With the holidays already here, this section may help you to plan trips on free days to explore natural beauties, visit cultural events or just learn more about Slovakia
ONE-DAY TRIP - Meeting the city
MORNING
Get to know Nitra and look up the collection of archaeological finds. Ponitrianske múzeum (Museum), Štefánikova ulica 1. Open: Tue-Fri 8:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00. Tel: 037/7419-771. Start from Svätoplukovo námestie, walk through Župné námestie, Horný Palánok, and get to Pribinovo námestie. Visit Diecézna knižnica (Diocese library) situated in Veľký seminár (Large seminary), Pribinovo námestie. Tel: 037/7721-743 (book in advance).
While walking down Kráľovská cesta, enter the Nitra castle with its bishopric cathedral.
Open: Mon-Fri 9:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00. Tel: 037/7721-747.
English-speaking guides (Sk300/hour) need to be ordered 3 days in advance at the City Information Centre on Štefánikova 1. Tel: 037/7410-906.
AFTERNOON
Check out the open-air museum and learn the earliest history of agriculture in Slovakia. Slovenské poľnohospodárske múzeum (Slovak Agricultural Museum), Dlhá 92.
Open: Tue-Sun 9:00-17:00. Tel: 037/6523-359.
Take a trip to a Romanesque church from the 12th century in Drážovce. Drive from the Zobor side to the Liečebný ústav Zobor (Sanatorium Zobor) and walk along the blue trail to Drážovce.
EVENING
Have dinner at the museum restaurant, located in the building of Ponitrianske múzeum.
Štefánikova ulica 1. Tel: 037/7419-980.
WEEKEND TRIP - Topoľčianky
Spend a weekend in Topoľčianky surrounded by the Tríbeč and Pohronský Inovec mountains. Topoľčianky castle, built in the 19th century in the classical style, currently serves as a hotel and museum. The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky, founded in 1921, has been designed to breed Arabian, Lipican, Hucul and Sport horses.
FRIDAY evening - Topoľčianky castle
Stay at the castle and walk through a large English-style park.
Topoľčianky castle, Parková 1, Topoľčianky. Tel: 037/6301-111.
SATURDAY - Topoľčianky, Hrušovský hrad
In the morning, go horseback riding at the national stud farm. Sk2,000 per hour, not including trainer. Parková 13, Topoľčianky. Tel: 037/6301-613.
Visit the exhibition of furniture and weapons in the museum situated in the Topoľčianky castle.
Open: Tue-Fri 9:00-15:00, Sat-Sun 12:00-16:00.
In the afternoon take a trip to the 13th century ruins of Hrušovský castle, located on the Skalka hill. Hike from Topoľčianky, following the green trail for about 3 hours. The trail offers beautiful views over the surrounding countryside.
Accommodation: Same as on Friday
SUNDAY Enclosure of European bison, Kostoľany pod Tríbečom.
Take a look at the biggest European mammal - the European bison with a length of 2.7 meters and a height of 1.9 meters. The best time to see the bison is during feeding hours, between 9:00-10:00. Drive from Topoľčianky through Žikava to the town of Lovce. Signs start from the church and lead to a parking lot situated 500 meters from the enclosure.
Tel: 037/6348-128.
Visit the 11th century St. George Church located in the village Kostoľany pod Tríbečom. Hiking: The yellow trail leads to the nearby hill Veľký Lysec, situated east of the village.
WEEK TRIP - Through the districts of Nitra region
Nitra, the region of thermal pools, is situated in the south-western part of Slovakia and consists of seven districts. This area covers the Danube and Nitra river basins and is well-suited for agriculture, thanks to advantageous natural and geographical conditions.
SUNDAY - district of Levice
Visit the 840-year old town Levice, which is dominated by ruins of the gothic Levice castle. Look up the ethnological exhibition situated in the Dóobovský kaštieľ (manor house).
Levice castle. Open: Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00. Tel: 036/6312-112.
Continue to Brhlovce and look at the Rock Dwellings. Visit the house at 142 Šurda street. Open: Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun 9:00-16:00. Tel: 036/6312-112.
Accommodation: Penzión Tília, Kalvínske nám. 2, Levice. Tel: 0905/665-128.
MONDAY - district of Nové Zámky
Swim in one of the Slovakia's biggest thermal pools. Thermal pool Vadaš, Hlavná 34, Štúrovo. Open: daily 9:00-19:00. Tel: 036/7511-410.
Accommodation: Dom regenerácie I., Petöfiho 21, Štúrovo. Tel: 036/7511-696.
TUESDAY - district of Komárno
Have a look at the characteristic architecture of European states on Nádvorie Európy (Europe square) in the town Komárno. Walk through the largest fortification system in Slovakia and see the exposition of Roman stone-structured monuments.
Open: Tue-Sat 9:00-17:00. Tel: 035/7731-476.
Continue to visit the unique technical monument Water Mill in Kolárovo. Open: daily 10:00-19:00. Tel: 035/7772-045.
Accommodation: Hotel Európa, M.R. Štefánika 1, Komárno. Tel: 035/7731-350.
WEDNESDAY - district of Šaľa
Look at the sacral objects in an 11th century basilica - Church of Panna Mária, Diakovce (south-west from Šaľa)
Swim in the thermal pool, located 3 km from Diakovce. Open: daily 9:00-18:00. Admission: Sk20-40. Accommodation: Hotel Centrál, Nám. Svätej Trojice 4, Šaľa. Tel: 031/774-401.
THURSDAY - district of Nitra
Take a trip to the ruins of the medieval Gýmeš castle. Follow the red-marked trail from the Jelenec-Remitáž recreation centre (2 km from Jelenec). Enjoy the view of the Veľký Tríbeč hill.
Accommodation: castle Mojmírovce, Mojmírovce. Tel: 037/7798-201.
FRIDAY - district of Zlaté Moravce
Continue on to the next district. Have a walk in the botanical gardens with more than 2,000 different types of trees and bushes from all parts of the world. Arborétum Mlyňany, Tesárske Mlyňany. Open: daily 8:00-18:00. Tel: 037/6334-571.
Accommodation: Castle Malé Vozokany, Malé Vozokany 122. Tel: 037/6342-185.
SATURDAY - district of Topoľčany
Climb to Topoľčiansky castle situated over the village Podhradie. Drive by car to the pension under the castle, and then by walk about five minutes.
The blue-marked trail leads from Podhradie to the protected archaeological site Holé brehy, near which you can find the Úhrad hill with the foundations of ancient fortifications.
