The most beautiful natural sites to discover Slovakia

To the southwest of the village of Silica in Slovak Karst is a chasm 50 m long, 30 m wide and 91 m deep. A signposted path from the village leads to this abyss, a site inhabited since prehistoric times. Continuing along the path, you will find the Silická Ice Cave, named after the presence of an ice cascade that has been frozen for 2,000 years. This cave is not freely accessible, its entrance is fenced.

This cave is more than 2.9 km long and 55 metres deep. The temperature inside is around 8.5°C/9.5°C, which is ideal for "thermal caving therapy". This cave has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was used in the Middle Ages as a refuge for the populations of the region. It is also a bat paradise: there are 19 species out of 24 recorded in Slovakia. The visit lasts 45 minutes and is spread over 720 metres.

It is the only aragonite cave on the European continent. There are two others in Mexico and Argentina. Aragonite, a very rare variety of calcium carbonate, crystallizes into twigs and small white shrubs. She draws delicate and poetic structures. The most beautiful part of the cave is called the Milky Way, which sparkles like a starry sky. The cave was discovered in 1954 by miners and opened to the public in 1972.

One of the most important caves in the Slovak Karst National Park, the Gombaseská Cave is located at the western foot of the Silická Plateau, between Slavec and Plešivec. This small cave, only 1.5 km long, with red and brown walls, is famous for its remarkably fine stalactites and stalagmites up to 3 meters high. Only the first 350 meters are open to the public. It is classified as a world heritage site by Unesco.

The largest, most colourful and most visited of the Slovak Karst caves. It offers a network of 22 km of galleries, including 6 in Slovakia and 16 in Hungary with stalactites and stalagmites the size of tree trunks. It is crossed by an underground river, called Styx, on which it is possible to sail for 2 km along ice formations with dreamlike shapes of great beauty. Duration of the visit between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

Krásna Hôrka Cave is a cave located in Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka. Caving guides are available for groups of 4 to 10 people. You will be provided with all the necessary equipment for caving, i.e. wetsuit, harness, helmet and lamp. This form of visit is original and sporty. Reservations can be made by phone or email directly to the cave administrator, Mr. Jaroslav Stankovič

In the middle of the spruce forest, between Lipovce and Lačnov, is the only cave in the region open to the public. This pretty cave is formed in a limestone and dolomitic rock between the Branisko and Bachureň massifs. The 40-minute guided tour is an unforgettable experience. As the area is not lit, we will provide you with all the equipment of the budding speleologist to take a less demanding route suitable for all levels.

From the 16th to the 19th century, Banská Štiavnica developed a revolutionary system: a hydrographic network of 60 artificial lakes dug to pump water from mines and run machinery. Today, this system is a World Heritage Site and 23 lakes are frequented by tourists in summer for walks and swimming. The lake Počúvadlo is the largest of them. A beautiful hike links the lake Počúvadlo to Mount Sitno for 3 km, about 2 hours of walking.

List of proposed accommodation around the lake. Chata Dorotka, Chata Hron, Chata Katka, Chata Lodiar, Chata West, Hotel Topky, Koliba Veronika, Penzión Anna, Penzión Omad, Penzión pod Sitnom, Terasa u Blaškov.

Bratislava Zoo is one of the largest and most beautiful zoos in Slovakia. It is located in the Mlynska Valley Forest Park. Opened in May 1960, the park covers an area of 96 hectares, 35 of which are open to the public. It is home to 174 species and 1,396 animals. The zoo takes in injured animals in its rehabilitation zone. The dinosaur park features life-size reconstructions of these prehistoric lizards.

