Travelling

flag Slovakia Slovakia: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Visa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For Further Information
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

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Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Bratislava - Ivanka/Stefanik (BTS) 8 km / 5 miles SKK 300-600 / 20 min SKK 18 / 28 min - Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services
Slovak Republic Railways (ZSR)

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Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Air Slovakia Major No Yes
Czech Airlines Major Yes Yes
Danube Wings Major Yes No

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
Saint Martin's cathedral, in the lower part of the city and the Austrian citadel that spans the Danube with its bridge and its panoramic tower, are the old symbols of the power of the Slovak capital, Bratislava.
Many castles, a lot of which are in ruins, form part of the Slovak landscape. Consult the list of castles in Slovakia.
Cultural
Cinemas, theaters (National Theater), art galleries (Slovak national gallery, SNG), opera and museums such as the Slovak National Museum (SNM).
Consult the list of different Slovak museums.
Nature
Beautiful mountains and forests are found all over the center and north of the country.
For further information, consult the Slovakia Travel website.
Religious
Churches, cathedrals and basilicas.
Consult the list on the Slovakia Travel website.
Thermal
There are more than 1,300 mineral sources in Slovakia, including 21 thermal spas built on these mineral springs. For more information consult the Slovakia Travel website.
Beach
Slovakia has no access to the sea, but it has several lakes and rivers.
Winter Sports
There are many winter sports resorts, given the mountainous nature of the country. The mountains are covered in snow for most of the year.
Outdoor Activities
Golf, fishing, rafting, skiing, bobsleigh, snowboard, hiking, aqua parks, etc.
Shopping
Typical souvenirs are dolls in traditional costume, pottery, crystal glasses, wooden numbers, Arpaks (wooden jugs), fujaras (instruments) and valaskas (decorated axes).
Tourism Organisations
Slovakia Travel

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Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
No vaccination requirements for international journeys.
To guard against traveler's diarrhea, you should avoid high-risk foods: dishes which are cooked and subsequently eaten cold; seafood, meat and fish which are under-cooked or poorly cooked, and raw vegetables and fruit you have not peeled yourself.
International Hospitals
There are several private medical clinics in Bratislava with English-speaking doctors on staff. Many private dentists use the most recent technologies and equipment. Medicines are easily available at pharmacies. Consult the list of hospitals provided by the U.S. Embassy.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
WHO web pages dedicated to Slovakia
Consult the health travel advice from the UK Government
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
Consult the travel safety advice provided by the UK Government
Consult the recommendations provided by the Canadian Foreign Office
 

Emergency Numbers

Emergencies (European number) 112
Police 158
Medical emergencies 155
Firemen 150
 

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Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Bratislava (GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in summer)
Summer Time Period
Summer time from March to October
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
The climate is temperate: summers are mild and winters are cold, long and harsh. The coldest month is January (- 2° C) and the hottest months are July and August (21°C). The best time to visit the country is during the months of June to September.
Hotel reservation websites
Slovak meteorological institute (in Slovak)
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

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Eating

Food Specialties
Slovak food is influenced by Hungarian, Austrian and German cuisines. The Slovaks offer numerous specialties such as a big variety of soups, vegetable-based dishes, smoked pork meats and numerous pasta-based dishes.
The culinary specialties vary from one region to another.
One of the most popular dishes is the Bryndzové halusky: potatoes covered with grilled bacon and ewe's milk cheese .
The kapustnica: vegetable soup with mushrooms and small pieces of smoked pork. It is traditionally served on important occasions such as weddings or at Christmas.
Sunkova rolkas chrenovou: it is an appetizer with small pieces of ham, dipped into a horseradish sauce and served with a wild berries brandy (borovicka).
For dessert, you can enjoy the Slovak pancakes (palacinky) with a chocolate sauce, some jam or soft white cheese with grapes. Finally, you can enjoy the Makove sulance, a  fried vermicelli-based dessert with poppy seeds and sugar sprinkled on top.
Finally, you can enjoy your dinner with a plum brandy: the slivovica.
Drinks
Slovak aperitifs are Slivovica (plum brandy) and fruit brandies such as Hruskovica (pear), Marhul'ovica (apricot), Borovicka (juniper berries) or Demanovka (spices).
Slovakia is historically a wine producing area. Slovak wines are Burciak (a young wine), Trebisov, Tokay (a sweet wine), Rheinriesling, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltiner, Traminer, Silvaner and Muller-Thurgau.
Widespread non-alcoholic drinks are Vinea (a drink made from grape must) and Kofola.
Dietary Restrictions
There are no culinary restrictions in Slovak cooking.

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Euro
ISO Code
EUR
To Obtain Domestic Currency
The currency is the Euro or the EUR. You can easily find MasterCard ATMs and more and more Visa card ones. Money can be changed in banks, post offices, hotels and some department stores.
Possible Means of Payment
In shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. you can pay in cash or by credit card.

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Speaking

Official Language
The official language of Slovakia is Slovak which is spoken by 85% of the population.
Other Languages Spoken
It is important to note that other languages are used in this country such as Hungarian, Ukrainian, Polish and Czech. Hungarians represent the largest minority in Slovakia, with more than 10% of the total population. Most Hungarians speak their mother tongue and live in the south of the country. Finally, Czechs represent the third national minority and keep their own language: Czech.
Business Language
Slovak, German and English.

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Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Grafton
Profesia
Europersonnel

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Latest Update: May 2024