Orava Castle (Oravský Hrad)

The basics

Visitors can take three different routes through the castle. Two separate routes cover parts of the Lower Castle, Middle Castle, and Upper Castle, while one combines them. Castle exhibits touch on a range of topics, from local history and ethnography to the region’s natural history—and even the castle’s past use filming location.

You can choose to tour the castle on your own or visit with a guide on tours offered in Slovak and English. Expect to spend two hours exploring the castle if you take the Main Tour or Big Tour routes and one hour doing the Small Tour route.

Things to know before you go

• An audioguide smartphone app is available in several languages, including English.

• Visiting with a wheelchair or stroller is not advised due to the steep and uneven terrain at the castle, including at its entrance.

• You must pay a fee to take photos or record videos of the castle interior.

• Tickets cannot be bought online or in advance.

• Food and alcohol are not permitted inside the castle, and visitors can only drink water outside.

How to get there

Orava Castle is located in northern Slovakia near the High Tatra Mountains. Zilina and Poprad are roughly the same distance from the castle, both a one-hour drive. You can also reach the castle by public transport, although it takes considerably longer. By train, travel via Kralovany to Oravsky Podzamok station. By bus and train, travel first to Ružomberok and then by bus via Dolný Kubín.

When to get there

Orava Castle is open daily most of the year; however, there are several months when it is closed to the public for days or weeks at a time. Check the castle’s calendar before going to ensure it’s open when you want to go. Winter isn’t a good time to visit, as sections of the castle are off-limits then, and bad weather can impact access to other areas.

The Orava Forest Railway

There aren’t too many tourist attractions near Orava Castle to add to your visit, but one worth experiencing is the Orava Forest Railway. Travel on a motorized trolley through the forest and up to a scenic mountain viewpoint, where you’ll also find a traditional wooden cottage to visit. At the station, there's a peacock aviary and a small museum on the railway’s history.