Spectacular Slovakia

From London to Poland, and now to Slovakia, this story shows how languages can open doors — to careers, cultures, and even love.

A journey that put Košice on Slovakia's digital marketing map.

Tanya Benito's journey to Slovakia began as a professional opportunity but quickly turned into a life-changing experience.

Miriam Fulmeková, a 30-year-old Slovak DJ, screenwriter, and dramaturg, seamlessly blends music and storytelling, creating a unique artistic voice.

Milan "Docent" Sedliak is a Slovak scientist, nutrition expert, and stand-up comedian who excels at blending science and humor.

Driving sustainable urban development and modernisation while preserving the city's cultural heritage and fostering community engagement.

Through exclusive interviews, detailed analyses, and compelling stories, Closer connects younger readers with the heart of Slovakia.

Kvet Nguyen, a Slovak artist and writer of Vietnamese descent, captures the beauty and complexity of living between cultures in her work and storytelling.

Petra Klimová Dzvoníková, known online as Petush Nasklee, is a Slovak influencer and podcaster who uses her platform to empower others through her open approach to fashion, art and mental health awareness.

Ready for a ride? In the picturesque Rajec valley, visitors can ride a bike in all directions without getting lost. I am living proof. Host: Peter Dlhopolec

Our next trip around the Žilina Region will be slightly Italian because of its name. We'll climb Slovakia's oldest via ferrata. It can be found in the Turiec area, which is compared to the Tuscany region in Italy. Host: Peter Dlhopolec

In a Slovak town, visitors can see Brestovská Cave, a spring featured in an iconic film, and an open-air museum (and much more).

Explore a place with three different names – Trojmedzie, Trojmezí, Trójstyk – where three nations regularly meet. Trojmedzie is a hidden gem, easily accessible by train from Bratislava. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Marta Sláviková

In addition to a hike or a cable-car ride up to Chopok peak, visitors to the ski resort Jasná, Liptov region, can meet Wallachian sheep and take a wild ride in a mountain cart down the hill. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Jiří Trumpeš, Veronika Tabačková

We spent a day in the resort town of Terchová, hometown of Slovakia's national hero and source of many hiking trails. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Ivana Adžić

Svidník, a town in eastern Slovakia known for its military history, is home to the country's oldest ethnic museum, the Museum of Ukrainian Culture. Explore the museum with Miriam Božíková who works at the cultural institution. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Music: Ukrainian folk songs

Bratislava-based Teheran-born comedian Nastaran "Nasi" Alaghmandan Motlagh, who will host events at the upcoming fjúžn festival in Bratislava, is the latest guest on the Spectacular Slovakia podcast.

In the final episode of this summer series, we will immerse ourselves in exploring Žilina, rafting the Váh river, and hiking some of the most beautiful peaks in Slovakia. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Ivan the rafter, David Cartwright, Róbert Hlaváč

A Dutch couple always wanted to have their own farm. What is impossible in the Netherlands, they accomplished near Krupina.

In addition to a spa town and a Marian pilgrimage site, the quaint Čičmany village can be found in the Rajec region. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Jean Gâteau, Juraj Kudjak

The region is known for Orava Castle. But have you gone on a cruise in Námestovo or tasted some scrumptious ice cream in Dolný Kubín? Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guest: Vladimír Klocok, Tamari Mikatsadze, Tatia Basilaia, Jozef Ferenčík

The Kysuce region is a quintessential Slovak region, with quaint hilltop villages and plenty of adventures to offer. Presenter: Peter Dlhopolec Guests: Mirka Petríková, Avuzwa Ngubo, Pedro Viola de Abreu

The Liptov region is a great holiday destination that is not just about Tatralandia, Jasná and Vlkolínec, although they are also worth a visit.

Peter expands his textbook knowledge about the Turiec region. He talks to three people who know the region quite well: Zuzana, Stanislava and Scott.

For American Jeremy Hill, his number one enemy in Slovakia has always been winter. He’s not a fan of the bitter cold and after the holidays, this “vegetarian with a sensitive tummy” usually requires some medical assistance… and a stool sample. Listen as he recalls with a mixture of shame and amusement the day he presented a Slovak nurse with a stool sample in a Tesco shopping bag.

