Slovakia Travel Tips - Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Highlights of Bratislava and other cities including Kosice, Levoca and Bardejov.

Bratislava: Today’s Slovakian capital was once capital of Hungary and for 300 years site of the coronation of Hungarian kings and queens. A walking tour of Bratislava reveals a 17th century world of Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era of Maria Theresa, the New Bridge over the Danube, the Slavin World War II Memorial. The city’s major art collection is in the Slovak National Gallery, a modern building incorporating an 18^th century palace, while other art-loving attractions include the holdings of the rococo-style Mirbach Palace. Overlooking the Danube is the Bratislava Castle, with its interesting Museum of Folk Music, and at the foot of the castle hill you’ll find the Decorative Arts Museum, the Museum of Clocks and the Museum of Jewish Culture.  Locator: 40 mi. from Vienna; 115 mi. from Budapest

Kosice: Second only in size to the capital, Kosice sits in southeastern Slovakia. President Rudolf Schuster was once mayor here and encouraged the restoration of the historic center - now the largest protected area in Slovakia. Chief among renovation projects is the late-Gothic Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, and of particular interest is the Kosice Gold Treasure housed in the East Slovak Museum, and the trio of attractions - Miklus Prison, Ferenc Rakoczi House Museum and the Weapons Museum - in the Executioner’s Bastion, which was a part of the city’s 15^th century fortifications.  Locator: 55 mi. from Miskolc, Hungary

Levoca: Dating from the Middle Ages, Levoca is one of the best-preserved, walled towns in Slovakia, and Gothic, Baroque and early Renaissance houses distinguish the central square. There are still 14^th and 15^th century fortifications; a handsome arcaded Gothic Town Hall; Master Pavol’s carved altar (the largest Gothic altar in the world) and the gilded Madonna in the St. James Church; and wonderful medieval rooms in the Spis Museum.  Locator: 15 mi. east of Poprad

Bardejov: Close to Levoca, Bardejov is another eastern Slovakia town that enjoys an old medieval square lined with Gothic-Renaissance merchant houses - a Unesco Heritage Site. Also well preserved are the town walls, the moat, towers and bastions. One of the most remarkable buildings in the country is the 14^th century Church of St. Egidius, with no less than 11 Gothic altarpieces. At the Saris Museum on the main square, see the altarpieces and the historical displays in the 16^th century Town Hall, the museum housing a collection of icons, and a good natural history exhibition.  Locator: 45 mi. from Kosice