Unusual Things to Do in Slovakia – 19 Crazy Experiences

Have you ever wanted to sleep in a castle? Or dine in a UFO? And how does drinking unlimited wine for just €30 sound?

You can do all this – and more – in Slovakia.

In fact, in this post, we’ve compiled a list of 19 quirky things you can do there!

And the best part? 

Most travellers haven’t even discovered the country yet. It’s still a proper hidden gem!

So come closer, we’ll share all the secrets with you.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Disclaimer.

Here’s a little bit about our journey, if you are new here! If you know us, feel free to skip this part.

After leaving our old life in Scotland in March 2022 (it rains too much there), we travelled full-time for almost 2 years. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it was. If you think that carrying overpacked backpacks in 45°C heat around streets that aren’t even on Google Maps is fancy. And that’s just 1% of all the fun we had! 😆

During the 2 years we volunteered in Italy and Bulgaria (free travel while learning new skills, anyone?), explored other amazing European countries and backpacked Southeast Asia. Even our secret wedding was more of an expedition than a wedding. 😅

And, of course, we researched and planned everything ourselves, because you gotta keep the budget low, right? If you are like us, you’ve come to the right place, because we want to share all the useful tips and info with you!

Excited? Good. Let’s get into it so you can go on your own adventures too!

What you’ll find out in this post

In this post, you’ll find 3 key things you need to plan your unusual holiday in Slovakia:

1. A list of all the awesome, unique experiences you can choose from in Slovakia.
2. Tips on travelling Slovakia – straight from a local!
3. Information on how to get to Slovakia – spoiler, it’s in the heart of Europe, so it’s super easy to get there.

So if you are ready, grab a cup of tea (or a glass of wine, if it’s wine o’clock where you are. Or even if it isn’t, who cares, you are planning a holiday!) (btw did you know Slovakia has many vineyards? And wine is soo good and sooooo cheap there? Yep. And there is more golden stuff like this to come) and let’s get started!

Why should you trust us

Fair question! There are many bloggers and travellers out there, so how can you be sure you can trust what we are saying here?

To be honest, unlimited wine for €30 does sound too good to be true, so it’s perfectly understandable if you need some reassurance.

First of all, the wine event is real. We personally went to it in 2024.

Second, the main reason you can trust us: Mirka is originally from Slovakia. She lived there the first 19 years of her life, too, so you could say she is pretty knowledgeable about all things Slovak. 😉

More recently, we also made Slovakia our temporary home base when we needed to rest from travelling the world full-time. All in all, we know a thing or two about the country, and we wanna share it with you!

Side note

We know that planning your trip to Slovakia can be difficult. Especially if you are planning on venturing further than the average tourist (aka outside of Bratislava). 

Most of the attractions (and the country) are not well set up for international tourists. While this is great, because it means the country is still undiscovered, it can be a proper pain in the butt when you are trying to plan an awesome trip but you can’t, because everything is writen in Slovak and makes no sense when Google-translated.

We get it!

Here is what we propose:

If you are struggling, give us a shout in the comments here or, if you wanna chat more privately, either via our contact form or our Instagram.

And if you need more help and would prefer to chat about your trip with us in more detail, you can book a consultancy call with us here (it’ll be more fun than it sounds).

A note on money

We talk a lot about finances on this blog. 

Why?

Because travel and money go hand in hand. 

You need to have money to be able to see the world, and so we share our tips and tricks on saving money, budgeting and everything else around.

To help you out even more, we have categorised the experiences in this post according to their cost.

For each unusual experience, you will find one of these ratings:

FREE – the best kind of experiences, right? Costing you nothing. Love those.

BUDGET – these are the kind of experiences where you pay a certain amount, but it’s not a lot and it’s a great value for what you get in exchange.

DEPENDS – okay, we’ll be a bit cheeky and include this vague rating too. Basically, this means that it depends on you – what country you come from and what prices are like there and also how you value the experience. Experiences are hard to judge. We’ve paid SO MUCH money for gigs over the years – many people find that crazy. On the other hand, we wouldn’t spend a lot on dining experiences, it’s just not our thing. So some things depend on the person; they are not a straightforward budget or luxury rating (or our favourite, freebie!).

LUXURY – the experiences you splash out on. Maybe for a special birthday. Or anniversary. Or just because you invested in Bitcoin pre-2013 and now are swimming in money (good for you. Also, message us, we wanna be friends). 

The unusual things to do in Slovakia

Let’s get right into it with the 19 quirky experiences, because we know you are dying to find out about the UFO (or the wine, depending on what kind of a day you are having today!).

For each experience, we’ll tell you 3 things:

• Why is the experience super cool and worth your time
• A few key pieces of info that you need to know if you want to experience it yourself
• Where you can find more information

Ready? Let’s go!

