You’ve just landed from the UAE, and Slovakia welcomes you with cool air and open roads. If you want to explore beyond the cities, the first thing to do is to rent a car in Slovakia.
If you choose Zehra as your destination, the route winds through rolling hills, pine forests, and postcard villages like Spišské Podhradie. You’ll spot castles in the distance and pass quiet meadows dotted with sheep.
Read on to plan your road trip and fully experience Slovakia’s natural charm before arriving in Zehra.
Many UAE tourists begin their journey from Bratislava, Košice, or Poprad airports. All three have good international connections and are close to scenic regions.
UAE citizens need a valid Schengen visa, an international driving permit (IDP), and a UAE driving license. You should also carry a passport with at least six months of validity and travel insurance covering European medical care.
It’s best to rent a car in Slovakia at least two days in advance to ensure the availability of your desired vehicle. Choose a car with a GPS or phone mount, winter tires if traveling in colder months, and enough space for luggage.
Some highways require a vignette (digital toll sticker). Make sure it’s included, or ask at the rental desk.
Zehra is a hidden gem worth visiting, especially for UAE travelers seeking cooler weather, quiet landscapes, and cultural depth. Once you’ve landed in Slovakia and picked up your rental car, Zehra offers the kind of slow travel that refreshes the mind and soul.
Here are three reasons why a trip to Zehra should be on your itinerary:
Zehra is quiet, uncrowded, and far removed from city traffic and commercial noise. Instead of malls or highways, you’ll see narrow village lanes, traditional houses, and open landscapes.
This makes it ideal for travelers seeking calm, whether you're coming from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah. Walking through local fields or having simple mornings with mountain views lets you recharge without distractions.
Summer in the UAE can be intense. Zehra offers a cool-weather retreat without traveling far within Europe.
From May to September, daytime temperatures stay mild, with chilly nights perfect for light jackets and peaceful sleep. The surrounding forests and hills also help keep the air crisp and clean. You can explore the outdoors comfortably, hike nearby, or enjoy meals at a roadside inn.
Though Zehra is quiet, it sits in the heart of a culturally rich area. Within a 20-minute drive, you can visit Spiš Castle, one of Central Europe's most extensive castle ruins, and walk through its towers and stone walls.
Nearby Levoča offers cobblestone streets, a historic town square, and churches filled with Gothic architecture. These spots are ideal for UAE visitors who want to learn about Slovak history without long drives or busy tour groups.
Let’s explore the best driving routes to Zehra. Your choice depends on where you land, how much time you have, and what kind of road experience you prefer. Each route comes with a different pace, setting, and atmosphere.
This is the longest route to Zehra but offers the richest mix of history and landscapes.
Driving from Bratislava to Zehra takes about 4 hours and covers 370 kilometers along Slovakia’s main highways. The roads are well-maintained and pass through notable cities like Nitra, Zvolen, and Banská Bystrica.
You can explore castles, open squares, and scenic viewpoints in these towns. This route is perfect if you want to turn your drive into a cultural journey.
It’s best suited for travelers who enjoy longer drives with stops in historic cities, good food, and easy access to gas stations and roadside cafés.
This is your route if you want a shorter drive without missing out on charming views. From Košice, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach Zehra, covering 90 kilometers of mostly regional roads.
The journey passes through rolling hills, green farmlands, and small villages, giving you a slower, more local feel.
Košice is worth visiting. It is known for its St. Elisabeth Cathedral, artistic murals, and relaxed vibe. This drive suits travelers flying into eastern Slovakia who want a quieter, less commercial road trip.
This is the fastest and most scenic route, ideal for travelers arriving at Poprad-Tatry Airport. The drive to Zehra takes only 45 minutes and spans 45 kilometers, but it’s packed with beautiful views.
Poprad is at the foot of the High Tatras, so you’ll start your drive surrounded by snow-capped peaks (in winter) or rolling green hills (in summer).
The road passes through quiet villages, wide meadows, and tree-lined stretches. This route is best if you want to reach Zehra quickly but still want dramatic nature and mountain backdrops along the way.
No UAE to Zehra road trip is complete without a few memorable stops. Here are five great places along the way that make your drive better:
Nitra is one of Slovakia’s oldest cities, located about 90 kilometers east of Bratislava. It sits at the base of Zobor Hill, and many travelers pass through it on their way to central or eastern Slovakia.
The city dates back to the 9th century and has been a center of religion, education, and culture. At the heart of the city is Nitra Castle, which stands on a hill and offers sweeping views of the town.
Inside the castle, you’ll find St. Emmeram’s Cathedral, with centuries of architectural stles from Romanesque to Baroque.
The surrounding area is filled with quiet cafés, old churches, and green spaces that give you a calm break from the drive.
After visiting the castle and cathedral, you can hike up Zobor Hill for views across the valley. You’ll also find the Slovak Agricultural Museum nearby, and witness traditional farming life.
