Čičmany

"This is a tiny village, but, if you haven't seen something like this before, you will love it. It's a bit more difficult to get to as in you have to take a really local bus there, BUT, you won't be the first tourist to have ever done so, so don't worry, it's absolutely doable even on a public transport - we've done it! There are a few open-air museums around Slovakia, so if that is what you are interested in, do look them up. Folklore is more celebrated and present in the north and center of the country than in the west. But what makes Cicmany different from all the other traditional villages and open-air museums is that the traditional, old log houses are beautifully decorated with white ornaments. Did you know? Painting the houses was originally done to protect the logs against the effects of the sun. To note: people still live in the village and in these houses so be mindful of this. There is a museum in one of the houses called Radenov dom. Bonus tip: You can combine this trip with a stop in Rajecka Lesna, another small village, famous for its detailed wooden Bethlehem which will surprise you not only by its size (it's massive) but also by the fact some parts of it move! It's worth seeing even if you aren't religious - the Bethlehem scene is only part of the whole installation, the rest are famous sights from Slovakia and scenes from daily life back when people used to work on the fields, and crafts were still a source of income."

"Most charming village in Slovakia, perfect place to have contact with folk culture and to appreciate the cutest wood houses covered in drawings."