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Central Europe : Slovakia
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Trenčín with Trenčín Castle
Slovakia in its region.svg
Flag of Slovakia.svg
Quick Facts
Capital Bratislava
Government parliamentary democracy
Currency Euro
Area 49,035 sq km
Population 5,439,448 (July 2006 est.)
Language Slovak (official), Hungarian, Ukrainian
Electricity 230V/50Hz (European plug type E)
Country code +421
Internet TLD .sk
Time Zone UTC +1





There are numerous mineral and thermal springs in Slovakia, and around some of these world-famous spas have been built that offer great curative therapies or just simple relaxation. You can also chill out, swim and sunbathe at the shores of several local lakes and pools or try AquaCity water park if you are feeling more adventurous. In particular, Bratislava boasts a lively nightlife as well and is a popular partying destination.






The area that is present-day Slovakia has been settled since early Paleolithic era. Before the inward migration of Slavs and Huns, the most important cultures were the Celts, Germanic tribes (Quadi) and partially also the Roman Empire which had its limes (border) established right on Danube River and sometimes raided the north, deep into the modern Slovak territory. To this day, artifacts and evidence of the presence of these cultures can be found.

The Slavic tribes, that invaded the area in the 6th century created a succession of influential kingdoms here. During this era, lasting until the early 10th century when the Great Moravian Empire disintegrated and disappeared under the onslaught of the Magyar tribes, local Slavs adopted Christianity – initially that of Eastern (Byzantine) rite but finally in the Western (Catholic) form.

Since 10th century region of present Slovakia became a part of the Kingdom of Hungary which situation subsequently lasted for a thousand years. During medieval times many fort castles have been built, ruins of some of which remain to this day. In 1526 throne of Hungary was acquired by the German-Austrian House of Habsburg and since this year Hungary – including Slovakia – has shared its fate with Austrian and Bohemian (Czech) lands. This personal union gradually evolved into the Austrian Empire (1804), after 1867 transformed into a dual state: the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. This "Danubian Monarchy", lasting until 1918, was a multinational state with many cultures and languages living together which had a great influence on the shaping of the entire region and forms a common cultural history shared by many Central European nations.

Castle in Levice

Similarly to other European nations, Slovaks also experienced their own "national awakening" during the 19th century. From year 1848 onward Slovak intellectuals and politicians repeatedly have raised demands for autonomy but without positive result. Slovak-Hungarian tensions were finally solved after WWI when Slovaks broke up Hungarian supremacy and joined the closely related Czechs to form new Czechoslovak Republic (1918). During WWII, Czechoslovakia briefly split, with the Czechs being occupied (Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia) by the Nazis while Slovaks forming their own war state (Slovak Republic), close ally of Nazi Germany. Following the chaos of World War II, restored Czechoslovakia became a communist country (1948) within Soviet-ruled Eastern Block. An attempt (led by politician of Slovak origin) to create more liberal "socialism with human face", the so-called Prague Spring, was crushed in August 1968 by Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The only remaining result of that liberal era was federalization of Czechoslovakia, i.e. creating of the Slovak Socialistic Republic formed in contemporary borders. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once again became free.

But newly acquired political freedom also brought a new rise of nationalism and quarrels between the two parts of the federation. For many years overshadowed by their north-western Czech neighbors, political representatives of Slovaks decided to strike out on their own. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993 and Slovakia (Slovak Republic) became a country in its own right. This dissolution is known as Velvet Divorce. Nevertheless, both countries remain close culturally and after 1998 there is a high level of political and economical cooperation.











Holidays and Festivals[edit]

Slovakia is a predominantly Catholic Country, so major Christian holidays are observed, as well as some other holidays. Unless indicated otherwise, these days are public holidays and banks and most amenities and shops will be closed. However, big shopping malls are usually closed only around Christmas and Easter.

  • Ephiphany - 6th of January - Celebrates the arrival of the Three Magi into Bethlehem. Shops and banks are closed.


Throughout Slovakia, kraslice are prepared, which are egg shells adorned with ornaments and painted over with colours. These, along with sweets and money are given to boys, who visit friends' and neighbours' houses, where it is their job to make sure the women will be healthy and prosperous the following year by spraying them with water or perfume and beating them with a willow wand adorned with ribbons. It is called oblievacka and sibacka. It tends to involve copious amounts of alcohol, food and wet T-shirts, and is not taken seriously by anyone. In recent years it became less popular. No matter what gender you are, do not wear clothes you like when venturing outside on Easter Monday as you might have water thrown or perfume sprayed at you (even if you're a guy, since you might get splashed as a side-effect). If you want to protest, make sure to do so in waterproof clothing.