Banská Bystrica is a lively town in central Slovakia, about 200 kilometers northeast of Bratislava.
It is surrounded by the Low Tatras and Veľká Fatra mountain ranges. Many travelers pass through when crossing the country eastward.
This center is known for its colorful buildings and open plazas. Highlights include the leaning Clock Tower, SNP Square, and the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising. Cafés and local shops fill the surrounding streets, so you can easily pause for a meal or coffee.
From the town, you can reach Urpín Hill, a short but rewarding hike with panoramic views.
For longer trails, head to Donovaly, just 30 minutes away, where you’ll find forest paths, lookout points, and open meadows perfect for a peaceful break from driving.
Zvolen is a small town in central Slovakia, about 20 minutes south of Banská Bystrica. It sits where R1 and Route 66 cross.
At the center of Zvolen is Zvolen Castle, a Gothic-Renaissance fortress that once hosted Hungarian royalty. It now serves as a branch of the Slovak National Gallery and often holds art exhibits. Nearby, you’ll find Námestie SNP, the main square with local shops and restaurants.
Zvolen also gives you quick access to Pustý hrad (The Deserted Castle), one of the largest castle ruins in Europe. A short forest hike leads to the ruins, where you’ll get sweeping views of the town and surrounding hills.
The mix of medieval landmarks and open landscapes makes Zvolen a well-rounded stop on your drive.
Spiš Castle is a massive medieval fortress in eastern Slovakia, perched above the village of Žehra. The Spiš Castle is open from April to October, and a short hike from the parking area brings you right into its ancient walls.
It’s about 25 minutes from Levoča and sits near the D1 highway, which is an easy detour on your way to Zehra. The castle is one of the largest in Central Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built in the 12th century, Spiš Castle was once a major political and cultural center in the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, its ruins stretch across a wide hilltop, offering countryside views.
Visitors can explore the old towers, courtyards, and a small museum that displays medieval weapons and artifacts.
Nearby, you can also visit the Church of the Holy Spirit in Žehra and the walled religious town of Spišská Kapitula, which are both part of the same UNESCO listing.
Levoča is a small medieval town in eastern Slovakia, about 25 minutes from Spiš Castle.
The heart of Levoča is its main square, home to the 14th-century Basilica of St. James. Inside, you'll find the tallest wooden Gothic altar in the world, carved by Master Paul of Levoča.
Nearby, the Old Town Hall and the Cage of Shame, a 17th-century iron pillory, offer glimpses into the town's rich history. The square is surrounded by Renaissance and Gothic buildings, many of which were once homes to wealthy merchants.
Just outside the town is Mariánska hora, a hilltop pilgrimage site with a basilica that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Once you reach Zehra, the charm doesn’t stop. This peaceful village may be small, but it holds cultural gems and quiet natural surroundings worth exploring.
It’s the perfect base for a calm day trip filled with history, walks, and scenic views of the Spiš region.
This Gothic church is Zehra’s most famous site. Built in the late 1200s, it houses rare 14th-century frescoes, including a well-known mural of the “Tree of Life.”
The church sits on a small rise above the village and is usually open during daylight hours, with guided tours available from local heritage staff in Spišské Podhradie.
Zehra is small but scenic, with quiet lanes, wooden homes, and open fields perfect for a slow walk. The village road leads to nearby farmlands, where sheep graze and old wells still stand.
Just 5 minutes by car is Spišská Kapitula, a fortified religious town with a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, monastery buildings, and stone walls. Often called the “Slovak Vatican,” it’s a functioning religious center with quiet walking paths and scenic viewpoints toward Spiš Castle.
The entire area is walkable, and entry to the cathedral is possible for a small fee.
Zehra is surrounded by low hills and patchwork fields, ideal for slow scenic drives. Take the road from Zehra to Žehra-Dúbrava and Harichovce, where winding roads reveal views of the Levoča Mountains and rural Slovak homes. Sunrise and sunset drives are wonderful, with golden light over the rolling landscape.
While Zehra doesn’t have restaurants, you’re just 10 minutes from Spišské Podhradie, where you’ll find Penzión St. Martin. It’s a small guesthouse offering Slovak classics like kapustnica (cabbage soup) and bryndzové halušky (dumplings with sheep cheese).
In Levoča, visit Restaurácia U Leva for traditional meals and local wines inside a 15th-century building on the main square.
This Zehra road trip guide offers something memorable, from the castles of Nitra and Banská Bystrica to the mountain roads near Poprad. Once you reach Zehra, the pace slows.
You’ll walk through quiet lanes, visit the Church of the Holy Spirit, and take in expansive countryside views that feel far removed from the desert heat back home.
To make the most of it, rent a car with Finalrentals. Our affordable rates, wide car selection, and airport pickup options make your road trip smooth and flexible. Wherever you start, we can help you travel comfortably on your terms.
