Slovakia - Eslovaquia

Introduction Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic (in Slovak: Slovensko, Slovenská republika) is a country of Europe, located in the central area of ​​this continent. Landlocked, Slovakia is bordered to the north by Poland, east with Ukraine, to the south with Hungary, west with Austria and to the northwest with the Czech Republic. Together with the latter country, Slovakia formed Czechoslovakia until 1993.

Capital Bratislava Idiom Slovak Surface 49 035 km² Population 5 410 836 (2012) Currency euro Time zone UTC 1 (UTC 2 in summer) Telephone prefix 421

Slovakia (Slovak: Slovensko) wave Slovak Republic (Slovenská republika) is a Central European country. The main reasons to visit Slovakia are its natural beauty, its vivid history, and its great opportunities to relax (and due to the small size of the country, it is quite easy to combine the three).

Slovakia has nine national parks, which cover a relatively large part of the country and feature the highest part of the Carpathian Mountain Range, the High Tatras, which offer great opportunities for mountain and winter sports, as well as magnificent views. Geologically, a considerable part of Slovakia is made of limestone, which in combination with many springs and rivers has resulted in the formation of numerous caves (12 open to the public, several of which are on the UNESCO list) and the beautiful rock formations, canyons and waterfalls of the Slovak paradise and the Slovak karst. Even outside of these areas, there are some beautiful landscapes, and all of Slovakia is covered by thousands of well-marked hiking trails.

For history buffs, Slovakia has the highest number of castles and palaces per capita in the world, ranging from simple ruins to well-preserved habitable castles with furniture, so if you are a fan of medieval history, look no further. There are also numerous Gothic and Baroque cities and towns in Slovakia, including the capital. There are also well-preserved examples of popular wooden architecture, including churches made entirely of wood and the tallest wooden altar in the world.

There are numerous mineral and thermal springs in Slovakia, and around some of these world-famous spas have been built offering excellent healing therapies or simply relaxation. You can also relax, swim and sunbathe on the shores of several local lakes and pools or try the AquaCity water park if you're feeling more adventurous. In particular, Bratislava also has a lively nightlife and is a popular destination for parties.

Understand

Slovakia is the result of the separation and dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Slovakia is a modern democratic country and is a member of the European Union.

Ground

Much of central and northern Slovakia is rugged and mountainous. Gerlachovský štít at 2,655 m (8,711 ft) in the High Tatras is the highest peak. The Tatra Mountains in the north, shared with Poland, are interspersed with many picturesque lakes and valleys. These areas experience lower temperatures and traditionally the people here lived by herding sheep.

The lowlands are in the south with the lowest point of the Bodrog River at 94 m (308 ft) above sea level. The soil here is much more fertile, especially the area between the Little Danube and the Danube, and it was more agricultural. The climate is milder and especially the summers can be surprisingly hot.

History

The area that is present-day Slovakia has been colonized since the early Paleolithic. Before the inland migration of Slavs and Huns, the most important cultures were the Celts and the Romans. To this day, artifacts and evidence of the presence of these cultures can be found.

The Slavic tribes that invaded the area in the 5th century created a succession of influential kingdoms here. During this era, which lasted until the 10th century, when the Great Moravian Empire disintegrated, the Slavs adopted Christianity and many medieval castles were built, of which some ruins remain to this day.

In the 10th century, Slovakia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary, which, after 1867, formed a union with the Austrian Empire and became the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. This union, which lasted until 1918, was a great influence in shaping the entire region. It was a multinational state with many cultures living together and forms a common cultural history shared by many Central European nations.

In 1918, the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form the Czechoslovak Republic. Interbellum Czechoslovakia was also a very diverse state with large ethnic minorities, including Hungarians, Jews, and German speakers. There were even more native German speakers in this country than there were ethnic Slovaks. During World War II, Czechoslovakia was briefly divided, with the Nazi-occupied Czech regions and Slovakia becoming a puppet state that collaborated with the Nazis under the leadership of Father Jozef Tiso. After the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a communist country within the Soviet-ruled Eastern Bloc. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia was free again.

For many years overshadowed by their northwestern neighbors the Czech Republic , the Czech and Slovak political representatives decided to attack on their own. The Slovaks and Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on January 1, 1993 and Slovakia se became a country in its own right. This is known as velvet divorce. Both countries remain culturally close and there is a high level of political and economic cooperation between the two.

Historical, political and geographical factors made Slovakia experience more difficulties developing a modern market economy than some of its Central European neighbors, but it now has one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and has been a member of the Union. European Union and NATO since 2004. Slovakia is now a member of the Schengen agreement and the country adopted the euro on January 1, 2009.

Ethnic groups

There are some similarities between the Czech and Slovak cultures, but the two nationalities remain distinct. One of the most striking differences is that while Czechs are largely atheists, Slovaks are largely Catholic, like their Polish neighbors.

Slovakia was part of the Hungarian Empire for almost a millennium, and a strong Hungarian-speaking minority of 9.7% remains, concentrated mainly in southern Slovakia. Historic German populations were uprooted and driven out after World War II, but their historical influence remains.

In the eastern part of the country, there are many Romans / Gypsies and some Rusnacs / Rusins ​​and Ukrainians. There are also some Czechs, Poles and still some Germans living in Slovakia.

Weather

Slovakia has a temperate climate with hot and sunny summers and cold, cloudy, wet and snowy winters. The climate is continental, with four seasons, and although the general climate is mild, there is a considerable difference in temperature between the summer and winter months.

It is generally warmer in the southern and lowland regions, where summer temperatures can rise above 30 ° C (86 ° F) on hotter days, and where rain is more common in winters than snow, which usually melts in a few days.

The northern regions, and especially the mountainous ones, have a colder climate, with summer temperatures that do not exceed 25 ° C (77 ° F). Especially in the mountains, snow is common in winters and can get quite cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -20 ° C (-4 ° F).

In the mountains, the weather can change dramatically in a matter of minutes and it can rain or snow even in summer. Wear the right gear and don't underestimate the weather.

Parties and festivals

Slovakia is a predominantly Catholic country, so the main Christian holidays are observed, as well as a few other holidays. Unless otherwise indicated, these days are public holidays and banks and most services and shops will be closed:

• Slovak Republic Day - January 1 - Conveniently, Czechoslovakia split in two on January 1, making New Years Day a national holiday. It is traditionally celebrated by sleeping until noon.
• Epiphany - January 6 - Celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Shops and banks are closed.
• Mardi Gras period ('Fasiangy') - This is not a national holiday, but rather a festival season. Some villages will hold a traditional market with food and drinks offered, and there may be a march through the city with masks, and numerous balls, balls, and carnivals take place. January 6 through Ash Wednesday (February or March).
• Easter: March / April, the dates depend on the lunar calendar. Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays. There are several different traditions related to Easter. The traditional food served includes eggs and special Easter ham, with bread and horseradish.
  • Religious people will go to mass, and it may be the only time that people in traditional clothing are likely to be present in some towns; however, this is becoming less common. However, everyone will be in disguise.
  • All over Slovakia prepare kraslice, which are egg shells adorned with ornaments and painted with colors. These, along with sweets and money, are given to the children, who visit the homes of friends and neighbors, where it is their job to ensure that the women are healthy and prosperous the following year by sprinkling them with water or perfume and hitting them. with a willow wand adorned with ribbons. Is called oblievacka Y sibacka.. It tends to involve large amounts of alcohol, food, and wet T-shirts, and no one takes it seriously. However, its popularity has waned. If you are a woman, do not wear clothes that you like when you go out on Easter Monday, as they may throw water on you or spray you with perfume. If you want to protest against this clearly barbaric tradition, be sure to do so in waterproof clothing.
• International work day - May 1 - This is celebrated without working.
• Victory Over Fascism Day - May 8 - Celebration of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
• International Children's Day - June 1 - It is not a national holiday, but children can have time outside of school and various activities will be organized for them, and they usually receive treats.
• Day of Saint Cyril and Methodius - July 5 - feast of the arrival of the great Christian missionaries in Slovakia (in 863). They translated the Gospels into the Slavic language that was spoken at the time, devised a new alphabet for writing specific Slavic sounds, and translated liturgical texts (such as the Missal and Psalms), which allowed a Slavic language to be the fourth liturgical language accepted by Rome (after Hebrew, Greek and Latin). Saint Cyril also wrote the first Slavic language poem, Proglas, underlining the importance of a written language for each nation.
• Commemorative Day of the Slovak National Uprising - August 29 - A holiday to commemorate the uprising against the Nazis during World War II.
• Day of the constitution - September 1 - Kids love this day as school starts the day after.
• Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary - September 15 - Patroness of Slovakia.
• Vinobranie It is not a national holiday, but a festival that celebrates the grape harvest, which is usually celebrated in October in the wine regions. Cities cooperate so it takes place on different weekends in different places and you can visit several. This includes open-air markets that sell street food, drinks (especially young wine), and various handicrafts.
• All Saints Day - November 1 - This is a day to remember the deceased. Halloween is not celebrated in Slovakia, and this is quite a serious religious holiday. All the shops are closed and many people go to the cemeteries to light a candle for their loved ones.
• Day of the Fight for Freedom and Democracy - November 17 - Commemorates the student demonstration that caused the end of communism.
• Saint nicholas day - December 6 - This is not a national holiday, but is considered the beginning of the Christmas period. Traditionally, Saint Nicholas leaves some candy (if the child was good) or charcoal / onion (if the child misbehaved that year) in his shoe overnight (surprisingly, most children get candy, not onion). The celebrations take place in the cities, where someone dressed as Saint Nicholas (think Santa Claus) and his angel / demon helpers help him distribute candy to crowds of anxious children. Christmas markets open and Christmas lights come on.
• Feast of Saint Lucia - December 13 - It is not a national holiday, but many traditions are related to this day, which vary according to the region. For example, you can take 13 sheets of paper, leave one blank, and write the names of 12 children on the others if it is a girl. One is burned every day until Christmas Eve, what remains is the name of her future husband (blank = single forever).

