Bathing in Czech Beer, Hungarian Spas, Slovakian Via Ferratas or Canyoning on Polish Lakes – What Adventures Await Us in Visegrad Group States?

Imagine being able to bathe in Czech beer in addition to enjoying drinking it, while still not getting drunk; imagine swimming in the biggest thermal lake in the world, whose temperature never drops below 22 degrees Celsius, or releasing your adrenaline spirit in the north of Poland and trying out one of the water sports in an incredible environment that only nature can provide. Let’s not forget trekking down the paths of the Slovakian forests and mountains, which also hide the beauty of wooden churches, unique in the world.

All this, but also many other things offered by the member states of the Visegrad Group – Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, lures us out of the shackles of the pandemic and into new tourist adventures. As we were able to hear at the conference which was organized last week in Budapest by the National Tourism Organization of Hungary, which eKapija attended, people throughout Europe are ready and willing to get new stamps in their passports and experience something new. As it was pointed out, it is precisely what these states offer that could provide us with what we need the most now – an escape from stress and bad news.

In that spirit, Zsuzsa Szinger, the international relations manager at the National Tourism Organization of Hungary, pointed out that the country was recognized primarily for its quality gastronomy, spas and cultural events.

– As a country of water, which is what we call ourselves, we want to emphasize the importance of the richness of our thermal springs and spa capacities. Hungary has over 1,500 thermal springs throughout the country. Today, if you’re going on a vacation, you’re looking to escape everyday routine, stress, but also to eliminate pain. Our spas are certified by all the necessary standards, and in each one you will find what can help the well-being of your organism.

Lake Heviz, she points out, is the biggest thermal lake in the world. In Hungarian, “Heviz” means “warm water” and its temperature never goes below 22 degrees Celsius. As a bonus, she cites its hygienic properties, as the entire water capacity is renewed twice a week.

The pride over the great number of spa centers they have was also evident in the speech by Frantisek Reismuller, the marketing and foreign office manager at CzechTourism, an agency which operates within the Czech Ministry for Regional Development. He says that their aim in the upcoming years, in the context of tourism expansion, is to place focus on the tradition, as something that is living and can be experienced. And it is precisely spa centers that are their tradition.



– The Czech Republic is specific, because it has so-called spa cities, and each spa center is different for what it can offer to the guests. Karlovy Vary is probably the city that is the most well-known for its spa centers. Bathing in beer is the modern stamp we wanted to put on the tradition, which we want to emphasize so much. The beer-bathing treatment is extremely relaxing, and your skin will certainly thank you. The spa culture, you know, is very developed in the Czech Republic.

In the neighboring Slovakia, you will be surprised by the ambiance of the spa centers, from those which evoke an atmosphere of classical antiquity thanks to their architectural features, while some others make you feel like you’re in Istanbul. It is this variety that is the true richness of the tourism offer of Slovakia.

They also boast over 1,600 mineral springs and have been known for decades for what they provide to the human body. These, as they call them, miracles of theirs are emphasized by Miriam Bencikova, the marketing manager at Slovakia Travel.

– Our offer features 26 thermal and spa resorts, the most famous of which is Piestani, famous for its healing mineral waters, but also its sulfur mud, which is used in treating muscle diseases. There are plenty of beautiful spa center in the west of Slovakia, and their number increases as you move toward the country’s east. For example, Rajecke Teplice is special for its atmosphere of classical antiquity, which usually surprises the tourists, whereas the spirit of Istanbul and Turkish hammams can be experienced in Trencianske Teplice.

As she says, for those looking for a weekend of enjoyment and recovery from everyday stress, there are plenty of beautiful spa facilities at the foot of High Tatras, a mountain range along the border of Slovakia and Poland, or in the heart of Slovakia, Liptovo.

After we’ve recovered our bodies, what follows are activities and nature, which invites us to surrender ourselves to it. Slovakia has assets in that segment as well – a network of as many as 15,000 kilometers of footpaths, some of which pass beneath famous mountain peaks. Slovakia has around 50 mountain peaks at altitudes of over 1,000 meters. Via ferratas, Bencikova points out, are among their best-known features.