1. Sleep in a castle

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

Okay, we don’t even know if we need this section here.

Sleeping. In. An. Actual. Freaking. Castle. 

That has to be one of the coolest places to sleep in, right?

What do you need to know

The castle is located in a small village called Smolenice. It’s easy to get to and there is lots to do:

• It’s surrounded by the Little Carpathians, a low mountain range, perfect for easy hikes and walks in a forest.
• You can also find an awesome cave here called Driny. Visit on a guided tour.
• Consider combining your visit there with a stay in Trnava, a small, charming town that you can use as your gateway to this region (and drink unlimited wine there, too).
• This whole region (Smolenice and surrounding villages) is famous for its winemaking tradition. You can tour family-run vineyards in the different villages (and check out all the cool events that they frequently host).
• If wine is not really your thing, how about mead? Vcelovina is a beautifully designed store and cafe offering not just mead, but also honey beer and cider, honey cosmetics and other awesome products. Oh, and did we mention they have a bee garden with views of the castle? And run events including festivals where you can taste the different products for a (ridiculously) small fee? Check it all out on their website – they offer tours with tastings, too!

Where can you find more info

The castle is named after the village – Smolenice Castle – and you can find more info on the official website. You can also book the accommodation via Booking.com.

2. Visit a Lord of the Rings festival at a castle

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

LOTR festival and at a castle? If you are a fan, you know why this is awesome. If you aren’t, this might be one you skip (or give the movies a go and then decide – we’d definitely recommend them if adventure stories are your thing).

What do you need to know

This festival is actually called Weekend with J.R.R. Tolkien, and it focuses on celebrating the author and his work.

It started in 2021 and the programme changes every year. For example, in 2024, the festival included reenactments of the battles from Middle-earth, readings in a tearoom, adventurous games for kids, archery and more!

The dates also change every year; in 2024, the festival was on in May.

The castle it’s held at is called Beckov – it’s a castle in ruins, so perfect for recreating the Middle-Earth atmosphere!

There isn’t a special entrance fee to the festival, you just need to buy the basic ticket to enter the castle (this is 2024 information; always double-check in case it’s changed).

Where can you find more info

The festival doesn’t seem to have its own website, so you will have to google info about it. Search for “Víkend s J.R.R. Tolkienom” + the current year, if you are looking to go this year.

Alternatively, you can check out the castle’s website, which has an events calendar too.

Lord of the Ring festival at a castle like this? Isn’t that perfect?

3. Explore a cave on your own

Rating: Free

Why is this cool

You can pretend to be an explorer. Or a caveman(/woman). Or Sid from Ice Age. The choice is yours.

What do you need to know

Did you know there are more than 7,100 known caves in Slovakia? Yep, you read that right.

You can visit the 13 best ones with a guide.

BUT.

There are ones that you can explore all on your own – you just need a flashlight and a bit of bravery. 

Where can you find more info

You can find the full list on the official website of the Slovak Caves Administration. 

Note: the website has an English version including information on the 13 most famous caves, however, the info on the caves that are freely open to the public is only in Slovak. Use Google Translate for this. 

4. Play in Donovalkovo – the capital city of children

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

If you have kids, this is the perfect place for them – a whole minicity where they can play like in the old times – without screens. The city is interactive and kids can learn what to do in case of a fire, how to manage money or top up petrol at a petrol station and much more. The best part? Everything is coordinated by a team of entertainers, so parents can just relax!

What do you need to know

The minicity is located in a village called Donovaly, hence the name. This village is a famous centre for a variety of sports and leisure activities – winter and summer. 

Where can you find more info

Check out the official website of the minicity for information on workshops, special events and opening times. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hlavné mesto detí (@donovalkovo)

Does this not make you wish you were a kid??

5. Nighttime sledging down a 2.5 km-long track

Rating: Depends (more on this below)

Why is this cool

We don’t know how about you, but the one thing we’d always been sad about when sledging as kids? The track was never long enough! Well, that won’t be a problem here as the track is mindblowing 2.5km!! And you don’t even have to walk to the top!

What do you need to know

The track is suitable for beginners too, so even if you’ve never been sledging before, you don’t have to worry! To make it more interesting, you can choose from two options: night and day sledging.

Now, about the price, since we said it depends. Technically, the sledging track is free. So if you hike up and bring your own sledge, you don’t have to pay anything.

Otherwise, these are your options:

• Take a funicular to the top
• Rent a traditional, wooden sledge or a modern, sports sledge, depending on the experience you want or your preference
• If the conditions are right, you can do nighttime sledging on certain days

If you pay for both, the funicular and the sledge rental, the price gets quite steep, especially if you are a family and everyone gets their own sledge.