• Christmas: Christmas Eve, Christmas and San Esteban (December 24-26) are national holidays. In Slovakia, Christmas is mainly celebrated on Christmas Eve, when a traditional family dinner is held, after which gifts are opened. Since Christmas Eve is meant to be a fast on the Christian calendar, no meat is eaten on that day. A traditional dinner begins with a thin wafer, which is eaten with garlic (for health) and honey (for happiness and prosperity). This is followed by a soup (either mushroom or cabbage) and a main dish of fried carp and special potato salad. Many varieties of Christmas cakes are also eaten (eg gingerbread). However, the traditions differ.
• Silvester - December 31 - New Year's Eve is not a national holiday, but it is widely celebrated, mainly on holiday. At midnight, people toast the New Year with a glass of champagne. Many cities will have a fireworks display to celebrate the New Year. Fireworks and drunks abound.

Regions

• Western slovakia: Tourism here is focused on the capital Bratislava and its immediate surroundings. The southern region is a large plain along the Danube River, the most fertile area in the country. The north is formed by wide valleys of the rivers Vah and Nitra separated by forested mountains, crowned by castles as in Nitra, Trenčín or Bojnice.
• Central Slovakia: A region in the heart of the Carpathians. Several winter sports areas are here, also the largest in Jasná. There are also several national parks, Low Tatras, Great Fatra, Little Fatra, etc. The main cities are Banská Bystrica and Žilina, but there are also several mining towns, such as Banská Štiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Eastern Slovakia: The region of the High Tatras mountains, the top of the Carpathians and the Slovak paradise, a paradise for ravine trekking. It includes the UNESCO-listed cities of Levoča and Bardejov, as well as most of the country's wooden churches. The main cities are Košice, seconded by Prešov.

Cities

1. Bratislava - capital and largest city of Slovakia with a beautifully restored historical center full of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance churches, houses and palaces, cobbled streets, fountains, pleasant cafes and a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere
2. Banská Bystrica: it was one of the most important mining cities of the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; beautiful restored square, many churches, castles and museums and the monument to the Slovak National Uprising
3. Košice - Eastern metropolis, second largest city in the country with the most eastern Gothic cathedral in the world, the oldest European coat of arms, a large historic center with the cathedral complex, numerous churches, palaces and interesting museums.
4. Nitra- the oldest Slovak city, with a beautiful castle and numerous fairs
5. Poprad: the entrance to the High Tatras
6. Rajecké Teplice: very quiet spa town surrounded by the magnificent Mala Fatra National Park
7. Trenčín- one of the most beautiful Slovak cities with a castle above the city overlooking the historic center and the river Váh
8. Trnava- Old Slovak city with the highest number of churches (12) and well-preserved Baroque architecture
9. Žilina- The fourth largest city with a well-preserved historic center influenced by German architecture and a unique museum of coppersmith culture housed in Budatin Castle.

Other destinations

1. Slovak Paradise National Park :Slovenský RajIt consists of deep ravines and canyons created by water cascading through limestone.
2. High Tatras - Vysoké TatryIt is the largest national park in Slovakia and a center for winter sports and hiking.
3. Vlkolínec - UNESCO heritage listed village, retaining the character of a traditional Carpathian village
4. National Park of Slovak Karst -Slovenský kras, known for its cave systems, part of the UNESCO world heritage
5. Levoča - magnificent medieval pearl of the Spis region surrounded by ramparts with a unique Renaissance town hall, hamburger shops, numerous churches and St. James's Cathedral, home to the largest gothic wooden altar in the world.
6. Bojnice - The most visited castle in Slovakia, almost intact with beautifully preserved interiors.
7. Piešťany - the most famous spa town in Slovakia
8. Spiš Castle : one of the largest castles in Europe and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
9. Bardejov - is a spa town in northeastern Slovakia that exhibits numerous cultural monuments in its completely intact medieval city center and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

To get

The best way to get to the western part of Slovakia is usually through Vienna airport, and then travel by train or bus to cities such as Bratislava and Nitra. There is also a smaller airport in Bratislava with cheap flights, then travel by train to central Slovakia and Kosice.

Slovakia is a member of the Schengen Agreement.

• There are normally no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. This includes most of the European Union and some other countries.
• There are usually identity checks before boarding international flights or ships. Sometimes there are temporary border controls at land borders.
• Also, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.
• See Traveling the Schengen area for more information on how the program works, which countries are members, and what are the requirements for your nationality .

Recognized refugees in possession of a valid travel document issued by the government of any of the above-mentioned countries / territories are exempt from obtaining a visa for Slovakia (but no other Schengen country, except Germany and Hungary) for a maximum stay of 90 days in a 180-day period.

You must have identification with you anyway, but to avoid problems, be sure to carry identification in border regions.

If you need a visa, always apply at an embassy beforehand. There is no chance that you will get a visa at a Slovak border, no matter how you enter or what your nationality is.

By plane

Bratislava has its own airport, although many prefer the nearby Vienna airport with many more flights

• Bratislava airport (Bts^IATA). Ryanair operates low-cost flights to Bratislava from several European cities, including London, "Milan" - Bergamo, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Dublin, Rome (Ciampino), "Paris" (Beauvais), "Brussels (Charleroi) and some others. These flights can be quite cheap, so if you arrive from outside of Europe, you could end up saving money by flying to a larger airport and then connecting to Bratislava. They do not always operate on a daily basis and sometimes use remote airports. / rare, so you'd better fly into Vienna airport.Norwegian Airlines operates flights from Copenhagen Airport and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, and there are also flights to Moscow and Ben Gurion Airport with UTAir and Sun d'or Airlines respectively.

The alternative is Vienna airport (FRI^IATA), which is only 37 km (23 miles) from Bratislava. It offers a more convenient way to get to Slovakia with the main airlines, but it can be more expensive. It also receives a much larger number of long-haul flights. Direct buses to Bratislava's main bus station, the airport, every hour. Alternatively, you can take a taxi which will cost you around € 70.

The smaller international airports that are used primarily for charter flights include:

• Poprad - Tatry (www.airport-poprad.sk;TAT^IATA)
• Košice International Airport  (KSC^IATA)
• Sliač  (SLD^IATA)

Other options include Prague airports (PRG^IATA) and Budapest, with both cities about 4 hours away by public transport. There are also direct flights operated between Prague and Bratislava and Prague and Kosice, the latter along with flights to Prague providing the most convenient access by air to the eastern part of the country.

You can also fly to Krakow if you want to go to the Tatra Mountains. Krakow buses go to various Slovak cities around the Tatra and Orava mountains.

By train

From the Czech Republic

As parts of the former Czechoslovakia, trains between the Czech Republic and Slovakia are frequent. EC trains run every two hours from Prague to Bratislava and Žilina. There is a daily train from Prague to Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Poprad and Košice. All of these cities have a direct overnight sleeper connection from Prague.

Cheap tickets SporoTiket Evropa they can be purchased from the Czech Railways e-shop at least 3 days in advance. Pricing starts at € 15 per seat or € 26 per berth. An e-ticket is valid only on the train indicated on the ticket.

If you want more flexibility or cannot buy in advance over the Internet, you can get a significant discount at a train station if you buy a return ticket called CityStar . This international roundtrip ticket is valid for one month on any train (and you can't buy it online).

From Germany

There are two day trains and one night train from Berlin to Bratislava. Cheap tickets can be purchased on the German national railway website, despite the fact that the night train is now marketed by Austrian national railways as Nightjet. Tickets start at € 39 depending mainly on demand. Advance booking tickets are only valid for the exact train you book. Nightjet trains have further connections from other German cities to Vienna, from where you can switch to local trains for the 60km (1 hour) journey to Bratislava.

From Austria

Bratislava-Petržalka railway station, end point for trains from Vienna Hourly regional express runs from Vienna to Bratislava. You can use the EURegio ticket for € 16, a round trip ticket valid for 4 days.

From Poland

There is a night car from Warszawa to Bratislava through Czech territory. The direct train connection from Poland is very bad, a bus is generally a better alternative. There are only a few local trains that cross the border line: a Zwardoń (PL) -Skalité (SK) train. There is no international passenger traffic on Nowy Sącz - Prešov (since December 2010) and Lupków - Medzilaborce Line (since December 2009).

If you really want to travel from Poland by train, prepare for a full day trip with many train changes. It is cheaper to buy a Polish ticket only up to the border point (Skalité Gr.) And then buy a Slovak national ticket at the checker (surcharge of € 1.30).

From Hungary

There are EC trains from Budapest to Bratislava leaving every two hours and two IC trains a day from Budapest and Miskolc to Košice. Unlike the trip from Poland, it would not be cheaper to buy the Slovak section in the reviewer. Instead, there is a two-way round-trip discount of 60% (i.e. a return ticket is cheaper than a one-way ticket).

From Ukraine and Russia

There is a direct daily sleeper from Moscow, Kiev and Lvov to Košice, Poprad and Bratislava. The journey is very long - 2 nights from Moscow and Kiev and 1 day and night from Lvov - due to the state of the railway network in western Ukraine, the long customs process at the border and the breakdown of the track between Ukraine (Russia wide width) and Slovakia (standard width).

