Slovakia Map

How to Interpret a Slovakia Map

When looking at a map of Europe, there is a medium sized country that is located in the center of the continent.  It is an average country, about the size of Hungary, and may appear as the Slovak Republic, but it is also known as Slovakia.  Many people over the age of 30 will have trouble remembering where this country is located, and that is because, until 1993, it was part of the country of Czechoslovakia and did not have independent borders.

When trying to find Slovakia on the map, it is easy to remember that it is in the heart of Europe.  It is bordered by five different countries, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine.  If you start by looking at Italy, move north until you are in Austria, then immediately to the east of Austria, you will find Slovakia.  It may even appear on the map as Slovensko, as that is the native name for Slovakia.

Once you have found Slovakia, the next step is how to read the map for travel purposes.  A map of Slovakia may seem confusing to travelers who are used to a large number of major highways connecting all cities, such as in the United States.  This is not the case in Slovakia, the country only has one major highway but the many side roads shown on the map are perfectly safe for travel in a car.  They usually consist of two lanes and, due to the mountainous nature of the country, are a trifle curvy, but they are safe for any cautious driver.

When looking at the Slovakia map, it is important to recognize that travel to some cities may be more difficult in the winter months.  If you start in the capital city of Bratislava, then the rest of the country will be to the east of the city.  The highway is kept clear as far to the east as Zilina, but there are many cities to the east of Zilina that may not be accessible to your car during the heaviest snowfalls in the mountains.

Whether this is your first visit to Slovakia or you fiftieth, you must remember that you are in a mountainous region with moderate snowfall.  While this is great for the skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts, it may not be as welcome for the casual traveler who is driving across Slovakia to experience the beautiful landscapes and scenery of the country.