Grand Tour of Slovakia 2020

Day 1
WELCOME TO BRATISLAVA – BEAUTY ON THE DANUBE RIVER

We will wait for you at the airport’s arrival hall holding a sign with your name. Comfortable drive to Bratislava (45 min drive).
Welcome drink and introduction of the itinerary. Your lovely holiday has just started.

Evening– We recommend you a cosy place for dinner.

Overnight in Bratislava

Day 2
BRATISLAVA QUALITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Morning
Meeting at 9am at your hotel and drive to Devin castle (15min drive) – situated at the confluence of the Danube & Morava rivers. Its owners could control the important trade route along the Danube as well as one branch of the Amber Road. After admiring the beautiful castle ruin and enjoyingviews on Austria, we show you where once the “Iron curtain” – the former border between the West and the East used to stand. An overview of the communist history (1948-1989). Devin area is also famous for its current wine. Have you ever tried current wine? Try now, It’s a regional specialty. Drive back and visit Slavin (World War2 memorial) and symbol of the city – Bratislava castle – to enjoy stunning views of the Danube river and know more about its rich history.

Afternoon
After lunch break in the Old town (we will recommend you a great restaurant), continue with the quality sightseeing tour to show you the highlights of the Old town.
Walking through the main square (admire a beautiful former town hall), the Primate Palace (outside) – the largest in Bratislava where the Treaty of Pressburg was signed in the Hall of Mirrors. Take pictures of some of our funny statues such as Cumil – the worker. Visit of the St. Martin’s Cathedral – the coronation place of 18 rulers including Austria-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa, walking through the only preserved entrance – Michaels gate. Late afternoon at leisure.

You’ll get tips which museum, gallery is worth to see, where to enjoy coffee & cake, a glass of excellent Slovak wine, where to buy good quality souvenirs. Your guide is ready to help you.

Evening– We recommend you a cosy place for dinner.

Overnight in Bratislava
Total driving distance: 25km / 15mi, driving time: 40min, walking time: up to 5 hours

Day 3
BANSKA STIAVNICA – the SILVER TOWN / UNESCO

Morning
Meeting at 8:30am (check out) and scenic drive northeast. After 2hrs driving we’ll be in one of the most beautiful, most romantic and most special town – a picturesque Banska Stiavnica. It is like to step in the past centuries. Get an overview of the rich history of this town connected with the mining of silver, copper and gold. Visit of the Old castle – a majestic fortress, 16^thcentury New castle, the heart of the Old town – the Holy Trinity square with beautiful sights such as the gothic 15^thcentury St. Catherine church, admire Renaissance buildings and the baroque Holy Trinity column.

Afternoon
Lunch break at restaurant Monarchia is about home-made specialties and great atmosphere. Do you like beer?
Then, ERB restaurant will satisfy you with its high-quality microbrewery and a delicious cuisine.
Which of these special beers from Slovak ingredients will be your favorite? Will it be Erb Pale lager 10 or 12, Erb Weizen 12, Erb Dark special 13 with balanced bitter and sweet tastes? Free time for souvenirs, coffee & cake break.

We continue Banska Bystrica – the 6^thlargest Slovak city and geographical centre of Slovakia. (Before entering Banska Bystrica, a short stop and visit a hidden jewel – a wooden articular church Hronsek, listed on UNESCO World Heritage). Continue to Banska Bystrica.

A short introduction tour around the main square to see the highlights. There is a saying “While alive in Banska Bystrica, after death in heaven”.

Evening– At your own. Your guide will helpe you to find an ideal place for you. A good Slovak restaurant or enjoying beer & specialties in the former castle Barbakan?

Overnight in Banska Bystrica
Total driving distance: 230km / 140mi, driving time: 2hours 45min, walking time: 4-5 hours

Day 4
VLKOLINEC, LEVOCA and SPISS CASTLE/ 3x  UNESCO

Morning
Meeting at 9am (check out) and visit of Museum of Slovak National Uprising (the anti-nazi uprising started on August 29, 1944 in Banska Bystrica), then drive to Vlkolinec (UNESCO), a remarkably intact settlement with the traditional features of a central European village. It is the region’s most complete group of these kinds of traditional log houses, often found in mountainous areas. Great opportunity to try samples of honey wine (mead), from local wine makers.

Go back in time and see how people used to live two centuries ago.

Visit of a little square, baroque chapel, wooden belfry and folk museum showing all the instruments of daily life and work.

Afternoon
Lunch break in a charming medieval town Levoca. It is undoubtedly cultural and historical jewel among Slovak towns. The highlights of Levoca is the Roman Catholic church of St. Jacob from 14th century with its largest wooden altar in the world – a masterpiece from Master Paul of Levoca. Museum visit & strolling around.

On our way to Kosice we stop and truly enjoy another gem – the Spiss Castle. On a dolomite rock, there is one of the most precious cultural monuments in the Spis region – the Spis castle. It is not just an evidence of architectural development from the 12th to the 18th century – it is also one of the largest castles in the Central Europe. Stop in Zehra church famous for its fresco Tree of life. Further we visit Spisska Kapitula, also known as “Slovak Vatikan” and enter into the Cathedral of St. Martin. Continue to Kosice.

Evening– At your own. Plenty of great restaurants are waiting for you. Your guide will help you to decide the best and book the tables for you.

Overnight in Kosice
Total driving distance: 240km / 150mi, driving time: 2hours 50min, walking time: up to 4 hrs

Day 5
KOSICE – CULTURAL CAPITAL 2013

Day 6
BARDEJOV – OLD TOWN AND SPA RESORT / UNESCO

Morning
Meeting at 9am (check out) and drive up to the north. Our first stop is in a little village Hervartov to see a unique wooden Roman-catholic church of St. Francis of Assisi from 15th century.
Then, drive to one of the most beautiful medieval towns – Bardejov , settled in the 14th century, fortified with stone walls and bastions to repel foreign tribes. Most of the walls and bastions are still standing.