It is much cheaper to buy a Ukrainian or Russian ticket only to the Ukrainian border station Chop, then to buy a ticket from Chop to the first Slovak station Čierna nad Tisou, and then to buy a national Slovak ticket from the driver (surcharge of € 1.30) . But then you have no berth reservation for the Slovak section and you have to switch to the car seat at Chop.

Another option is to buy a CityStar ticket in Russia (or Slovakia where its prices are cheaper) that can be valid only for groups of up to 5 members. The CityStar ticket comes as a round-trip ticket valid for one month between stations and is offered at a discount for each next passenger on the ticket. Of course, you must also buy a docking ticket.

By bus

Among many others, there are regular services from Vienna, Prague and Budapest to Bratislava; and from Uzhhorod, Ukraine to the city of Michalovce, in eastern Slovakia, and from Krakow, Poland, via Zakopane, Poland, to Poprad.

Taking a bus from Prague to Bratislava is slower but cheaper than the train if you buy a ticket in advance, for example from Student Agency, Slovak Lines or using the common AMSBus bus booking system.

Buses from Poland and Ukraine are the best option, they are faster and more frequent than trains.

From Budapest the trip is 4 hours, the bus stop for 5 minutes in Györ and in a small restaurant on the street.

By car

Slovakia has a network of roads connected to neighboring countries.

Walking

• There is a pontoon ferry accessible to car drivers and pedestrians between Angern an der March (Austria) and Záhorská Ves (Slovakia). 05: 00-22: 00.

Travel

A peculiarity of taxis in Slovakia is that they have different rates if you call them by phone or if you stop them on the street. When you call them by phone, you have a preferential rate when choosing a specific taxi company. There is a third rate for taxi service that is the one from outside the city, this rate is about 80% higher since they also charge the return trip of the empty taxi to the city. Unfortunately this is the rate commonly charged to tourists. It is convenient to agree on the price in advance with the taxi driver to avoid abuse, although this is not easy and many of them agree to negotiate.

An acceptable price for the taxi within Bratislava is: one or two euros and about 60 euro cents per km

To travel around the city you can use public transport. Bratislava It is one of the few European capitals that does not have a metro. Its transport system is made up of trams, electric buses (trolleybuses) and gas or oil buses.

• The tickets can be bought in the newsstands or in the machines that are in most bus stops, the problem with the machines is that they only accept coins and it will be difficult to get them.
• If you plan to buy them at the newsstand, copy these words: 30 - MINUTOVÉ LISTKY NA BUS (30-minute bus tickets). Write down the number of tickets you will need and show it to the person who attends the newsstand. Tickets are marked inside the bus in an orange winch that is available when entering.
• Mark your ticket immediately, as the controllers are traveling in plain clothes and lock the machines when getting into the vehicle. The fine for traveling without a marked ticket is 40 Euros and the controllers are quite inflexible, in addition they mostly control around the bus or train stations.

These tickets are bought at the booths of the Bratislava transport company "DPB" There is an office in the main Bus station and another in the Train station but they are a bit difficult to find.

Bratislava City Card

Since 2006, the tourist card: Bratislava City Card (BCC) has been sold in Bratislava, as in many other tourist destinations. With this letter you have public transport included as well as a guided tour (only in English) of 60 minutes through the city center. Besides it has discounts in museums, galleries, the zoo, taxis, boat trips, restaurants, etc. You will find the list of discounts in a brochure that will be given to you along with the card.

The card can be purchased at the information centers of the city (BKIS, there is one in the city center, others at the airport, the bus station, the train station or the city port) and soon it will be possible to buy from travel agencies.

If you drive around the country, you must bear in mind that you need a ticket for the highway. This ticket is a sticker that you can buy at gas stations and newsstands. It can be valid for a year, a month or a week. If you do not take it, they can give you a large sanction when crossing the border.

CP offers a website and a smartphone app exceptionally useful with integrated timetables for all trains and buses in Slovakia, including all transport within the city and between cities, even indicating which lane your bus will depart from. It is also useful for international travel to / from Slovakia.

By train

The train is by far the best option for traveling in Slovakia, as long as you don't have a private vehicle. Frequent fast trains connect all major cities, but there are fewer local trains, even on the main lines. For local transportation, a bus is generally a better alternative. Trains are reasonably priced, competitive with buses, and cheap by Western standards. They are reliable and clean.

Opte por un servicio InterCity si desea comodidad al estilo occidental; Los trenes IC unen Bratislava, Žilina, los Altos Tatras y Košice y tienen reservas obligatorias. Estos pueden salvarlo de las multitudes: los trenes ordinarios se llenan, generalmente los viernes y domingos o alrededor de los días festivos. Tenga cuidado con los carteristas en las principales estaciones y manténgase alejado de las estafas de dinero. Además, se producen robos esporádicos a los pasajeros dormidos que viajan en los palangreros nocturnos.

La mayoría de los servicios de trenes dentro del país son proporcionados por ZSSK , otros operadores de trenes son Leo Expres y Regiojet, ambos ofrecen trenes de larga distancia y Regiojet también trenes regionales entre Bratislava y Komarno.

Descuentos y entradas

• Boletos de Internet por ZSSK: con un 5% de descuento se pueden comprar usando una cuenta de crédito. Los billetes de Internet en formato electrónico o impreso para trenes nacionales son válidos en el tren y la fecha seleccionados o en cualquier próximo tren (aunque haya perdido su reserva de asiento) en la misma ruta el primer día de validez (excepto todos los trenes IC y Ex 1502 Chopok entrenar). Los boletos comprados en las estaciones son válidos para cualquier viaje en la ruta dada dentro de un período de tiempo específico (generalmente uno o dos días, dependiendo de la distancia) y, por lo tanto, son muy flexibles. Algunos boletos internacionales solo se pueden comprar en las estaciones; si no puede encontrar la estación usando el sitio web de ZSSK, intente usar el idioma del país de destino (Viena en lugar de Viena; Praha en lugar de Praga, etc.)

• Transporte gratuito : niños menores de 16 años y personas mayores de 62 años independientemente de su ciudadanía o estado de residencia; y estudiantes menores de 26 años y pensionistas menores de 62 años (incluida la jubilación por enfermedad) que sean ciudadanos o residentes permanentes de los estados miembros de la UE. Necesita registrarse en la empresa de trenes; no olvides una fotografía de tamaño 2x3 cm (actualizada, sin usar, profesional, lo suficientemente nítida y brillante, representada de frente, sin sombreros ni fondo).

• KLASIK RAILPLUS by ZSSK : cuesta 35 € y ofrece un descuento del 25% de una tarifa nacional estándar durante un año. Vale la pena si planeas gastar más de 140 € de la tarifa estándar en un año (aproximadamente cinco billetes de ida y vuelta Bratislava - Košice). No olvides la fotografía tamaño 2x3 cm para el registro. Se puede combinar con un 5% de descuento utilizando una cuenta de crédito.

• Trenes de larga distancia Leo Expres Y Regiojet : son los más baratos cuando se reserva por adelantado en línea y están vinculados a un tren y una hora específicos.

By bus

Las conexiones de autobús suelen ser más lentas que los trenes, pero pueden llevarte a lugares donde los trenes no pueden, y algunas empresas privadas también ofrecen descuentos para viajeros con una tarjeta ISIC extranjera (las empresas estatales no lo hacen, a menos que seas ciudadano eslovaco). Los billetes para rutas de larga distancia de más de 100 km (incluido hacia / desde la República Checa o dentro de la República Checa) se pueden comprar en AMSBus después del registro obligatorio (la versión en inglés también está disponible). El viaje de Bratislava a Nitra es un raro ejemplo de una ruta en la que los autobuses son significativamente más rápidos y más baratos que los trenes.

Los autobuses son puntuales, por lo que es recomendable llegar a la estación de autobuses con antelación, la hora especificada en el horario es la hora de salida de la estación. La mayoría de los boletos se compran directamente del conductor, por lo que probablemente necesitará efectivo. Aunque el conductor del autobús le dará cambio, especialmente para viajes más cortos (más baratos), es aconsejable tener algunas denominaciones más pequeñas. Puede esperar pagar una pequeña tarifa adicional si lleva una bolsa grande.

Turancar y Student Agency son buenos ejemplos de compañías de autobuses privadas que son bastante confiables, cómodas (ya que usan autobuses nuevos a menudo con pantallas LCD de entretenimiento a bordo), funcionan a tiempo y ofrecen descuentos para estudiantes para extranjeros con ISIC.

By car

La red de carreteras es extensa y en buen estado general. La mayoría de las carreteras principales (especialmente en las partes occidentales) son de dos carriles y están en buen estado, sin embargo, la mayoría de las carreteras secundarias son de un carril, y el estándar de mantenimiento de esto puede variar de bueno a bastante accidentado. A lo largo de las rutas principales y las carreteras, hay paradas de combustible y restaurantes ( odpočívadlo or čerpacia stanica ) con bastante frecuencia y en las ciudades más pequeñas, lo más probable es que encuentre pequeños quioscos ( stánok ) o puestos de frutas o quesos ( ovocný stánok para frutas, stánok so syrom para quesos ) junto a la carretera, presentando delicias locales a bajos precios.

El estilo de conducción en Eslovaquia es, especialmente en comparación con los países de Europa occidental, más agresivo y de menor nivel. Hay que estar atento a otros coches que aceleran, lo que es bastante frecuente, y que se adelantan en su lado de la carretera, especialmente en las zonas más montañosas del país.

Lead

Los vehículos circulan por el lado derecho de la carretera y los límites de velocidad son, en general, 50 kmh (31 mph) en un pueblo / ciudad, 90 kmh (56 mph) fuera de las áreas urbanizadas y 130 kmh (81 mph) en las autopistas. Sin embargo, los camiones y automóviles con caravanas / remolques están limitados a 80 km / h (50 mph) fuera de áreas de acumulación o en autopistas y las motocicletas están limitadas a 90 km / h (56 mph) en autopistas.

