Vysoké Tatry, Prešov Region, Slovakia

The smallest high-alpine range on earth — granite spires, 100 glacial tarns and chamois-grazed cirques packed into a 26 km ridge, all above the tree line. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally June – September) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

The four-towered white citadel on its rock above the Danube — Slovakia's defining silhouette, holding the Slovak National Museum and terraces looking across to Austria and Hungary. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; April – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

A compact, walkable old town of pastel burgher houses, the Roland Fountain, Michael's Gate and the bronze Čumil peeking from a manhole — Central Europe at its most relaxed. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – September is the pleasantest time to come.

Bojnice, Trenčín Region, Slovakia

Slovakia's most visited castle and the model for a hundred fairy tales — a Loire-style romantic palace with a golden grotto, gilt chapel and a 700-year-old lime tree. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; April – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Žehra, Prešov Region, Slovakia

One of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe — four hectares of white ramparts on a travertine hill, visible for miles across the Spiš plain. Set in Eastern Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Štrba, Prešov Region, Slovakia

The Tatras' most famous lake at 1,346 m — a dark glacial tarn with the Solisko peaks mirrored in it, encircled by an easy 2 km promenade. Part of Northern Slovakia's outdoors, it's most rewarding in good weather around June – October, with easy walking and plenty to photograph.

Banská Štiavnica, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia

A UNESCO silver-mining town tumbling down a volcanic caldera — Baroque burgher houses, two castles, a hillside Calvary and the tajchy, an 18th-century system of engineered reservoirs. Set in Central Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Hrabušice, Košice Region, Slovakia

A plateau slashed by gorges where hiking means climbing ladders and chains beside waterfalls — the most adventurous walking country in Slovakia. Part of Eastern Slovakia's outdoors, it's most rewarding in good weather around May – October, with easy walking and plenty to photograph.

Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

Dramatic cliff-top ruins where the Morava meets the Danube — a Great Moravian stronghold blown up by Napoleon, with the slender Maiden Tower on its crag. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; April – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Terchová, Žilina Region, Slovakia

Slovakia's most beautiful mid-range mountains — limestone spires, beech forest and alpine meadows holding bear, lynx and wolf, all within an hour of Žilina. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally June – October) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Oravský Podzámok, Žilina Region, Slovakia

A castle stacked in five tiers up a 112 m rock above the Orava river — the location of Murnau's 1922 Nosferatu, and Slovakia's most theatrical fortress. Set in Northern Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – September is the pleasantest time to come.

Vysoké Tatry, Prešov Region, Slovakia

A 2,634 m granite horn reached by cable car — the only Tatra summit non-climbers can stand on, with an observatory and a terrace over a 1,000 m drop. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally June – September) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Košice, Košice Region, Slovakia

The easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe and Slovakia's largest church, with a double spiral staircase, a royal crypt and a tower over the old town. Set in Eastern Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; Year-round is the pleasantest time to come.

Terchová, Žilina Region, Slovakia

A network of narrow water-carved gorges climbed on ladders, chains and catwalks past dozens of small waterfalls — Slovakia's most exhilarating easy hike. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally May – October) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Liptovský Mikuláš, Žilina Region, Slovakia

Slovakia's largest national park — an 80 km ridge of rounded summits, deep karst caves and one of Europe's densest brown-bear populations. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally June – September) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Demänovská Dolina, Žilina Region, Slovakia

Slovakia's most visited cave — 8 km of chambers with an underground river, milk-white sinter lakes and formations lit to spectacular effect. One of Slovakia's show caves in Northern Slovakia, it's seen on a guided walk through cool, floodlit chambers — a fine escape from summer heat or a rainy day.

Levoča, Prešov Region, Slovakia

A walled Saxon merchant town whose Church of St James holds the world's tallest Gothic wooden altar — 18.6 m carved by Master Paul around 1517. Set in Eastern Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – September is the pleasantest time to come.

Košice, Košice Region, Slovakia

Slovakia's longest pedestrian street — a spindle-shaped boulevard of Baroque palaces, a singing fountain and pavement cafés running the length of the old town. Set in Eastern Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; May – September is the pleasantest time to come.

Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

A flying-saucer deck 95 m above the Danube on the single-pylon SNP Bridge — the best 360° view of Bratislava, with a restaurant under the disc. It sits among Western Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally Year-round) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Demänovská Dolina, Žilina Region, Slovakia

Central Europe's largest ski resort outside the Alps — 50 km of pistes on both flanks of Chopok, plus summer bike parks and via ferrata. Part of Northern Slovakia's outdoors, it's most rewarding in good weather around December – March, with easy walking and plenty to photograph.

Hrabušice, Košice Region, Slovakia

Slovak Paradise's signature route — a one-way ascent up a narrow gorge on steel ladders bolted beside a chain of waterfalls, including a 20 m vertical climb. It sits among Eastern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally May – October) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.

Bratislava, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

An Art Nouveau confection washed entirely in pale blue — walls, roof tiles, even the mosaics — looking like a marzipan cake dropped into a city block. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; Year-round is the pleasantest time to come.

Trenčín, Trenčín Region, Slovakia

A huge castle complex crowned by Matthew's Tower, standing over a town that guards Slovakia's only Roman inscription — carved into the rock in 179 CE. Set in Western Slovakia, it rewards an unhurried visit — its walls, views and local history, with cafés or a village nearby to round out the trip; April – October is the pleasantest time to come.

Demänovská Dolina, Žilina Region, Slovakia

A 2,024 m summit reachable by cable car from both sides of the range — the only Slovak peak where you can ride up one valley and ski or walk down another. It sits among Northern Slovakia's mountains and is best walked in fair weather (ideally June – October) — bring sturdy shoes, water and time to enjoy the views.