Slovakia is not about jaw-dropping sights and superlatives; it's about experiencing a place less touched by the glitz and glam of its more famous neighbours. Get outside the cities and you can still find traditional villages, strong folk traditions and tourist walking trails meandering through the hilly countryside.

A plethora of fortresses and castles pay testament to a history of conquerors and domination in this small country, which became an independent nation only in 1993. Foreign influences can be seen in the 18th-century rococo town buildings, Gothic churches and a few 15th-century town squares. History's evolution has created an interesting contrast in styles and the people have come through it all with their welcoming spirit intact.

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