El uso de cinturones de seguridad en automóviles y furgonetas es obligatorio y los niños menores de 11 años o menores de 150 cm deben colocarse en el asiento trasero.

Los faros deben estar encendidos durante la conducción en todo momento, independientemente de las condiciones meteorológicas o de si es de día o de noche, así que enciéndalos.

En invierno, la nieve y el hielo son comunes en las carreteras y se recomiendan neumáticos de invierno. En condiciones climáticas extremas, algunas carreteras de montaña menores pueden requerir cadenas para la nieve.

Eslovaquia tiene una política de tolerancia cero con el alcohol. Si bebes no conduzcas. Si nada más, entonces porque las sanciones son severas.

El uso de cascos es obligatorio tanto para el conductor como para el pasajero en motocicletas de cualquier tamaño, y el conductor de motocicletas con motores de más de 50 cc también debe llevar gafas protectoras.

La presencia policial es frecuente en las carreteras, y especialmente en las carreteras principales, tanto en vehículos señalizados como sin señalizar.

Si tiene la intención de conducir por las autopistas, tenga en cuenta que los vehículos deben mostrar una pegatina obligatoria ( viñeta ) que cubra el peaje de la carretera, en la esquina superior derecha del parabrisas del automóvil (ubicación obligatoria ya que esto se verifica principalmente mediante un sistema de cámara electrónica fija). La viñeta se puede comprar en la mayoría de las gasolineras y tiene una validez de diez días (10 €), un mes (14 €) o más. Tenga en cuenta que la viñeta es obligatoria en todas las autopistas desde el punto de entrada, y si lo sorprenden sin una, se le aplicará una multa. Si alquila un automóvil, lo más probable es que esté incluido en el alquiler, pero recuerde verificar o consultar al alquilar / reservar.

Si entiende eslovaco, muchas estaciones de radio privadas incluyen una gran cobertura de tráfico como parte de sus noticias, que le informará sobre cualquier obstáculo en la carretera, accidentes automovilísticos, atascos e incluso la presencia de la policía, por lo que sin duda vale la pena sintonizarlo. También es un sitio web llamado Stellacentrum, donde se puede encontrar información general sobre el tráfico y las patrullas policiales (incluso informan dónde están realmente las patrullas policiales).

parking

La mayoría de los lugares ofrecen estacionamiento gratuito, sin embargo, en las áreas centrales de las ciudades más grandes, puede haber tarifas de estacionamiento. En las ciudades fuera de Bratislava, el método más común de estacionamiento de pago es un área cerrada, donde ingresa y recibe un resbalón de una máquina. A la salida tendrás que devolver el comprobante y pagar a una persona. Lo más probable es que la persona no hable inglés, pero si te ves lo suficientemente confundido, te entregará una nota escrita a mano con la cantidad. Trate de pagar la cantidad exacta en efectivo y evite pagar con billetes grandes, ya que estos lugares rara vez tienen mucho efectivo a mano. En el centro de Bratislava puede encontrar lugares, donde tiene que obtener una boleta de estacionamiento de una máquina expendedora y pagar por adelantado su estacionamiento. El deslizamiento debe colocarse detrás del parabrisas del automóvil y debe ser visible desde el exterior.

Alquilar

Alquilar un automóvil es una forma conveniente, eficiente y relativamente barata (los precios comienzan en aproximadamente 65 € / día en las cadenas de alquiler de automóviles con kilometraje gratuito) para explorar Eslovaquia, especialmente si tiene la intención de visitar áreas más remotas, donde los servicios de tren y autobús pueden ser más esporádico. No espere que no se incluyan ni GPS ni mapa de carreteras y recuerde comprobar si se incluye la viñeta de la carretera (ver arriba); lo más probable es que lo sea, pero no siempre. Pregunte al hacer la reserva y, si no es así, lo más probable es que puedan incluirlo fácilmente sin ningún cargo de manipulación.

Autostop

Hacer autostop en Eslovaquia se hace mejor preguntando en las gasolineras. Solía ​​ser que la mayoría de las personas solo hablaban eslovaco (y posiblemente entienden otros idiomas eslavos), por lo que era difícil para los extranjeros que no hablaban idiomas eslavos. Sin embargo, hoy en día la mayoría de los jóvenes habla inglés y casi la misma cantidad habla alemán.

Tenga en cuenta que los trenes y autobuses en Eslovaquia son baratos para los occidentales y (aparte de las áreas extremadamente rurales donde la gente generalmente es menos cautelosa con los autostopistas) puede tomar un tiempo que alguien lo recoja. Puede encontrar algunas ofertas si viaja desde Eslovaquia y a Eslovaquia, así como en páginas web especializadas. La página de autostopistas más grande de Eslovaquia es stopar.sk . Allí puede encontrar ofertas en inglés, alemán, francés, polaco, checo y húngaro y es gratis.

Walking

Hay una larga tradición de senderismo y senderismo en Eslovaquia, y es un deporte muy popular. La mayoría de las personas que conoces habrán realizado una caminata al menos una vez en la vida, y muchas lo hacen con regularidad y pueden darte consejos sobre los senderos locales más interesantes. La red de senderos también está muy bien mantenida. La calidad y eficiencia del sistema de señalización es única en el contexto europeo (y probablemente mundial).

Cada ruta está señalizada y señalizada, los diferentes senderos tienen un color diferente. Se utilizan cuatro colores: rojo, azul, verde y amarillo. Los senderos más largos y esternos suelen estar marcados en rojo, y es posible atravesar desde el noreste de Dukla Pass hasta el oeste (Bradlo, cerca de Bratislava) a lo largo del sendero de los Héroes del Levantamiento Nacional Eslovaco (750 km) a lo largo de uno de esos caminos marcados en rojo. Sin embargo, los senderos son numerosos, adecuados para varios niveles de condición física, y muchos conducen a través de hermosos paisajes. En las ciudades, normalmente verá un cartel, con flechas que apuntan en diferentes direcciones, que marcan el color del camino y los tiempos promedio de caminata hasta el conjunto de destinos más cercano. Todo lo que necesita hacer es seguir el color, habrá una marca cada cien metros aproximadamente, y consiste en una marca cuadrada de tres secciones de 10 cm por 10 cm donde los bordes son blancos y el color del camino elegido en el medio.

También es posible (y muy recomendable) comprar "mapas turísticos" de regiones eslovacas más pequeñas. Estos se basan en conjuntos de mapas militares anteriores, tienen una muy buena resolución (1: 50000) y se pueden comprar en la mayoría de los quioscos, centros de información y librerías por un precio de oferta de entre 1,50 y 2,50 €. Estos son publicados por el Slovak Tourist Club (KST), que mantiene todos los senderos, y muestran todos los senderos marcados en la zona, incluidos los tiempos promedio de caminata, lo que hace que la planificación de rutas sea muy fácil y eficiente. También puede utilizar sitios web de senderismo como Freemap Slovakia (basado en datos de Openstreetmap ) o HIKING.SK

To buy

En Eslovaquia existen varias tiendas de souvenirs repartidos por las zonas más turísticas del país. Hasta el 31 de diciembre del 2008, la corona eslovaca era la única moneda válida de pago legal, pero a partir del 1 de enero de 2009, el euro es la única forma de pago y sólo aceptan esa moneda en las tiendas.

Money

Euro exchange rates As of June 23, 2020: US $ 1 ≈ € 0.89 UK £ 1 ≈ € 1.18 Australian $ 1 ≈ € 0.61 Canadian $ 1 ≈ € 0.69 Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com

Eslovaquia usa el euro , como varios otros países europeos . Un euro se divide en 100 céntimos. El símbolo oficial del euro es € y su código ISO es EUR. No existe un símbolo oficial para el centavo.

Todos los billetes y monedas de esta moneda común son de curso legal en todos los países, excepto que en algunos de ellos se eliminan las monedas de baja denominación (uno y dos centavos). Los billetes tienen el mismo aspecto en todos los países, mientras que las monedas tienen un diseño común estándar en el reverso, que expresa el valor, y un diseño nacional específico del país en el anverso. El anverso también se utiliza para diferentes diseños de monedas conmemorativas. El diseño del anverso no afecta el uso de la moneda.

Hasta el 1 de enero de 2009, la moneda oficial era la Crown ("corona", sk) que todavía se puede encontrar y aceptar por el banco central hasta 2017 a un tipo de cambio de 30,126 sk a 1 euro.

Banking

Los cajeros automáticos (ATM, "bankomat" en eslovaco, pl. "Bankomaty") están ampliamente disponibles en Eslovaquia, excepto en las aldeas más pequeñas, y obtener dinero allí no debería representar un problema. En la mayoría de los pueblos pequeños, puede ganar dinero en las oficinas postales locales (reembolso). Las tarjetas de crédito y débito como Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Cirrus Maestro son ampliamente aceptadas tanto en las tiendas como en los restaurantes de las grandes ciudades.

Tips

La propina no es obligatoria en Eslovaquia, pero en la práctica es habitual en los establecimientos en los que te sientas (cafeterías y restaurantes), donde es habitual redondear la cuenta o dejar alrededor del 10% de propina. La propina se entrega directamente al camarero (es decir, dígale cuánto debe devolverle), no se deja en la mesa en la mayoría de los establecimientos. Las propinas no están incluidas en la factura, si hay un porcentaje que se muestra en su factura, este suele ser el IVA. La propina se agrega a la cuenta y debe entregarse al camarero mientras paga, antes de dejar la mesa. La propina no es obligatoria, por lo que si no está satisfecho con el servicio, ¡no se sienta obligado a dar propina! No te molestarán si no lo haces.

