Are you traveling thousands of kilometers to a country you know only from Instagram? It would be a shame to leave with the feeling that you only saw the hotel, crowded must see attractions, and tourist traps. If you are looking for an answer to what to do in Slovakia to experience the true essence of the country and not just the glitter of social media, you are in the right place.
I am Erik Ševčík and I invite you on a journey, at the end of which you will fall in love with Slovakia. The Grand Tour of Slovakia is my personal selection of the most precious things we have at home. From Bratislava, through the Tatras to Tokaj, together we will turn your 11 days into a travel adventure that you will not forget.
Why experience the Grand Tour of Slovakia with us?
Forget about a holiday where days blend into one. We designed your program so that every moment is worth it – from morning coffee in the historic center, through a sunset over the Tatras, to a glass of excellent Tokaj wine.
Leave maps and plans for what to do in Slovakia at home – that is our concern. Your only task is to keep your eyes open, have your camera ready, and have a desire to discover the best we have in Slovakia. See what your 11 days, which you will remember for years, look like.
Your journey for the answer to what to do in Slovakia starts the moment you land. Whether you land in Vienna, Bratislava, or Krakow, we will wait for you there and drive you to your hotel in Bratislava.
Today is about first impressions. No rush, just the first breaths of the Central European atmosphere. Unpack, rest after the flight, or take a walk along the evening Danube embankment. The Grand Tour of Slovakia has just started, and the best is yet to come.
In the morning, we wake up in the “Little Big City”. We will guide you through picturesque streets where kings walked during coronations, we will show you the dominant castle towering over the Danube, and enjoy lunch in the center of the old town.
In the afternoon, we will swap the city hustle for the peace of the small town of Modra. This is where the famous Slovak folk Majolica is made. Together we will visit the most famous manufactory, where you will see with your own eyes the mastery of craftsmen producing this colorful ceramics.
The end of the day will belong to relaxation. We will move to the largest spa town in Slovakia. Piešťany is dedicated to healing water and mud. Here, in the cradle of spa culture, we will spend the night.
After yesterday full of history and traditions, today we enter a world of fantasy. Our first stop is Čičmany, where historic wooden houses with white ornaments look like they fell out of the Brothers Grimm stories. We will walk among the 136 houses of this reservation, and enjoy lunch with a view of the Strážov Mountains in the Fačkov Saddle.
The afternoon belongs to the jewel of your Grand Tour of Slovakia. Bojnice Castle is considered the most romantic place in the country. Built on a travertine hill, its towers and walls will transport you directly to the times of kings and princesses. We will end the day with an overnight stay in its close vicinity – in the town of Bojnice.
We say goodbye to the fairy-tale castle and head to the center of mining. Banská Štiavnica is the home of the “Bank of Love” and one of the oldest mines in Slovakia. We will put on helmets, coats, turn on lamps, and descend underground. Although we won’t take gold from the mine, the experience of discovering history is the real treasure of the day.
After lunch at the Erb brewery, Špania Dolina awaits us. This mining village hidden in the mountains is known not only for its rich history but also for bobbin lace. Watching the creation of these fragile works is a must see experience for every craft lover. With a head full of impressions, we fall asleep in the silence of the Low Tatras.
After yesterday’s underground adventure, it is time for what Slovakia is most famous for – wild mountain nature. Today, we will visit two national parks in one day. We will take a cable car up to Chopok (2024 m), the third-highest peak of the Low Tatras. From this spot, you will see the whole country as if it were in the palm of your hand.
In the afternoon, we will move to the High Tatras to visit Štrbské pleso. This glacial lake is a must see and cannot be missing from our Grand Tour of Slovakia. Enjoy a walk around the lake, the crystal-clear air, the scent of pine trees, and the panorama of the peaks reflecting on the water’s surface. We will spend tonight right in the heart of the mountains, surrounded by silence and nature.
After days full of experiences, today we will slow down. The Grand Tour of Slovakia is about enjoying the present. A pleasant, easy walk along a forest path to Popradské pleso awaits us – the sound of trees gradually fades away, and views of the surrounding peaks open up to you.
