Into the wild
The Slovakian countryside is a grown-ups’ playground. Hike though meadows of wild flowers under limestone peaks in Vrátna Valley and the forested terrain of the Slovak Paradise National Park, packed with gushing streams, waterfalls and craggy outcrops. See the Carpathian Mountains at their tallest at High Tatras, where Alpine lakes and pristine landscapes beckon the adventurous. For more relaxed outdoor pursuits head to central Slovakia, where traditional villages nestle among rolling green hills creating visions of a pastoral idyll.
Fantasy castles and medieval streets
Scenes from seventies vampire classic Nosferatu were filmed at Orava Castle, though you're more likely to imagine gallant princes at the romantic castle in Bojnice. Once the abode of Hungarian royals, Spiš Castle is one of the largest Medieval fortifications in Europe. But Slovakia's towns and villages are just as captivating as its grand edifices. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, the tiny farming village of Vlkolínec is a perfect example, as is the medieval quarter of Bardejov, with its Gothic spires and gabled facades. This is a country with a well-preserved folk culture, and you won't have to look far to find it.
Bratislava, the city with rustic charm
Find cheap flights to Slovakia to explore Bratislava, a beguiling city with a leisurely pace. Its pretty, colourful buildings rub shoulders with communism's architectural memories, like the 'UFO Bridge' over the Danube. Explore the city's history at the Apponyi Palace Museum and visit the Slovak National Gallery for prestigious national exhibitions. The heart of Bratislava is its charming main square, where you'll find a lively cafe culture and the city’s icon, a stout, gleaming white castle with its roots in the ninth century.
When to go
Slovakia is a year-round destination, though the peak time for tourism is from June to September. At this time taking off for Slovakia can be more expensive, so make sure to book six to eight weeks in advance. The country has continental weather, with short but often hot summers. This can be an ideal time for holidays in the mountains, as the weather is warm and dry but not too hot.
Spring is a beautiful time to visit, with May seeing the countryside burst into blossom with wild flowers everywhere. Because it's so heavily forested, the autumn months, September to early November, can be visually spectacular too. Netflights often delvers great last-minute flight deals during these shoulder seasons.
The best location for winter sports is in the High Tatras in the east of the country. With too little snow for winter sports in the rest of the country, most resorts are closed from November to March. A layer of white and twinkling lights make winter a great time to visit the main cities, as well as smaller queues for major attractions. Apart from the periods around Christmas and New Year, this can be a cheap time for UK to Slovakia flights too.
Airports and airlines
When you use Netflights to find budget Slovakia flights, you can be confident you're benefiting from daily-updated deals. What's more, with our comparison tool you get to see all the departures over a wide time period, allowing you to pick the best routes and rates. If you're flexible you can leave the travel departure field and destination airport empty when you type in your destination, so you can pick out the cheapest flights.
Bratislava Airport (M. R. Štefánik Airport) is the main point of entry into the country. You can check in for Bratislava flights from airports all over the UK. Ryanair flies from London Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford and Manchester. Whizz Air also offers flights to Bratislava from London Luton.
Kosice International Airport is the second busiest in the country, with flights from London-Luton and Doncaster/Sheffield. Other carriers that offer flights to Slovakia include Turkish Airlines, LOT, SmartWings, Austrian Airlines and Czech Airlines.