STUNNING SCENERIES AND AUSTERE MEMORIALS
AUGUST 25 ⇾ SEPTEMBER 01
In addition to our regular group departures to Slovakia, we also offer tailored services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. Get in touch for more info on our customised Slovakia Tours!
“Most of the time, I’m working in places I’m not familiar with. Sometimes it’s Slovakia, and sometimes it’s Hawaii. Not to bash on Slovakia, but I really did enjoy Hawaii.”
THE ROUTE
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DAY 1 — Vitajte na Slovensku! WELCOME TO SLOVAKIA!
Meet-and-greet at Košice International Airport and transfer to our hotel of choice in downtown Košice.
The rest of the day will be entirely devoted to Košice, as we’ll visit both the city’s main historical sights — such as the late-Gothic St. Elisabeth's Cathedral — and Czechoslovak-era hidden gems, like the modernist train station, the nearby Soviet War Memorial and the gargantuan panelák (prefab panel blocks) of Šaca, a rarely frequented suburb full of ČSSR nostalgia.
Overnight in Košice.
DAY 2 — DARGOV PASS
Morning excursion to the legendary Dargov Pass, visit to the local Soviet memorial, and traditional Slovak lunch in an authentic countryside restaurant.
Back in Košice, if time allows, we may also attempt to pay a visit to Lunik IX, the largest Romani neighbourhood in Slovakia, an unjustly feared and often misrepresented urban fringe of crumbling ČSSR-built apartment blocks and improvised shanty towns.
Overnight in Košice.
DAY 3 — SVIDNÍK
Short transfer to the historical city of Prešov and onward journey towards the quintessentially Czechoslovak town of Svidník, where we will pay a visit to both the local Military Museum and the nearby Death Valley, an open-air tank graveyard left as a reminder of the Battle of the Dukla Pass, fought between Nazi Germany and Soviet-supported Slovak insurgents.
ČSSR-themed tour around Svidník and afternoon trip to the remote villages of Hunkovce and Vyšný Komárnik near the Dukla Pass: war memorials, bunkers, rusting aircrafts, observation towers, working-class krčmy (typical Slovak village bars) and even a German cemetery.
Overnight in Svidník.
DAY 4 — Banská Bystrica
Today we’ll embark on a scenic road trip across the High Tatras, the highest mountain range in the region and Slovakia’s most celebrated drawcard.
Major stops during our drive will include the UNESCO-listed old town of Bardejov, the ČSSR-era resort town of Štrbské Pleso, a phantasmagoric Soviet-style mosaic in Poprad and the WWII-memorial-cum-museum in Nemecká.
We will then descend towards the Low Tatras and visit the abandoned village of Kalište, burnt down by the Nazis during the heroic Slovak National Uprising.
In the evening we’ll eventually reach the former copper mining town Banská Bystrica, the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia.
Overnight in Banská Bystrica.
DAY 5 — ZVOLEN
ČSSR-themed tour in and around Banská Bystrica, de rigueur visit to the Slovak National Uprising Museum, complete with a solemn parade to celebrate Uprising Day on August 29th.
In the afternoon we’ll then head for the socialism-shaped town of Zvolen and visit a few more ČSSR sights in its vicinity, such as the modernist spa in Sliač and the somber war memorial in Kremnička.
If time allows, we will also tour the picturesque mining village of Špania Dolina, a true architectural gem lost in the Slovak woods.
Overnight in Banská Bystrica.
DAY 6 — Žiar nad Hronom
Transfer to the Soviet-inspired planned city of Žiar nad Hronom with en-route photo stops in the historical little towns of Horná Štubňa and Kremnica.
Moving further west towards Bratislava, we will visit the ghost village of Horné Opatovce and the Cold War Museum in Alekšince.
After a brief tour around and about the socialist-modernist architectural heritage of the university city of Nitra, we will then reach the national capital Bratislava right in time for an early dinner.
Overnight in Bratislava.
DAY 7 — BRATISLAVA
Full day devoted to Bratislava, the no-nonsense capital of the country, a city full socialist architecture and Eastern European flair.
The list of ČSSR-era highlights we will visit during our sojourn in Bratislava includes (but is not limited to): the Soviet War Memorial, the Slovak Radio Building, the Central Railway Station, the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising, and the Young Guard Dormitory.
Overnight in Bratislava.
DAY 8 — Dovidenia, Slovensko!
After enjoying a last Slovak meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Bratislava International Airport.
For those wishing to hop on a train or a bus to reach further destinations, we’ll arrange for a transfer to the train/bus station in Bratislava.
Are you interested in discovering more remnants of the ČSSR in neighbouring Czechia? Contact us for more information about our private Soviet Tours throughout former Czechoslovakia!
End of the tour.
2350 €
INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Slovakia (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.
EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.
