Slovakia (the Slovak Republic) is a landlocked country located
in Central Europe and shares borders with the former Czech Republic
and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Hungary to the south
and Ukraine to the east. It is a country with plenty of natural
beauty with its rugged mountains, lakes, caves, forests and meadows.
Travel Insurance for Slovakia:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Slovakia
The
Carpathian Mountains are a major feature of the landscape across
the northern part of the country. The south and east of the
country are mainly lowlands and agricultural areas. The main
river is the Danube which connects Bratislava with Budapest and
Vienna. Other rivers include the Hron and Vah.
The population is mainly comprised of Slovaks, with some Hungarians, Roma,
Czech and Ruthenian/Ukrainian, German and Polish. The official language
is Slovak, with some Hungarian, Roma and Ukrainian also spoken. The
dominant religion is Roman Catholic, with some Protestant, Greek Orthodox
and Evangelical.
The capital, Bratislava, is located on the River Danube in the SW of the
country and is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country. The
historic old town area is popular with its medieval castle, cobblestone streets
and cathedral. There are all the museums, shops, galleries
and restaurants you would expect to find in any city, as well as the romantic
river Danube. Other attractions include: Bratislava Castle, the Zoo
and Botanical Gardens, St. Martin’s Cathedral and the National Gallery. There
are many hiking trails within the city as well as the hills surrounding the
city. Bratislava is a day trip to Vienna and can be accessed by car,
train, bus or by boat.
Slovakia has plenty of diverse activities for those seeking either a relaxing
or adventurous holiday. The High Tatras of the Carpathian Mountains
are a popular winter sports destination, as well as the lakes for summer
activities. There are many ski resorts in the northern part of the
country, offering skiing, snowboarding, cross country, etc. For an
extra bit of excitement there is ski mountaineering, which is a mix of downhill
skiing, climbing and ski touring. After all that adventure you can
soak away your aches and pains with a relaxing trip to one of the many thermal
spas and mineral springs which are said to have curative properties. Slovakia
has scuba diving in its scenic lakes, caves systems and reservoirs. Many
of the country’s caves are open to the public for tours, or can be
arranged privately. Cycling and hiking are also popular activities with a
number of trails. There is also fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming
on the many lakes and rafting on the rivers.
Slovakia has plenty of good restaurants, theatres, museums and other cultural
places, as well as modern shopping malls, markets and gift shops which sell
anything from traditional crafts to the native wine, cheese and chocolate
of the area.
Weather
Slovakia’s climate is continental and seasonal. The summer tends
to be humid and hot and the winter dry and cold. Average daily temp.
for the capital, Bratislava, is -3º - 3ºC (27º – 37º F)
in winter, and 15º-27º C (60º-80ºF) in summer, although
temperatures can be cooler in the mountainous areas. In winter the
mountain areas receive snowfall.
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