Buková
Photos: Lure, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ľuboš Repta, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Akul59, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buková is a village in the Trnava District, Trnava Region, Slovakia. It lies at an elevation of 310 m in the western part of the country, within the Little Carpathians. The Grudky stream flows through the village, and the Buková reservoir is located nearby. The area is surrounded by protected natural zones, offering a tranquil setting amid the mountains.
The first written mention of Buková dates back to 1256. Over the centuries, the village has preserved its identity and traditions, remaining an integral part of the region.
Buková is known for its natural beauty and the scenic landscapes of the Little Carpathians. The nearby Buková reservoir attracts nature lovers, and the ruins of Ostrý Kameň Castle can be seen near the village center. The surrounding area is a protected natural zone, home to unique landscapes and biodiversity.
Visitors to Buková can explore numerous hiking trails, including "Plavecký Peter – Brezinky, shelter," "Plavecké Podhradie – Vápenná," "Saddle Báborská – Smolenice," "Smolenice, station – Havrania skala, crossroads," "Plavecké Podhradie – Rohožník," and "Smolenice – crossroads above Vlčiareň." For those interested in mountain peaks, Zaruby is accessible. In nearby Smolenice, you can visit the "Včelovina" meadery to taste local mead and honey beer.
Getting there from Ukraine
From Uzhhorod to Žilina is about 330 km, around 4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (about 17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová about 314 km, around 4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová about 493 km (about 6 h 30 min), to Žilina about 518 km (about 7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: about 533 km, about 6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedBrezinky, hut Buková, stopElevation profile243–424 m15.2 kmascent 276 m≈ 4.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedRozbehy Buková Reservoir, damElevation profile288–469 m6.4 kmascent 243 m≈ 2 h walking1.8 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedHrad Devín, parking Horná Poruba, U BrdárovElevation profile146–965 m190.1 kmascent 7 200 m2 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedZabité Záruby, junctionElevation profile237–767 m15.7 kmascent 303 m≈ 4.5 h walking2 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedPlavecký Mikuláš Smolenice, stationElevation profile207–651 m15.7 kmascent 552 m≈ 5 h walking2.3 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedSmolenice, station Havrania skala, junctionElevation profile208–602 m3.9 kmascent 99 m≈ 1 h walking2.5 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakZárubyBukováaltitude 767 m2 km from the centreZáruby (formerly also Ostrý vrch, German Scharfenstein) is the highest peak of the Little Carpathians at 767 m (some signposts say 768 m).
PeakVápennáSološnicaaltitude 752 m13 km from the centreVápenná (also Roštún; German Rachsthurn) is a 752 m summit and the third highest peak of the Little Carpathians.
PeakKuklaDubováaltitude 564 m18 km from the centreKukla is a distinctive, solitary 564 m summit in the Little Carpathians (Malé Karpaty) in western Slovakia, in the section known as the Pezinok Carpathians.
PeakVysoká (Little Carpathians)Kuchyňaaltitude 754 m19 km from the centreVysoká is the second-highest summit of the Little Carpathians after Záruby. Slovak geodetic data give it 754.3 m; some other sources state 759 m.
PeakBradloPriepasnéaltitude 543 m20 km from the centreBradlo (Hungarian Bradló) is a 543 m limestone summit, the highest point of the Myjava Hills (Myjavská pahorkatina) in western Slovakia.
PeakVeľká homoľaModraaltitude 709 m22 km from the centreVeľká homoľa is a summit 709 m high in the Little Carpathians (Malé Karpaty), in their Pezinok Carpathians part (Homoľské Karpaty).What to visit
All
Honey & meaderiesVčelovina meadery, Smolenice: mead and honey beerSmolenice4.7 km from the centreThis is where the Včelovina meadery works — “a small production with a big heart”, as its founders put it.
Wine & tastingsMagula Winery, Suchá nad Parnou: biodynamic wines and a farmSuchá nad Parnou16 km from the centreSuchá nad Parnou is a wine village on the south-eastern slopes of the Little Carpathians, near Trnava.
Water parks & thermal poolsSmrdáky: a hydrogen-sulphide spa for skin diseasesSmrdáky21 km from the centreSmrdáky is a small spa village in western Slovakia, on the edge of the Záhorie Lowland and the foothills of the White Carpathians, about 7 km from Senica and 80 km...Craft nearby
All craft places
Wine & tastingsKarpatská Perla winery in Šenkvice: tastings and cellarŠenkvice27 km from the centreFrom a home cellar to Winery of the Year Šenkvice is a wine village on the plain below the eastern slopes of the Little Carpathians, between Pezinok and Modra.
Wine & tastingsHACAJ winery in Pezinok: sparkling wine in a 300-year-old cellarPezinok30 km from the centrePezinok is the centre of the Little Carpathian Wine Route, a town where winegrowers’ houses with deep cellars line the old streets.Spas and thermal pools nearby
Huts, shelters and springs nearby
Getting there from Ukraine
Border crossings
- Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
- Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
- Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
- Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7
By car
From Uzhhorod to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
