Slovakia
is understated beauty
is tranquil countryside views
is a contrast of ages
Welcome to Slovakia
Right in the heart of Europe, Slovakia is a land of castles and mountains, occasionally punctuated by industrial sprawl. More than a quarter-century after Czechoslovakia's break-up, Slovakia has emerged as a self-assured, independent nation. Capital city Bratislava draws visitors to its resplendent old town and tankard-clanking drinking culture. But Slovakia shines brightest for lovers of the outdoors. Walking trails in the High Tatras wend through landscapes of unearthly beauty, with mirror-still glacier lakes backed by 2000m peaks.
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Dunajec River Gorge and Niedzica Castle from Krakow
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Cracow Tours, Krakow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandSituated by the Vistula river, Krakow is the cradle of Polish culture anda characteristic urban phenomenon. It is the former capital of Poland, the place of coronation and later the burial ground of almost all Polish monarchs. For a long time it has been attracting scholars with the oldest university in the country, artists with the cultural climate and pilgrims with the sanctuaries and holy relics. Since the beginning, Kraków has also been enticing tourists with its atmosphere, monuments, and recently also the memory of Pope John Paul II.The legendary founder of the city was Prince Krak, the vanquisher of the Wawel Dragon (the effigy of the beast stands at the foot of Wawel Hill). Remnants of the oldest history of the city have been preserved in two mounds dating from the 7th century called the Wanda and Krak mounds. The first historical information about Krakow is contained in a 10th-century note of Ibrahim ibn Jakub. In the book of Muhammad al-Idrisi (dating from the 12th century) Krakow is described as a “beautiful and large city with many houses, residents, markets, vineyards and gardens.” At the beginning of the 12th century Gallus Anonymous depictedKrakow as a thriving metropolis and wrote in his Chronicles: “Krakow, the capital city, excels all Polish cities.” Krakow was founded according to the Magdeburg law (by Bolesław V the Chaste) on the 5 June 1257. district) was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural HeritageSites in 1978 as the first of its kind.It is important for the residents of Krakow to cultivate their traditions such as the annual nativity crib contest or the Lajkonik wandering in the octave of theCorpus Christi (June) from Zwierzyniec to the Main Market Square.Among the many eminent people connected to Krakow are the Pope John Paul II; the Nobel Prize poets Czesław Miłosz and Wislawa Szymborska; the founder of the avant-garde theatre Cricot-2, Tadeusz Kantor; the playwright Stanisław Mrozek; Stanislaw Lem – the legend of Polish fantasy writing; Stanislaw Wyspianski – a painter, poet, playwright, designer and the author of works such as the stained glass decorating the Franciscan Church; and Dr. Feliks “Manggha” Jasinski– the benefactor of the Japanese collection displayed currently in the Manggha Centre of Japanese Art and Technology funded by Andrzej Wajda. Stop At: Niedzica Castle (Zamek w Niedzicy), Niedzica, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandThe Niedzica Castle was built between the years 1320 and 1326 by an Hungarian person known as the Kokos of Brezovica. For several years this castle was used as the border between Hungary and Poland. Along the history this castle had many owners principally aristocrat families.The Niedzica Castle was built on a hill 300 meters upstream from the Dunajec River. The Niedzica Castle is considered as one of the most beautiful castles in all Poland.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Dunajec Gorge, Southern PolandDunajec Gorge is also one of the best-known tourist attractions in the Pieniny Mountains. Wooden raft trips have been organized daily by Pieniny Gorals since the early 19th century — when their customers consisted mostly of guests of nearby Niedzica and Czorsztyn castles. The trip begins in the village of Sromowce Wyzne-Katy, and ends in the resort town of Szczawnica, 18 km downstream. It takes about 2–3 hours. The second leg of the tour is only 5 km long. It begins in Szczawnica and ends in the town of Kroscienko nad Dunajcem. The Gorge makes 7 loops in its length. The surrounding rock reaches 300 m in height almost all the way through.Duration: 3 hours
Bratislava Local Secrets with Picnic and Trolleybus
Forget about generic Bratislava city tours that only go as far as the Old Town, and experience the city the way locals live it. Your guides grew up here and want to show you what most tourists don’t see: local pubs, street art, and crowd-free viewpoints. You’ll also eat and drink some beloved local tastes, so there’s that too. City tour kicks off in the heart of the Old Town, with a traditional welcome: bread with salt and a small shot of Borovička, a local spirit. We’re not messing around! We’ll take a narrow local street up to the Michalská brána tower, which houses a museum of historical weapons and city fortification. It’s also home to a rather epic 360-degree view of the old part of town. From there, we’ll navigate further into the Old Town, checking out its most historic buildings and its most important Gothic monument. In amongst the history we’ll stop for a modern taste: locally brewed PUNK beer. In the pub you’ll get to chat more with your guides and learn about their lives in Bratislava. Your city tour continues through one of the oldest thoroughfares in the city, home to one of the city’s oldest ruins: Esterházy Palace. From there, it’s off to the tranquil atmosphere of St. Martin’s Cathedral, followed in contrast by one of the most controversial squares in Bratislava, where a Jewish synagogue used to stand. From the square you’ll be able to spot our next top in the distance: Bratislava Castle. The way to the castle will be filled with opportunities to take some really cool photos of the city. One viewpoint is so picture-perfect that we’ll stop there for a picnic with a view. Sample local sausages, cheese, and a homemade biscuit-type pastry called pagáče – you can’t get any more local than this! Bratislava Castle. We’ll stop in the main square for a classic photo op, check out the yard, and then head for the trolley — that's how locals get around Bratislava — en route to Horský Park, a beautiful wooded area and favourite spot for locals to go for a wander. Right next door is a hidden monument from WWI, tucked away in a district of the city popular with diplomats and moneymakers. Opposite the monument is Slavin, the most prominent reminder of WWII in Bratislava. Here, we’ll give you a final cultural lesson — in azbuka (you’ll have to join the tour to figure out what that one is) — before heading to the end. Literally. To end your city tour, we’re taking you to a pub whose name means funeral. But don’t worry, this hyper-local pub only signifies the end of the tour, where you’ll enjoy a local beverage, mingle with your new friends, and set the tone for the rest of your evening.
