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Where is the country of Slovakia located? Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. According to the Köppen climate classification, Slovakia (Flemish: Slovakia) largely has a moderate continental climate (Dfb), with fairly cool winters and warm summers. The lower areas of Slovakia have a warm continental climate (Type Dfa), with relatively mild winter months and slightly warmer summers. The higher parts of the Tatra Mountains have a high mountain climate (type EH), with cool winters, cool summers and quite a lot of precipitation spread over the whole year.

The relatively large differences that sometimes arise between the north side of the mountain areas and the southwestern part of Slovakia, where the capital Bratislava is located, are striking. The areas of High Tatras, Low Tatras and the Slovak Ore Mountains ensure that cold and precipitation often cannot reach the southwest of the country. In the summer months, the temperature differences can increase further due to the supply of warm air from the Balkans in a northerly direction. There are also large differences in annual precipitation. Southwestern Slovakia averages about 500 to 700 millimeters of precipitation per year, most of which falls in the form of rain in the summer months. However, the Tatra Mountains are good for no less than 800 to 1800 millimeters of precipitation per year. Most of these also fall in the summer months,

Summer in Slovakia

Summers in Slovakia are warm, with the exception of the High Tatras in the north of the country. At altitudes of about 1500 to 2500 meters, temperatures here are also a lot lower in the summer months and there is considerably more precipitation. Some rain fronts can remain against or above the mountains for days and cause a lot of flooding.

In the south of Slovakia the weather is pleasant on many days and the precipitation is mainly limited to a heavy shower with or without thunderstorms. In summer it is on average a few degrees warmer than in the Netherlands. In the southwest it is about 25-26 degrees in July and August and it cools down to about fifteen degrees at night. In the southeast it is a few degrees cooler and there is slightly more precipitation.

Winter

The winters in Slovakia are quite cool. Large parts of Slovakia have to deal with a reasonable number of frost days and quite a lot of snow. In some mountain areas of Slovakia there are more than a hundred snow days. Although Slovakia is not really popular in the Netherlands as a winter sports destination, you can enjoy skiing or snowboarding here during the winter months. The main reasons that Slovakia does not belong to the top 5 winter sports holidays are the unfamiliarity of the country and the accessibility of the ski areas, which are located about 1300 to 1500 kilometers from the Netherlands. The chance of snow in Slovakia is high and the slopes are generally of good quality. Jasná is a popular ski resort in Slovakia, with over 20 kilometers of excellent slopes, including a 6 kilometer long run.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Slovakia

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Slovakia? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Slovakia, centrally located in Europe, consists largely of hilly landscapes and mountains. Only in the west you will find lower flat areas. In almost all of Slovakia you have to deal with a continental climate type. The only exception to this are the higher mountain areas, where the climate changes to a tundra climate at higher altitudes. Characteristic of the weather in Slovakia is that it can be erratic. For example, in the summer months it can reach a maximum of 16 degrees one day, while a week later the thermometers skyrocket to 35 degrees or even higher. You see the same capriciousness in the winter. Milder periods can then be alternated with periods in which moderate to severe frost gives the country a serious winter character.

Best travel period

In general, the period from mid-May to the end of September is the best time to travel to Slovakia, with the caveat that it can get very hot in the summer months of July and August. Those who want to go hiking or otherwise be active in Slovakia should avoid these hottest months. In the mountains it is on average cooler, but there is a greater chance of a sudden rain or thunderstorm.

Skiing in Slovakia

Those who like winter sports can ski, snowboard or other forms of winter sports in Slovakia in different areas. There are good ski areas both within the High Tatras and the Low Tatras. In total, Slovakia has more than sixty kilometers of slopes, about half of which are blue runs. Slovakia is therefore an ideal destination for novice winter sports enthusiasts. The official ski season lasts approximately from the second week of December to the second half of April. The best time to travel for a winter sports holiday in Slovakia is from the end of January to mid-March. During this period you have the best snow conditions.