Her colleague from Poland, Artur Pielaszek, the marketing manager at the Tourism Organization of Poland, a country of a thousand lakes, highlighted precisely the active tourism they offer to tourists. Their national parks, as he said, are recognized for the incredible experience they provide, and birdwatching at the Biebrzanski park has proven to be very popular.

– Canyoning is very popular here as well, but also kite-surfing in the north, paragliding, horseback riding, fishing. Enjoying the nature and being relaxed – that is our message – Pielaszek pointed out.

What does the palate have to look forward to?

After we tire our bodies and relax at one of the spa centers, what’s left? – good food, of course. To achieve full hedonism, gastronomy cannot be avoided. Those who have already visited Hungary know that they eat well there and that there’s no compromise with the quality. The quality of the food and the service must come first, so it’s no wonder that they have several restaurants with Michelin stars.

– I believe that Hungary is a good destination for gastronomic tourism. Hungarians love to eat and talk about food. That’s one of the main topics here. We have a nice climate, quality ingredients, we grow a wide variety of plants organically, we are creative in coming up with recipes… But I would always primarily emphasize our kindness and hospitality – says Zsuzsa Sziger.

The gastronomy of Poland is largely shaped by the fact that it is a country between the East and the West, so many flavors have mixed.

– There are plenty of influences in our cuisine. We are a country of pierogi (similar to the Italian ravioli, note by eKapija), but we are proud for our wide variety of breads, as well as soups. We have over 200 varieties. As a destination, Poland is very close to vegetarians. You can find an offer of vegetarian meals in restaurants all over Warsaw.

Let’s not forget the culture

Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland combined have 49 locations which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Last year, an area of a beech forest of 27 m2 on the Jizera Mountains in the Czech Republic, from Spicak in the west to Tisina in the east, was added to the list. Also, in 2021, the so-called spa triangle, comprising three spa cities, Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Frantiskovy Lazne, together with 11 European cities, were added to the list.

– I believe that the countries of the Visegrad Group have a good cooperation in presenting the world heritage. We are proud that something authentic of ours has made it to the UNESCO list. It is very important to present this transition, which is common to us all, in remote markets. I believe that it is very important to join forces and follow each other and to act together in tourism – pointed out Reismuller of CzechTourism.



Budapest as a city has as many as three locations on the UNESCO list: the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue.

– All these locations in the city are not just interesting from the cultural, historical or architectural angles, but also from the everyday life angle, so there are tourists who claim that the banks of the Danube, for example, are ideal for a morning jog – says Zsuzsa Szinger of the National Tourism Organization of Hungary.

Falconry is the Slovakian asset on the UNESCO list, but also the mountain village of Vlkolinec with its 14th century architecture, as well as the historic, formerly mining town of Banska Stiavnica, which is very popular among tourists. The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List also features the Slovakian instrument fujara.

As the representative of Slovakia said at the conference, the tourists should not miss wooden churches either, of which there are around 300, or the Spis Castle, whereas the Polish representative pointed out that the tourists would be delighted by the architecture of Warsaw and Krakow, as well as the authentic city of Zamosc.

In the upcoming days, on eKapija, you will be able to read more about the tourism offer of Hungary and details about the places that our team visited.

Teodora Brnjos

National Tourism Organization of Hungary

Slovakia Travel

CzechTourism

Tourism Organization of Poland

Artur Pielaszek

Miriam Bencikova

Frantisek Reismuller

Zsuzsa Szinger

spa cities

spa centers

spas in Hungary

gastronomy of Hungary

Visegrad Group

Karlovy Vary

Lake Heviz

thermal lake

largest thermal lake

bathing in beer

Piestani

Piestani spa

beech forest

Jizera Mountains

Marianske Lazne

Frantiskovy Lazne

Budapest Banks of the Danube

Buda Castle Quarter

Andrassy Avenue

UNESCO World Heritage List places in Budpaest

falconry

Vlkolinec

Banska Stiavnica

fujara

Warsaw

Krakow

Zamosc

Spis