  • St. Cyril and Methodius Day - 5 July- arrival of the first Christian missionaries to Slovakia (863 AD). Religious as well as political celebrations.
  • St Nicolaus' Day - 6 December - This is not a national holiday, but is seen as a start of the Christmas period. Traditionally, St Nicolaus leaves some sweets (if the child was good) or coal/onion (if the child misbehaved that year) in their shoe overnight (surprisingly enough, most children get sweets, not onion). Celebrations are held in towns, where someone dressed as St Nicolaus (think Santa Claus) and his helpers angels/devils help him distribute sweets among crowds of eager kids. Christmas markets open and Christmas lights are turned on.
Traditional Christmas cookies


Map of Slovakia with regions colour-coded
Western Slovakia
the capital city, the Danube and other river valleys
Central Slovakia
medieval mining, national parks
Eastern Slovakia
mountain ranges with fairy tale castles


  • Banská Štiavnica — a picturesque medieval mining town
  • Nitra — the oldest town in Slovakia [3]

Other destinations[edit]

Vysoké Tatry
  • Bojnice — the most visited castle in Slovakia, almost intact with beautifully preserved interiors. [5]
  • High Tatras — is the biggest national park in Slovakia and a centre winter sports and hiking.[6]
  • Nízke Tatry — Low Tatras National Park [8]
  • Slovak Karst
  • Slovak Paradise National ParkSlovenský Raj consists of deep ravines and canyons created by the water cascading in waterfalls through the limestone.
  • Spiš Castle — one of the biggest castles in Europe, UNESCO listed.[10]
  • Vlkolínec — UNESCO heritage list village, preserving the character of a traditional Carpathian village[11]

Get in[edit]

Slovakia is a member of the Schengen Agreement.






By car[edit]

From the Czech Republic[edit]

Drivers entering Slovakia from the Czech Republic using the D2 motorway from Prague have to buy a toll sticker at the nearest rest area after the border (provided you don't already have one). The short stretch between the border itself and the nearest rest area is toll-free. See information about motorway toll below in the "Get around" section.

From Austria[edit]

Sadly, drivers entering Slovakia using the motorway from Vienna require a toll sticker for approx. 3km-long stretch of the motorway between the Austrian border and the first interchange in Slovakia (Jarovce). Afterwards, the sticker is no longer required, since motorways within the capital are toll-free. If you only intend to visit Bratislava, buying a Slovak toll sticker for such a short stretch of motorway would be a waste of money. Instead, exit the motorway on the last exit in Austria (Kittsee) and continue through the village of Berg using the old road into Slovakia. Buying a toll sticker makes sense only if you plan to drive on the motorways further into Slovakia.

From Hungary[edit]
  • Into Bratislava: Similarly, drivers entering Slovakia using the motorway from Budapest to Bratislava have to buy a toll sticker right at the border, since it is required for approx. 10km-long stretch of the motorway between the Hungarian border and the first interchange in Slovakia (Jarovce). Afterwards, the sticker is no longer required, since motorways within the capital are toll-free. If you only intend to visit Bratislava, exit the motorway on the last exit in Hungary (Rajka), just before the border, and continue to Bratislava using the old road. Buying a toll sticker makes sense only if you plan to drive on the motorways further into Slovakia.
  • Into Košice: The short stretch of the R4 expressway between the Tornyosnémeti-Milhosť border crossing and the city of Košice is a toll road. If you only intend to visit Košice or don't plan to drive on the Slovak motorways, avoid the toll by using the old road through the village of Seňa.
From Ukraine[edit]

Border checks are still part of life when entering from Ukraine. There are two road border crossings from Ukraine: (Malyj Bereznyj-Ubľa and Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké). The former is for cars (not trucks), pedestrians and cyclists, and the latter is for motorized traffic only (including heavy trucks). Always expect long waiting times at this border crossing. Both crossings are open round the clock.

By train[edit]

From The Czech Republic[edit]



If you want greater flexibility or cannot buy in advance over the Internet, you can get a significant discount at a railway station if you buy a return ticket called CityStar. Such international return ticket is valid for one month (source) on any train operated by ČD (Czech Railways) and ZSSK (Slovak Railway Company) and cannot be bought over the Internet at all.