Where can you find more info

For prices, opening times and current weather conditions, check out the official site.

Bonus tip

Before you shoot down the sledging track, check out the unique ice sculpture in the Temple of Ice – it’s free!

6. Drink unlimited wine

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

For just €30 you can try 290+ different wines – and have an UNLIMITED amount of each. Sounds like heaven, right? (beware, hell might follow the next day, if you are not careful. 😬)

What do you need to know

This is an annual event that happens in Trnava, a beautiful little town a short train ride away from Bratislava. We wrote about Trnava and its underrated Christmas market here – the guide includes all travel information too, so make sure to check it out, even if you are heading to Trnava for wine and not Christmas (although, spoiler alert, wine is a staple at Christmas too!).

The way the wine event works is you buy a ticket, get a map and just walk through the town from one stop to another, tasting as much wine as you want along the way, from a variety of wineries. There is white, red, rose, orange, sparkling and even non-alcoholic wine to choose from. It’s a paradise for wine lovers, and with that price, we’d bet you can’t find a better deal anywhere else.

Where can you find more info

The event doesn’t have its own website, so google this: “den vinnych pivnic Trnava [the year you want to go during]”. That means “A day of wine cellars”. The event usually happens on a Saturday, in the second half of October.

Bonus tip: It’s a popular event, so make sure to book tickets in advance. 

If you wanna see more of what the event is like, we posted a reel on our Instagram here (if you are hoping for drunken drama, sorry to disappoint you, it’s all censored! 😝).

7. Sleep on the top of a mountain (without having to camp)

Rating: Luxury

Why is this cool

You can spend a night in the highest-located room in Central Europe! As the last cable car takes tourists down, you will be the only people left at the top of the mountain – just you and the stars! (and some staff, of course 😅)

What do you need to know

The peak we are talking about is called Lomnicky Stit and the room is located at a staggering 2,634 m above sea level.

This experience is perfect for a special occasion. The stay comes with a number of perks, such as a ticket for the cable car, a welcome drink, a gourmet 4-course dinner, a bottle of champagne in your room, local gifts and many more! (see all info on the website)

There are only 2 rooms available, which means they are almost always sold out. If you do want to splash out on this experience, make sure to book way in advance.

Note: This is the most expensive experience on the list of the unusual things to do in Slovakia, so budget accordingly. 

Where can you find more info

There is a whole website dedicated just to this experience. You can also reserve accommodation there.

8. Sail on a wooden raft

Rating: Depends (we would consider it expensive these days, but you might find it worth the price)

Why is this cool

You get to sail down Slovakia’s longest river on a traditional wooden raft – just like people did in the past. Oh, and did we mention you pass under two castles?? It’s the only place in the country where you can do that. Talk about unusual things to do in Slovakia, right?

What do you need to know

The rafting season runs from April to October.

The meetup location is in a village called Strecno, but this is not where the rafting begins. Fear not, though, you won’t be left alone to find your way around – a transfer to the starting point is included in the price of the ticket.

You end your journey at the meetup point, meaning you can combine your rafting experience with visiting one of the castles you see during your rafting experience – Strecno, which is just a few minutes’ walk away. 

If you have more time, there are many other attractions in the area, including a lookout point and a fairytale forest for kids.

Best thing to do? Open up Google Maps and type in “Plte na Vahu” (meaning rafts on Vah, which is the river you will sail on). This shows you the meetup point for your experience. Now, just unzoom a bit and have a look at the different symbols in the area to see what other attractions are nearby.

Bonus

You can even have a go at steering the wooden raft yourself! While wearing the traditional attire! The guide asks whether anyone wants to have a go once you reach a calm part of the river. You can see Daniel piloting the raft in the pic below.

Where can you find more info

On the official website, of course, which also has a form for booking your rafting adventure! It’s recommended that you book your spot a few days in advance.

Something that is super useful: you can find a copy of the tour script on the website in 4 languages. That means that even though your guide will be speaking in Slovak, you will be able to follow along on your phone or tablet – just make sure to download or preload the document before your journey!

To find the tour script, scroll down on the homepage until you find the 4 country flags just below the map.

9. Try via ferrata

Why is this cool

Bored of regular hiking? But also too worried about your safety to go rock climbing on your own? (btw rock climbing is also totally possible in Slovakia). How about a hybrid between the two, which offers adrenaline but keeps you safe? Enter via ferrata!

What do you need to know

There are now actually 5 via ferratas in Slovakia (that we know of. Might be more!), so you can choose based on the location and the level of difficulty.