Built during the 13th century, Červený Kameň Castle was an integral part of the system of fortifications that protected the western part of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1535, the castle came into the possession of the Fugger family, who transformed it to serve their mining operation. Gigantic cellars were built to store the ore. The role of the castle remains essentially defensive, before a new transformation carried out by the noble family of Palffy, which makes it a Renaissance palace at the end of the 16th century. In the courtyard is built a palace with two wings, while the interiors are completely restored: vaults decorated with stucco ornaments and frescoes with mythological motifs. The renovation of the castle was completed with magnificent baroque gardens. In 1945, the castle became a national monument. In its interiors there is a unique exhibition reflecting the development of the culture of the nobility and the bourgeoisie - here you can find beautiful aristocratic salons, luxurious rooms, but also a period dining room and a beautiful knights' hall. The tour also shows the former underground spaces and the huge storage cellars. The north bastion also hosts interesting seasonal exhibitions that complement and enrich the permanent exhibitions of the castle. Červený Kameň offers several types of guided tours, but some parts of it are accessible without a guide.

The Brestová Cave is the first cave in the Orava region that is open to the public. It is about 1,450 m long and only 217 m open (round trip), which means a visit of 434 m. It contains an underground river and nine species of bats. The visit lasts about 50 minutes and the temperature inside varies between 4.9°C and 5.4°C. For safety reasons, entry is limited to groups of no more than 15 people.

This nature reserve is located on a limestone hill belonging to the karstic massif. The summit rises to an altitude of 781 m and from this site you can admire the Volovské vrchy massif and the Ružín dam as well as the large 600-hectare artificial lake. It is one of the most visited peaks in Košice. The reason is simple: its relatively easy accessibility and the breathtaking view from its steep ridge is considered one of the most beautiful in eastern Slovakia. It is a very popular place in summer

This small town 20 km north-east of Košice has the only cold water geyser in Slovakia. The water gushes naturally from a depth of 450 metres to a height of 20 to 30 metres every 32 to 34 hours. In the middle of the small wooded park, decorated with wood carvings representing the local heritage, the geyser springs up for about 30 minutes. Tourist information in Košice can inform you about the day and time of the next geyser.

An astonishing rocky concentration, the Haligovské Skaly protected area is located in the municipality of Haligovce, in the heart of the Pieniny park. The natural area is home to many unique cliffs and limestone formations accessible by hiking trails from Červený Kláštor and Haligovce. There are also many natural cavities and caves, known since the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, no local caves are open to the public.

A very nice hike marked in red (No. 0902) is possible from the bus station of Lipovce (587 m) and leads to the gorges of Lačnov (823 m) (Tiesňava Lačnovského potoka - Lačnov) in 1 hour 20.

The Branisko massif has many interesting natural riches in the image of the nearby Méchant Hole cave. This whole territory belongs to Kamenná Baba's natural reserve, which also offers beautiful hikes reminiscent of those of the Slovak Paradise. This superb hike from Lipovce station is at the normal level. It leads into a 2 km long limestone canyon and offers you the possibility to climb ladders, to see waterfalls, a protected flora and fauna, as well as original geological natural formations.

The Kolárovo Water Mill is a well reconstructed floating mill, anchored on the bank of the dead arm of the Little Danube. It is a unique monument and the last one in Slovakia, which is why it is part of the national cultural heritage. This place is dedicated to agrotourism to discover the local environment and ecosystem. The place offers accommodation, horseback riding along the Vah River to Komárno. A good family attraction.

One of the only accessible mines in the Liptov region, in which one can apprehend the hard work of miners in the hope of finding gold. A visit you will remember for a long time, in these galleries built over decades thanks to the hard work of man. A headlamp will be given to each visitor before entering, no special clothing or shoes are required. By car, a paid parking is available 200 m from the site.

The entrance is located on the northwestern slope of Smrekovice. It is not the best known cave in the country, but it is one of the oldest in the region. Discovered in 1720, it was formed by erosion and corrosion of an underground stream. In a beautiful valley, the visit is interesting even if the guides do not speak (or little) English. The temperature inside the cave is always stable, around 6°C, so bring a little wool, especially in summer.

The Demänovská Ice Cave is one of the oldest known caves in Europe. This cave is particularly remarkable for its surreal ice formations that were formed as a result of a landslide about five hundred years ago. The air cooled and the waterfalls and lakes gradually froze. The visit lasts about 45 minutes for a circuit of 650 meters. Bring a good sweater, the temperature constantly oscillates between 0 °C and 3 °C.