Is Slovakia safe?

just wondering, with the multiple 2 month trips, are you running up against the 90 days in 180 Schengen limits?

Sorry not to have personal Slovakia recent knowledge

It's hard to understand your code words: "uncomfortable" "weren't that great" and it's unclear what "safe" means to you. For sure, nothing you have written resonates or is recognizable to me in terms of those countries. Also, I have noticed that "the common people" in Europe are just like the common people everywhere. Poorly traveled, poorly educated, fearful and provincial. If you ask people - which you shouldn't - the next town, province, oblast or country is always worse / more dangerous / not as pretty / filled with thieves.

Are you referring solely to road infrastructure/ driving conditions, or anything else?

Here is what the US Embassy thinks about Slovakia (hint, it is Level 1, low risk) - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/slovakia-travel-advisory.html

Your post is unclear about what you mean by "safe," "weren't great," and "very uncomfortable." As you likely know, Slovakia is a developed country in the heart of the European Union.

Perhaps you want to ask your question as well on the Trip Advisor forum for Slovakia.

I picked Presov because its sort of centrally located and maybe more typical than Bratislava. Compared it to Kansas City, MO; but you can input your home town.

https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+States&country2=Slovakia&city1=Kansas+City%2C+MO&city2=Presov&tracking=getDispatchComparison

And yes, I have driven through Slovakia a few times and nothing botheres me. Of course nothing much bothered me in Bosnia or Croatia either; Albania, just a tiny bit of discomfort. But its all about personal tolerances so no answer is right or wrong.

You do know that Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine, right?

Thanks for your responses. As far as what I meant by safety, as an example in Karlovac, Croatia, we were very surprised to see that most of the buildings were left in a bombed-out state due to the war in the 1990’s. There was also more poverty there compared to other parts of Croatia. Bosnia’s roads were horrendous with potholes and roads in total disrepair. The villages we saw in Bosnia were very run down and dilapidated, and as I had mentioned previously, locals that we had spoken to about Bosnia’s situation agreed with us that they drive all the way around Bosnia rather than through it even though it takes more driving time to do it that way.

We have driven extensively throughout Europe for years including living there back in the ‘90’s. Yes, I know Slovakia borders Ukraine - but so does Poland which is a wonderful country to explore. I’m also aware of the Level 1 status of Slovakia which was one of the reasons we wanted to go there, but after speaking to some of the locals about Slovakia’s safety issues, we have been second guessing our travel plans. That’s why I posted my original question here to see what others have experienced.

Thanks for suggesting to ask the question through TripAdvisor. We’ll definitely give that a try!

So to you unsafe = buildings in disrepair as a result of a still fairly recent war, "poverty," potholes.

I am sorry that these things make you uncomfortable and that you equate these things with personal safety. Perhaps Sweden or Switzerland is a better choice for you.

I don’t think you are going to feel “safe” in Slovakia. You might think about Austria instead.

I would say you aren’t going to be happy with the roads. I won’t try and classify them as safe or dangerous as that’s way too subjective; will just say that they are pretty much consistent with Eastern Europe in general. I have maybe 10 hours experience on Slovakian roads (almost the full width of the country and a lot of smaller roads looking for fishing spots), and close to equal that experience on roads in each Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro.

You won’t find any bombed out buildings in Slovakia (like you will in Budapest), but you will find many condemned (or should be condemned buildings).

The poverty rate in Slovakia is on par with Hungary, slightly better than Croatia and Bosnia and like Croatia and Bosnia lower by nearly half that of Poland.

As for crime, you will have trouble finding any place in any of these countries that is not statistically less crime ridden than any location in the United States (unfortunately). I posted a link for you to search.

Well, I started to say I would be interested in your perceptions if you do this trip, since one of my two early October options is a 2 week solo drive through Slovakia. But I don’t think you’ll be early enough.

I understand that your use of “safe” might refer to damage to your car due to bad roads, as opposed to physical safety for yourself. Having just come from Albania and now with a car in northern Greece, I have seen a variety of roads and can see that to be valid sometimes. I suspect Slovakia might be the same. But with only 2 weeks, I won’t have time to get TOO far off the mainstream.

I don’t have much experience in Bosnia yet, for comparison, but I will be there for 2 weeks in September. My limited experience there so far is driving Dubrovnik to Mostar to Zadar - roads were just fine. I will learn more soon.

I guess I am a little odd, in that I typically tend to feel “safer” regarding my physical safety (as in theft, not assault - I have yet to worry about that) in smaller places than bigger cities. Some day I may encounter something to prove me wrong but not yet.

With your experiences, you should post a trip report of the “off the beaten track” places you have driven to!

TexasMom, I think it's reasonable to think you're safer from pickpockets in smaller cities. I think the larger more touristed cities would definitely be a magnet for pickpockets.

If you have that fear it willl cloud your trip. You should not go.
That said. I would go. I went to Mostar and Sarajevo recently on public transport. Never once thought about safe or not. Sure, there are some dilapidated buildings. Heck, Italy is full of that.
Now that you mentioned Slovakia, maybe it is the place and time to go, before the tour buses start rolling on a regular basis.

treemoss2, Slovakia (other than Bratislava which is barely in Slovakia) is one of the greatest undiscovered destinations in Europe. The nature, the castles the old towns and the unique cultures. Hard to beat. Also like a lot of Eastern Europe not convenient to navigate like countries in the West are.

But you are 100% correct, you gotta feel comfortable to enjoy.

I hope the OP realizes that much of Hungary looks like Croatia and Slovakia?

Budapest (and every village and town) has bombed out or abandoned buildings, (this is a few blocks from where I stay: https://bigseventravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/mazel.jpg and is not uncommon at all),

You can not take a walk through the tourist zone of Budapest or any village center without seeing homeless sleeping in doorways (the poorest country in the EU I believe).

I've been on some pretty dicey roads in Hungary too and there are a few streets in Budapest that are paved by defination but not by function.

As safe as anywhere else, but the country was a bit boring - shoulda listened to the elderly front desk guy at my Vienna hotel and used my day more wisely.

Mister É, Slovakia is one of the greatest undiscovered destinations in Europe.
This is what you told me about Albania, too….. Although you weren’t wrong.

country was a bit boring - shoulda listened to the elderly front desk guy at my Vienna hotel and used my day more wisely.
This seems to be where I am any time I spend only a day or part of a day somewhere large. I have almost quit. A whole country in one day is a lot.

@cala, thanks. :) Maybe I am not so odd. Lol.

I am really excited about a circle around Slovakia. I guess I should go ahead and rent my car…..

A whole country in one day is a lot.

Yeah, that one day reconnaissance paid huge dividends - saved me from investing more time in a less than desirable country.

T.T.Mom, I hate posting this, because Slovakia has been a great secret. But here you go T.T.M. https://www.slovakia.com/castles/

When are you going? If I am in Budapest, maybe I will run up and visit you for a day.

Thanks for all your replies! We were actually very disappointed of the possibility of us not going to Slovakia, especially with all the research I’ve done - but now, we’ve decided to go! I’ll share our experiences with you all after we come back. Thanks again!