The one that became social media famous, though, is via ferrata Skalka. You might have seen a video of a traveller walking along a precarious-looking 80-meter-long suspension bridge. If you want your palms to get sweaty, watch a first-person POV walkthrough below. Btw, did you know that this is the longest rope bridge in Central Europe?

The via ferrata Skalka is rated 4.9 on Google, with over 1,200 reviews, so you know it will be a great experience (which can’t be said about many other attractions out there😬).

If you don’t have our own equipment, you can rent it on location.

Side note

When doing adventurous activities, make sure you are covered by good insurance. The one thing to check? Whether adrenaline sports, like via ferrata, are covered. Don’t just assume your travel insurance policy includes them – double-check.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of travel insurance companies available, we can help you narrow it down. Check out True Traveller or SafetyWing – they are both awesome and both cover via ferrata (although with True Traveller, you will have to get the more premium Adventure Pack for this activity to be covered).

Where can you find out more info

If you are interested in the viral Skalka via ferrata, you can find more information here.

Want to see the other options? Either do a quick Google search or utilise ChatGPT, to learn more about the different via ferratas in Slovakia. If using AI for travel scares you and you are not sure how to get started, we’ve got a simple, super easy guide you can follow.

10. Drink unlimited mead

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

Try 85 different types of mead, including many award-winning ones, for just €5 (total price).

Crazy? Yep. But totally possible in Slovakia.

What do you need to know

Mead is pretty big in Slovakia, especially in wintertime, so you can always get it at Christmas markets, but you can also buy full bottles in supermarkets any time of the year. If you wanna go full-on, you can also visit local meaderies; we talked about one awesome one here.

This event is actually a competition where they decide what the best mead of the year in Slovakia will be. Your job? Try them all and decide for yourself!

Disclaimer

While this is an annual event, it travels around the country. Every year, the mead tasting (and the prize-awarding) is in a different location, so you will have to check this when you visit Slovakia. We did the unlimited tasting in a town called Trnava, during a honey and bee festival.

Where can you find more info

Current events are listed on the Slovak Association of Beekeepers’ Facebook page.

As always, if things are not making sense, just give us a shout, and we’ll help you!

11. Celebrate Halloween differently

Rating: Free

Why is this cool

Seeing a cemetery lit up with thousands of candles is a magical experience. It’s also a beautiful way to commemorate your loved ones.

What do you need to know

Slovakia doesn’t celebrate Halloween. Okay, you will find Halloween decor in stores and many nurseries, schools, clubs etc. will host a Halloween party, but that’s all a recent development. 

Traditionally, instead of Halloween, Slovakia celebrates All Saints’ Day, on the 1st November.

How All Saints’ Day gets celebrated

The main way people celebrate? By visiting the graves of their loved ones. You will see people cleaning the graves, but mainly decorating them with flowers and many candles. You’ve probably never seen a cemetery lit up like that before!

How you can celebrate as a foreigner

Aside from individual graves, almost every cemetery also has a central area, where candles can be lit up by anyone, for anyone.

This is a place where someone can light a candle for their loved one if they can’t travel to their actual grave.

Or for a loved one who was never buried. 

Or if someone is a foreigner, but wants to take part in this tradition and honour someone they lost, even if they are buried elsewhere.

So, if you are a foreigner in Slovakia during All Saints’ Day, get a candle and head to a cemetery. Find the central area (a big cross or a chapel, usually) and light the candle there.

Something to remember

The 1st of November is a public holiday in Slovakia. This means that while transport is running, all stores, including big supermarkets are closed. You can usually find some restaurants, bars and cafes open, especially in towns (not so much in villages).

If you want to buy a candle to light up at the cemetery, do so the day before (sold in all supermarkets). Alternatively, you can buy a candle (or flowers etc.) in front of each cemetery too, but the prices are, of course, higher than in supermarkets. 

Also, if you are not a fan of big crowds, avoid going to the cemeteries on the actual All Saints’ Day. Many people go during the days just before or after the 1st November to avoid the crowds. This means the cemeteries are beautifully lit up on other days too, but you avoid the crowds that visit on the main day. (We usually go on the 2nd Nov, when the main madness has calmed down, but most of the candles are still burning).

Where can you find more info

There, obviously, isn’t a website dedicated to this celebration and, to be honest, we’ve told you everything you need to know. But if you do need more information, feel free to reach out in the comments below or on our Instagram.

It’s hard to capture how magical cemeteries look during All Saints’ Day. You need to experience it in person.
In the pic on the right, you can see a main cross at one of the cemeteries where anyone (including travellers) can light a candle

12. Dine in a UFO

Rating: Luxury

Why is this cool

You can pretend to be an alien while munching on a monkfish and sipping wine.

Oh, and you will get a great view of Bratislava, the capital city, from up high. 

