SLOVAKIA - Practical information

PHARMACIES

Pharmacy in Slovak says „lekaren“ and opening hours are generally from 8 am to 6pm as other local services (first of all shops). In largest cities you can find emergency/non-stop - pharmacies.

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

English language news you can find in the newspaper „The Slovak Spectator“. The newspaper is available only in the largest cities. Beside that “Twin City Journal” on social and cultural live in Bratislava and Vienna (published in English and German) is available at Bratislava Tourist Centres as well as at the Main Railway Station and Bratislava´s International Airport. This Magazine is free of charge.

BUS, TRAM, TROLLEYBUS

The most commodious and efficient inter-city buses are „Slovak Lines“ run by the Slovak Public Automobile Transport Society (SAD). By planning a trip in to environ of Bratislava we recommend you to use the “Slovak Lines”. You can buy bus tickets at automatic ticket machines at the Main Bus Station (Bus Station “Mlynske Nivy”) or at bus drivers. For public city transport you can buy tickets at Tobacco/Newspapers Shops or at automatic ticket machines. More information on www.sad.sk

TIPS

Cash tips in restaurants are usually expected (it is circa 5% of the total bill). Rounding off to 10 (SKK) is also expected in bars, in taxi and hotel services as well as at hair-dressers´s.

ELECTRICITY

220 V/50Hz, standard two-pole socket with safety pin

DRIVING RULES

Please note that drinking any amount of alcohol before driving is forbidden and you must use safety belts at all times. All cars must have lights switched on regardless of weather conditions from 15 October to 15 March. Otherwise car lights have to be turned on when it is dark. Speed limits: you are allowed to drive up to 60 km per hour in built-up area, up to 90 km per hour on main roads and up to 130 km on hour on motorways /highways. Most motorways should only be used if you have a motorway sticker (vignette) stuck to the vehicles’ windscreen. The vignettes are available for 15 days or a whole year and can be purchased at border crossings, petrol stations or Post Offices.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Knowledge of English and German expanded rapidly in the recent time, especially in largest cities. Nevertheless of possible language communication problems in small local places, people in Slovakia are in general helpful toward foreign tourists and hospitability is still a Slovak common feature.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

  • 1. January New Year, Day of establishment of the Slovak Republic
  • 6. January The Epiphany and Christmas of Orthodox Christians
  • Good Friday Easter Monday
  • 1 May Labour Day
  • 8 May End of the World War II in Europe
  • 5. July Holiday of St. Cyril and St. Method (the Slavonic Apostles of Faith)
  • 29. August Slovak National Uprising 1944 /SNP/
  • 1. September Day of Constitution of the Slovak Republic
  • 15. September Lady of Sorrows Day / Blessed Virgin Mary
  • 1. November All Saints´ Day
  • 17. November Day of Fight from Freedom and Democracy (Velvet Revolution 1989 Anniversary)
  • 24. December Christmas Eve
  • 25. December Christmas Day
  • 26. December St. Stephens Day

All shops and institutions are closed during the public holidays.

SHOPPING

From Monday to Friday shops are open in general from 9/10 am to 6pm (in small towns with a lunch-time break between 12 to 2 pm). On Saturdays shops are open in general from 8/9 am to 12 or 1 pm. Sunday is a Holiday. On the contrary big shopping centres which can be find almost elsewhere in large cities are open in general from Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. Banks open from 8 am to 4/5 pm from Monday to Friday. Post offices are open from 8 am to 5 or 6 pm (Monday-Friday).

CLIMATE

Slovakia is a country with dry and warm summer and cold winter. The warmest and the coldest months are July, August and January respectively. Snow cover in the high-mountain regions keeps up to 130 days (over 3 months).

FOOD AND DRINKS

Slovak gastronomy is a special mix of tasty old traditional but „scarceness“ dishes and Hungarian kitchen influence. Very popular are potatoes with pork and beef dishes. The Slovak national meal - „Bryndzové halušky“ – is a sort of potato dumplings with special sheep cheese (bryndza). Fried bacon is added to this speciality, which makes it especially tasty. The traditional Slovak beverage: Demänovka (liqueur made of herbs), beers (Zlatý Bazant Topvar and Corgon) and quality wines (especially Frankovka, Riesling vlassky and Slovak Tokaj).

MUSEUMS

Opening hours of museums and galleries are in general from 10 am to 16/17 pm, from Tuesday to Sunday, closed usually on Mondays. Accompanying commentary on exhibitions is mostly available in Slovak but at museums´s entry you can find written information on exhibition (often in form of a brochure) in English or German as well. In comparison to West-European museums an entrance fee is low.

VISAS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

The citizens of European Union countries as well as citizens of Norway, and Iceland do not need visa to enter Slovakia. A valid personal identity card is sufficient. If you want to visit Slovakia´s neighbouring countries you should remember that in case of Ukraine you should have a valid passport with visa. The complete list of countries, the citizens of which need a valid visa to enter Slovakia, you find on the home page of the Ministry of foreign affairs of the SR (www.mzv.sk) On 21st of December 2007 Slovakia will enter the Schengen area.

PRICES

For foreign tourists Slovakia is not an expensive country. Prices of majority goods and services are lower than in Western Europe. Nevertheless prices of some imported goods might be higher than the average price level in Slovakia. Hotels in largest cities including the capital Bratislava (especially in city centre) offer their services at higher price level.

TELEPHONE

For calls from abroad to Slovakia you should dial the country code 00421 + local area code – for Bratislava (2) + telephone number. For calls from abroad in to the Slovak mobile net you should dial the country code 00421 and 9 (without the “0” - mobile numbers begin in Slovakia with 09...) Following emergency phone numbers are free of charge:

  • Police 112
  • Medical Emergency 112, 16 155
  • Fire Brigade 112
  • Traffic help and information 18 124
  • Information Service 11 81
  • International Information Service 12 149
  • Telegram 12 127

CUSTOMS

Within the EU import and export of goods and services for private purposes/use are duty-free. As private utilisation amounts less than the following limits are considered: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg tobacco 10 litres of spirit/alcohol, 20 litres of alcoholised vine (Port vine or sherry), 90 litres of vine (from which maximum 60 litres sparkling wine), 110 litres beer Outside the EU it is possible to import or export duty-free the following quantities: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 gram tobacco 1 litre of spirit/alcohol over 22 % vol. or 2 litres of alcoholised vine or sparkling wine 2 litres of non sparkling wine Perfume - 50 grams Eau de toilette - 250 ml Other up to the value 175 €

MONEY

Slovak crown (Slovenska koruna), 1 SKK=100 hallers. From 2009 EUR. For more information on currency exchange rates see: www.nbs.sk /National Bank of Slovakia/ It is convenient to exchange money in banks but currency exchange is carried also in hotels and by many private foreign exchange offices. Credit Card /Visa, EuroCard, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Maestro/ are widely accepted in large cities, popular tourist destinations and sport resorts as well as in many shops, airport, restaurants and hotels. You can also easily cash travellers´ s check in bank and make money transfer.

TOLLS

Most motorways should only be used if you have a motorway sticker (vignette) stuck to the vehicles’ windscreen. The vignettes are available for one year, one months as well as one week and can be purchased at border crossings, petrol stations or post offices. For individual car up to 3,5 tonnes weigh a sticker costs 1.100 SK per year, 300 SK per month and 150 SK per week.