Slovakia: Europe's Best Kept Mountain Secret
Castle ruins, alpine lakes, thermal spas, and a capital an hour from Vienna. All at half the price of Western Europe.
Most people skip Slovakia entirely. They fly to Prague, or they tick off Vienna, and they don’t realise there’s a whole country sitting right between them that costs half as much and has mountains that’d make Switzerland jealous. The High Tatras are properly dramatic — alpine peaks, glacial lakes, hiking trails that actually challenge you — and they’re a fraction of the price you’d pay in the Alps. Bratislava is small enough to walk in a day but interesting enough that you’ll want longer. The old town is all cobblestones and wine bars. And outside the cities? Medieval castles (more per capita than almost anywhere in Europe), thermal spas in random towns, and villages that look like they haven’t changed in 200 years. Slovakia isn’t trying to compete with its neighbours. It doesn’t need to.
2.5 hrs
From the UK
May–Sep
Best time
Slovak
Main language
EUR (€)
Currency
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Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Slovakia and take advantage of its natural attractions is during the warmest time of the year that is from May to the end of October.
Summer is an excellent time to visit Devin and Spiš castles. Wildflower bloom in the High Tatras starts in June. Meanwhile, July is ideal for climbing Gerlachovský Štít, the highest peak in the Carpathians, and partying at Pohoda Festival and World Roma Festival.
Winter is prime time for skiing in the Tatras, tasting young wines, and discovering local Christmas traditions.
It will never be overly busy anytime of the year in Slovakia! Relax and enjoy this little beauty of a country.
For a month by month look click here
What To Expect
10°C
- Temperature
Capital: Bratislava
Language: The official language of Slovakia is Slovak. Czech is also fairly common. Many Slovakians, especially the younger generations, will speak some English. “Hello” and “Thank you” are, “Ahoj” and “Ďakujem”
Currency: The official currency of Slovakia is the Euro (EUR). £1 GBP is equivalent to 1.18 EUR. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: To get the best exchange rate in Slovakia, it’s wise to use your credit card whenever you get the chance. If you need some Euros, you will find that ATMs are very prevalent in capitals but not so much in the little towns. Never use Euronet ATM’s, these will charge you for withdrawals and also give you a poor exchange rate. It’s always best to have cash on you as not all bars or restaurants will take cards.
Plugs: For Slovakia there are two associated plug types, types C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. Slovakia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Slovakia is one of the safest countries in Europe and we never had any issues while we were there. There is a risk of petty crime, especially in Bratislava. Pickpockets operate around the main tourist areas, particularly the popular Christmas markets and in bars
Useful tip: Tipping is appreciated in restaurants and by taxi drivers.
Never ever: Don’t call it Czechoslovakia anymore, and don’t mix up Slovakia vs Slovenia vs Slavonia. Slovakia is a Danubian country that was part of former Czechoslovakia. Slovenia is a country on Balkan Peninsula. Slavonia is a region in Croatia. The common thing among them is their Slavic-ness.
Slovakia Travel Guides
From Bratislava’s cobbled lanes to the peaks of the High Tatras — here’s everything we’ve written so far.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps (coming soon)
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do (coming soon)
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Slovakia Cost?
One of the cheapest countries in the EU. Seriously. Here’s what to actually expect.
