Slovakia
Table of Contents: Regions / Cities / Other destinations / Culture and History / Ethnicities / Travel to Slovakia, visa requirements / Visas By train Buses to Slovakia Flights to Slovakia, airtickets / Get around / Trains / Hitchhiking / Talk / Shopping, Slovakia souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Slovakia nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / City tours / Cultural Events / Music Events / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Learn / Work / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact More from Central Europe: Austria, Carpathian Mountains, Czech Republic, Germany, Giant Mountains, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Silesia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudetes, Switzerland, Tatra Mountains More from Europe: Alps, Central Europe, Danube, Eastern Europe, European Union, Mediterranean Europe, Rhine, Western Europe |
Slovakia [1] (also known as the Slovak Republic) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is surrounded by Austria to the west, Czech Republic to the north west, Hungary to the south, Poland to the north and Ukraine to the east.
With numerous medieval towns, high mountains, caves and a lively capital city, there's probably something for every traveller to enjoy in Slovakia. Slovakia is said to be the country with the highest number of fortified castles per capita in the whole world.
Regions
- Western Slovakia - Bratislava, Danube, lower river valleys
- Central Slovakia - Banská Bystrica, Medieval mining, national parks
- Eastern Slovakia - Košice, Prešov, mountains, castles
Cities
- Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia
Other destinations
- Slovenský Raj - Slovakian Paradise National Park
- Vysoké Tatry - High Tatras
Culture and History
Slovakia has a temperate climate with sunny summers and cold, cloudy, humid and snowy winters.
Much of the central and northern part of Slovakia is rugged and mountainous. Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 m in the High Tatras is the highest point. The Tatra Mountains in the north, shared with Poland, are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys. The lowlands are in the south with the lowest point of the Bodrog River being 94 m above sea level.
Slovakia is also a country of massive medieval castles built on the rocks, beautiful detailed ones located on plains (there is about 180 castles and ruins) as well as country of caves. Most of 12 biggest caves (traditional karst caves, ice caves, aragonite cave etc) are open for public for several hours daily only, Tuesday to Saturday.
In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a communist country within Soviet-ruled Eastern Block. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once again became free.
For many years overshadowed by their north-western Czech neighbors, political representations of Czech and Slovak decided to strike out on their own. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993 and Slovakia became a country in its own right.
Historic, political, and geographic factors have caused Slovakia to experience more difficulty in developing a modern market economy than some of its Central European neighbors. Finally, however, Slovakia joined the European Union and the NATO in 2004.
Ethnicities
There are some similarities between the Czech and Slovak cultures. However, although the Slovaks may talk and eat like the Czechs, they are not the same. One of the most striking differences is that while Czechs are largely atheists, Slovaks are largely Catholics. This they share with the Poles.
As a Hungarian territory for approximately thousand years, there is a Hungarian-speaking minority of 9.7%, mostly in southern Slovakia. The Slovak language is similar to Czech and Polish, but it is different. On the other hand, you won´t have a problem to understand the Slovaks, if you speak Polish or Czech.
In the eastern part of the country, there are many Romas/Gypsies and some Rusnacs/Rusins and Ukrainians. The Gypsies usually are the poorest, worst educated members of the society. They have higher levels of unemployment, criminality, and alcoholism than ethnic Slovaks. Most of the Gypsies do not give "Gypsy" as their nationality in censuses, but their true number is around 300.000.
There are also some Czechs, Poles and Germans living in Slovakia.
Travel to Slovakia, visa requirements
Visas
Since Slovakia is a EU member, citizens of EU countries do not require a visa for stays in Slovakia.
Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Mexican and US citizens are all permitted to stay for up to 90 days without a visa.
South African citizens require a visa for entry into Slovakia, unless they have indefinite leave to remain as a resident in another EU country.
If you need a visa, always apply at an embassy beforehand. There are zero chances you get a visa at a Slovak border, no matter how you enter and what your nationality.
By train
The easiest way to get to Slovakia by train from west is via Vienna, in Austria. Bratislava is a simple 50 - 70 minute trip on a express or a local train (either via Kittsee or Marchegg).
Trains also travel to Slovakia from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and the Ukraine. Crossing to and from Ukraine is a lenghty process due to bogie changing (different gauge in Ukraine) and security measures. Keep in mind that crossing borders by train anywhere in Europe implies hefty surcharges. The best option is to buy a ticket to a station just on the other side of the border, and buy another one for onward travel there. You'll avoid the surcharge that way.
Buses to Slovakia
Among many others, there are regular services from Vienna, Prague and Budapest to Bratislava; and from Uzhhorod, Ukraine to the eastern Slovak town of Michalovce.
Flights to Slovakia, airtickets
Bratislava has its own airport. Sky Europe provides the most convenient and cheap way to fly to Bratislava from London, Paris and many other European cities, as well as Kosice airport within Slovakia (22 destinations in total). ryanAir operates to Stansted, Hahn and some other cities.
