*Information about the Slovak Republic

Home

Up

Driving
An International Driving License is valid in Slovakia all the while road signs and rules comply with European standards. On freeways and highways drivers must have annual toll labels which can be purchased at border crossings, post offices, and gas stations. The price is 400 SKK for cars up to 1.6L and 800 SKK for larger non-commercial vehicles. Speed limits are 50km/h in cities and towns, 90km/h on open roads and 130km/h on multilane freeways (unless otherwise marked). Seat belts are compulsory for all passengers. Children under 12 and animals are not allowed in the front passenger seat.  Be aware that all vehicles must have a first aid box, tow rope, hazard triangle and a spare tire. If you are caught violating any of these laws a fine is payable on the spot or your vehicle will be impounded. The blood-alcohol level in Slovakia is 0.0.  Basically, if you drink any alcohol you can't drive. Gas (BENZIN) is sold in several unleaded varieties (Natural 95 & 98) with a special mixture (UNI91) for older cars.  Diesel fuel is also available. Of important note is the fact that many stations are not open past 6 p.m. and filling stations can be hard to find in rural areas. Road conditions are generally up to Western standards especially on the Prague - Bratislava corridor.  A new trans-national highway is being built between Bratislava and Presov.

Flying

Air transportation is provided by airports in Bratislava, Kosice, Piestany, Sliac and in Poprad. Only a handful of international carriers fly directly to Bratislava's and Kosice's International airports, although daily connections are available from Moscow, Prague, Budapest and Zurich, Switzerland. Most major airlines land at Vienna's Schwechat International airport instead. Overseas flights are accessible through Vienna Schwechat (40 km from Bratislava). Flights within Slovakia are serviced by two local carriers with daily service between Kosice and Bratislava.  Regular service to Poprad (High Tatras) and other regional areas is also available.  Private planes and helicopters can also be chartered.

Train

International trains run from Vienna (1 hour), Budapest (2,5 hours) and Prague (5 hours) several times a day. Trains from Krakow (Poland) stop in Bratislava (5,5 hours). EURail pass holders must buy a supplement. All major cities within Slovakia are serviced by train on a daily basis.  Service to smaller towns and villages is less frequent and in many cases seasonal.  Visit Slovak Railways to get exact schedules.

Bus

Buses run regularly from the Vienna Schwechat airport to Bratislava.  Daily buses also operate to Vienna as well as to Budapest and Prague from Bratislava. Extensive bus service is available throughout Slovakia.  Although less expensive than the train buses can take considerably longer to reach their destination.  Sometimes, however, it can be more convenient to take a bus since many of the schedules and routes don't overlap with the train service. City buses, tramways, trolleybuses are available in all towns. Tickets can be purchased in news stands, from automated machines at the bus stops or directly in the bus.

Ferry
A scenic ferry along the Danube is a convenient and pleasurable way to travel from Bratislava to Vienna or Budapest. Ferry transport has also been increasing since the establishment of the Main-Rhine- Danube system which allows ferry excursions all the way to Germany and beyond.

Up

Currency
The Slovak unit of currency is the Slovenska koruna (SKK), or Slovak crown. Each crown is divided into 100 haliers. Coins come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 haliers, and 1, 2, 5 and 10 SKK. Bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 SKK. € 1,- is around SKK 41,- (currency from May 21, 20030).

Banks and Money Exchange
Only exchange money in banks and certified exchange offices.  Exchanges offices can be found in all major hotels, travel agencies and department stores. They are denoted as ZMENÁREN (Exchange/Cambio/Wechsel). Most freely convertible currencies can be exchanged into Slovak crowns (SKK) at these exchange bureaus.

Some major banks and exchange bureaus in Bratislava

Credit Cards
EuroCard/MasterCard is accepted at most financial institutions. Banks also accept VISA, American Express, and Eurocheques although with less regularity. At most banks the daily Eurocheque draft is limited to a maximum of 10000 SKK. International hotels also accept most credit cards. Banks and exchange offices will also exchange hard currency, and there is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be imported into Slovakia. Avoid exchanging money from individuals on the street.  Exporting of Slovak currency is regulated so inquire at the customs office if you plan on taking Slovak crowns with you. Travelers' checks are generally not accepted in stores, small hotels or restaurants, although Eurocheques are taken at some locations. Banks and exchange offices will exchange travelers' checks for a fee. A convenient way of accessing cash outside business hours is to use an automated teller machine (ATM), usually marked as BANKOMAT (bank machine).  Most Slovak ATMs belong to one of the major international banking systems such as MasterCard, VISA, Plus, Maestro or Cirrus. Credit cards are starting to be widely used and are accepted at most hotels, gas stations, more exclusive restaurants and shops.  Usually a purchase has to be over 1000 SKK in order for a merchant to accept VISA, American Express or MasterCard.

Up

Visa requirements
Visas are not required by most European and U.S. citizens. Canadian, British and Irish nationals can stay up to 180 days visa-free and US citizens can stay up to 30 days.

Citizens of countries who do not need a Slovak entry visa:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea (South), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, the Vatican.

Required passport validity for the entry in the Slovak Republic
Besides the conditions defined by the domestic and international laws and regulations, several states request that the foreigner’s passport remains valid for a certain period of time after the intended entry into their territory.