The picturesque town of Banská Štiavnica, in central Slovakia. (source: The Slovak Spectator archive)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
Straight from a small Slovak village to the global music charts
Move over, Lady Gaga. Step aside, Ed Sheeran. Slovak musician Mark Dann (Marek Danko), who hails from a tiny village near Lučenec, has just landed at no. 36 in the Top Hit Global chart with his track Let Me Die.
Mark’s journey started humbly with him posting YouTube covers, winning a local school talent show in 2012, and catching the attention of Slovak pop star Miro Jaroš. He even worked as a kindergarten teacher for two years before music fully took over his schedule.
The song’s music video – a cinematic love story with a bittersweet twist - was filmed in Indonesia under the direction of Doni Irawan. Watch the full video – it’s worth the click.
Europe’s best-kept secret? Tourists say it’s Košice
Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. (source: Pixabay / Iovan Paul)
Most tourists rush to the capital city of whatever country they are visiting, thinking that’s where all the action is. But Slovakia’s second-largest city, Košice, might just steal your heart.
Recently, a foreign tourist shared their experience on the travel site Tripadvisor, and the glowing review even caught the attention of Britain's Express newspaper. The visitor described strolling along Košice's promenade as a new adventure every single day, spotting little surprises around every corner. Their advice is to take your time and explore the city with a guide.
So next time you’re planning a Slovak adventure, maybe skip the capital for a day and let Košice surprise you.
Banská Štiavnica’s history just came back to life
Thanks to local talent Daniel Kubinský, old photographs of the UNESCO-listed mining town of Banská Štiavnica are no longer frozen in time – they’re moving, breathing, and telling stories that will tug at both your heartstrings and your curiosity.
Guiding the journey is Andrej Kmeť, the nineteenth-century Slovak polymath who once catalogued over 300 types of roses on Sitno, the highest peak in the Štiavnica Mountains. Daniel’s 16-hour project, built using 3 gigabytes of historical material, blends local heritage with modern technology, making the past feel surprisingly close.
The result is not just a history lesson, but a fresh way to experience the town, one that could boost tourism and give visitors a reason to see Štiavnica with new eyes.
Some feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator for you to enjoy:
After rocking the Czech Republic all summer, Emil the moose has kicked off the Slovak leg of his European tour .
Slovakia stunned Europe by winning the women’s U17 handball championship.
From Oslo to Palermo, Wizz Air is preparing to take off in a big way with a planned new base at Bratislava Airport.
A new educational trail, built by local volunteers, takes visitors on a journey deep into ancient history.
Once known as the “village of death”, this settlement later became a safe haven, one whose unique architecture tells a story of resilience.
Cycling the Iron Curtain Trail is a pedal-powered trip through Europe’s history and human stories.
Meme of the week
Caption: Since you know that average Slovaks cannot afford vacations, you regularly send them videos from your own.
Slovak social media has recently found a new target for satire: the stark contrast between Prime Minister Robert Fico's holiday posts and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
Prime Minister Robert Fico has, while vacationing this summer, continued to make public pronouncements on everything from his government's controversial (and now cancelled) €2-billion ambulance tender to international incidents like the recent dispute involving Slovak Serbs in Bački Petrovac and his own clashes with Kyiv. Meanwhile, ordinary Slovaks face rising costs, including energy bills, and many can't afford to go on holiday.
For Slovaks online, the meme is more than a joke. It points out inequality, questions government priorities, and shows the gap between leaders and regular people. A simple vacation video has turned into a symbol of this divide – and for many, a reason to laugh at politicians.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: elizaveta.blahodarova@spectator.sk. Thank you.