La propina no es común en los establecimientos de venta libre, bares o para otros servicios.

Eat and drink

• Slovak Pub: situado en pleno centro de Bratislava. Fue el mayor pub de europa años atrás. Comida excente y variada, donde los estudiantes reciben descuentos. Sitio ideal para probar la típica comida eslovaca. EL precio razonable incluso muy económico, dependiendo de lo que se pida, pero en general la típica comida cuesta alrededor de 3 euros. Hay diferentes zonas en el pub, zonas de fumadores y no fumadores. Sitio agradable donde su unen los turistas, estudiantes y gente de allí.

La cocina eslovaca se centra principalmente en recetas sencillas y abundantes. Históricamente, lo que ahora se considera genuinamente eslovaco ha sido la comida tradicional en las aldeas del norte donde la gente vivía del pastoreo de ovejas y la agricultura limitada; en las duras condiciones, muchos cultivos no crecen y las hierbas son más accesibles que las verdaderas especias. Por lo tanto, los alimentos básicos incluyen principalmente carne (ahumada), queso, patatas y harina. Sin embargo, esto no hace que la comida sea insípida, y gran parte de ella es bastante abundante y sabrosa, aunque puede ser un poco pesada. Como no se utilizan especias fuertes o ingredientes verdaderamente exóticos, probar productos locales es una experiencia segura y gratificante.

Algunos platos son auténticamente eslovacos, muchos otros son variaciones de un tema regional. Por lo general, se consume mucho queso, de las carnes los productos de cerdo y aves son los más comunes, con algunos platos de carne de res y caza, siendo los acompañamientos más comunes las papas y varios tipos de albóndigas. Dado que Eslovaquia es un país sin litoral, las opciones de pescado y marisco son limitadas (la carpa se sirve en Navidad, la trucha es el pescado más común). Las sopas son bastante comunes tanto como aperitivo como, como algunas son bastante abundantes, como plato principal.

Si eres vegetarian, la variedad de comida en las ciudades debería ser decente. Sin embargo, al aventurarse en el campo, la oferta puede ser limitada ya que las verduras se consideran en su mayoría un acompañamiento y / o se comen principalmente crudas o en ensaladas. Además, tenga en cuenta que, aunque algunos platos estarán en la sección vegetariana del menú, esto simplemente significa que no son predominantemente a base de carne y aún pueden prepararse con grasas animales o incluso contener pequeños trozos de carne, así que haga su requisitos claros. El queso frito con jamón o la ensalada Cesar (!) Son buenos ejemplos. Aún así, casi todos los restaurantes del país servirán al menos la opción básica de queso frito (la variedad normal, sin jamón) con papas fritas, que es universalmente popular. También debe haber una buena selección de platos dulces, con panqueques, bolas de masa rellenas de frutas, mermeladas o chocolate y fideos dulces con nueces / semillas de amapola / requesón dulce más común. Buscar la pizzería más cercana también es una opción buena y accesible en casi todas partes.

La comida principal del día es tradicionalmente el almuerzo, aunque esto está cambiando especialmente en las ciudades debido a los horarios de trabajo, y la cena se está convirtiendo cada vez más en la comida principal allí.

En todos los restaurantes, excepto en los más exclusivos, no es costumbre que el personal le lleve a su mesa. Entonces, cuando ingrese, no se quede junto a la puerta, simplemente elija una mesa de su elección y disfrute. Una vez que esté cómodamente sentado, los camareros llegarán en breve para darle el menú y permitirle pedir bebidas.

Una vez más, con la posible excepción de los establecimientos más exclusivos, en la mayoría de los casos no se aplica ningún código de vestimenta en los restaurantes y la ropa informal está bien. Llevarse a un restaurante para disfrutar de una comida bien merecida después de un día de senderismo / esquí con su ropa deportiva puede atraer algunos ceños fruncidos, pero ciertamente no lo rechazarán. En general, cualquier cosa que te pongas para pasear por la ciudad está perfectamente bien. No necesitas chaqueta ni zapatos cerrados y en verano también se aceptan pantalones cortos.

Comida eslovaca

Bryndzové halušky es un plato nacional eslovaco hecho con albóndigas de patata y un tipo especial de queso de oveja fermentado sin pasteurizar llamado 'bryndza'. Esta comida es única en Eslovaquia y bastante apetitosa (y sorprendentemente abundante), y no debes irte de Eslovaquia sin probarla. Tenga en cuenta que, si bien este plato generalmente se incluirá en la sección vegetariana del menú, se sirve con trozos de tocino frito con carne encima, por lo que si es vegetariano, asegúrese de pedir halušky sin tocino. Halušky se puede encontrar en muchos restaurantes; sin embargo, la calidad varía ya que no es un plato fácil de preparar. Si puede, busque un restaurante étnico eslovaco (esto puede ser más difícil de lo que parece), o al menos pregunte a los lugareños cuál es el mejor lugar en los alrededores. En las regiones del norte también encontrará auténticos restaurantes llamados 'Salaš' (esta palabra significa granja de ovejas en eslovaco y muchos toman productos directamente de estos), que sirven la variedad más deliciosa y fresca. A veces, se encuentra disponible una variedad con queso ahumado agregado en la parte superior. Un plato separado llamadostrapačky también puede estar disponible donde se sirve chucrut en lugar de bryndza, pero no es tan típico (esto también vendrá con tocino encima).

A salaš generalmente también servirá otros platos típicos eslovacos, y muchos también ofrecerán varias variedades de queso de oveja para comprar. Todos son de producción local, deliciosos y vale la pena comprarlos si eres un fanático del queso. Las variedades incluyen bryndza (utilizado principalmente para hacer 'Bryndzové halušky', pero es un queso suave untable que es muy saludable y se usa a menudo para untar), bloques de queso de oveja (suave y maleable, delicioso solo o con sal), parenica (queso enrollado en capas en un pequeño rollo pelable, que se vende ahumado o sin fumar) y korbáčiky(esta palabra significa trenzas de cabello en eslovaco, y korbáčiky son hilos de queso tejidos en un patrón que se asemeja a una trenza básica). Algunos de estos quesos también están disponibles para comprar en los supermercados, pero se producen en masa y no son tan buenos.

La mayoría de los demás platos son regionales y sus variedades se pueden encontrar en otros lugares de Europa Central. These include kapustnica, una sopa de chucrut que se suele comer en Navidad pero que se sirve durante todo el año en los restaurantes. Es sabroso y puede ser ligeramente picante según la salchicha que se use. Dependiendo de la receta también puede incluir carne ahumada y / o champiñones secos.

Se pueden encontrar varias albóndigas grandes llamadas pirohy y, según el relleno, pueden ser saladas o dulces. Los rellenos incluyen chucrut, varios tipos de queso o carne o simplemente frutas o mermelada. Se parecen mucho al pierogi polaco.

El gulash es un plato regional elaborado con cortes de ternera, cebollas, verduras y patatas aplastadas con especias, que es muy abundante y abundante. Dependiendo del grosor se puede servir como sopa (con pan) o como guiso (servido con albóndigas). A veces, el gulash se puede encontrar al aire libre durante las barbacoas o en los mercados de los festivales, donde se prepara en un gran caldero, a veces con carne de caza en lugar de carne; este es el más auténtico. También existe una variedad llamada gulash Segedin , que es bastante distinta y se prepara con chucrut. El gulash puede ser bastante picante.

Aparte de la kapustnica y el gulash, que son más un plato principal, otras soups son bastante populares como aperitivo. La sopa de hongos es un plato típico de Navidad en muchas partes, y hay varias sopas hechas de frijoles o brotes de soja. En los restaurantes, las sopas más comunes son el caldo normal de pollo y (a veces) de res, y la sopa de tomate y el caldo de ajo (servido con picatostes, muy sabroso, pero no vayas a besar a la gente después) también son muy comunes. Algunos restaurantes ofrecen determinadas sopas para servir en una pequeña barra de pan ('v bochniku'), lo que puede ser una experiencia interesante y sabrosa.

Otro típico streetfood incluye lokše, tortitas de patata (crepes) servido con diferentes rellenos (variedades populares incluyen grasa de pato y / o paté de hígado de pato, semillas de amapola o mermelada) y lángos , que es una gran profundidad pan plano frito más comúnmente servido con ajo, queso y salsa de tomate / crema agria encima. También es común una versión local de una hamburguesa, llamada cigánska pečienka (o simplemente cigánska). Sin embargo, esto no está hecho de carne de res, sino que se usa cerdo o pollo y se sirve en un pan con mostaza / ketchup y (a veces) cebollas, chiles y / o repollo cortado en cubitos. Si está buscando algo dulce, en ciudades balnearias como Piešťany , encontrará puestos que venden obleas de spa., que generalmente son dos obleas delgadas del tamaño de un plato con varios rellenos. Prueba el chocolate o la avellana.

Especialmente en las partes occidentales, los lokše también se pueden encontrar en un restaurante, donde se sirven como acompañamiento de un ganso / pato asado ( husacina ), que es un manjar local.

Otros alimentos que vale la pena probar son el pollo en salsa de pimentón con albóndigas ('paprikas'), Schnitzel ('Rezeň' en eslovaco, un plato muy común. 'Čiernohorsky rezeň' es una variedad que se hace con una capa de albóndigas de patata que se usa en lugar de rebozado y es muy común. bueno) y Sviečková (solomillo de ternera con salsa especial de verduras, servido con albóndigas). De la sección de postres del menú, pruebe las albóndigas de ciruela (a veces se usan otras frutas, pero las ciruelas son tradicionales); este es un plato bueno y bastante abundante por sí solo.

