Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia and once a nearly desolate ghost town, is a pleasant surprise, with colorfully restored facades, lively outdoor cafes and swanky boutiques. It also could be the ...

Even though it may be smaller in scale, standards are high here. Bratislava can offer the same luxury as Paris, London or New York – all with a dose of a certain Slovak charm.

For decades, the Slovak town of Liptovský Mikuláš – despite owning the largest stretch of shoreline along the Liptovská Mara reservoir – lacked a public beach. That changed in late June, just in time ...