countryside and which has not been affected by modern buildings to this day. It will enchant you with its colorful playful architecture and mountain location with views of the Veľká Fatra mountains. Take a journey into the past - in the village of Vlkolínec in the Liptov region, which was founded by lumberjacks and coal miners in the 14th century, time stood still. It is a preserved monumental gem of log houses of the Central European type (best preserved in the entire Carpathian arc), thanks to which Vlkolínec was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Take a picture of a log well and a two-storey bell tower from 1770 on a stone pedestal in the middle of dozens of original wooden houses with a shingled roof and a blue, pink, and white lime painting. Don´t miss visiting the rare Baroque-Classicist church from the 19th century.