Pretty cool, right?

What do you need to know

UFO is the round structure above one of the bridges in Bratislava, that looks literally like it was dropped there by some extraterrestrial beings. 

You can either visit just the observation deck, or you can have dinner or drinks in the restaurant. There is a tasting menu, too, if you want to elevate your experience and try more of the local cuisine.

We’d rate all the experiences here (observation deck or dining) as luxurious because the prices are quite steep. 

Where can you find more info

On the official website, of course! It’s in English too, because, let’s face it, it’s often foreign tourists who spend the money to go up on the UFO. Locals usually just admire it from down below!

13. Become a knight at a medieval market

Rating: Free

Why is this cool

Experience medieval times without all the horrors – no giant rats, 💩 running down the streets and plagues. At this market, it’s all about crafts, archery, knights and wooden carousels.

What do you need to know

You can actually experience the medieval market twice a year, and each time it will be different. Don’t say we are not giving you options here!

The first market happens at the end of summer, on the second weekend of September.

It’s the bigger of the two – more like a whole medieval festival. It takes over a park where a full medieval settlement is created. So cool!

The best part? This medieval market accompanies an even bigger local fair. It’s one of the most popular ones in Slovakia – happens annually and brings together all the great things – drinks, food, crafts, performances and even funrides!!

The second medieval market happens during one weekend in December. This one accompanies the main Christmas market of the town.

It’s smaller than the September one, but what it lacks in size, it more than compensates for in atmosphere. Located on a small, historical square next to a grand basilica, it will transport you straight back in time. It features drinks, food, arts and crafts demonstrations and even a live advent calendar with performances every hour!

Both markets are held in the beautiful town called Trnava – just a short ride away from the capital city! We have a whole post about visiting Trnava during Christmas here – it’s so magical! 

A note on peace and calm

If you are not a fan of crowded places, it might be best to avoid the September markets. The main fair is the biggest event of the year for the city and attracts massive crowds.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a more peaceful, calm Christmas market experience, the winter medieval market is perfect. We talk about it more here.

Where can you find more info

The markets don’t have their own website, so you will have to use Google to search for info.

Here is what to look for:

The main fair in September is called “Tradicny trnavsky jarmok”. Just add the year you are looking for when googling it.

The medieval market happens on the same weekend as the main fair. When searching for it, look for “stredovek pod hradbami”.

And if you are looking for the Christmas medieval market, look up “stredoveke adventne trhy Trnava”.

If you are looking at this and thinking: “What the f%*k?” make sure to check out this post and if it’s still not making any sense, give us a shout on our Instagram or here in the comments section.

Medieval market – summer and winter version

14. Visit the home of the Slovak vampire countess

Rating: Budget

Why is this cool

Spooky castles at theme parks are fun, but how about visiting the real thing? You can do that in Slovakia… if you are brave enough.

What do you need to know

Here is the bloody story: In the early 17th century, a Hungarian countess called Elizabeth Bathory lived in the Cachtice Castle (located in Slovakia). Now, the legend says that Elizabeth was obsessed with staying young (and young-looking). So what did she do to achieve this? Well, it is said she brought hundreds of young virgins into the castle where she murdered them and bathed in their blood. 😳 Hence the name Countess Dracula.

Whether the “vampire” story is true or not, historical records show that, in the end, she was caught while torturing young women and imprisoned in the Cachtice Castle for it.

Nowadays, you can tour the castle and see for yourself, whether she indeed haunts the ruins, looking for young women.

Where can you find more info

All the info, including special events, is listed on the official website.

This castle just screams “Vampire lady used to live here”, doesn’t it?? Also, yes, that’s Daniel, in front of the statue of Countess Bathory, pretending to be a vampire. 😂 (don’t judge, we were very young at that point, this is a pic from 2015!!)

15. Stay at the Invisible Hotel

Rating: Budget (a bit pricey for Slovak standards, but you do have to consider these are concept rooms)

Why is this cool

This is a hotel that doesn’t really exist. How is that possible? Well, every room here is different and located at a different address. So where are you actually staying?

What do you need to know

Each room is not only located in a different place, but also has a different theme! There is the Golden Treasure room or a Black & White one which celebrates film noir. And how about the interactive parallel reality one? You’ve got to check these out!

Side note: when we say that each room is at a different address, they are all still located in the same city. Which one? Kosice! It’s the second largest city in Slovakia, in the East of the country, so you will be able to get there no problem (it even has its own international airport) and there is plenty for you to do and see there.

If this isn’t cool enough for you, how about the fact that you get a welcome pack in the room, which includes tickets to local experiences as well as local products?? Like a bottle of local cider? Or a handmade soap? Now, these are the kind of experiences we love when travelling. Can this become the norm??