From Germany[edit]


From Austria[edit]

There are currently two railway routes from Vienna Hauptbahnhof station to Bratislava, terminating at different stations - one at Bratislava hlavná stanica (Main station) via Marchegg and the other at Bratislava-Petržalka station via Bruck an der Leitha and Kittsee. Each route has hourly regional trains. You can use EURegio ticket for €15 – a return ticket valid 16 days, common for both routes. Travel time: 1 hour.

From Poland[edit]

There is an overnight through car from Warszawa to Bratislava via Czech territory. Direct train connection from Poland is very poor; a bus is a better alternative. There are only few local trains between Žilina (SK) and Zwardoń (PL). There's no international passenger traffic at Nowy SączPrešov and SanokMedzilaborce lines.


From Hungary[edit]


From Ukraine and Russia[edit]


It is much more cheaper to buy Ukrainian or Russian ticket only to the Ukrainian border station Chop, then buy a ticket from Chop to the first Slovak station Čierna nad Tisou, and then buy a Slovak domestic ticket at conductor (€1.50 surcharge). But then you have no berth reservation for the Slovak section and you have to change to seat car in Chop.


By bus[edit]





On foot, by bicycle[edit]

Since the implementation of the Schengen Agreement (2007), hikers are allowed to cross the internal Schengen borders everywhere. This is especially important to hikers in the High Tatras, entering from Poland.

There's a pontoon ferry accessible to cars and pedestrians between Angern an der March, Austria and Záhorská Ves, which operates from 5 AM to 10 PM. Toll is €1 for pedestrians (over 15) and cyclists alike. This border crossing is only important to local commuters and recreational cyclists along the Morava river.

There are two more cross-border bridges on the Morava river suitable for cyclists. One is the recently built Cyklomost slobody (English: Bicycle Bridge of Freedom, German: Fahrradbrücke der Freiheit) between Schlosshof, Austria and Devínska Nová Ves, a suburb of Bratislava. As the name implies, this bridge is for pedestrians and cyclists only. Another bridge lies further to the north between the villages of Hohenau an der March, Austria and Moravský Svätý Ján. This one is also open for cars (under 7.5 metric tonnes). However, absolutely no traffic is allowed on this bridge between midnight and 5 AM, as a wildlife conservation measure.

Sadly, the cross-border bridge between Dürnkrut, Austria and Gajary, still depicted on roadmaps by the Austrian publisher Freytag & Berndt does not exist since 1945!

For those entering from Ukraine, there is also a pedestrian-and-cyclists-only border crossing between the small villages of Mali Selmentsi and Veľké Slemence (48.511086 N, 22.154059 E), open only at daytime between 8 AM and 8 PM and only for citizens of the European Economic Area and Ukraine. Holders of different passports will be rejected! This border crossing is of no particular importance to tourists; its main advantage is the absence of queues, which are ubiquitous at border crossings for cars, especially at those on major routes. Instead of waiting several hours, you can get to the other side in a matter of minutes through this border crossing.

Conversely, the biggest road border crossing from Ukraine (Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké) is open for motorized traffic only! No pedestrians and cyclists are allowed. The easiest workaround is to find someone who'll get you across the border in their car. Even if you have a bicycle, you'll surely quickly find someone willing to help. Alternately, you can make a detour to the south, to the pedestrian border crossing described in the previous paragraph, or to the north to a border crossing Mali Bereznyj-Ubľa, which is open for all nationalities and round the clock.

By plane[edit]

Bratislava has its own airport, mostly used by low-cost airlines. Ryanair operates flights to Bratislava from various European cities, inluding London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Dublin, Rome (Ciampino), Milan (Bergamo), Barcelona (Girona), Brussels (Charleroi), and a few others. These flights can be quite cheap, so if you are arriving from outside Europe, you might end up saving a lot of money by flying to a bigger airport and then connecting to Bratislava. Norwegian Air Shuttle operates flights from Copenhagen and Oslo, and there are also flights to Moscow and Tel Aviv with UTAir and Sun d'or Airlines respectively. Local airline Danube Wings operates flights to Košice.

The alternative is the Airport, in Vienna, Austria, which lies just 50 km (30 mi) to the West from Bratislava and serves major airlines, including long-haul and intercontinental flights. Buses leave for Bratislava twice an hour (2 different companies), going from Vienna Airport straight to the city center or to the main bus station in Bratislava. Alternatively, you can take a taxi which will cost around €70. Buses take about an hour, taxis about half that.

