YPT Tours to Slovakia

Join YPT on one of our Slovakia tours. Slovakia stands for the ‘land of the Slavs’, which is an ethnic group commonly situated in the large geographical area of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The Slavic people and their descendants share the common base of Slavic languages, and their cultural influence can be detected in many areas of the modern world.  

Slovakia itself is known for unique medieval castles, caves, hot springs, folk architecture, the European Dead Sea, a famous Celtic town, wildlife and much more.

It also has an incredibly interesting history. Pursuing their aim of independence from Czecho-Slovakia, the country joined Nazi-Germany in 1939, formed the Slovak republic, signed the Tripartite Pact in 1940 and supported the axis throughout WWII. With support from the Soviets, a popular uprising happened in 1944. Plans were already schemed by the Slavik Communists to incorporate the country to the Soviet Union, but final liberation from Nazi-Germany did not happen until May 1945. 

After 1948 and tubulous political times in hindsight of WWII and the emerging cold war, the country was back as Czechoslovakia and belonged to the Communist Party apparatus. Decades of Communism and Stalinism followed, deeply influencing the shape of the country and its society to this day. 

Nowadays, people can visit an independent Slovakia yet again, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the peaceful “divorce” with Czech Republic in 1993. With a complex history, which is representative for many former Soviet states in this region, Slovakia offers an incredible number of multi-layered facets to explore. Rustic charm, savoury food, and good beer come included with our Slovakia tours packages!

Group Tours to Slovakia

YPT do not currently run group tours specifically to Slovakia. However, we recommend extending our Poland tours with a visit to Slovakia, just from the neighbouring Krakow, for an amazing Soviet experience. We also organize trips to Ukraine and in Romania.

Independent Tours to Slovakia

YPT can arrange Slovakia tours deep into the country, leveraging on its network of local partners, or link it with tours to Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Transnistria, and beyond. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for perfect independent Slovakia tours.

Below is an example Slovakia tour for a post-WWII and post-soviet city experience. This can be extended or combined with other activities to create independent Slovakia tours. 

Example of a 4-day Slovakia Post-WWII and Post-Soviet Itinerary

Day 1 – Bratislava

• Arrival in Bratislava at your own convenience.
• Morning meeting in our hotel and start of the tour after breakfast.
• We will visit part of the defence line that consisted of several still untouched bunkers and other objects, as to protect the country from a German invasion, Czechoslovakia constructed a sophisticated defence line along its western borders consisting of numerous modern fortresses.
• Closer look at the context this area adopted when the Iron Curtain was running at the edge of Bratislava during the cold war. 
• Traditional lunch along the defence line visit.
• Visit to the History Museum with the permanent exhibition of historical military technology.
• Overnight in Bratislava.

Day 2 – Bratislava

• Full city tour focusing on the Soviet-era: Explore significant historical sites including Soviet-era architecture, a 1980’s market hall, the first prefab in Slovakia, and the largest socialist housing project, Petržalka.
• We will also gain insight into the lives and legacy of former communist leaders by visiting their villas and the Soviet memorial Slavín.
• Traditional lunch in the old town.
• Leisurely stroll through the old town in Bratislava to fully absorb the atmosphere.
• Overnight in Bratislava.

Day 3 – Underground Bratislava and Devin Castle

• Breakfast in hotel
• Explore a former factory site, an abandoned freight harbour, and other dystopian locations: Discover the decaying urban landscapes of Bratislava, perfect for those intrigued by its hidden, darker history.
• Lunch with the group before boarding our private bus.
• Journey to the iconic medieval Devín Castle ruins: Perched above the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, this historic site has stood as a witness to thousands of years of history.
• Last night in Bratislava  complete with restaurant and visit of the Soviet-style KGB pub visit to conclude the official part of the tour.

Day 4- Bratislava 

• Tour ends in the morning after a late breakfast and a last chat.
• From here you can continue to Krakow, Poland with us, or join one of our other tours in Eastern Europe like Transnistria, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria or the Baltic countries or venture further on by yourself.

Bespoke tours to Slovakia

As part of our travel packages within Central and Eastern Europe, we can offer bespoke and independent tours to Slovakia. These can be done as full Slovakia tours or be combined with other countries. 

For more information on the following programs, simply get in touch. 

Eco-Travel in Slovakia

Young Pioneer Tours can arrange trips to the lesser seen places of Slovakia, such as the rural areas that cater to eco-tourism within the country, especially in its extraordinary national parks and the magical scenery of the smallest alpine mountains in Europe: the High Tatras. We complete this tour with the folk rafting in the rapids of the Dunajec river on traditional wooden rafts that await you in Pieniny.

Slovakia to Ukraine Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Bratislava and its surroundings we will then head via Košice to Ukraine. After three nights in Slovakia, we enter the country to understand the current situation of war and conflict and see, how life goes on in Lviv and Kiev.

Slovakia to Poland Overland Tour

Starting with the exploration of Bratislava and its surroundings we will then head to Krakow in Poland. After two nights in Slovakia, we enter Poland to understand more about its role in WWII and the cold war, complete with a visit to the former concentration camp of Ausschwitz.

Underground Slovakia Tours

Bratislava, Košice, and the wider country have some amazing dark tourism, urbex and contemporary historical sites that few tourists get to see. Working with our local partners, YPT can arrange and underground and dark tourism tours to Slovakia. Get in touch to have a bespoke itinerary planned for you. 

Hiking and Outdoor Adventure

Our Slovakia tours can also focus on nature. Hike through the High Tatras mountains, a paradise for nature lovers. Go rafting on the Dunajec River, or explore the Slovak Paradise National Park, with its waterfalls and gorges. You could also visit the Demänovská Cave, one of the most extensive cave systems in Slovakia.

Medieval History Tour

Slovakia has a long and fascinating history, and there are many medieval towns and cities that are worth visiting. Some of the highlights include Bojnice and Spis castles (two of 120 in the country) as well as the towns of Bardejov and Kremnica. Latter is just adjacent to Europe’s geographical centre. To get into the mood we will board one of the rustic trains from Bratislava to the deeper country. This tour wouldn´t be complete without seeing the ancient mining-town of Banska Štiavnica of course, featuring steeply-pitching cobbled streets and a dramatically-situated Kalvaria with a stunning view.

Soviet heritage Tour

YPT can help you explore Slovakia’s Communist past with a focus on Soviet architecture. See Bratislava’s reconstructed castle and Danube bridges, particularly the SNP Bridge (Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising), nicknamed the “UFO bridge”. This imposing concrete bridge features pylons adorned with socialist reliefs. Travel east to Košice to visit the East Slovak Gallery, housed within a former socialist building with a distinctive Brutalist style. Visit a massive steelworks and ride the Lomnica funicular, a marvel of socialist engineering. Wrap up by exploring a Bratislava neighborhood built during the Soviet era and seeing how it’s transforming today.

Wine Tasting Tour

Slovakia has a long history of winemaking, and there are many wine regions in the country that are worth exploring. Some of the most popular wine regions include Malokarpatská, also known as the lesser or small Carpathian region, and Stredoslovenská, in the central Slovak region. You can go on a wine tasting tour of one of these regions, or you can visit one of Slovakia´s many wineries run by local families. 

Filming in Slovakia

Through our media arm Pioneer Media, we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within Slovakia from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.

Frequently asked Questions about travel to Slovakia

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