The one thing to be aware of: while the concept comes from Kosice, they have now opened invisible hotels in other countries too. You can find the Secret of Orient Express room in Istanbul or the Movie Room in Copenhagen. If you want to see the ones in Kosice on the website, use the map feature to locate them, rather than the list of all the rooms.

Where can you find more info

You can find info on the different rooms (or peek into the welcome pack, if you are curious like we are) on the official website.

16. Tour a Disney-like castle at night

Rating: budget

Why is this cool

You can pretend you are Cinderella running from a ball as the clock strikes midnight (or so).

What do you need to know

This castle is often considered the most beautiful one in Slovakia. You can either do the standard tour or check out their official website for any special events. 

There is often something on – that’s how we got to tour the castle after hours, with atmospheric lights and music. It was amazing! And not crowded at all – we were often alone as we were exploring! At a castle like this! It’s truly unreal.

The castle is called Bojnice Castle and there are plenty of other activities to do around it too, such as a zoo, dinosaur park, 30m viewing tower, hot spring spa and more!

If you are looking for somewhere awesome to stay in this area, check out this geodome – it’s brand new, located in a forest and the price is so low!

Where can you find more info

The castle has an official website where you can find info on prices and upcoming events. 

17. Marvel at the Temple of Ice in the Tatra Mountains

Rating: Free

Why is this cool

Every year, a different gigantic ice sculpture gets created inside a dome on the top of a mountain in High Tatras. No one knows the year’s theme other than the people involved – until the opening day.

What do you need to know

The theme for each year’s sculpture is carefully selected and always has a special meaning. In the 2024/2025 winter season, for example, the dome housed an ice replica of the Wawel Cathedral and Church of St. Adalbert in Krakow. This theme was chosen to commemorate the 30th anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to the High Tatras.

Every year, a number of concerts gets played in the dome throughout the season, too. You can find the dates and all the information on the official website.

Bonus tip

Want a more adventurous way down the mountain? Check out the 2.5km sledging track right next to the dome!

Where can you find more info

You can find more information on the website of the High Tatras here. There is a section about the Temple of Ice, but the website has info on other activities available, accommodation, prices etc., too.

18. Dig for opal inside the world’s oldest opal mine

Rating: budget

Why is this cool

Slovakia has multiple mines that you can still visit. But why go to an old gold mine when you can visit the world’s oldest opal mine? And not just visit, but also dig for the opal yourself??

What do you need to know

You can either do the boring tour of the mine or the epic adventurer quest, where you spend 4 extra hours exploring restricted areas of the mine and get to dig for opal using the same tools like they did 150 years ago, when the mine was operational!

We are, of course, kidding. The classic tour is definitely not boring, and there is no judgment if this is what you choose to do! In fact, the adventurer quest comes with certain restrictions that might mean you can’t actually do it (e.g. it’s only 18+, needs a minimum of 4 people etc.).

Where can you find more info

The mines have an official website and it’s in English as well, so you can read all the info, including the restrictions we mentioned, there.

19. Sleep in a geodome

Rating: budget 

Why is this cool

Stay inside a beautiful geodome in the middle of a forest for a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere. Oh, and did we mention there is a hot tub, too? And a tree house??

What do you need to know

We stayed in the geodome and so have LOADS we could share. But we don’t wanna make this post even longer than it is. So. This is what we’ll do instead:

First, check out this post which tells you ALL you need to know about staying in this awesome geodome.

Second, if you are interested in going and have any questions or need any help, DM us on our Instagram.

And now, some key things you need to know:

• The geodome is located in beautiful nature. That does mean though, that getting to it is not like rocking up in a taxi to a city centre Marriott. Here you have 3 options: 1. Walk 2km on a forest path (some parts are uphill and with slippery rocks), 2. use your own car (beware, you need a 4×4 for the forest path) or 3. book transport with the owner of the geodome. We went with option no. 3 – it was a great price (€15 both ways for all of us in total), but a rather bumpy ride, so be prepared.
• There are no restaurants in the area. Unless you want to be foraging in the forest, you will either have to walk to the village and back for food (via the 2km forest path) or you will have to bring food with you (there is an awesome kitchen with everything you need in the geodome).
• The beautiful Disney-like Bojnice Castle is not that far from this area, so definitely consider combining these two experiences.
• The price works out super cheap if you share the cost as a group. The dome sleeps up to 4 adults and 2 children.
• On a scary note, there are bears in the forest in Slovakia, including in this area. This is something you should be aware of – we talk about it more later in this post.

Where can you find more info

All the info including our personal experience (and mistakes we made 😅) is in this post, so make sure to read that.

