Slovak Spectator

News digest: Can a giraffe reach the stars? Everything is possible at Bratislava Zoo
Coalition MPs immediately overrride president's veto of whistleblower law; the mysterious case of the exploding ATM; and it's international film festival weekend in Košice.

Slovakia’s oldest sauna tradition just got a minimalist reboot in the middle of the forest
Near a village beneath Kráľova hoľa, a self-service forest sauna is reviving a 100-year-old tradition.

Award-winning chemist: No need to fear chemistry
Ľubomír Švorc discusses his storied career, chemophobia, and application of his team’s research.

Expansions, new plants, new jobs: Foreign investors bring capital to Slovakia
What foreign investments has Slovakia seen in the past year?

Karl Bushby, world’s boldest walker, has entered Slovakia
A selection of short feel-good stories from Slovakia.

News digest: Coalition hijacks parliament — and chaos follows: “mafia night”, booze whispers, shouting matches
President Pellegrini accused of playing both sides as he vetoes the law scrapping the whistleblower watchdog.

Two sides of one bridge
The Danube once meandered through a town, rather than defining a country border.

What are the most popular baby names in Slovakia in 2025?
Only small shifts in this year’s top rankings.

Want a cheaper train ticket to Vienna? Just don’t buy it from the Slovak operator
Slovaks can pay much more than Austrians for identical trains.

3 free things to do in Bratislava in the next seven days
Enjoy the Advent atmosphere with winter edition of Dobrý trh market or festive concert of the 2000s hits.

Weekend: Feeling Christmas rush already? Catch a break with these events
Here's what to do during the weekend of December 12-14.

News digest: Postponed votes, pre-Christmas excuses — and one minister losing his cool
Hungarian schools vanish, a Slovak startup rises, tips for enjoying Bratislava — and an interior minister stuck in the wrong kind of limelight.

Bottom of the table: Slovakia trails OECD peers in new Economist ranking
Core inflation, weak GDP growth, and recent tax measures contributed to Slovakia’s poor showing.

Slovakia’s newest startup star wants to break farmers’ spraying habit
CultiWise uses satellites and machine learning to cut chemical use — and maybe start a quiet revolution in how Europe grows food.

Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners
Experience the magic of Christmas, marvel at the legendary Coca-Cola truck, and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Pandora!

Interior minister keeps getting fined for bullying police who tried to expose corruption
He has already run up hundreds of thousands in penalties — and has now shut down the watchdog that kept catching him out.

Slovakia looking to make ESA’s space vision reality
Country could play key role in clearing debris from Earth orbit.

News digest: Minister moves to axe watchdog, court axes him
Liptov averts a rail near-miss, a Slovak comedian faces claims of unwanted intimate touching, and a festive waste truck cheers Bratislava.

Zvolen: castles above, Bali below and surprises everywhere
A ferrata beneath one of Europe’s largest medieval ruins, a Balinese retreat on the edge of town — this corner of central Slovakia is anything but predictable.

Boring? Not quite. Zvolen has its moments
It is true the town can be quiet, but occasional concerts, cafés in old legion buildings and bee-house sleepovers keep things interesting.