En algunas partes del campo, existe una tradición llamada zabíjačka , donde se mata un cerdo y sus diversas carnes y partes se consumen en un evento similar a una barbacoa. Esta es una celebración mucho más histórica de la que es probable que encuentres en la mayoría de la Eslovaquia moderna, pero si tienes la oportunidad de asistir, puede ser una experiencia interesante, y la carne y las salchichas son caseras, deliciosas y llenas de sabor. Si puedes encontrar húrka casera (carne de cerdo y salchicha de hígado con arroz) o krvavníčky (similar a hurka, pero con sangre de cerdo) que se ofrecen en otros lugares, ambos son muy buenos. There's also tlačenka(embutido prensado junto con algunas verduras, servido similar al jamón), que se sirve frío con vinagre y cebolla encima, y ​​se puede comprar también en los supermercados. Varios otros tipos de salchichas y carnes ahumadas están disponibles comercialmente.

Una rebanada gruesa de queso frito servida con papas fritas y una ensalada también es un plato común eslovaco. Se sirve en la mayoría de los restaurantes y vale la pena probarlo, especialmente la variedad local hecha de queso ahumado ('údený syr' / 'oštiepok') o 'hermelín' (queso local similar al camembert). Esto no se considera un sustituto de la carne.

Hay una buena variedad de productos de panadería, incluidos varios pasteles dulces; pruebe los rellenos locales de semillas de amapola y / o requesón (dulce) ( tvaroh ). Strudel (štrúdla) también es popular, pruebe el relleno tradicional de manzana y pasas o la versión más elegante de semillas de amapola dulce y guindas ácidas. Para algo sabroso, pruebe el pagáč , que es un hojaldre con pequeños chicharrones de cerdo. El pan local es excelente, pero tenga en cuenta que algunas de las diversas variedades se espolvorean con semillas de alcaravea. ¡Puede que te guste o no! Las baguettes y las tiendas / puestos de baguette son muy comunes y podrá elegir entre una variedad de rellenos.

Para el postre, visite el cukráreň local. Estos establecimientos, aunque poco a poco se fusionan en cafés, se especializan exclusivamente en apaciguar a los golosos y sirven una variedad de pasteles, así como bebidas frías y calientes y (a veces) helados. Los pasteles se asemejan a platos similares en la República Checa o sus primos vieneses. La selección es diversa y está en exhibición, así que elija uno que le guste, tal vez un 'krémeš' (un poco de masa en la parte inferior, relleno espeso de natillas de vainilla, cubierto con una capa de crema o simplemente chocolate) o ' veterník '(piense en un gran profiterole cubierto de caramelo), selección de tortas, etc.

Cuando vayas de compras al supermercado, recuerda comprar Tatranky y/o Horalky, dos marcas de obleas similares con relleno de avellana y ligeramente recubiertas de chocolate que los lugareños juran.

International kitchen

Los restaurantes y pizzerías italianos son extremadamente populares en Eslovaquia y se han vuelto omnipresentes. Incluso si no va a un restaurante étnico italiano, habrá un plato de pizza o pasta en casi todos los menús de los restaurantes. El helado italiano (y generalmente mediterráneo) también es muy popular.

La cocina china y vietnamita también se está volviendo más común en todas partes, y los puestos de kebab / gyros (un bollo con trozos de carne en rodajas) son muy comunes.

En las ciudades más grandes, encontrará una selección de restaurantes étnicos que incluyen chino, tailandés, japonés, italiano, francés y muchos otros. Además, como se mencionó anteriormente, muchos platos austriacos, checos, húngaros y polacos con un toque eslovaco son comunes.

Los establecimientos de comida rápida se pueden encontrar en Eslovaquia como en cualquier otro lugar del mundo, McDonalds se puede encontrar en muchas ciudades más grandes y más pequeñas. Sin embargo, debido a que los demás alimentos son relativamente baratos en comparación con los precios occidentales de las comidas rápidas, esta no se considera generalmente la opción verdaderamente económica. Una comida en un restaurante más barato costará entre 1 y 1,5 veces el precio de una combinación de comidas (a veces incluso menos) y podría resultar un mejor valor. Aún así, estos establecimientos son razonablemente populares, especialmente entre la generación más joven.

To drink

Drinks without alcohol

En el caso de bebidas sin alcohol, pruebe Vinea, un refresco elaborado con uvas, tanto en tinto como en blanco y también sin gas. Kofola, un refresco tipo Coca-Cola, también es muy popular entre los lugareños y está disponible tanto de barril como embotellado. Eslovaquia es uno de los tres países del mundo donde Coca-Cola no es el número uno en el mercado.

Las aguas minerales son algunas de las mejores del mundo, vienen en numerosas variedades y cada una tiene efectos positivos únicos para la salud (por ejemplo, eliminar la acidez de estómago, mejorar la digestión, etc.) según el tipo de minerales que se encuentran naturalmente en el agua. Hay muchos tipos disponibles en tiendas y supermercados, por ejemplo Budiš, Mitická, Slatina, Rajec, Dobrá Voda, Zlatá studňa, Fatra, etc. Otros solo están disponibles directamente en las muchas fuentes minerales naturales comunes en todo el país. Como se trata de verdaderas aguas "minerales", siempre contendrán minerales y el sabor será diferente según la marca / manantial. Si no te gusta uno, ¡prueba con una marca diferente! También puede probar aguas minerales con varios aromas, desde frambuesa hasta 'mojito'.

A diferencia de lo que podría estar acostumbrado, el soda water es la opción predeterminada, por lo que si lo prefiere, es posible que deba buscar esto específicamente. El nivel de carbonatación está marcado por la etiqueta. La etiqueta azul oscuro o roja generalmente indica las carbonatadas ("perlivá"), una etiqueta verde indica las levemente carbonatadas ("mierne perlivá") y las blancas, rosadas o celestes indican aquellas sin dióxido de carbono ("neperlivá"). Debido a la excelente elección local y la calidad del agua, las marcas internacionales no son tan comunes.

En los restaurantes, servir un vaso de agua gratis no es parte de la cultura, así que recuerda que si pides uno, es muy probable que te traigan agua mineral (probablemente con gas) en su lugar (y te cobren por ella).

The café sin bebidas calientes está disponible en todas partes, principalmente en tres variedades (los cafés en las ciudades ofrecerán más): espresso, café 'normal' que se sirve mediano, pequeño y negro y café vienés que es café 'normal' con una cucharada. de nata encima. Los capuchinos también son bastante comunes. El café se sirve con azúcar y crema / leche al lado. El chocolate caliente también es popular. Tea las habitaciones son bastante populares como lugar para relajarse en las principales ciudades. Suelen tener un ambiente relajado y vagamente oriental, y ofrecen una gran variedad de tés negros, verdes, blancos y de frutas. Schisha también podría estar en oferta. Una parte de esta cultura se extendió al resto de establecimientos de restauración, la mayoría de los cuales ahora ofrecerán al menos una opción entre fruta y té negro. Tenga en cuenta que el té negro se sirve con azúcar y limón en Eslovaquia, no es común servir leche o crema. Algunos lugares pueden ofrecer una bebida llamada 'manzana caliente', que sabe un poco a jugo de manzana caliente más suave.

Alcoholic drinks

Beber es una parte muy importante de la cultura eslovaca y se servirá alguna forma de alcohol en la mayoría de las ocasiones sociales. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los lugareños aguantan bien el licor y estar visiblemente borracho está mal visto, así que tenga en cuenta sus límites. Tenga en cuenta que algunos licores elaborados localmente pueden ser más fuertes de lo que está acostumbrado, y que el vaso de chupito estándar en Eslovaquia es de 50 ml., que puede ser más de lo que está acostumbrado si llega desde Europa Occidental. Si pides vodka doble, ¡obtendrás 1dl! El alcohol en general es barato en comparación con Europa Occidental o Estados Unidos. No hay tiendas especiales y las bebidas alcohólicas se pueden comprar en prácticamente cualquier supermercado o tienda de alimentos local. Puede beber y comprar alcohol legalmente si tiene 18 años o más, pero esto no se aplica de manera muy estricta. Sin embargo, es posible que te identifiquen en algunos clubes de la ciudad si te ves muy joven.

Para las cervezas, hay una gran variedad de excelentes cervezas locales que son similares en estilo y calidad a las cervezas checas (que también están ampliamente disponibles), y la cerveza es principalmente la bebida local de elección. Try Zlatý Bažant, Smädný Mních, Topvar Y Šariš. Šariš también está disponible en una versión oscura que es más gruesa y pesada para el estómago. Si los gustos locales no satisfacen, las cervezas "occidentales" se venden en los restaurantes y pubs más grandes.

Eslovaquia también tiene excelentes vinos locales , muchos de ellos similares a los estilos Riesling germánicos. Hay varias regiones vinícolas en el sur con siglos de tradición, incluida la zona de las afueras de Bratislava. Si puede, intente visitar una de las bodegas de los productores locales, ya que muchas son históricas y es una experiencia cultural en sí misma. También es posible que le ofrezcan vino casero si visita estas áreas, ya que muchos lugareños fermentan sus propios vinos. La calidad, obviamente, varía. Cada año, a finales de mayo y principios de noviembre, se lleva a cabo un evento llamado Small Carpathian Wine Road en la región vinícola de Small Carpathian (entre Bratislava y Trnava), donde todos los productores locales abren sus bodegas al público. Compra una entrada en la bodega más cercana y recibirás una copa de vino y la entrada a cualquier bodega de la región, donde podrás degustar los mejores productos del año anterior.