You can also check out the geodome’s Instagram account where if you scroll down a bit, you can even see how it was built! Wild!

To book your stay, use this website. 

The one thing you need to travel Slovakia

If all of these experiences made you wanna go on the Skyscanner website to search for flights to Slovakia:

1. We get it.
2. You need something else, apart from the flights, to go.

Wondering what?

Travel insurance!

And a good one, that will cover you even as you climb mountains or explore caves.

When we were going full-time travelling we went down the travel insurance rabbit hole, researching 23 different providers… Not fun.

But, it was worth it since we discovered not one, but two companies who offer awesome travel insurance!

If you are wondering who those two companies are:  SafetyWing and True Traveller. We’d absolutely recommend them. They are both great, both created by travellers for travellers, and both offer amazing value for money.

On a scary note…

Speaking of insurance, there is something you should be aware of.

There are bears in Slovakia. 

Now, we don’t mean to be scaring you, but we believe in taking care of your own safety when travelling. So we’ve got to tell you this: while attacks are rare, they do happen.

This is why you should:

• Make sure you (and everyone else travelling with you) are aware of this information
• Look up how you should behave in a forest where bears are present (bear sprays are not really a thing in Slovakia, just in case that’s your go-to solution)
• Stick to official paths when hiking
• Not hike alone
• Ensure you always let someone know about your hiking plans, if venturing into the mountains on your own. Speaking of, this is a great, simple trick that you should use to stay safer as you travel.

If you are very concerned about the bears and would like to check whether there have been any sightings (or attacks) in the area you are heading to when you go, there is a useful tool for this.

Check out this interactive map that shows reported bear sigthtings (black bear symbol) and attacks (red bear symbol). You can click on the bear symbol and then on the text which appears if you want to read more about the incident.

Bonus tip: how to save money for all these cool experiences

Are you sitting here, reading this post, thinking: “Yeah, all these things are cool, but I can’t even afford petrol these days, let alone a trip to Slovakia and a stay in a castle!”

Well, if that is you, first of all: we feel ya. And, second, do check out our post on saving money.

We managed to save money to travel full-time for 2 years using those tricks. 

So you can save up for a trip to Slovakia.

Something else that might help? 

Prices in Slovakia are still relatively low, compared to other Western countries. For some things anyway! (such as transport, accommodation or alcohol). And, as you can see from the ratings, many of these unusual experiences are very affordable!

Let your money make you money

If you are planning your travels (not just to Slovakia) and are looking for:

• A fee-free debit card that lets you take out cash from an ATM abroad without charging you a small fortune
• A way for your money to make you more money

you should check out Monzo.

Their card is not only a quirky coral colour but also lets you take out cash from an ATM abroad without fees! So handy. Save money on ATM fees, spend on experiences – that’s what we believe in!

Monzo also offers a range of Savings Pots, which means that while you are saving money for all the unusual things to do in Slovakia, you can be earning interest on those savings. Again, the more money you make, the more you can spend once you are on your trip!

Bonus

If you use one of the links above, you will get an extra £10, for being our friend. All you have to do is create a Monzo account and make your first card payment in the following 30 days. We’ll get £10 too, so it’s a win-win!

Tips on travelling Slovakia

Know what would be sucky?

1. If you read through all these cool things you can do in Slovakia and then didn’t actually book a trip there.
2. If we wrote this post as a half-Slovak couple and didn’t include any insider tips on travelling the country!

While we can’t help you with no. 1 (just book the trip!!), we definitely can give you a few tips and tricks on navigating your way around Slovakia. Straight from locals!

English

Many young people (young here being used loosely, we’d say those under 40 at the time of writing this post) speak English – on some level. So if you need help, look for a young person. This is because English wasn’t taught in schools before, but nowadays, it’s standard starting primary school.

Money

Slovakia uses the Euro, so you don’t have to worry about having to change your money for some obscure currency. 

Cash

You can pay by card in many places – transport, shops, restaurants etc. but:

• In small shops in villages etc. it’s still common to see  “cash only” signs (cash is called “hotovosť” in Slovak).
• Same applies to stalls at markets, although in bigger towns, these have started to modernise and now offer card payments too.
• It’s always a good idea to carry some cash with you because even though some places do have a card machine, they might have a minimum spend for card payments (such as €5).

Sundays

Slovakia is still a very religious country, and so Sundays are seen as a day of rest (and for some, going to church).

What this means is: 

• Towns and villages are generally more quiet on a Sunday as noone does any loud work
• Many shops (not big supermarkets or shopping centres) close on Saturday at lunchtime and don’t open till Monday
• Public transport in towns runs on a weekend schedule during Saturday and Sunday

Public holidays

Checking public holidays in the country you are travelling to is always a smart move.

