Slovakia

Slovakia is (almost) the bulls-eye of Europe, surrounded by a party of neighbours including Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and the Ukraine. Its beating heart is Bratislava, where Germans, Turks, Czechs and Jews have all left their cultural mark on the city. The Old Town showcases the skill of Slovak town planners, who crammed a city’s worth of palaces, shops, cafés, pubs, restaurants, museums and churches into a few blocks. And keep your eyes peeled for some unexpected socialist-era monuments popping into view. Live it up with Avalon in Slovakia on a Balkan Cruise, where old meets new as we sail the Danube River though one of the most intriguing corners of Europe.