- Bratislava is an easy city break, and Vienna airport is only about an hour away
- The High Tatras offer Alpine-style hiking and skiing at lower prices
- Hire a car for the castles and mountain villages
- Buy an electronic motorway vignette before driving
- Airports
- Bratislava (BTS), Košice (KSC), Poprad-Tatry (TAT); Vienna (VIE) is close to Bratislava
- Flight time
- about 2h15 from London to Bratislava
- Best time to go
- May-September for hiking; December-March for skiing and Christmas markets
- Currency
- Euro (€)
Slovakia is often treated as a quick hop from Vienna or Budapest, but it deserves much more time. Bratislava has a charming, compact old town on the Danube, while the High Tatras, the smallest high mountain range in Europe, offer superb hiking, mountain lakes and skiing. In between are some of Central Europe's most impressive castles, gorges and caves, as well as UNESCO-listed mining towns and wooden churches.
Slovakia is one hour ahead of the UK, cars drive on the right and plugs are the two-pin European type. It combines naturally with Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. This Europe guide covers where to go, when, and what it costs in 2026.
Entry requirements
Slovakia is in the EU and the Schengen area. British passport holders can usually visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across Schengen countries. Your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after you leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo on arrival, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to be required in future. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.
Where to go in Slovakia
Bratislava
The old town is small enough to explore in a day: St Martin's Cathedral, where Hungarian kings were crowned, Michael's Gate, quirky bronze statues and cafés spilling onto cobbled squares. Climb to Bratislava Castle for views, ride up the UFO tower on the Most SNP bridge, and take a short trip to the ruins of Devín Castle, high above the Danube.
The High Tatras
The Tatras are Slovakia's outdoor playground. Resorts such as Štrbské Pleso, Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica are bases for hiking to mountain lakes and huts, and a cable car climbs towards Lomnický štít at over 2,600 metres. Some high trails close from November to mid-June to protect wildlife. In winter, Jasná in the Low Tatras is the country's biggest ski resort.
Spiš Castle and Levoča
Spiš Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, a vast ruin on a hill in eastern Slovakia. Nearby Levoča has a medieval square and the world's tallest Gothic wooden altar in the Basilica of St James.
Slovak Paradise and the caves
Slovak Paradise National Park is known for its gorges, crossed by ladders, chains and footbridges over waterfalls. The Dobšinská Ice Cave, part of a UNESCO-listed cave system, is nearby, and the Demänovská caves are in the Low Tatras.
Banská Štiavnica, Bojnice and Košice
Banská Štiavnica is a UNESCO-listed former silver-mining town in a volcanic caldera, full of character. Bojnice Castle is a romantic fairytale castle, and Košice, the second city, has a long pedestrian main street and a grand Gothic cathedral.
Best time to visit Slovakia
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April-June) | Mild in the lowlands, snow lingering on high trails; good for city breaks |
| Summer (July-August) | Warm and sunny, peak hiking season in the Tatras, busy weekends |
| Autumn (September-October) | Clear days, autumn colours, quieter trails and wine harvest near Bratislava |
| Winter (November-March) | Cold and snowy; skiing in the Tatras and Christmas markets in Bratislava |
Getting to Slovakia from the UK
Bratislava (BTS) has low-cost flights from London Stansted and some regional airports, taking about two hours 15 minutes. Vienna (VIE), about an hour away by bus or train, has far more flights, including British Airways and Austrian Airlines. For the Tatras, Poprad-Tatry (TAT) has limited flights, so many visitors fly to Kraków in Poland, about three hours' drive away, or to Košice, which has connections via European hubs.
Getting around
Trains are comfortable and cheap; the main line runs from Bratislava through Žilina and Poprad to Košice, with Bratislava to Poprad taking about four hours. Buses fill in gaps. Car hire is the easiest way to reach castles and villages, but you need an electronic vignette (e-známka) to use motorways, which you buy online before driving; rental cars usually have one. In the Tatras, a small electric railway links the main resorts.
Money and costs
Slovakia uses the euro and is good value compared with Austria or Western Europe. A hearty meal with a beer costs around €12-20, and a mid-range hotel roughly €70-120 a night. Budget around €70-110 per person per day for a mid-range trip. Cards are widely accepted, but keep some cash for mountain huts.
Try bryndzové halušky, potato dumplings with sheep's cheese and bacon, the national dish, ideally at a traditional salaš in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bratislava worth a visit?
Yes, especially for a day or two. The old town is compact and pretty, the castles nearby are worth seeing, and it is cheaper and quieter than Vienna or Budapest.
Can you visit Bratislava from Vienna?
Yes. The two capitals are only about an hour apart by train, bus or boat on the Danube, making a day trip easy.
Is Slovakia good for hiking?
Very. The High Tatras have well-marked trails, mountain huts and dramatic scenery, and Slovak Paradise is excellent for adventurous gorge walks.
How many days do you need in Slovakia?
Two days for Bratislava, plus three or four for the Tatras, Spiš Castle and Slovak Paradise. A week makes a good first trip.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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