Slovakia is an often forgotten country in the heart of Europe. Despite our proximity to Slovakia, we often don’t even consider this exciting country, right? The country borders directly on our neighbors, the Austrians, and has so much amazing natural beauty to offer. In summer, hikers and mountaineers in particular get their money’s worth here, enjoying the breathtaking mountain ranges and turquoise mountain lakes.

In winter, Slovakia is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders. If Slovakia is already on your travel list, I’ve summarized all the information on the topics of best time to travel and climate in Slovakia here. Also check out the posts by Bolle and Marco, they were just there and explored beautiful corners of this country.

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  • All information at a glance
  • Climate in Slovakia & best time to travel
  • Climate in Slovakia & best time to travel for hiking
  • Climate in Slovakia & best time to travel for skiing
  • Best time to travel for a city trip
  • Precipitation in Slovakia
  • Conclusion for the best time to travel to Slovakia

All information at a glance

Climate in Slovakia & best time to travel

When exactly is the best time to travel to Slovakia? I can’t give you a general answer. It ultimately depends on what you want to do. In summer, it can get really hot in the cities, and temperatures can reach up to 35°C. In winter, however, a snow paradise awaits you with temperatures as low as -15°C, but also superb slopes in the mountains.

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Slovakia is characterized by very different weather conditions, especially due to its mountain ranges. In the southeast, the climate is quite continental and very hot in summer. In the High Tatras at 2,700 meters, on the other hand, there is a typical mountain climate with cold, snowy winters. The summers here are cool and dry. To make it a little easier for you to find the right time to travel, I have listed the best travel times for each season here.

Climate Slovakia & Best time to go hiking

If you’re a summer mountaineer who’d like to go on long, extensive hikes in Slovakia and are looking forward to the turquoise, crystal-clear lakes, I would recommend the period between May and the end of September. Daytime temperatures usually range between 18°C and 25°C. You should bring a rain jacket, but you won’t need it all the time. The sun shines for 7 hours almost every day.

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If you’re looking forward to fewer hikers, you shouldn’t ignore April, September, and October. Although temperatures are already dropping a bit here, the golden autumn still offers great excursions. Bolle and Marco were really lucky in September, enjoying great temperatures of 18-22°C under bright blue skies. Most importantly, it was also a bit cheaper than the peak season between June and August.

Slovakia’s Climate & Best Time to Ski

Are you a fan of winter sports and looking forward to tons of snow and icy temperatures? Then Slovakia’s long, snowy winters are just right for you! Starting in November, temperatures drop, and temperatures range between 0 and -10°C. It gets icy cold, especially in the region around Poprad (High Tatras), where January is considered the coldest month. The sun still breaks through for 2-3 hours a day, sure to give you the occasional glistening snowfall.

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You shouldn’t expect much precipitation during this time; on average, only 5-6 days per month are known, and with these temperatures, you’ll be happy about a bit of extra powder snow anyway. The best time to travel to the slopes is from December to the end of March, which provides you with plenty of snow on over 100 days a year, before the temperatures slowly rise in April and the snow opens the mountains for hikers.

Best time to travel for a city trip

Beautiful Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is definitely not yet a tourist hotspot. It is often referred to as the Pearl of the Danube. The city has a very special charm, especially in the summer between July and August, when life takes place on the streets. The beautiful old town invites you to linger in its cozy cafés, and ships slowly pass by along the banks of the Danube. In summer, temperatures climb to an average of 26°C, although on hotter days the thermometer can sometimes rise above 30°C.

Mala-Fatra-Slowakei-Wanderung-Kamm-Chleb

With 10 hours of sunshine a day, you can enjoy an optimal climate in the summer, even if the occasional rain shower passes by. But it’s not so bad, because you can pass the time in one of the pleasant cafés. April, May, September, and October are also great months to travel. The temperatures are already/still warm enough to explore the old town with a lighter jacket, and by autumn, the summer vacationers are already on their way home.

Precipitation in Slovakia

Due to the country’s mountain ranges, precipitation is distributed very differently across the country. On average, the north and east of Slovakia receive significantly more precipitation than the rest of the country. In the area around the High Tatras, this can amount to more than 1600mm per year. If, on the other hand, you’re drawn to the flatter Danube Plain, you’ll need your rain jacket much less often, as precipitation there averages only 650mm per year.

Costs-Slovakia-Shopping-Shopping

In Bratislava, you can expect between 7 and 10 rainy days throughout the year; in Poprad, it’s around 5 in winter and around 10 in summer. The region around Kosice has the most rainy days on average, where you can expect around 12 days of rain year-round.

Conclusion for the best time to travel to Slovakia

As you can see, Slovakia has a lot to offer in both summer and winter. The high season, and therefore also the most expensive time to travel to Slovakia, is between June and August. Here, the breathtaking mountain ranges shine in lush green, and the sun shines with an average of 7 hours a day.

For winter sports enthusiasts, the snowy and cold winter between December and the end of March is ideal; you can ski and sledding until you drop. If Bratislava is on your list, July and August with their beautiful summer days are certainly ideal, as are spring and beautiful autumn, when the peak travel season is over and things calm down a bit. No matter which month you choose, Slovakia rocks!

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