If you plan to visit only the eastern half of the country (which also includes the High Tatras), an alternative is to fly to the Košice airport, the second largest airport in Slovakia, which has scheduled flights from Vienna, Prague and London. Košice lies only about 1.5h by train from the High Tatras (compared to 4.5 hours from Bratislava). Poprad, a town right underneath the slopes of the High Tatras, also has an international airport of its own, but it is mainly used by charter flights and private jets. Scheduled flights to and from Poprad are infrequent and expensive. The Sliač airport in the central Slovakia currently has no scheduled flights at all.

Other options include airports in Prague and Budapest, with both cities about 4 hours away from Bratislava by public transport. There are also direct flights operated between Prague and Košice, in conjunction with flights to Prague providing the most convenient access by plane to the Eastern part of the country.


Get around[edit]

Train from Bratislava to Košice underneath the High Tatras


By train[edit]

Train is by far the best option to travel across Slovakia, provided you don't have a private vehicle. Frequent long-haul trains connect all important cities, but there are less local trains, even at main lines. For local transport a bus is generally a better alternative. Trains are fairly priced, with the prices competitive with buses, and cheap by Western standards. For regular tickets, pricing depends only on the distance traveled, and most trains do not require a reservation (and thus do not sell out, though you may have to stand if it is crowded). They are reliable, but delay-prone: it is not usual for a typical run from Kosice to Bratislava to accumulate a delay of more than 30 minutes by the time it reaches Bratislava, so do not plan close connections. Trains are also very safe, but watch out for pickpockets at major stations and steer clear of money scams. Also, sporadic robberies occur to sleeping passengers traveling the overnight long-liners.


In Slovakia, the highest class of train is the InterCity service (category "IC"), offering Western-style comfort in all cars. IC trains link Bratislava, Žilina, The High Tatras and Košice and have compulsory reservations. These have fewest stops and can save you from the crowds: ordinary long-distance trains (in which reservation is only optional) do get crowded, usually on Fridays and Sundays or around holidays. Unlike other trains in Slovakia, the price for InterCity tickets changes over time; the sooner you buy, the cheaper (and vice versa). Pricing is available in a PDF online.

Ordinary long-distance fast trains, called Rychlik (category "R") trains, stop in most major cities along the main Bratislava - Zilina - Kosice route, with several other branches also serving other parts of Slovakia. These trains typically carry a wide variety of cars offering various quality levels on the same train. If you find yourself unhappy with the comfort of the car you are seated in, it may be worth a walk through the train to see what else is available. Most seating is in 6-person compartments, though most trains also carry one or two cars with open seats. These open seating cars are typically the most modern and offer good air conditioning, power ports, and sometimes free wifi. The compartment cars vary in quality, from heavily worn old-style bench seating with no air conditioning to newly renovated cars with air conditioning and power outlets. Because reservations on these trains cost only 1 Euro, and they can sometimes be crowded, it is often a good idea to purchase a seat reservation. When looking for your reserved seat, look on the doors of each car for the car number, and then look for the slips of paper beside each seat indicating the reservation. If you do not have a reservation, you may sit in any open seat that does not have a reservation card near its seat number, or a card that indicates that it is not reserved for that portion of the trip.

Travelling in the 1st class is generally not a good idea, since the price difference is great and the difference in the quality of service is negligible. If you're afraid of the train getting crowded, buy a reservation instead of a 1st class ticket. First class train car can also be packed at peak times and there's a good chance of you having to stand in the aisle (just like you'd have to in the 2nd class), even though you paid almost twice as much money.

Riding a EuroCity (EC) train does not require a reservation, but a special surcharge (€1.50) has to be paid when travelling on a domestic ticket (international tickets are exempt from this surcharge). Two EC lines pass through Slovakia: Prague - Žilina - Košice and Prague - Bratislava - Budapest. If you buy an ordinary domestic ticket from, say, Košice to Žilina and don't explicitly specify you'd like to ride an EC train, it won't include the EC surcharge. Fortunately, it's not a big deal if you're caught on an EC train without the surcharge, since you can pay it on board to the conductor, with no extra fine.

Many of these long-distance trains typically carry a Restaurant Car, which offers a good selection of food and drinks at prices that are very reasonable and comparable to similar food in a regular restaurant. Some trains will offer a full restaurant with sit-down service and table-cloths, while others will be more of a bistro-car type setting, but all will offer some variety of main dishes, snacks, and desserts. Spending an afternoon enjoying a meal or a drink in the restaurant car can be a great way to take in the High Tatras during that part of the route.