Full service carriers providing service to Bratislava BTS are Czech Airlines and Lufthansa. Czech Airlines (CSA) provides several flights a day to/from its Prague hub. Similarly Lufthansa (LH) provides several flights a day to/from its Munich hub. There is also nonstop connection to Moscow and several other cities to the east.
The other alternative is Vienna airport Schwechat, which is just about 35 kms from Bratislava. It provides a more convenient way of arriving to Slovakia by the major airlines, but can be more expensive. Buses leave for Bratislava hourly, optionally you can take airport shuttle.
You can also fly to Krakow if you want to go to the Tatra Mountains. Buses from Krakow run to several Slovak towns around the Tatra mountains and Orava.
Scheduled connection between Poprad-Tatry Airport and London - Stansted is operated by SkyEurope Airlines Boeing 737 every Wednesday and Saturday.[2]
Czech Airlines connects its Praha hub also with slovakian airports in Kosice, Sliac and Zilina. One can also fly between Kosice and Vienna (OS) and between Kosice and Bratislava (NE).
Get around
Trains
Train is by far the best option to travel across Slovakia, provided you don't have a private vehicle. Rail network is extensive, the only exception is central southern Slovakia, where buses are more efficient. Trains are fairly priced, reliable and clean. Opt for an InterCity service if you want Western-style comfort; IC trains link Bratislava, Žilina, The High Tatras and Košice. These are somewhat more expensive, but can save you from the crowds: ordinary trains do get crowded, usually on Fridays and Sundays. Watch out for pickpockets at major stations and steer clear of money scams. Also, sporadic robberies occur to sleeping passengers travelling the overnight longliners.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking in Slovakia is best done by asking around at gas stations. It used to be that most people only speak Slovak (and possibly understand other Slavic languages) so it was difficult for foreigners who don't speak Slavic languages. However, nowadays most of the young people speak English and almost as many speak German.
Keep in mind that trains and buses in Slovakia are cheap for Westerners, and (apart from extremely rural areas) it might take a while for someone to pick you up. You can find some offers if you travel from Slovakia and into Slovakia as well on specialized web pages. The biggest hitchhikers page in Slovakia is stopar.sk. There can find it offers in English, German and Hungarian language and it is free.
Talk
The national language of Slovakia is Slovak, a Slavic language which is similar to and mutually intelligible with Czech (before the 1993 break-up of Czechoslovakia, newscasters alternated languages in nightly news reports to give fair time to each). The younger generation however already tends to have problems understanding Czech.
Slovak is written using the same Roman characters that English uses, so Western travellers won't have any trouble reading signs and maps.
As a Hungarian territory for so many years, there is a significant Hungarian-speaking minority of 9.7%. Most of the Hungarians live in southern regions of the country and some of them speak no Slovak. Other Slovaks however normally do not speak or understand the Hungarian language.
While you can make do with English and German in Bratislava, in smaller towns and villages your only chance is trying to approach younger people that speak some English. Older residents may know some German. People born between 1935 and 1980 will have learned Russian in school. Sometimes, especially in the North and the East of Slovakia, you may try Polish. Other Slavic languages, especially Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian, may also work. In the east Rusyn, a Ukrainian dialect close to Polish is spoken. It is also intelligible with Russian to some extent.
Shopping, Slovakia souvenirs
The official currency of Slovakia is the Slovak koruna (SKK), symbol Sk, which is written AFTER the numeric value. The word koruna means "crown".
€1 = 34.500 Sk; US$1 = 29.368 Sk (22 Jan 2007).
The Euro is expected to replace the Slovak koruna around 2009; Euros are currently accepted in major shop chains and train stations. Always bring your hard currency into Slovakia and buy Slovak korunas there. Buying Slovak korunas abroad is not a good idea, the exchange rates are much worse.
Although some smaller vendors will accept Euros as well, it is highly recommended to exchange the currency to Slovak korunas beforehand, since most of the times they will do the conversion in their minds, rounding the quantities and even trying to cheat on prices.
Automatic teller machines (ATM, "bankomat" in Slovak, pl. "bankomaty") are widely available in Slovakia except in smaller villages, and obtaining money there should not present a problem. In most of small villages you can gain money at local postal offices (cashback). Credit cards and debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron, Cirrus Maestro are widely accepted both in shops and restaurants in bigger cities.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
'Bryndzové halušky' is Slovak national meal made with potato dumplings and special kind of not Pasteurized fermented sheep cheese called 'bryndza'. You will get pieces of fried meaty bacon on top of Bryndzové halušky. Apart from being very tasty and delicious, the bryndza is also extremely healthy. Some scientists suppose it can even prevent cancer and treat allergies.
Some kinds of bread contains caraway. You may not like it!