🎒
Backpacker
€40/day | £35/day | $46/day
- Hostel dorms from €15/night
- Street food, supermarkets, self-catering
- Public transport and walking
- Free hiking, castle grounds, city walking tours
🍜
Mid-Range
€85/day | £74/day | $99/day
- Private rooms, guesthouses, budget hotels
- Restaurants, cafés, local wine
- Mix of public transport and occasional taxi
- Castle tours, thermal spas, museum entries
🏨
Upscale
€150+/day | £130+/day | $174+/day
- Boutique hotels, luxury stays
- Fine dining, cocktail bars
- Rental car or private transfers
- Private tours, spa retreats, ski passes
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: €15–30 / £13–26 / $17–35
- Budget hotel / guesthouse: €40–70 / £35–61 / $46–81
- Campsite: €10–20 / £9–17 / $12–23
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: €60+ / £52+ / $70+
- Hostel private room: €35–55 / £30–48 / $41–64
- Boutique hotel: €100–200 / £87–174 / $116–232
City Travel
- Bus/tram ticket: €0.90–1.50 / £0.78–1.30 / $1.05–1.74
- Intercity bus: €5–15 / £4.35–13 / $5.80–17.40
- Day pass: €4 / £3.48 / $4.65
Long Distance
- Train (Bratislava–Košice): €19 / £16.50 / $22
- Bolt/Uber short trip: €4–8 / £3.48–6.96 / $4.65–9.30
- Car rental per day: €30–50 / £26–43 / $35–58
Eat Cheap
- Budget meal / canteen: €5–8 / £4.35–6.96 / $5.80–9.30
- Mid-range restaurant: €10–20 / £8.70–17.40 / $11.60–23.20
- Supermarket meal prep: €3–5 / £2.61–4.35 / $3.48–5.80
Eating Out
- Traditional Slovak restaurant: €12–25 / £10.43–21.74 / $13.95–29
- Coffee (flat white): €1.50–2.50 / £1.30–2.17 / $1.74–2.90
- Beer (pint): €1.50–3 / £1.30–2.61 / $1.74–3.48
Budget Fun
Museum entry: €3–8 / £2.61–6.96 / $3.48–9.30
Guided castle tour: €20–50 / £17.39–43.48 / $23.25–58.10
Free walking tour (tip-based): €0 (tip €5–10)
Big Experiences
- Ski pass (High Tatras, full day): €30–60 / £26–52 / $35–70
- National park entry: €2–5 / £1.74–4.35 / $2.32–5.80
- Thermal spa day pass: €10–25 / £8.70–21.74 / $11.60–29
Tips for Saving Money in Slovakia
💧 Tap water is safe everywhere — bring a reusable bottle and skip the bottled stuff
🚶 Free walking tours run daily in Bratislava — tip-based, no upfront cost
🍳 Most hostels and Airbnbs have kitchens — cook a few meals from Lidl or Tesco and save a fortune
🏨 Book hostels through Hostelworld or budget hotels on Booking.com — Slovakia has some of the cheapest dorms in Europe
🚌 Public transport is dirt cheap — day passes in Bratislava cost about €4
📅 Visit in shoulder season (April–May or September–October) for lower prices and fewer tourists
🏔️ Hiking trails in the High Tatras and Slovak Paradise are free (or near enough) — nature is the best free attraction here
🎓 Under 26 or a student? Carry your ISIC card — discounts on transport, museums, and castle entries
✈️ Fly into Vienna and bus to Bratislava for around €6–10 — often cheaper than flying direct
🛒 Farmers’ markets sell fresh produce for less than restaurants charge for a side salad — shop local
Getting Around Slovakia
It’s a small country with a solid transport network. Trains are cheap, buses are frequent, and you can drive across the whole thing in about 4 hours.
Flights Into Slovakia
Bratislava has a small international airport, but most people fly into Vienna (1 hour by bus) or use budget airlines from across Europe.
✅ Budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air serve Bratislava
✅ Vienna Airport is a cheap bus ride away (€6–10)
❌ Bratislava airport has limited routes
Car Rental
Best option for reaching castles, national parks, and smaller villages. Roads are well-maintained. Winter driving in the mountains requires snow tyres (legally mandatory).
✅ Total flexibility, access to remote areas
✅ From €30/day (~£26 / ~$35)
❌ Parking in Bratislava old town is limited and pricy
City Public Transport
Bratislava and Košice both have trams, buses, and trolleybuses. Buy tickets from machines or the IDS BK app before boarding — inspectors do check.
✅ Day passes from €4 in Bratislava
✅ Some free city zones in Košice
❌ Not useful between cities
Trains (ZSSK)
Slovakia’s national rail covers most towns. The main line runs Bratislava to Košice through Poprad (gateway to the High Tatras). Clean, punctual, cheap.
✅ Students under 26 and seniors ride free (register with ZSSK first)
✅ Bratislava to Košice from €19, about 5 hours
❌ Slower than buses on some routes
Intercity Bus
FlixBus, RegioJet, and Slovak Lines connect most cities. Often faster than trains on shorter routes, and the WiFi actually works.
✅ Bratislava to Banská Bystrica from €10, ~3 hours
✅ Frequent departures, easy online booking
❌ Can get crowded in summer
Taxis & Bolt/Uber
Taxis exist but use Bolt or Uber for fair pricing. Pre-arranged flat fares from taxi drivers tend to be inflated.
✅ Bolt and Uber both active in Bratislava
✅ Useful for airport transfers
❌ Base fare starts around €5 + €1/km
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring Bratislava only
Walk + trams. Get a day pass.