También hay vinos más dulces que se cultivan en las regiones fronterizas del sudeste llamadas Tokaj . Tokaj se fermenta a partir de la variedad especial de uva Tokaj endémica de la región (parte de la cual se encuentra en Hungría y parte en Eslovaquia) y es un vino dulce de postre. Tokaj se considera una marca premium con reputación mundial y posiblemente sea una de las mejores que Europa Central tiene para ofrecer. Es posible que otros vinos eslovacos no sean muy conocidos fuera de la región, pero sin duda vale la pena probarlos. Alrededor de la época de la cosecha en otoño, en las regiones productoras de vino, el vino joven llamado burčiak se vende a menudo y es popular entre los lugareños. A medida que el burčiak se fortalece con la fermentación (a medida que se convierte en vino real), su contenido de alcohol puede variar enormemente.

Eslovaquia produce buenos espíritus . Excelente es el brandy de ciruela ( Slivovica ), el brandy de pera (Hruškovica) o el licor de hierbas Demänovka. Pero el alcohol más típico es Borovička, un tipo de ginebra. The fernet checo, un tipo de aguardiente amargo aromático, también es muy popular. En algunas tiendas puede probar un trago de 25 o 50 ml por muy poco dinero, para evitar comprar una botella grande de algo de sabor desconocido, y luego decidir si comprar o no comprar. There are also international brands available, but at a higher price (it is still cheaper than in most western countries, however).

If you are a more adventurous type, you can try some homemade fruit brandies that the locals sometimes offer to foreigners. Slivovica is the most common, but you can also find pear brandy, apricot brandy, or raspberry brandy. Drinking is part of the tradition, especially in the countryside. If you are visiting locals, don't be surprised if they offer you homemade liquor as a welcome drink or if the host can take great pride in this private stock. Homemade spirits are very strong (up to 60% alcohol), so be careful. If Slivovica is matured for 12 years or more, it can make a pleasant digestive drink.

In the winter months, mulled wine is available in all winter markets and hot mead is also common. A mixed hot drink called grog, consisting of black tea and a shot of local 'rum' is very popular, especially in the ski resorts, and it really warms you up.

Talk

The official language is Slovak. Due to its resemblance to Czech, many tourists fall into the false impression that they are dialects of one and the other; they are not, but they are understood one and the other without the need for a translator. In Prague, Bratislava and in other major cities, many people speak German or, better still, Russian, the latter being a Slavic language. Spanish is not generally spoken much. Only some hotel receptionists and some vendors in souvenir shops speak a little Spanish. In the rest of the country, in tourist cities it is possible to communicate with English, but in other less tourist cities it is difficult to find people who speak a language other than Czech or Slovak, except if it is another Slavic language such as Russian, Polish , Serbo-Croatian, etc.

Due to the fact that various companies have settled in the country, Spanish is widely accepted in various institutes of upper secondary education, resulting in a small percentage of the Slovak population having knowledge of Spanish.

The official and most widely spoken language is Slovak. Slovaks are very proud of their language and therefore even in Bratislava you will not find many signs written in English outside of the main tourist areas. In some parts of the country, especially in the east, dialects are used that can sound quite different from the coded language. However, understanding the official language should rarely be a problem and attempts to speak Slovak will be appreciated.

Slovak is written using the same Roman characters that English uses, with some added accents or diacritics, so Western travelers will have no trouble reading signs and maps. Although some words are tongue twisters, knowledge of the alphabet, including letters with diacritics, will be of great help, since Slovaks pronounce each letter of a word with the accent always on the first syllable (it can be on the second syllable in some Eastern dialects).

Czech and Slovak are mutually intelligible but distinctive languages. At first, one might think that they are dialects of each other: older people in both countries tend to understand the other language better than younger people who were born after the breakup of Czechoslovakia.

Since the territory of Slovakia was under Hungarian influence for centuries, there is a significant Hungarian-speaking minority of 9.7%. Most Hungarians live in the southern regions of the country and some of them do not speak Slovak. However, other Slovaks do not normally speak or understand the Hungarian language.

While you can settle for English and German in Bratislava, in smaller cities and towns they are not spoken as much, although many young people can generally speak English. Older residents may know some German and Russian, as well as workers in tourist areas. People born between 1935 and 1980 will have learned Russian in school, although few Slovaks will appreciate being spoken to them in Russian, as this language has some negative connotations due to the communist era, and these days English has largely supplanted Measure Russian as the most taught language. Foreign language. Due to the significant growth of tourism in the north and east of Slovakia, English is being used more and more and you can try Polish. Other Slavic languages ​​may also work, especially Russian, Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian. In eastern Rusyn, an East Slavic language closely related to Ukrainian is spoken. It is also intelligible with Russian to some extent.

Do

• Visit the nearest castle / castle - many are hundreds of years old, some are preserved in a habitable state with period furniture, and many guided tours are offered.
• Hiking! - all of Slovakia (except the plains) is covered by hundreds of miles of extremely well marked hiking trails, which especially in national parks lead through beautiful landscapes. Get the idea here.
• Visit one of the traditional wooden churches, they are unique to the region. However, these may not be easily accessible without a car.
• Go spelunking - the caves are interspersed around Slovakia and, as many are open to the general public, they are some of the most accessible in the world. Many are included in the UNESCO list, including the Dobsinska ice cave (in Slovak paradise) and the aragonite cave Ochrinska, Domica, Jasovska cave and the Gombasek cave (all in Slovak karst)

• Visit a local festival: 'Fasiangy' (Mardi Gras) is celebrated in early spring, especially in the countryside, and in early autumn the end of the harvest period is celebrated in wine-producing regions. The downtown part of the city will be closed and there will be a traditional market available, mainly with local products and handicrafts for sale and plenty to eat and drink. In larger cities, similar Christmas markets open in December or around Christmas.
• Skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, especially High Tatras and Low Tatras. The smaller ranges are also very suitable for cross-country skiing.
• Cruise the Váh or Dunajec rivers on a raft through picturesque gorges. For a gentler ride, raft down the Little Danube.
• If you like railway history or would like to spend a romantic day, Slovakia offers a number of eliminated railways, which were once used to transport wood, but now carry only tourists on cozy steam trains through forests and valleys. The best preserved of all is ČHŽ near the city of Heather .
• Slovakia offers many excellent spas. If you like stinky mud and are willing to pay for it, the best, most famous (and most expensive) spa is in Piešťany. There are also important spas in Trenčianske Teplice, Rajecké Teplice, Bardejov, Dudince Y Podhájska .
• If the above is too quiet for you and you would like to enjoy some fun and water slides, try the water parks in Bešeňová, Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad, Turčianske Teplice, Oravice, Senec. Significantly cheaper are the classic outdoor pools, some of the best are in Veľký Meder Y Štúrovo.

Cultural events

• Artfilm International Film Festival .Annually in June / July in Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín.
• Cinematik International Film Festival .Annually in early September in Piešťany. Young and relatively small film festival. The accreditation for the entire festival is less than € 7.
• Bratislava International Film Festival Forever in December.
• Comics-Salon - An event dedicated to Japanese anime and manga, fantasy and science fiction and their fans, but not only them! A great atmosphere, friendly people and lots of fun await you there. The roots of this event go back to 2004, when it was held for the first time in "Súza". Now once a year, at the beginning of September, Bratislava enjoys the flood of great people from all over Europe to take part in this unique event. During the last 2 years, the location has been moved to the "Istropolis" exhibition halls due to space limitations.

Musical events

• Pohoda Music Festival One of the most important Slovak music festivals, critically acclaimed and recognized on a European scale. Annually in July in Trenčín. It mainly features alternative music.
• Grape Music Festival .Another great smaller alternative music festival. Annually in August in Piešťany.

Sleep

There is a wide range of accommodation available in Slovakia. These range from Poprad-based AquaCity to budget rooms in rental chalets.

The most luxurious hotels can be found mainly in the main cities such as Bratislava and Košice and in the main tourist destinations such as the High Tatras or the spa towns (the situation here is unique, as the price of the hotel generally includes some of the procedures of spa). . These hotels offer western-style amenities and prices.

There will be at least one hotel available in every major city or tourist area, but the quality varies. Some of the mid-range hotels were built during the communist era with the corresponding architectural style, which could make them look less attractive from the outside, although the interiors may be perfectly adequate.

Budget hostels are mostly concentrated in the major cities, and you can expect typical hostel prices as in the rest of (Central) Europe. If you are venturing out of the cities, there are numerous mountain lodges available for short-term rentals in the mountainous areas. Especially in tourist areas, there will be many private rooms available for rent, watch out for the "Zimmer Frei" signs. This generally does not include breakfast.

When hiking, officially maintained mountain cabins offer affordable lodging for hikers on the trails of all the national parks and many of the national conservation areas. They have a limited number of beds (if any) and, in general, a limited capacity, so for the most frequented places during high season a prior reservation may be necessary and is recommended. If you are unable to reserve a bed, you may be allowed to spend the night 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 bathroom and possibly a shower. Usually there is a kitchen that serves several hearty hot dishes and a number of reasonably priced drinks.