When you want to prepare food by yourself, you may find difficulties buying in vilages:
- meat other than chicken
- fruits
- vegetables or salads
- bread (in late hours)
Dishes served in restaurants are usually small and often many items from menu are unavailable. Fried cheese is often considered as substitute of meat.
Slovakia nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
For non-alcoholic drinks try Vinea, a soft drink made from grapes, in both red and white and also non-carbonated. Kofola, a Coke-type soft drink, is also very popular among locals and is available both on tap and bottled.
Mineral waters are some of the best in the World and can offer positive effects, such as helping get rid of heart burn. There are many types available from shops and supermarkets, for example Budiš, Baldovská, Salvator, Slatina, Kláštorná etc. Others are only available directly from the many spas that naturally spring up all over the place.
For beers, there are a great variety of local brews that are similar in style to Czech beers. Try out the local Zlatý Bažant, Smadný Mních, Topvar and Šariš. Šariš is also available in a dark version that is thicker and heavier on your stomach. If the local tastes do not satisfy, "Western" beers are sold in the bigger restaurants and pubs. Note that quality of the tap beer may vary dramatically between different restaurants and pubs, depending on how well they can prepare the beer (good temperature, not too much carbon dioxide) and how they care about the equipment (clean pipes etc.).
Slovakia has also some great local wines, many similar to Germanic Riesling styles. There are also sweeter wines from the Southern border regions called Tokaj. Slovak wine might not be widely known outside the region but it is certainly worth a try. The best recent wine years in Slovakia were 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006. The year 2006 is expected to be the best in the last 40 years backwards.
Slovakia produces good vodkas. Excellent is the plum brandy (Slivovica), pear brandy or liquor Demänovka. But the most popular alcohol is Borovička, a type of gin. In some shops you may try a 25 or 50 ml shot for very little money, so as to avoid buying a big bottle of something of unknown flavour, then decide whether to buy or not to buy ;)
If you are a more adventurous type, you can try some home-made Slivovica that the locals sometimes offer to foreigners. While it is allowed to ferment alcohol at home by law, it is prohibited to distill it. All home-made liquors are distilled in certified destileries so you don't have to be afraid of any health risks (apart from getting drunk). The home-made liquors are very strong (up to 60% alcohol) and usually not very tasty. However, if Slivovica is matured for 12 or more years, it can become a pleasant digestive drink.
Do
Cultural Events
Music Events
- Pohoda Music Festival [3]
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Surprisingly many hotels and mountain chalets in Slovakia still charge differently based on the origin of their guests (foreign guests – presumed to be more affluent – are expected to pay more). Yes it is illegal in Slovakia, but do not expect the landlord or manager to change their mind.
Learn
Work
Unemployment is about 10%, but low in the capital, Bratislava. The country is still developing. Prices are similar to other post-communist countries in Central Europe. They are approaching those of Western Europe for goods such as electronics and brand clothing. Hotels and restaurants are cheap compared to Western Europe. In Bratislava, they are similar to Warsaw or Prague. They are lower especially in central Slovakia, and lowest in eastern Slovakia. These parts are poorer, and unemployment is quite high, reaching 20% in some places.
Stay safe
In case of an emergency, call 112, the universal emergency number. For police you can call 158, ambulance 155, and firefighters 150.
When visiting mountain areas of Slovakia, especially the High Tatra, inform hotel personnel of your trip plans, so that rescuers can be sent to find you if you don't return to the hotel. Also, when visiting High Tatras, contact local mountain rescue service of your intent, they may even provide you with a safety guidelines. Beware: the weather in High Tatras is prone to sudden changes, especially during spring and autumn.
The 2006 film Hostel is an American work of complete fiction, and there are no documented cases of tourists being kidnapped and tortured in Slovakia. It is considered a safe travel destination for all tourists, as is much of Europe. Do not mention it in conversation with Slovaks, as the film did to Slovakia's image approximately what Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" did to Kazakhstan.
Stay healthy
No vaccination is necessary to visit or stay in Slovakia although if you plan to visit countryside areas, tick vaccination is recommended. Also Hepathitis "A" and "B" vaccination is advisable as with all European countries.
Tap water is drinkable everywhere - according to one study, water used as tap water in the Bratislava-Vienna region is the cleanest in the world. If you prefer mineral waters, you can choose from multitude of marks, since Slovakia has probably highest numbers of natural mineral water springs per capita. Blue label usually indicates carbonated ones ("perlivá"), a green label indicates mildly carbonated ones ("mierne perlivá") and white, pink or red indicates those without carbon dioxide ("neperlivá").
Respect
Remember that Slovaks are a separate nation that have their independence for several years only. As with all "young" nations, some people can be sensitive on nationality issues.
Contact
More from Central Europe: Austria, Carpathian Mountains, Czech Republic, Germany, Giant Mountains, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Silesia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudetes, Switzerland, Tatra Mountains More from Europe: Alps, Central Europe, Danube, Eastern Europe, European Union, Mediterranean Europe, Rhine, Western Europe |
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