Major stations sell international tickets, seat/couchette/sleeper reservations and accept payments by card. Same is true for smaller stations where cross-border traffic is expected, such as the station Devínska Nová Ves (on the border with Austria), and for several stations of the Tatra Electric Railway, which is targeted primarily at tourists. Smaller stations (served only by local commuter trains), which only sell domestic tickets, do not sell reservations and do not accept payments by card.

Tatra Electric Railway (TEŽ)
Two types of tickets can be used on the Tatra Electric Railway: (1.) ordinary Slovak train tickets, featuring a "From:" and "To:" stations and valid only on a given date. These tickets can be bought at every Slovak railway station. (2.) Zonal tickets (looking like public transport tickets), which can be used on any day and for any single journey (of a specified length). These tickets can only be bought at stations and newspaper stalls around the High Tatras. There is no difference in price, the only difference is flexibility. Both types of tickets have to be validated in a stamping machine inside a TEŽ train immediately after boarding.

Trains of the Tatra Electric Railway have no conductors and no ticket selling machines, but since October 2013, train drivers sell day tickets (€4) as a last resort for passengers who cannot obtain a ticket otherwise. Single tickets cannot be bought from train drivers, only outside the train. Passengers are occasionally controlled by plain-clothed ticket inspectors; fine for riding without a valid ticket is €30. More information and fare system here.

Starting July 2014, SMS ticket can also be used on the TEŽ network. To take advantage of these, however, a Slovak mobile number is required. It is therefore out of question for short-term visitors.

As usual, you should buy a ticket at a station, before boarding a train. If you don't, you can buy a ticket from a train conductor, with a €1.50 surcharge. Of course, if there's no cash desk at a station or it is closed, you can buy a ticket from the conductor with no extra surcharge. Conductors do not sell international tickets. The only exception are tickets called Malý pohraničný styk ("Small cross-border interchange"), which are valid in regional trains only, and only around 40 km from the border. If you're caught without a ticket in an international train leaving Slovakia, the Slovak conductor will ask you to buy a ticket to the border crossing point.

Tickets can also be bought over the Internet at SlovakRail. Domestic tickets bought online are now (since 2013) valid for any train or a combination of trains on a given date, same as tickets bought at a station. There is a very limited offer of outgoing international tickets on the SlovakRail website, so normally the only option is to buy international tickets at a station.

Since 2014 there are two private train operators in Slovakia: RegioJet operates fast trains between Bratislava - Kosice (usable for reaching High Tatras), fast trains Czech Republic - Zilina - Kosice and local trains Bratislava - Dunajska streda. Tickets are not integrated with the national railway and can be bought online or at some stations. LeoExpres operates fast trains Czech Republic - Zilina - Kosice. Tickets also not integrated and available online.

CAVEAT: The SlovakRail's website underwent some major changes in the last months of 2013 and is now rather unusable. Until they fix all the bugs, buying tickets online remains an "Alice in Wonderland"-esque experience. Buttons not working, forms resetting themselves, etc. Your mileage may vary, but in case of problems simply buy your ticket at a station.

By bus[edit]




By car[edit]


Wearing seat belts in cars and vans is compulsory and children aged 11 or younger or lower than 150cm must be placed on the rear seat or on the passenger seat in a proper child seat (of course with the airbag disabled, in case the child seat is rear-facing).

Headlights must be switched on when driving at all times, regardless of weather conditions or whether it is a night or day, so switch them on. This is not necessary if your car is equipped with daytime running lamps [15], which are sufficient at daytime.



Fines for traffic offences are now much higher than in the neighbouring Austria, especially for speeding. Sadly enough, a western car registration plate can still attract more attention from police officers, so it's another good reason to abide the law.



If you intend to drive on the motorways please note that vehicles under 3.5 tonnes must show a mandatory sticker (vignette) covering road toll, in the upper right corner on the car's windshield. The vignette can be purchased from most petrol stations and is valid for 10 days (€10), for a month (€14) or longer (yearly vignette is valid from 1st of January until 31st of January next year, €50). Vignette consists of two parts - sticker that is placed on your windshield and a control coupon where you are required to write your license plate number. If stopped by police on the motorway (quite rare) you have to show this coupon as well. Please note that that the vignette is compulsory on all motorways from the point of entry, and if you are caught without one you will be subject to a hefty fine. If you are renting a car, it most likely is included in the rental, but remember to check or inquire when renting/booking. The motorway bypass around Bratislava (starting on D2 near Lamac and ending on D1 near Zlate Piesky) can be used legally without having the sticker.