It’s very important in Slovakia, because during public holidays:

• Everything is closed, including big supermarkets and shopping centres
• Restaurants, bars, and cafes will be open, though not all of them and not everywhere (more likely in towns than in villages)
• Public transport in towns/villages runs on a weekend schedule during public holidays

You can check the Slovak public holidays here.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe to drink, but in many places (especially in the west) it is very hard, meaning it might not taste nice to you, if you are not used to it.

Good news? Slovakia has lots of mineral springs, so you can choose from a massive selection of (cheap) mineral water in shops. Including flavoured ones! Those are a great, healthier alternative to soft drinks.

Tipping

Always a tough topic, but we’d sum it up as this:

• Tipping is not a mandatory part of the payment.
• The fancier the place, the more likely you are expected to tip (generally, for example, you wouldn’t be expected to tip when having a coffee in a cafe).
• Nowadays, more and more places have a tipping jar or the option to leave a tip on a card reader – this is mainly the result of trying to be more like other Western countries, even though the level of customer service doesn’t match them.
• If you want to tip, it’s okay to either round up your total or leave a tip of around 5%-10%; higher in fancier places, of course.

How do I get to Slovakia?

Do you know what’s something that countries in Europe forever argue about?

Where the heart of Europe is.

Of course, Slovak people believe it’s in their country and, looking at the map, you’ve got to admit, the country is very centrally located.

(This is actually a bonus tip for you. Don’t go talking about how you are visiting Eastern Europe when in Slovakia. People will get offended.)

Whether this is where the heart lies or not, the point is, you have MANY options to get there.

So you can be picky. 

And save money, because you can shop about (when it comes to flights or other modes of transport).

Let’s talk about the different options for getting to Slovakia.

Bratislava

The capital city is the main transport hub and so where most travellers arrive.

Let’s talk about the different options of getting there (warning: does not include a flying carpet option. If this is your chosen mode of transport, please contact us directly).

There is the main international airport of Slovakia – to get from the airport to the train station or the city centre, catch a bus no. 61.

If you want to get a bus from Bratislava to another city, head to the Nivy bus station (it’s below a big shopping centre – a really good bus station, actually).

If you arrive to Bratislava by bus but then have an onward train connection, jump on no. 40 from in front of the Nivy shopping centre to get to the train station in 10 mins (just make sure you are going in the right direction as no. 40 goes in two different ways). The bus no. 61 from the airport also goes directly to the train station (it’s the final stop).

For all transport in Slovakia, use this website to see the timetables of buses and trains.

Alternatively, there is a website specifically for information on trains, including how to buy tickets.

Alternative options for flying to Slovakia

There are two other airports you can fly to, even from abroad:

Kosice (East of Slovakia and the second biggest city)

Poprad (access to the High Tatra mountains)

Do keep in mind, though, that these offer fewer connections than the main airport in Bratislava.

Vienna

Did you know that Vienna is literally next door to Bratislava? People are always surprised when we tell them you can do Vienna on a day trip from there. It’s such a great travel hack – you can stay in cheaper Bratislava and yet sightsee Vienna too!

Vienna airport has a direct bus connection to Bratislava. It only takes an hour and you can choose from 3 bus companies: RegioJet, Flixbus and Slovak Lines.

All 3 are pretty much the same in terms of the journey length and stops, so decide based on the schedule and price.

Make sure to book in advance though, as prices increase closer to the time and tickets are awfully expensive when bought directly from the driver.

We usually fly from Vienna airport, rather than Bratislava, because it has better connections (and more of them too) and usually also cheaper prices.

If you’re in Vienna city centre, you can get a bus directly to Bratislava, again it takes around an hour. Choose from Flixbus, RegioJet or Slovak Lines.

There is also a train, but it does not run to the main train station in Bratislava, so you will need to get public transport, too if the main station or the city centre is your destination.

Budapest

Budapest is another European capital you can get to easily from Bratislava. Choose between a train or a bus – it will get you there in just 2.5 hours.

One thing to be aware of is that the train station is located pretty centrally in Budapest, while the bus stations are on the outskirts. You can easily get public transport from there to the centre though.

Other options

If all of this isn’t enough, there are more options. If you catch one of the direct buses from Bratislava, you can be in Krakow in just 6-7 hours 

Another option is Prague – in around 4.5 hours by train or bus, directly! You can choose to go with a local provider called Regiojet, which operates buses and trains or go with Flixbus (buses only).

What have you decided? Which experience do you fancy the most? Let us know in the comments – we are so curious since we have done many of them ourselves (but not all – yet!).

Also, if you have questions about any of these cool experiences, give us a shout in the comments or on our Instagram.