Home / Slovakia / Sights
On the road in Slovakia

Top Sights and Highlights of Slovakia

Slovakia is a compact country with a surprisingly varied landscape: the snow-capped peaks of the High Tatras, one of Central Europe's largest castle ruins, underground dripstone caves and a fairy-tale castle that inspired more than one Disney set. The D1 is the country's backbone, but plenty of highlights are well worth reaching even when they're not right on the motorway.

6highlights in this guide
2,634 mhighest point: Lomnický štít
1UNESCO World Heritage Site: Spiš Castle
Photo: Skalnaté pleso with Lomnický štít · Totalrandomphotos · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The D1 links Bratislava via Trnava, Žilina and Poprad to Prešov and Košice, the natural backbone of a road trip through Slovakia. The highlights below lie partly right along that route, and partly a short, easily manageable detour away.

Lomnický štít and Kežmarský štít seen from Skalnaté pleso

Vysoké Tatry & Lomnický štít

The High Tatras are the highest mountain range in the Carpathians. From Tatranská Lomnica, a cable car runs to the summit of the 2,634-metre Lomnický štít, home to an astronomical observatory at the highest permanently staffed point in Slovakia.

📍Take the Poprad exit off the D1 and follow the signs towards Tatranská Lomnica. Booking the cable car online in advance is recommended.
The mountain lake Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras

Štrbské Pleso

The best-known and most-visited mountain lake in the High Tatras, at 1,350 metres altitude, surrounded by pine forests and peaks, one of the finest spots for hiking.

📍Take the Štrba exit off the D1, then continue up into the mountain village, popular in both summer and winter.
Spiš Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe

Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad)

One of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, now partly in ruins, with roots dating back to the early 13th century and covering more than 4 hectares. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

📍Sits almost right beside the D1 between Poprad and Prešov, 1 km from Spišské Podhradie. Free parking at the entrance.
Dripstone formations in the Demänovská Cave of Liberty

Demänovská jaskyňa slobody (Cave of Liberty)

Slovakia's most-visited cave, with more than 8 kilometres of passages and striking dripstone formations, located in the Low Tatras.

📍About 13 km south of Liptovský Mikuláš, a short detour off the D1 between Žilina and Poprad.
Bratislava Castle above the Danube

Bratislava, castle & old town

The white castle towers high above the Danube, with a compact, atmospheric historic old town right beneath it. It makes for an easy short stopover.

📍Starting point of the D1 (and D2), close to the Austrian border, ideal as the first or last stop on your route.
The fairy-tale castle of Bojnice

Bojnice Castle

Slovakia's most-visited castle: a romantic, turret-covered fairy-tale castle from the 19th century, built on the foundations of a medieval stronghold, with its own zoo in the grounds.

📍No direct motorway, but an easy drive off the D1 via Prievidza. Combines well with a stopover in the west of the country.

This selection is a starting point. Combine it with the prices and validity periods of the Slovak vignette to complete your route.

Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons) Vysoké Tatry/Lomnický štít: Kristo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Štrbské Pleso: Ján Ťažký, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Spiš Castle: Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Demänovská jaskyňa slobody: Jojo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bratislava: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bojnice: Studiowacho, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hero (Skalnaté pleso): Totalrandomphotos, CC BY-SA 4.0