Bratislava 1-Hour City Highlights Walking Tour with Guide
Meet your guide at the centrally located Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel to begin your tour, then follow your guide through Primatial Square in Bratislava Old Town. Right away you notice Primatial Palace (Primaciálny Palác), a lovely pink and white structure dominating the square. The palace was built in 1781 with a Classicist-style facade capped with marble statues and a cast iron cardinal’s hat. Learn how Napoleon signed the Peace of Pressburg treaty here in 1805 after his defeat at the Battle of Austerlitz.Next, travel to the heart of the city, to the lively Main Square and see Old Town Hall, the oldest town hall in Slovakia. Listen to your guide talk about how Old Town Hall served as the main marketplace and space for public gatherings, and housed a prison and minting site. Today, the building hosts the Bratislava City Museum, and the outlook from the top of the tower offers panoramic views of Bratislava Old Town. Your guide then leads you to Franciscan Square, a more serene space than the Main Square. Named after the Franciscan church with a monastery, the square is surrounded by historical buildings, but the main landmark is Mirbach Palace, a gorgeous Rococo-styled construction from 1770.Visit Bratislava’s largest church, St Martin's Cathedral, built in the 14th century, and learn how this church once served as the coronation site for the kingdom of Hungary. Your introductory and informative tour also includes visits to several charming Bratislava Old Town streets, where you’ll see more palaces and other historical sites, and also note some quaint vintage shops to perhaps visit later on. Your tour concludes back at the original start point in the early afternoon.
Bratislava by Night 2-Hour Walking Tour with Local Guide
Meet your guide at the centrally located Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel to begin your tour. Stroll through the charming, cobblestoned streets of Bratislava Old Town toward Bratislava Castle, a gleaming white structure located on a hill. When you reach the top, enjoy the castle grounds as your guide explains the castle’s history dating back to the Stone Age. Then, climb up one of the castle’s four towers and take in amazing views of the city and Danube River.Trek back down the hill, follow your guide through the meandering, narrow streets of Bratislava Old Town and admire the Neo-Renaissance architecture of the 19th century Slovak National Theatre. Your guide explains how drama productions at the theater served an important role in reviving national pride and how today you can see marvelous performances of opera, ballet and drama.Visit more beautiful architecture at Reduta, home of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, and learn how Reduta was built in 1915 on what used to be a stone granary in the 18th century. Today, Reduta is a venue for extravagant balls and the annual Bratislava Music Festival.Cross the Danube River and end your tour on a high note by riding an elevator up to the UFO Observation Deck, 312 feet (95 meters) above ground. At the top, take in panoramic views on the open-air platform, where the eastern side gives you a romantic, lit-up view of the city center and the western side rewards you with views of Devin Castle and the river.Enjoy a leisurely drink at the round-shaped restaurant located below the deck (own expense), and note how the city lights have turned Bratislava into a different sight to behold. Your guide will then lead you back to the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel.
2 Hour Sightseeing Tour of Bratislava
Meet your local guide at the Slovak National Theater at 10am (weekends) or 2pm (workdays) for a 2-hour tour through Bratislava’s Old Town. Discover the highlights of the historical center and perhaps even learn a bit of the Slovak language.Learn about the strange Man At Work statue decorating a Bratislava sidewalk. Stroll past the elegant neoclassical Primate’s Palace. As you wander past the Old Town Hall and the city’s medieval fortifications, your guide will tell you stories about their significance, enhancing your understanding of the buildings. Admire the Academia Istropolitana, built when Bratislava was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and the striking St. Martin’s Cathedral.After a whirlwind two hours, you will have a deeper understanding of the history of Bratislava.
Bratislava Post-Communism Tour
Sites covered during this 2,5-hour tour may vary a bit, but you will see most of these: • the first prefabricated apartment block in Czechoslovakia as well as the largest socialist housing project in Europe, Petržalka • abandoned and destroyed industrial objects as symbols of post-industrial transformations, new capitalist developments • communist-era architecture (socialist realism, functionalism, brutalism) • political objects: Soviet memorial Slavín, diplomatic 1970’s hotel, 1980’s parliament, villas of former communist leaders • ride under the controversial ufo-like SNP bridge, causing destruction of the Jewish district • 1930’s Czechoslovak fortification system, bunkers built against the potential Hitler’s invasion • former Iron Curtain area, border between communist Czechoslovakia and Austria Please note that in some cases (winter conditions, car repairs etc.) we can not guarantee the retro car, but go with our funky green 1992 VW Caravelle or other post-communist / capitalist car.