What To See In Slovakia In 3 Days: Full Guide

Slovakia is a beautiful landlocked country in the middle of Europe. I’m always disappointed that people don’t even know where Slovakia is on the map. It’s time to change it.

I’m from Slovakia and lived there for the first 18 years. I visited hundreds of places with my dad and family and would love to show you the highlights.

It’s an amazing place full of stunning places to visit, from the mountains to the lakes, incredible nature with waterfalls, traditional villages, and delicious food. If you only have 3 days to explore, I’ll give you a detailed itinerary of what you can see in Slovakia in 3 days. So stay tuned!

Overview Of What To See In Slovakia In 3 Days

DAY:	DESTINATION:
1.	Visit Čičmany & Traditional Slovakian Village
2.	Explore The High Tatras National Park
3.	See Strečno Castle & Ride On A Wooden Raft

Best Way To Explore Slovakia

The best way to explore Slovakia is by car. Trains are sometimes delayed, and reaching your destinations takes longer. So, I recommend you rent a car and start exploring.

In this itinerary, I won’t send you to the capital city, Bratislava. Simply because Slovakia has so much more to offer. Bratislava is nice, but it’s nothing special. It’ll only be our departure point for this trip. There are way more beautiful places to see.

You can spend one night in Bratislava, rent a car, pick it up the next morning, and set off on your 3-day itinerary through Slovakia.

Where To Stay In Bratislava: My TOP TIPS For Accommodation

VIP APARTMENTS – budget-friendly apartments
ARCADIA BOUTIQUE HOTEL – mid-range hotel
GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK – luxury hotel

👉 READ ALSO: 20 Best Day Trips From Bratislava

Day 1. In Slovakia: Visit Čičmany & Traditional Slovakian Village

I recommend driving from Bratislava to the High Tatras National Park on the first day. It’s around 4 hours away from the capital. Yet there are many beautiful places you’ll visit during the journey. So, on your first day, it’ll be a little driving.

While driving from Bratislava, enjoy the landscape and see how it changes. From the flat lands around Bratislava, you’ll start driving through the trees, alongside rivers, until you reach the beautiful Slovakian mountains, High Tatras.

It’ll be a beautiful drive, so have your phones and cameras ready.

Čičmany

Čičmany is a tiny village in one of my favorite parts of Slovakia: the Rajec region. You’ll love the drive to the village. It’s surrounded by beautiful forests and green valleys.

Don’t expect too much to see in it. It’s tiny, and there is barely anything to do. Yet it’s worth seeing.

You’ll see traditional Slovakian houses with painted white signs. Stop the car and walk through for a while. There are a few restaurants and cafes, so you can have a coffee, too.

Salaš Krajinka – Traditional Slovakian Village & Food

Salaš Krajina (the Slovakian name for the place) is a traditional Slovakian shepherd’s village.

NOTE: ‘Salaš’ is a Slovakian word for traditional village

It’s a perfect spot to experience how the shepherds lived in the past. You’ll experience cute little wooden houses, see sheep and various animals, and how people produce traditional Slovakian goods (such as cheese and bread).

You can try Slovakian food such as ‘bryndzové halušky’ (small gnocchi with sheep cheese and fried bacon), traditional soups such as Gulaš or Kapustnica with sausages, pork dishes, and fried cheese. But they also have international dishes if you don’t want to try local food.

Before you leave, go to the local bakery and buy delicious Slovakian sweet bread. Tell them you want to try ‘Buchta.’ It’s a sweet baked dough stuffed with cottage cheese, jam, or sometimes poppy.

Then, hop in the car again and drive to the High Tatras National Park.

High Tatras National Park (Štrbské Pleso)

In the evening, you’ll arrive in the High Tatras. It’s a National Park and the highest mountain range in Slovakia. The highest mountain is 2656 meters above sea level, called Gerlach Peak. It’ll be already greeting you from the highway.

Check in to your accommodation and soak up the atmosphere.

Go for a short walk, and have a nice dinner.

Where To Stay In Štrbské Pleso: My TOP TIPS For Accommodation

Stay 2 nights in the High Tatras, enjoy these beautiful mountains, and relax in a wellness hotel.

APLEND LAKE RESORT – budget-friendly hotel
WELLNESS HOTEL BOROVICA – mid-range hotel
GRAND HOTEL KEMPINSKI – luxury hotel at the lake (best option)

DAY 2. In Slovakia: Explore High Tatras National Park

Welcome to the High Tatras paradise. This is my favorite place in Slovakia. I’m sure you’ll love it, too. Today, you have a full day to enjoy the Slovakian mountains and nature. There are several things you can do:

1. Hike to a mountain hut
2. Take a train alongside the High Tatras Mountain Range
3. Stay in Štrbské Pleso & Walk Around Its Lake

1. Hike To A Mountain Hut

High Tatras offers a fantastic hiking experience. It has various paths, from very easy to more difficult ones. So you can choose which one you like the most.