A separate toll sticker (same price like that for a car, but looking different) is required for any kind of trailer. [16] Always attach it to the windshield of your car (so that you will have two stickers next to each other), not on the trailer itself. This regulation is different than those of most neighbouring countries, where trailers do not require an extra toll sticker.








Keep in mind that trains and buses in Slovakia are cheap for Westerners, and (apart from extremely rural areas where people are generally less wary of hitchhikers) it might take a while for someone to pick you up. Therefore, hitchhiking can only be recommended if it's your hobby, not primarily as a means to save money. 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 There you can find offers in English, German, French, Polish, Czech and Hungarian language and it is free.

On foot[edit]

Hiking signpost in High Tatras

There is a long tradition of hiking and mountain walking in Slovakia, and it is an extremely popular sport. The Slovaks have always lived in a close relationship with the nature, and during the Communist period, when travelling abroad was severely restricted, hiking became a national pastime. Most people you meet will have gone on a hike at least once in their life, and many do so regularly, and can give you advice about the most interesting local trails. The trail network is also very well maintained. The quality and efficiency of the sign-posting system is unique in European (and probably World) context.

Every route is marked and signposted, different trails being given a different colour. There are four colours used - red, blue, green and yellow. Longest and most strenuous trails are usually marked red, and it is possible to traverse from north-eastern Dukla Pass all the way to the west (Bradlo, near Bratislava) along the Slovak National Uprising Heroes trail (750km) along one such red-marked path. However, the trails are numerous, suitable for various levels of fitness, and many lead through beautiful scenery. In towns, you will usually see a signpost, with arrows pointing in different directions, marking the colour of the path and the average walking times to the nearest set of destinations. All you need to do is to follow the colour, there will be a mark every hundred metres or so, and consists of a 10-cm-by-10-cm square three-section mark where the edges are white and the chosen path's colour in the middle.

It is also possible (and highly recommended) to purchase hiking maps of smaller slovak regions. These are based on sets of former military maps, have a very good resolution (1:50000 or 1:25000) and can be purchased from most kiosks, information centres and bookstores for bargain price of between €1.50-2.50. These are published by the Slovak Tourist Club (KST), which maintains all the trails, and show all the marked trails in the area, including the average walking times, which makes route planning very easy and efficient. If you want to plan your hike before you can use a great online map on or The latter one features also bicycle trails and covers also the entire Czech Republic.

In mountain areas, you should also buy an insurance for mountains. Emergency rescue service is not covered by normal travel insurance. It costs about 0.50 EUR / day and can be bought in hotels, online ( Mountain rescue service ) or using SMS.

By Bicycle[edit]

Travelling around by bicycle is arguably the best way to see and enjoy most of this beautiful country. There are caveats, though. Stick to secondary roads with low traffic, as drivers may show little sympathy to cyclists. You can plan your journey using the maps of, which show both official (dark violet) and recommended (light violet) trails. Second, road bikes and their riders might suffer on minor Slovak roads of inferior quality. A touring bike is a better alternative. Wearing a safety helmet is required for cyclists of all ages riding on public roads outside built-up areas, and for children under 15 also within built-up areas.

Don't hesitate to complement your journey by taking a train through uninteresting or dangerous sections. A single bicycle ticket costs €1.50 (regardless of the distance) and a day ticket costs €2.50. Almost all trains in Slovakia transport bicycles without hassles, except for InterCity and EuroCity trains, in which a bike either requires a prior reservation (€2.50) or they do not take bikes at all. Day tickets for bikes are not valid in IC an EC trains. Unfortunately, low-floor trains are a rare occurrence in Slovakia (and so far only on regional lines), so be prepared to hoist your bike high up to put it inside the train. Moreover, many railway employees still view cyclists as a nuisance and can be quite unwelcoming.

For further cycling tips, check the "Do" section.



Slovak is written using the same Roman characters that English uses (with some added accents or diacritics), so Western travellers won't have any trouble reading signs and maps. While some words are tongue twisters, the knowledge of the alphabet including the letters with diacritics will go a long way, as the pronunciation is almost always the same for each letter in every word. Standard Slovak is spoken with stress always on the first syllable (but it may be on the penultimate syllable in some dialects in the east).




