Slovakia
A trip to Slovakia suits travelers who want mountains, caves and spa towns in one country, with the capital Bratislava and the eastern city of Košice.
Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Its capital and largest city is Bratislava, and Košice, in the east, is the second-largest. Most of the country is mountainous. The Carpathians cover the northern half, and the Tatra Mountains are the highest range. Gerlachovský štít, at 2,655 metres in the High Tatras, is the country's highest point.
Travelers come for the mountains, caves, spa towns and old towns. The High Tatras have many lakes, and about 13 caves are open to the public. Around 21 thermal spa towns are built on mineral springs, and the UNESCO-listed old towns include Levoča and Bardejov. Late September and early October are usually dry and sunny. Summer suits hiking in the mountains, and winter brings skiing in the High Tatras. Most visitors head to the capital, the Tatras and the Liptov region.
Five things to know before Slovakia
- Register under EES at your first Schengen border
Slovakia is in Schengen. Non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a face photo the first time they enter, and the days then count toward one shared 90 in any 180 across member countries. EES explained
- Carry a passport between Bratislava and Vienna
Austria checks its land and river borders with Slovakia from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027, per the European Commission list. Slovakia itself is not on the list. Vienna to Bratislava
- Allow for rail works at both ends of the main line
The Bratislava main station is under works until 12 December 2026, and Košice station changes some timetables from 5 October 2026, with no end date on ZSSK's notice. Check your exact train in the ZSSK app. How to get to Košice
- Check the Tatra trail closure before you hike
Tatra National Park closes the trails on its official list from 1 November to 31 May, with other dates for a few. Check the park's list for your route. TANAP visitor rules
- Pay the e-vignette before using motorways
Slovakia sells electronic vignettes valid for 1, 10, 30 or 365 days, tied to the vehicle and paid for before you use the charged sections. The operator's site lists web, app and petrol-station sales. eznamka.sk
Slovakia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Old Town, castle and the Danube, close to Vienna.
Read the guideKošiceThe eastern city, its main street and Slovak Karst day trips.
Read the guideWhere to stay in BratislavaOld Town, riverside, station area or Petržalka.
Read the guideVienna to BratislavaTrain, coach, Danube boat or car, and what to carry.
Read the guideHow to get to KošiceTrain, coach and plane across the length of Slovakia.
Read the guideDay trips from KošiceSlovak Karst, Spiš Castle and Morské Oko.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses, driving and passes across borders.
Read the guide
Destinations in Slovakia
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €25
- Food
- €25
- Transport
- €5
- Sights
- €10
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €65
- Food
- €55
- Transport
- €25
- Sights
- €15
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €110
- Food
- €100
- Transport
- €60
- Sights
- €60
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, thawMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, thaw
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, springAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Dry, warmMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Hot, wettestJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, wettest
- AugustClear9 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Hot, busyAugustClear
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, wine seasonSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, wine season
- OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Dry, autumnOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, autumn
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Young wine, coldNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Young wine, cold
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low0°Christmas marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Bratislava, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Slovakia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -3°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Slovakia
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today5°-1°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue4°-1°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed5°-3°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 5°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu5°-4°0%Thursday: Fog. High 5°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°-1°0%Friday: Clear. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°-1°2%Saturday: Clear. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun6°-1°13%Sunday: Drizzle. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 06:08 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketOn tour in Slovakia: Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Bratislava, May 4, 2027
Before you go to Slovakia
Slovakia FAQ
Do I need a visa for Slovakia?
Not for short stays on a British passport, and the same Schengen rule applies to many other passports: up to 90 days in any 180. You register in the EES at your first Schengen border; use the visa checker for your passport.
Can I visit Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna?
Yes. Visit Bratislava lists coaches at one-hour intervals, and trains and a Danube boat also run. Carry a passport, because Austria checks the border until 15 March 2027.
When can I hike in the High Tatras?
Tatra National Park closes the trails on its list from 1 November to 31 May, so high routes are open in summer and early autumn. The park publishes the list and a map; check your route there before you set out.
How many days do I need in Slovakia?
A week covers two nights in Bratislava, the long express east and two nights in Košice with a Slovak Karst trip. Add days in the Tatras if the trails are open.
Does Slovakia use the euro?
Yes. Slovakia uses the euro, and the UK government quotes its local fines in euros.