5 wonderful reasons to visit Slovakia

Slovakia is not yet enjoying the tourist attention that its neighbors (Czech Republic and Austria) enjoy. And it's a pity, as this country is a hidden gem of Europe. Its authentic, its charming and it is full of wonderful places to explore and fall in love with. And it should definitely be in you must-see countries list. Why?

Here are the 5 wonderful reasons to visit Slovakia!

1. Cities full of history

You may want to start your Slovak exploration with Bratislava - a cozy and very welcoming capital that boasts a nice Old Town, a grandiose castle on a hilly top as well as lots of nice museums and affordable places to go out. But Slovakia is much more when it comes to beautiful cities. Go to Ko?ice to see the magical UNESCO-protected St. Elisabeth Cathedral, visit UNESCO-protected medieval core of Levo?a and admire the colorful central square in Bardejov.

2. High Tatra Mountains

Take a window seat on a train going from Bratislava to Poprad and prepare to be amazed by the mountain view of snowy peaks of High Tatras in the reachable distance. High Tatra mountains are the symbol of Slovakia and one of the most impressive sights here. Whether you are a ski fan, a hiker or a nature admirer you can be sure that the High Tatras will offer you the best experiences. And the views are truly breathtaking!

3. Land of Castles

Slovakia boasts a landscape that would be a perfect setting of a fairytale. It is a land of romantic castles that dot the immense windy valleys, hilly tops and old cities. You can come to Slovakia just for castle exploration and you will be surprised how many of those dwellings of the past this country has.

The 3 must-see castles include:

• UNESCO-protected Spi? Castle (one of the biggest castle complexes in Central Europe)
• fairytale Bojnice Castle
• grandiose T?ebí? Castle

4. Colorful villages

The best word to describe Slovakia would be authentic. This country observes its traditions and is ready to proudly share them with people who would love to explore it. The best way to feel the traditional Slovak way of life is by going to the villages. And the selection of interesting village destinations here is quite amazing. You can start with the UNESCO-protected folk architecture treasure of Vlkolínec, then admire the unique painted timbered houses in ?i?many (that recently made it to the Lonely Planet's list of most colorful destinations in Europe) and end in the picturesque mountain village of ?diar.

5. Tasty food

Slovakia is all about delicious and affodable food. To get a taste of it you may want to come to one of the traditional Slovak restaurants and embark yourself on an exciting culinary journey.

The must-eats of Slovak cuisine include:

• Bryndzové Halu?ky - potato dumplings with sheep cheese
• Kapustnica - a sauerkraut soup
• Krvavni?ka - a blood sausage

? All images are mine

Thank you very much for reading!

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