See[edit][add listing]

High Tatras
  • Vlkolínec, a hamlet high in the mountains, where time stopped in the 19th century [18]
  • Countless wooden churches in northern and north-eastern Slovakia [19]
  • Medieval mining towns of Kremnica and Banská Štiavnica
    Ochtinska Aragonite Cave

Buy[edit][add listing]





Eat[edit][add listing]








Slovak food[edit]

Bryndzove Halusky











A thick fried slice of cheese served with French fries and a salad is also a common Slovak dish[21]. It is served in most restaurants, and worth trying out, especially the local variety made from smoked cheese ('udeny syr'/'ostiepok') or 'hermelin' (local cheese similar to Camembert). This is not considered a substitute for meat.




For more information visit[22]Slovensko.

International Cuisine[edit]




International fast food establishments can be found in Slovakia as anywhere else in the world, McDonald's can be found in many bigger and smaller cities, KFC and Subway can only be found in larger cities (mostly in big shopping malls). Burger King used to have a single restaurant in Bratislava, but it closed in 2012. Please note that when these fast-food chains arrived shortly after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, they marketed themselves as a cool and trendy dining option for the higher-income people (unlike the USA, where it is more common for lower income classes to eat in McDonald's) and their food is still priced at premium compared to other options of eating out in Slovakia. A full meal (soup/starter + main course) in a cheaper restaurant will cost 1-1.5x the price of a meal combo in McDonald's and might prove a better value. Still, these establishments are reasonably popular, especially with the younger generation. If your plan is to save money by eating fast food, look for restaurants and stalls not affiliated with any international brand.

In Bratislava, there is also local fast food named Richman, which is sold in stalls mainly at Šafárikovo námestie [23] and some other locations in the city centre. It is a kebab-like food (meat, vegetables and sauces in a bun), with processed meat or sausages instead of typical kebab meat.

Drink[edit][add listing]

Non-alcoholic drinks[edit]






Alcoholic Beverages[edit]


For beers, there are a great variety of excellent local brews that are similar in style and quality to Czech beers (which are also widely available), and beer is mostly the local drink of choice. Try out the Zlatý Bažant, Smädný 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. As elsewhere, small local breweries are gaining popularity among beer enthusiasts. One of the best known brands is the Kaltenecker. Especially in the biggest towns and touristy regions, many pubs now offer a range of beers from small breweries, also from the Czech Republic.







Do[edit][add listing]

The medieval mining town of Banská Štiavnica
  • Slovakia is also a paradise for cycling enthusiasts. Mountain bikers will especially love networks of legal MTB trails in the following mountain ranges: Malé Karpaty, Veľká Fatra and Štiavnické vrchy, among many others. Less adventurous cyclists can also enjoy paved roads of varying quality (off-limits to cars) in Malé Karpaty, Levočské vrchy and Nízke Tatry (the latter range also features some strenuous climbs), or cycle on the levees along the Danube, Morava and Váh rivers. Sadly, the Slovak Paradise National Park restricts almost all cycling activities on its territory. Road cycling is popular, too, just keep in mind that many Slovak secondary roads are in bad shape. Don't look for the same level of comfort as provided by roads in the Alpine countries. Excellent maps (also downloadable for offline use in your smartphone - for a fee) can be found here:
  • Visit one of the traditional Carpathian wooden churches [25], they're unique to the region. These might not be readily accessible without a car, however.
Domica Cave in Slovak Karst


Cultural Events[edit]

  • International Film Festival Artfilm [26] - Yearly in June/July in Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín.
  • International Film Festival Cinematik [27] - Yearly in early September in Piešťany. Young and relatively small film festival. Accreditation for the whole festival is less than €7.
  • International Film Festival Bratislava [28] - forever in December.

Music Events[edit]

  • Pohoda Music Festival [31] - one of the biggest Slovak music festivals. Annualy in mid-July on an airfield near Trenčín.



If it's too boring for you and you'd welcome some water slides and fun, try water parks in Bešeňová, Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad, Turčianske Teplice, Oravice, Senec and Dunajská Streda. Significantly cheaper are classical open-air pools, some of the best are in Veľký Meder and Štúrovo.

Sleep[edit][add listing]

There is a wide rangeof accommodation available in Slovakia. These range from [33] AquaCity, based in Poprad, through to budget priced rooms [34] in rental chalets.




