Central Slovakia is bounded by the Czech Republic and Poland to the north, and Hungary to the south.

Regions

Kysuce (Čadca, Kysucké Nové Mesto, Krásno nad Kysucou) Historically one of the poorer regions, it's recovering thanks to car manufacturing, ski and cross-country possibilities.

Horné Považie (Bytča, Čičmany, Rajec, Papradno, Púchov, Rajecké Teplice, Žilina) Beautiful countryside.

Orava (Dolný Kubín, Námestovo, Terchová, Trstená, Tvrdošín) Orava castle and nature.

Turiec (Martin, Turčianske Teplice) Surrounded by mountains with many hiking and skiing possibilities. Mineral springs spa also in Turčianske Teplice. National cultural center in Martin.

Liptov (Liptovský Hrádok, Liptovský Mikuláš, Ružomberok) One the most visited regions, thanks to plethora of natural and historical sites. Hiking, skiing, water activities, caves, castles - it's all there.

Horehronie (Banská Bystrica, Brezno) National parks, caves, skiing and spas.

Podpoľanie (Zvolen, Detva)

Hont (Banská Štiavnica, Pukanec) Contains multiple castles (in Čabradský Vrbovok, Bzovík), mineral water pools in Dudince and others.

Novohrad (Lučenec, Veľký Krtíš) Volcanic mountain ranges, mining towns, castle ruins.

Cities

• 1 Banská Bystrica. was one of the most important mining towns of Hungarian part of Austro-Hungarian Empire; beautiful restored square, many churches, castles and museums and memorial of the Slovak National Uprising (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Banská Štiavnica. This medieval mining town in central Slovakia is a UNESCO World Heritage site (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Dolný Kubín. Orava castle, skiing in the nearby mountains. (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Púchov. Very peaceful spa town surrounded by magnificent Mala Fatra National Park (updated Nov 2016)
• 5 Liptovský Mikuláš. Historical centre of Liptov, it is located between High Tatras and Low Tatras, near the Liptovská Mara dam. (updated Mar 2019)
• 6 Rajecké Teplice. Spa area. (updated Nov 2016)
• 7 Ružomberok. On the first sight an industrial city, providing plethora of hiking and relaxation possibilities; includes the UNESCO-listed folk village of 1 Vlkolínec. (updated Nov 2016)
• 8 Žilina. Fourth biggest city with a well preserved historical city centre influenced by German architecture and unique museum of the tinker´s culture located at the Budatín castle (updated Nov 2016)
• 9 Zvolen. (updated Nov 2016)

Get in

There are regular inter-city bus and train connections available, both to Bratislava/Košice and surrounding countries.

D1 and R1 highways connect most of the biggest cities, except the mountainous area between Žilina and Liptovský Mikuláš, where work is still ongoing. Traffic jams occur there in the rush hours (mostly Friday and Sundays afternoon).

See

• 2 Likava castle ruins (near Ružomberok). (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Liptov village museum (in Pribylina). A reconstruction of a historical village destroyed while creating Liptovská Mara dam. (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Modrý Kameň castle ruins. This 13th-century castle of gothic-renaissance style is placed in a town of the same name. Nowadays, a museum of dolls and toys can be visited here. (updated Dec 2017)
• 5 Orava castle (Nearby Dolný Kubín). (updated Nov 2016)
• 6 Strečno castle (At the road from Žilina to Martin). (updated Nov 2016)
• 7 SNP memorial (in Banská Bystrica). (updated Nov 2016)
• 8 Zvolen Castle (Zvolenský zámok). A castle standing on a low hill. Slovak National Gallery collections displayed. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

The area is a great place to go hiking and skiing. Check e.g. Ružomberok or Liptovský Mikuláš.

Mountain ranges:

• 1 Choč Mountains. Pretty ravines and great overview from the top of the main mountain. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Great Fatra. (updated Nov 2016)
• 3 Little Fatra. Peaks like Veľký Rozsutec, or ravine Jánošíkove diery make this area very worth the day or two of stay. (updated Nov 2016)
• 4 Muranska planina National Park.. (updated Nov 2016)
• 5 Oravská Magura. (updated Nov 2016) and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)
• 6 Poľana. Many thousand years ago, this was one of the biggest Earth's strato-volcanoes, with diameter approx. 18km. Nowadays though, it's completely forested and suitable for easy hiking. (updated Nov 2016)
• 7 Low Tatras ("Nízke Tatry" / Národný Park Nízke Tatry). Skiing, multi-day hiking and caves. (updated Nov 2016)
• 8 Tatra National Park. Their most visited part is High Tatras ("Vysoké Tatry"). Great place for one-day hikes, relaxation and skiing. (updated Nov 2016)

Go next

Western Slovakia | Eastern Slovakia

Hungary | Poland