Once part of the great Czechoslovakia, the now independent country is a bit of an underdog in Europe. What do you want, with all the cycling violence of Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, for example. Yet Slovakia is also a wonderful cycling destination. The Tour de Slovaquie, or Tour of Slovakia on show these days, got us all fired up! How brilliant! A few highlights in this article. Who knows, maybe your next stop will be Bratislava, Zilina or Trencin in Slovakia! Go cycling in Slovakia and enjoy!
Ta-ta-ta-tatra!
It won't surprise you, but a general note: Slovakia is anything but flat. To the north, the Tatra mountains are a kind of natural border with neighbouring Poland. You won't find any dizzying climbs, but you can still cycle beautifully here. The Tatra mountains are quite diverse and, for example, a ride to Sliezsky Dom will quickly charm everyone. The reservoir that lights up there gives a nice foreground to the Velicke Pleso beyond!
The best climb in this region is the one to the Kralova Hola. You arrive at almost 2,000 metres altitude after over 1,000 altimeters in 11.6 kilometres of bunching up. That really is 9% on average, but the finish is one to frame.
National parks
In central Slovakia, you will also come across some beautiful things. Cycling on a gravel bike is especially beautiful there. Among others, the national parks of Low Tatras (Nizke Tatry) and Vel'ka Fatra are great. You can encounter bizarrely steep climbs there, with long stretches at 20% plus! In terms of altitude, you stay around 1300-1400 metres maximum here, which is therefore fine, also for making some metres in the earlier spring. The climb to the top of Borisov, at about 1400m, is the last part somewhat unpaved, but also very steep. There is a section here where you will probably have to get off your bike for a while. According to the most accurate measurements, it can exceed 30%. Gloop. To Ftaci, a bit further on, there is also a nice steep path, but it is a bit less short.
Just north of the Danube, in addition to the above parks, you will also find the beautiful Muranska Planina National Park. Beautiful limestone rock formations adorn the road here. And tell yourself when you see the image below. That just makes you want to go cycling there in Slovakia, doesn't it?
Go West
Further west, you will also find some nice hilly stretches. The climbs around Zliechov, for example, are very nice. Nearby you will also find the extremely tough climb of the Kamenné Vrata, where the percentages over 5 kilometres can shoot right up to 15 or even 20%. It is really beautiful there.
Danube
Further south, you can also pick up the route along the Danube. This route, especially popular with bike trekking and other cycling tourists, is also worthwhile for the racer or gravel biker. The first section, from Vac in Hungary to Esztergom is the most interesting. Here you have the river almost continuously alongside and views of beautiful castles and white beaches. In Esztergom, you will find the largest church in the country, the Basilica of Esztergom. Fun fact: in the Middle Ages, this city was the capital of Hungary for three centuries.
Gravel paradise
Racing cyclists will probably still complain about roads that are not completely paved, but for the gravel rider this is of course completely fine. In the national parks and in the High Tatras you can also do great on a gravel bike. Where the climb ends for the road cyclist, you can continue on your gravel bike to the summit, which is otherwise only accessible for hikers and MTB riders.
Sold
Slovakia is really underrated as far as we are concerned, like so many countries east of the Germany-Austria-Italy border. The cost of staying there is anything but friendly, the route there is as easy as going to say Tuscany and the views are perhaps even more beautiful. Additional advantage: off-the-beaten-track, so nice and few tourists. Only better for the experience
Want to know more about travelling to Slovakia? Then take a look at the site of the Slovak tourism agency
