From the cobbled alleys of Bratislava’s Old Town (Staré Mesto) to the historic Gothic core of Košice or the castle ramparts of Banská Bystrica, wandering Slovak cities on foot is delightful. Knowing how to ask for and follow directions ensures you always find your way.
Essential Directional Terms
| Slovak Term | English Meaning | Example Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| vpravo / doprava | to the right | Zahnite doprava na rohu. (Turn right at the corner.) |
| vľavo / doľava | to the left | Choďte doľava okolo banky. (Go left past the bank.) |
| rovno / priamo | straight ahead | Choďte stále rovno. (Keep going straight ahead.) |
| späť / dozadu | back / backwards | Musíte sa vrátiť späť. (You need to turn back.) |
| na rohu | at the corner | Lekáreň je na rohu ulice. (The pharmacy is at the corner.) |
| oproti | opposite / across from | Reštaurácia je oproti kostolu. (The restaurant is opposite the church.) |
| vedľa | next to / beside | Hotel je vedľa pošty. (The hotel is next to the post office.) |
| blízko / ďaleko | near / far | Je to veľmi blízko. (It is very near.) |
Urban Landmarks & Places
| Slovak Landmark | English Translation | Notable Example in Slovakia |
|---|---|---|
| Námestie | Main square / Plaza | Hlavné námestie (Bratislava), Námestie SNP |
| Ulica | Street | Obchodná ulica, Michalská ulica |
| Hrad / Zámok | Castle / Chateau | Bratislavský hrad, Bojnický zámok |
| Most | Bridge | Most SNP (UFO bridge over the Danube) |
| Staré Mesto | Old Town | Pedestrian historical center |
| Pešia zóna | Pedestrian zone | Car-free walking area in city centers |
| Zastávka / Stanica | Transit stop / Station | Zastávka električky (Tram stop) |
| Lekáreň | Pharmacy | Identified with a green cross sign |
| Pošta | Post office | National postal service branches |
Asking for Directions: Practical Dialogue
| Speaker | Slovak Line | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Turista | Prepáčte, prosím vás, ako sa dostanem na Bratislavský hrad? | Excuse me, please, how do I get to Bratislava Castle? |
| Miestny | Choďte stále rovno po tejto ulici až k semaforu. | Go straight ahead along this street until the traffic light. |
| Miestny | Tam odbočte doprava a uvidíte schody vedúce priamo na hrad. | Turn right there and you will see stairs leading directly to the castle. |
| Turista | Je to ďaleko pešo? | Is it far on foot? |
| Miestny | Nie, je to asi desať minút pešo. | No, it is about ten minutes on foot. |
| Turista | Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne! | Thank you very much! |
Written and reviewed by the TheLernen language team·Last updated: 2026-07-19
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