Our exploration we start with Bardejov Spa – trying the healing water. It was a place where prominent European rulers and personalities spent some time, among the most famous belong the empress Elisabeth, known as Sissi. Try the healing water from eight springs, Main, Medical, Claire, Elisabeth, Napoleon, Francis, Hercules and Alexander.

Next to the Spa resort there is the the oldest open-air museum in Slovakia, let’s visit and go back to the life of the 19-20^thcentury of the Slovaks and Rusyns, walk into the houses of peasants, middle class, mayor’s house, then we come back to the Old town for a walking tour.

Afternoon

Quality sightseeing tour in the heart of Bardejov town – Town Hall’s square, gothic St. Egidius church, climb the church tower with its fantastic view on former fortification walls around the city, the Old Town Hall, see the City walls – seven of the original bastions are still standing.

Evening– At your own. We recommend to take an evening stroll around this special town. No crowds, beautifully lid up the main sights and special atmosphere.

Overnight in Bardejov
Total driving distance: 80km / 50mi, driving time: 1hour 15min, walking time: 5-6 hours

Day 7
PIENINY NATIONAL PARK

Morning
Meeting at 9am (check out) and drive to national park Pieniny for calm-water rafting on wooden logs* It is an incredibly charming, green area, the river Dunajec creates a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. The ride takes 1hour 15min on a calm river.

Afternoon
Lunch in a goral region, trying goral meals and drinks. Stop in a former Red Monastery where two different types of monks used to live. *) Alternative program is walking up to 3 Crown hill.

Evening– At your own.

Overnight in Strbske Pleso or Stary Smokovec or Tatranska Lomnica (3 top holiday resorts)
Total driving distance: 350km / 217mi, driving time: 4hours 45min, walking time: 4-5 hours

Day 8
UNCOVER THE BEAUTY OF TATRA MOUNTAINS
– highest peaks at High Tatra National Park

Morning
Meeting at 9am. It’s easy to fall in love with High Tatras – mountains with its picturesque valleys, brooks, waterfalls, colorful meadows, tarns with crystal clear water.

We are very excited to show you our lovely mountains, firstly, drive to Stary Smokovec town to take a funicular railway (tickets not included) to get Hrebienok and walk to the waterfalls. An easy walking tour in the nature.

Afternoon
We move to Tatranska Lomnica town (15min by car) to take a cable car (tickets not included) to Skalnate pleso station to see the High Tatra mountains from above. We enjoy a little walk around Skalnate pleso, views of the Lomnicky peak and valley views.

Please note, if you would like to go up to the top of Lomnicky peak (2^ndhighest peak in High Tatras), it is necessary an advance booking with a full payment to get the tickets. Please let us know.

Other possibilities what to do today (in case of bad weather or you do not like cable cars)

1, easy walking tour to Popradske pleso lake (on the smooth road, total of 2-3 hours of walking)
2, longer hiking tour, total of 6-7 hours (e.g. up to cottage by Green lake or Teryho cottage)
3, visit the only accessible cave in High Tatras – Belianska cave (tickets not included)
4, museum about the National park of High Tatras (tickets not included)
5, Aquapark Poprad – swimming, saunas, SPA treatments (tickets not included)

Evening– At your own

Overnight in Strbske Pleso or Stary Smokovec or Tatranska Lomnica (3 top holiday resorts)
Total driving distance: 50km / 31mi, driving time: 1hour, walking time: 4-6hours

Day 9
DAY TRIP TO POLAND – ZAKOPANE RESORT – POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Morning
Meet at 9am and see the High Tatras from the other side, from the Polish side.
Our travelers love this day trip to Zakopane – famous summer – winter resort where it is possible to enjoy tasty traditional Polish meals, drinks, desserts. Free time on the famous shopping street.

Afternoon – lunch break and trying traditional Polish specialties.

Evening– At your own

However, if you feel like you would prefer to do some activities in Slovakia, your tour guide will be ready and happy to do walking or hiking trips with you.

1, visit the Dobsinska Ice cave in Slovak Paradise park (tickets not included)
2, visit of Skanzen – an open air museum in Prybilina or Stara Lubovna (get a complete picture of a 19th century way of life, houses, wooden churches)

Overnight in Strbske Pleso or Stary Smokovec or Tatranska Lomnica (3 top holiday resorts)
Total driving distance: 150km / 93mi, driving time: 1hour 30min, walking time: 3hours

Day 10
CICMANY VILLAGE – BOJNICE CHATEAU > BACK TO BRATISLAVA

Morning
Meeting at 8:30am (check out) and drive back to Bratislava is very scenic, we firstly visit remote Cicmany village famous and unique for wooden houses painted with white ornaments. It is like in a fairy-tale, worth to visit. Afterwards, short drive to see the most romantic chateau Bojnice, according to the National Geographic respected magazine, it was rated in 2017 as one of the 10 most beautiful castles in the world. Tour through the fully furnished rooms, admire the Golden Hall, the chapel, the Grand hall, the blue and green saloon. Which room is your favorite?

Afternoon– lunch break in Bojnice. Comfortable drive to Bratislava.

Evening – Enjoy an evening Bratislava – relaxing walking in the Old town or having drinks in  Danube promenade Eurovea while watching the Danube river. At leisure. Overnight in Bratislava.

Overnight in Bratislava
Total driving distance: 390km / 242mi, driving time: 5hours 15min, walking time: 3hours

Day 11
FAREWELL and DEPARTURE

Your memorable holiday comes to an end today. We are ready to arrange for you an airport transfer – comfortable door-to-door service for discounted rates.