When hiking, official maintained mountain cabins offer cheap accommodation for hikers on trails in all of the national parks and many of the protected landscape areas. They have a limited number of beds (if any) and generally limited capacity, so for the more frequented places during the high season an advance booking might be necessary and is recommended. If you don't manage to book a bed, you might be allowed to still stay overnight, sleeping on the floor in designated areas. Either way, you will probably want to bring your own sleeping bag. The facilities, due to the location, are limited, but there will be a shared toilet and possibly a shower. There's usually a kitchen that serves several hearty hot dishes and a number of drinks at pretty reasonable prices. For more information about prices and contact for mountain cabins in High Tatras see here. Several mountain ranges (not the High Tatras) also feature unstaffed shelter huts (Slovak: útulňa), where you can legally sleep for free. Don't look for comfort, however. The following is a typical example: [35]

Pitching a tent in a national park or a protected landscape area is illegal, but several national parks have officially designated places where you can pitch a tent for a single night (provided you don't leave any mess, of course). Unfortunately, this doesn't include the High Tatras, where the only legal option to sleep during a multi-day trek is in a mountain chalet. If you do pitch a tent in a national park outside of a designated area, there is always a possibility you'll be woken up by a park warden, demanding a fine. This is especially true in the Tatra Mountains and Low Tatra Mountains.

Pitching a tent outside national parks and protected landscape areas is in the legal grey area. Under Slovak law, you always require prior consent from the owner of the land to camp on it. Anyway, this rule is not enforced and you'll be okay if you only stay one night on any place, steer clear of private houses and commercial buildings and leave reasonably soon in the morning. If you do plan to stay longer and with a larger group of people, you'll need an official permit, of course.

Another option is to sleep in one of numerous camping grounds in Slovakia. (non-exhaustive list):

Name Region Location Address
Camping Bojnice Bojnice Kopálková Silvia
ATC Zlaté Piesky Bratislava Senecká cesta 2
Autocamping Bystrina Demänovská Dolina
Tília kemp Gäceľ Dolný Kubín Gäceľská cesta
Camping Kamzík Donovaly
Autocamping Margita a Ilona Levice-Kalinciakovo
Autokemp Levočská Dolina Levoca
Autocamping Oravice Liesek
Autocamping Turiec s.r.o. Martin Kolóna Hviezda c. 92
Autocamping Slnava II Piestany
Autocamping Lodenica Piestany
Autocamping Tajov Tajov
Eurocamp FICC Tatranská Lomnica
Intercamp Tatranec Tatranská Lomnica Vysoke Tatry 202
Autocamping Na Ostrove Trencin
Autocamping Trusalová Turany
Autocamping Varín Varin
Autocamping Vavrisovo Vavrisovo
  • Camping and Glamping Slovakia, Plachtinské lazy 1, 991 25 Horné Plachtince, Plachtinské lazy 1, 991 25 Horné Plachtince, [36]. A beautiful rural camp site, surrounded by nature. Luxury tents are available to rent or you can pitch your own tent or caravan. (48.241936,19.249947) edit


The most important universities in Slovakia include:

At the secondary schooling level, there are several bilingual schools in Slovakia. The International Baccalaureate program with international recognition and transferability that is taught entirely in English can be studied at Gymnazium Jura Hronca and The British International School in Bratislava.


  • [39] - The first state language school in Bratislava

Video to help you learn about Slovakia can be found at High Tatras TV [40].





Stay safe[edit]

Slovakia is generally safe, even by European standards, and as a visitor you are unlikely to encounter any problems whatsoever. Violent crime is especially uncommon, and Slovakia sees less violent crime per capita than many European countries. Pickpockets are an issue, even though much smaller than in the popular destinations of Western Europe. However, the biggest fear for a traveler is most probably the roads.








Stay healthy[edit]





The High Tatras might not be the biggest or the most tallest mountain range, but some trails feature strenuous climbs, rocky terrain, and the weather may prove unpredictable. Indeed, the mountains of Slovakia claim several lives every year, also in the summer. Take proper gear, do not overestimate your abilities, and use common sense.

Never venture off the marked hiking trails in the national parks (unless you're a skilled mountain climber and with a proper permit)! It is foolish, as well as illegal. In wooded areas, where chances of injury are lower, hiking off the marked trail carries a heightened risk of encoutering a bear. Bears know where the hiking trails are and avoid them at all costs. See the above section for tips, should you run across one.














The international calling code for Slovakia is +421.








All foreign embassies are located in Bratislava, in the old town part of the city. A list of embassies in Slovakia with contact information can be found on the country's web site [41] If your home country does not have an embassy in Slovakia, the nearest embassy can probably be found in Vienna in Austria, which is readily accessible by train, bus or car from Bratislava.




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