Listen to Jeremy Hill recount his very first Christmas in Slovakia, when he rediscovered the healing magic of the holiday season.

Austrian Ambassador Margit Bruck-Friedrich on why she loves Bratislava and what to not miss out on in surrounding towns.

Japanese Ambassador Makoto Nakagawa is here to talk about his hobbies - biking and birdwatching - in Bratislava. Plus, it's time to compare capital cities again.

Israeli Ambassador Boaz Modai shares his views on Bratislava and talks about the city's Jewish heritage.

Swiss Ambassador Alexander Hoffet on where in Bratislava he walks his dog, favourite spots, and Bratislava rolls.

Ambassador Barbara Wolf talks about German presence and her favourite places in Pressburg, as Bratislava was referred to in days of old.

Spectacular Slovakia meets Dutch Ambassador Henk Cor van der Kwast in Danubiana to talk art, classical music, cycling and tulips.

Canada’s Chargé d’affaires John von Kaufmann has learnt a lot about Slovak history. Moreover, in Bratislava, he discovered a nudist beach and a farmers’ market by accident. How’s life in the capital going for him?

In 1993, Nigel Baker found himself in Bratislava for the first time. What does the British ambassador recall from the old times?

Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Slovakia, considers the country and Bratislava fantastic places to live in. What does she love about Slovakia and its capital?

Despite a bug, the [fjúžn] festival will kick off on September the 18th. Nina Galanská and Kristína Hamárová of Milan Šimečka Foundation will guide you through the week-long event.

Hilda Ó Riain, Ambassador of Ireland to Slovakia, reveals where in Bratislava you can often meet her and what she loves about the city. She even provides a short Irish language class.

Get your pen and paper ready before you set off on a trip around Slovakia.

American musician Francisco Mejia talks about his debut album 'Ghost Sex Empire' and how his dream of becoming a musician was finally realised.

Stay home, stay safe. It is time to have some fun in our virtual quiz club. Are you ready to play?

It is not only a furniture museum. The well-preserved fortress, hidden in the Small Carpathians, is home to a replica of Madonna of Bruges and breathtakingly huge cellars. Explore this covert and cozy place with Englishman James Thompson.

Peter chats to Michal Kaščák, Pohoda Festival founder, about what will follow after the festival was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

Ecuadorian Jorge Mancero, who is helping a community in northern Slovakia, sat down with Peter to talk about Čadca, Slovakia and Ecuador.

The former royal town, Pukanec, has a rich history of mining, pottery and growing vines. But the story of Samko Šikeť of Pukanec is a whole new story. Host: Anna Fay Guest: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube

Spectacular Slovakia welcomes back Sergei (Russia) and Ingeborg (Norway), who live in Košice. This time, they will take listeners to the Belianske Tatry mountain range. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library

Volunteers Suna Uzun from Turkey and Sebastian Pellizzari from Austria talk about one of their first hikes in Slovakia. Did they find any gold at the top of Veľký Rozsutec in the national park Malá Fatra? Host: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library

Súľovské skaly, or the Súľov Rocks, are must-climb mountains for everyone as they offer much more than a hiking experience. Host: Anna Fay Guest: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library

Anna and Peter talk about hiking Šíp peak, or Arrow peak in English, located in northern Slovakia. It’s time to pack up and seek out an adventure in the hills. Host: Anna Fay Co-host: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library

People in Slovakia are often inconvenienced by delayed trains and buses, but Briton Graham Strouts managed to avoid wasted hours at the train station by cycling all the way from Spain to Slovakia. Find out how he managed to cycle such a long way and what ultimately brought him to Bratislava, a place he has called home for over two years now, on this episode. Host: Anna Fay Music: YouTube Audio Library

Ingeborg Jørgensen and Sergei Batiashov reveal what their life in the capital of eastern Slovakia has been like in the last three years, what to do in Košice, and where to go. Host: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library

Spectacular Slovakia sets out on a trip to Banská Štiavnica to relive an actual love story. Listen to how a bank, without money but filled with love boxes, preserves the old love story of Andrej Sládkovič and Marína Pišlová. Guest: Katarína Javorská Host: Peter Dlhopolec Music: YouTube Audio Library