It is only legal to pitch a tent in Slovakia outside of planned national parks and natural areas (where there should be signs, but may not, depending on how and where you enter), but camping is quite popular in summer. Camping in Slovakia (non-exhaustive list) :

Name	Region	Location	Speak to
Camping Bojnice		Bojnice	Kopálková Silvia
ATC Zlaté Piesky		Bratislava	Senecká basket 2
Autocamping Bystrina		Demänovská Dolina
Tília kemp Gäceľ		Dolný Kubín	Gäceľská basket
Camping Kamzík		Donovaly
Autocamping Margita to Ilona		Levice-Kalinciakovo
Autokemp Levocska'Dolina		Levoca
Autocamping Oravice		Liesek
Autocamping Turiec sro		Martin	Kolóna Hviezda v. 92
Autocamping Slnava II		Piestany
Autocamping Lodenica		Piestany
Autocamping Tajov		Tajov
Eurocamp FICC		Tatranská Lomnica
Intercamp Tatranec		Tatranská Lomnica	Vysoké Tatry 202
Autocamping Na Ostrove		Trencin
Autocamping Trusalová		Turany
Autocamping Varín		Varin
Autocamping Vavrisovo		Vavrisovo

Learn

In most major cities, several Slovak language courses and / or private tutors should be available.

There are several excellent centers of higher education in the country, with courses offered in English. This includes Comenius University in Bratislava, the oldest and most prestigious university in Slovakia, together with the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. You can find more information about studying in Slovakia here.

Job

Slovakia is a member of the European Union, so if you are a citizen of another member state, you can legally reside and work in Slovakia without restrictions. The most popular website for job offers is profesia.sk

Most embassy offices will also advise European citizens. The average salary in 2017 was € 944 per month. The best paid are IT experts with an average salary of more than € 1,500 a month (construction workers earn around € 560 a month and waiters € 340 a month).

If you are from outside the EU, you will need a visa to work in Slovakia, and it is best to contact your embassy and / or the Slovak embassy for more information. Teaching English as a Second Language is a popular job option. Please note that unless you are applying for certain positions in international companies and similar organizations where English / German might be sufficient, you will probably need a working knowledge of Slovak for most other jobs.

stay safe

Slovakia is generally safeEven by European standards, as a visitor you are unlikely to encounter any problems. Violent crime is especially rare, and Slovakia sees less violent crime per capita than many European countries. However, the greatest fear for a traveler is most likely roads .

Roads are often poorly lit and very narrow. If you plan to drive, must not be under the influence of alcohol. The penalties are very severe if you are caught in such an act.

In an emergency, call 112, the universal emergency number. For the police you can call 158, the ambulance at 155 and the fire department at 150.

It goes without saying that the 2006 film Hostel, whose plot takes place in 'Slovakia' it is a complete work of fiction, and the probability of tourists being kidnapped and tortured is the same in Slovakia as in any developed city in the country. United States or Western Europe: astronomically low. Slovakia is considered a safe travel destination for all tourists, as is much of Europe. Similarly, the American film Eurotrip (2004) could be a touchy subject, because it portrayed Slovakia as a terribly underdeveloped country, which is also false.

When visiting cities, use the same caution as in any other European city: use common sense, be very careful after dark, be aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings in sight, and avoid drunks and groups of young people. Pickpockets can sometimes be found in larger crowds and at major train / bus stations.

When visiting mountainous areas of Slovakia, especially the High Tatras, inform hotel staff or other trusted persons where you are going exactly, so rescuers can be dispatched to look for you if you do not return. The relatively small area and height of the High Tatras are very misleading - it is steep and difficult terrain with unpredictable weather. Never walk alone and wear the proper equipment. The mountain rescue service is a good source of additional and up-to-date information, take their warnings seriously. In an emergency, they can be contacted by calling 18300 or Universal 112. Make sure your health insurance coverage includes mountain activities before venturing out, as a rescue mission in inaccessible terrain can be expensive.

Also keep in mind that the weather in the High Tatras is prone to sudden changes, especially during spring and fall.

Slovakia is one of the few remaining countries in Europe, where the Bears and wolves still live in the wild. While no one has died from a bear attack in the last 100 years, a few attacks do occur every year. Your chances of finding one as a tourist are very low, but there is a chance. A bear will avoid you if it knows you are there, so the best way to avoid it is by making your presence known by speaking loudly, singing, clapping, etc., especially in an area where it cannot easily see you from a distance. If you see a bear, don't run, but leave the area slowly in the opposite direction. If you see one from your hotel possibly feeding from garbage bins, which is a bit more common, though still unlikely, DO NOT go near or feed it.

Stay healthy

You do not need to be vaccinated to visit or stay in Slovakia, although if you plan to visit rural areas, vaccination against ticks is recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis "A" and "B" is also advisable as in all European countries.

Ticks can be found in rural forests and sometimes larger parks as well, and in some areas they can be carriers tick-borne encephalitis . Since they reside in taller bushes and grasses (when they fall from trees). Therefore, when hiking, try to avoid thick brush and always check your entire body when you return (ticks tend to look for warm places). Remove the tick as soon as possible, gently moving it out of the bite by the head (never break or squeeze the body, as the head will remain lodged in the skin and could become infected). Do not touch the tick at any time with your bare hands, use tweezers and latex gloves.

Most of the food and drink are perfectly safe, the hygiene standards in Slovakia are the same as in the rest of Western and Central Europe.

Tap water it is drinkable everywhere: according to a study, the 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 a multitude of brands, as Slovakia has arguably the highest number of natural mineral springs per capita.

The High Tatras may not be the largest or highest mountain range, but some trails can feature strenuous climbs, rocky terrain, and the weather can be unpredictable. Wear the right gear, don't overestimate your abilities, and use common sense.

If you decide to swim in the local rivers / natural pools / lakes, as many locals do, please remember that, unless expressly stated otherwise, these activities are not supervised by a lifeguard and you do so at your own risk.

The standard of medical care is quite high, but the language barrier can be a problem as not many doctors speak English. However, this should not be a problem in major cities, which have a Fakultná nemocnica .

Over-the-counter medicines are not sold in Slovakia in supermarkets or pharmacies, you will have to go to a pharmacy even if you only need an aspirin. In even smaller cities, there should be one open 24/7. Watch for the nearest green cross sign; Even if this particular pharmacy is closed, a sign on the door will tell you the closest one open. If you need a specific medication, be sure to have your prescription ready, as many medications require it.

Respect

Slovaks are friendly and peaceful people who live in a free democratic state. There is not a single issue that causes hostility or real problems. Usually, the worst that could happen is that they consider you a little rude and explain the story to you with another beer. However, it pays to be respectful and sensitive when discussing certain topics.

Remember that Slovakia is a separate nation that has been independent since 1993 when Czechoslovakia split into the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. It is also a 'young nation', since for most of its history it was part of other multinational states such as Austria-Hungary or Czechoslovakia. Therefore, some people can be sensitive when it comes to nationality issues. There is no hostility or resentment when it comes to the Velvet divorce that divided Czechoslovakia, and the two nations remain very friendly. Do not refer to Slovakia as part of another state and it should be fine.

Slovakia's position during WWII was quite complex, and this topic is best avoided when speaking to nationalists. Similarly, the decades of communism left their mark on the country and this can be a sensitive issue. Slovakia, while previously part of the Soviet bloc, has never been part of the USSR or the Russian Empire. Please remember this.

The use of the Nazi salute is a crime in Slovakia.

Relations with the Roma / Gypsy minority are sometimes tense and some people may have strong opinions on the issue. Find out about the situation of minorities in Slovakia before engaging in any kind of conversation or debate.

Slovaks are quite hospitable, and if they invite you into their home, expect to be well cared for and offer you a variety of food and drinks. If you are invited to lunch, expect a 2-3 course meal just like for dinner, as lunch is traditionally the main meal of the day. It is considered polite to bring a small gift for the host, such as a bottle of wine or good liquor, a box of chocolates or a small bouquet of flowers, but never give money as it will feel like you are trying to pay. for the hospitality.

Most people don't wear their outdoor shoes indoors for hygiene reasons, so take your shoes off in the hallway when entering someone's home. Don't worry, they'll find you a replacement pair of slippers to keep your feet warm.

When dining in a restaurant with the host family, it is customary for them to pay the bill. This may not happen, but don't be surprised if it happens.

When introducing yourself or meeting someone, even of the opposite sex, and even for the first time, it is not uncommon to kiss on the cheek once or twice (depending on the region) instead of shaking hands. It is not common between two men, but it is quite normal for women. Don't be alarmed and remember that this is not a sexual gesture.

Connect

The international calling code for Slovakia is 421.

In an emergency, call the universal number 112. You can also call 150 directly for firefighters, 155 for medical emergencies or 158 for the police.

Slovak phones work with the GSM standard , which covers most of the country, and 3G covers most of the area. Coverage is surprisingly good and you will often have a signal even in mountainous areas, unless you are in a deep ravine. There are three main carriers: Orange, T-mobile and O2, and they all use the 900 or 1800Mhz standard, which may not be compatible with some US phones operating at 1900Mhz.

All of them (along with some virtual operators, the largest of which are Funfón and Tesco Mobile) offer a variety of prepaid cards with various "pay-as-you-go" schemes (some market research is recommended, if you want the best deal ) and incentives. If you have an unlocked phone, these are easy to pick up at any phone store, or you can buy a cheap phone with a prepaid card included.

There are still a few phone booths available, but with mobile phones now common, their number is dwindling. Also note that you may need to purchase a prepaid card to use some of them.

Wifi and broadband can be found more or less everywhere, and there will be an internet cafe / game room available somewhere, even in the smallest cities. In addition, hostels, pubs, cafes and some public institutions such as libraries or government buildings offer Wi-Fi (free).

Face

All foreign embassies are located in Bratislava, in the old part of the city. A list of embassies in Slovakia with contact information can be found on the country's website. If your home country does not have an embassy in Slovakia, the closest embassy is probably in Vienna in Austria, which is easily accessible by train, boat, bus, or car from Bratislava.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on Slovakia.w: Slovakia
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Slovakia. Commons
• Wikinews has news related to Slovakia.Wikinews