Long overshadowed by its worldly Czech and Austrian neighbors, little-known Slovakia is slowly making its mark on the tourist map.

Its capital, Bratislava, has been fashioning itself into the cheaper alternative to Prague and Vienna as a weekend destination. Having just been bombarded from quiet provincial town to capital city with the country’s independence in 1993, Bratislava can hardly compete with the two other capitals’ weighty history and sophisticated architecture. Yet its quaint old town offers the usual Eastern European fare, at a discount and within a walkable perimeter: cobbled streets, stately old buildings, a lively Christmas market, Soviet-era streetcars, as well as a castle perched on the hill above the Danube and some quirky statues.

Throw in a reliable budget airline – SkyEurope – which serves a dozen other European cities, a hassle-free entrance for all visitors from the European Union, cheap beer, young women who look like models, and you begin to understand the attraction. Unfortunately, so do British stag parties. Do not let this deter you, though. Annoyed locals have cracked down, which means some bars and hotels no longer accept stag and hen groups, so a civilized visit to Bratislava is perfectly possible (if that is your goal, of course; stag and hen packages are still readily available). 

The Slovak countryside is also worth a visit for nature lovers, especially lovers of water – in liquid or crystallized form. Hot springs abound, so there are spas and thermal pools for every budget, from fancy resorts to family-oriented water parks. The High Tatras mountains offer excellent skiing in the winter and nice hikes in the summer. Dozens of caves can also be visited, for the more adventurous. 

Finally, hundreds of medieval castles and ancient mansions are sprinkled across the country, some of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.