The goal is a mountain lake hidden in the Mengusovská Valley – a place that many of our guests call the biggest highlight of the entire trip. On the terrace of the mountain hotel, we will have lunch or a local beer and enjoy the clean Tatra air. Today belongs to peace and nature. We spend the night again at Štrbské Pleso.
Today, we are heading north to the Zamagurie region, where old Goral traditions rule. In the villages of Ždiar and Osturňa, you will be charmed by traditional wooden houses, while in Červený Kláštor, you will learn about the history of monks. You will experience local customs, such as a ride in a traditional horse-drawn carriage.
The highlight of the day is the Dunajec River. Rafting on wooden rafts under the rock walls of the Three Crowns is a must see experience you need to witness with your own eyes. We will end the day at the Vrbov thermal park, where geothermal water will regenerate your muscles before the next adventure on our Grand Tour of Slovakia.
Do you love history? In that case, you will love today’s part of our Grand Tour of Slovakia. A visit to top UNESCO sites awaits us. First, we will be welcomed by Levoča, a former free royal town. In the Basilica of St. James, you will see a historical treasure with your own eyes – the altar of Master Paul, which is the tallest wooden Gothic altar in the world.
Charmed by the skill of old masters, we head to another “top” site. Spiš Castle can be seen from far away – it towers over Spišské Podhradie and reminds us of the rich history of the region. Walk along the massive walls, enter the courtyards, and the brave ones will get a chance to climb the castle tower. Your reward will be a view that, in good weather, reaches all the way to the peaks of the High Tatras.
We will end the day in the historical pearl of Šariš. Bardejov is a town where it feels like time has stopped. We will walk across the Town Hall Square lined with burgher houses, which is among the best-preserved in Central Europe. We will spend tonight directly in Bardejov so that our tour can continue the next day.
In the morning, we will finish our tour of Bardejov and move to Hervartov. Here stands the oldest wooden church in Slovakia, listed by UNESCO. Together with 26 other wooden churches in eastern Slovakia, it is proof of the carpenters’ mastery. If you are interested, we can visit them during your Grand Tour of Slovakia.
In the afternoon, Košice, the metropolis of the east, welcomes us. We will walk through the Main Square in the shadow of St. Elisabeth Cathedral, which is the Gothic heart of the city. We will listen to the sounds of the Singing Fountain and end the day like the locals in Košice – in one of the local cafes with great coffee and a tasty cake.
Look up at the gargoyles of the Matthias Tower of St. Elisabeth Cathedral. One of them is not an animal, but a woman with a glass in her hand. It is said that the builder “punished” his wife this way forever because she liked drinking too much. Now, as a punishment, she must spit rainwater on passers-by.
Enjoy a free morning in Košice. After a good lunch, we will head south, where the landscape changes into sunny vineyards. Welcome to Tokaj, our smallest but most precious wine-growing region. The volcanic soil here produces grapes that create world-quality wine.
The afternoon belongs to exploring the vineyards and going down into medieval tuff cellars. A tasting of local wines is a sweet conclusion to our Grand Tour of Slovakia. We will spend tonight right in the heart of the wine region, with a glass in hand and a good mood.
All good things must come to an end, and our Grand Tour of Slovakia has reached its destination. After breakfast, we will pack our bags and say goodbye to the sunny vineyards of Tokaj. The trip to the airport is the perfect time to organize your thoughts and take last looks at the landscape outside the window.
Congratulations. During these 11 days, you did not just get a memory card full of photos, but you got to know the real soul of Slovakia. Now you know that the answer to the question of what to do in Slovakia is endless, and therefore we believe this is not the last time we see each other. Have a safe trip home!
Enough reading, it is time to go. Slovakia is ready to show you its most beautiful face. Only one thing is missing – you. Become a part of the Grand Tour of Slovakia and book your date.
Level
1
Season
Minimum age
1 years
Type
Sightseeing
Duration
10 days
Availability
All year
Either in Vienna, Bratislava or Krakow airport
Enjoy your 11 days best of Slovakia tour:)
Detailed itinery explained in section above.
Tour is done and we can drop you off at Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava or Krakow airport.