Bratislava + Košice or Tatras
Train. Cheap and scenic.
Castles, national parks, countryside
Rent a car. No contest.
Flying in from abroad on a budget
Fly into Vienna, bus to Bratislava.
Quick Tips
📅
Book Vienna Flights
Often cheaper to fly Vienna and bus in than to fly direct to Bratislava
💳
Register with ZSSK
Under-26 EU students and seniors ride trains free — but you must register first
❄️
Winter Driving
Snow tyres are legally required Nov–Mar. Check your rental includes them.
📱
Use the IDS BK App
Buy Bratislava transport tickets on your phone. No fumbling with machines.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Slovakia?
May to September for hiking, outdoor activities, and festivals. The High Tatras are at their best from June to September when trails are snow-free and wildflowers are everywhere. Bratislava is pleasant from April through October. Winter (December to March) is prime time for skiing in the Tatras and for Bratislava’s Christmas markets, which are smaller and way less crowded than Prague’s or Vienna’s.
Is Slovakia safe for tourists?
Very. It’s one of the safest countries in Europe. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main risk is petty crime — pickpockets operate in Bratislava’s tourist areas, especially around Christmas markets. Outside the capital, crime is almost nonexistent. Use normal common sense (don’t flash cash, watch your bag in crowds) and you’ll be absolutely fine.
What currency does Slovakia use?
The euro (EUR). Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009 — don’t confuse it with the Czech Republic which still uses the koruna. Cards are widely accepted in cities and bigger towns, but carry some cash for smaller villages, rural restaurants, and market stalls. Avoid Euronet ATMs — they charge withdrawal fees and give poor exchange rates. Use bank ATMs instead.
How long do I need in Slovakia?
You could see Bratislava in a day or two, but the country deserves more. Four to five days lets you cover Bratislava plus either the High Tatras or a castle loop through eastern Slovakia. A full week is ideal if you want to mix city time with hiking, spa towns, and smaller villages like Banská Štiavnica. If you’re combining with neighbouring countries (very easy to do — Vienna is an hour away, Budapest about two and a half), build in at least 3 days for Slovakia alone.
What's the best time to visit Slovakia?
It’s one of Western Europe’s most affordable countries. A backpacker can get by on around €40–45/day | £35–39 | $47–53. Mid-range travellers typically spend €90–120/day | £78–104 | $106–142 with private accommodation and eating out. Wine is absurdly cheap. Coffee costs less than a pound. The biggest costs are accommodation in Lisbon during summer and major experiences like Algarve boat tours.
Is Slovakia expensive?
No. It’s one of the cheapest countries in the eurozone. A hostel dorm costs €15–30/night, a solid restaurant meal runs €10–15, and a pint of local beer is under €3. Budget travellers can comfortably get by on €40/day. Mid-range travellers spending €80–100/day will eat well, stay comfortably, and see everything without worrying. Compared to Austria next door, it’s roughly 40–50% cheaper across the board.
Do I need travel insurance for Slovakia?
Yes. If you’re a UK citizen, your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) covers some emergency treatment in EU countries including Slovakia, but it doesn’t cover everything — repatriation, trip cancellation, lost luggage, or private treatment. A proper travel insurance policy fills the gaps. Don’t skip it. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance section.
Can I drink the tap water in Slovakia?
Yes. Tap water is safe and clean across the country. Bring a reusable bottle and save yourself the money (and the plastic). Some mountain springs are also drinkable — locals fill up from them regularly.
How do I get from Vienna to Bratislava?
It’s one of the easiest cross-border trips in Europe. Direct buses (FlixBus, RegioJet, Slovak Lines) run frequently and take about an hour. Tickets cost €6–10 one way. There’s also a train option via Bratislava Hlavná Stanica, taking about an hour too. Some people even take the Twin City Liner catamaran along the Danube — takes about 75 minutes and is a nice experience in itself.
What food should I try in Slovakia?
Start with bryndzové halušky — small potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon. It’s the national dish and it’s everywhere. Kapustnica (sauerkraut soup, especially good at Christmas markets), pirohy (Slovak dumplings, similar to Polish pierogi), and lokše (thin potato pancakes) are all worth seeking out. Slovak wine is underrated too, especially the whites from the Small Carpathian region south of Bratislava. And the beer is cheap and solid — Zlatý Bažant and Šariš are the local go-tos.
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