You can hike 1 hour and 30 minutes to the Skok Waterfall. It’s a smaller hike, yet not so difficult.

Check out my article about the best hiking trails in the High Tatras. I’ve written about each, so you can choose which one you prefer. It has timings, difficulty levels, and things you’ll see on each trail.

👉 READ ALSO: Hut-To-Hut Hiking High Tatras: 5-Day Itinerary

2. Take A Train Alongside The High Tatras Mountain Range

If you want a more laid-back experience, hop on a train from the west side of the mountain range (Štrbské Pleso) to the east side (Tatranská Lomnica).

You’ll start your journey at the train station in Štrbské Pleso (where your accommodation is). Buy your ticket at the counter, and enjoy the ride. You’ll see beautiful views, the entire High Tatras, and sometimes fallen trees. This is because of a severe storm that hit the place in 2004.

You’ll have to change trains in Starý Smokovec. Just get off and hop on the next one that says ‘Tatranská Lomnica,’ your destination. Then, drive to Tatranský Lomnica, the train’s last stop.

Tatranská Lomnica & Tatrabob

Once you arrive in Tatranská Lomnica, you can go for the Tatrabob. It’s a lot of fun. Otherwise, walk through the village and have some lunch. Then take a train back to your accommodation in Štrbské Pleso.

Starý Smokovec & Tricklandia

You can also stop in Starý Smokovec on the way. If you walk up the main road from the train station, there is a good cafe/patisserie on your right-hand side. Get some local cakes and coffee. You can also visit Tricklandia. It’s so much fun and a great attraction, even for adults.

3. Stay in Štrbské Pleso & Walk Around Its Lake

One thing you can do is to stay where your accommodation is and walk around. The Slovakian word ‘Pleso‘ means ‘mountain lake‘ in English. The Štrbské Pleso (lake) is big, so you can walk around it and enjoy the atmosphere. It takes about 1 hour to walk around.

After, walk further through the village to the other side. Check out souvenir shops, restaurants, and the famous Slovakian sky jump bridge.

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DAY 3. In Slovakia: See Strečno Castle & Ride On A Wooden Raft

On the last day, you’ll see one of the Slovakian castles, learn about its history and legends, and take a traditional wooden raft on the longest river in Slovakia, the River Váh.

In the morning, drive from High Tatras to Strečno. You can visit its castle ruins, read about its legend, and see how people lived here in the past. Check out my article about fairy-tale castles in Slovakia to learn about the history of Strečno Castle Ruins.

Afterward, hop on the traditional Slovakian wooden raft and ride the famous Slovakian River Váh. It’s one of the most unique experiences in Slovakia and nowhere else in Europe.

In the afternoon, drive back to Bratislava.

If you need a stop, you can visit Trenčín city. It has a beautiful castle, nice cafes and restaurants in the main square. Moreover, it’s only 1 hour and 30 minutes drive to Bratislava.

Best Of Slovakia Itinerary 8 Days

If you want to see more of Slovakia, take my 8-day road trip itinerary by clicking on the image below. It’ll show you the most beautiful places, and you’ll do the best things Slovakia offers:

FAQs

To help you plan your visit to Slovakia and understand the country more, I’ve also answered the most frequently asked questions. Check the answers below.

How Many Days Are Enough For Slovakia?

10 days are enough to explore the highlights of Slovakia. The minimum time to see the country is 3 days. It offers a lot, so you must choose what interests you the most.

What Is Slovakia Best Known For?

Slovakia is best known for its traditional shepherd’s villages and wooden cottages and the stunning High Tatras Mountain Range.

It has a unique culture and traditions you can experience in the shepherd’s villages and taste local food. Slovakian High Tatras Mountains offer some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Europe, and you can even stay in one of the mountain huts overnight.

What Food Is Slovakia Known For?

Slovakia’s traditional food is so-called ‘Bryndzove Halusky.’ It’s gnocchi mixed with local sheep cheese, fried bacon, and onion stripes on the top. It’s super delicious. Another popular dish is called Buchta, which is a sweet, sourdough bread filled with cottage cheese or homemade jam.

How Safe Is Slovakia For Tourists?

Slovakia is safe for tourists. It has been ranked #26 on the Global Peace Index. It’s very safe, there are no pickpockets, and you can get around easily. One thing you should be aware of is bears in the High Tatras, but they’re relatively safe.

WRAP-UP: What To See In Slovakia In 3 Days

This is my 3-day itinerary for Slovakia for you. It includes the very highlights, so you’ll get the most out of the country following this guide. It’s one of the most underrated and surprising countries in Europe, so don’t hesitate to visit it.

If you have any questions, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com. I’ll gladly help you or design a customized travel itinerary for your trip.

Happy Travels!