Slovakia
Independent since 1993, Slovakia is a landlocked country in central Europe filled with many beautiful natural resources. A frequently overlooked country, Slovakia is filled with humble locals not yet jaded from dealing with swarms of tourists. The humility of Slovakia’s people only adds to its many charms, such as being home to more castles than any other country in Europe, including the drop-dead gorgeous Romanesque Spiš Hrad, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Getting There And Around
Slovakia’s main airport in Bratislava, Stefanik Airport, is small and not serviced by many airlines. Flights to and from Slovakia can often be pricey, with long layovers and travel times.
Trains and buses remain the most popular ways to reach Bratislava, and regular services connect directly to Bratislava from nearby Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. It is also possible to reach Bratislava by a high-speed ferry from Vienna and Budapest.
Slovakia is a small and compact country, which makes internal travel quick and easy. There are many rail and bus routes available to choose from, Bratislava being a hub for connections.
Money
Slovakia is a member of the European Union, and uses the standard euro as its currency. The euro has eight coins. Denominations for coins range from 0.01 cents to two euros. The smallest change is bronze colored. One and two euro coins are gold and silver colored. Banknotes for the euro range from 5-500, and vary in size depending on the denomination. The larger the size of the euro banknote, the higher its value.
Language
The language spoken in Slovakia is Slovak. Linguistically, Slovak is most similar to the language spoken in Czech Republic, the country with whom it shared a common state for over 70 years.
Hello (literally “good day”) – Dobrý deň
Thank You – Ďakujem
Housing
Lodging anywhere in Slovakia is affordable. I stayed in a suite at a 5-star hotel for the cost of what a hostel is in most of Western Europe (40 EUR). A bed in a hostel will cost you around ten euros, depending on the location and whether you are traveling during a holiday or business conference.
Food
Slovakia’s national dish, bryndzové halušky, is potato dumplings in a soft, salty sheep cheese curd served with fried špec (similar to bacon), and it is a must-try while visiting this country. Grilled meats are not common in Slovakia; instead, meat is fried schnitzel-style or served with a gravy-like sauce. Wild boar is popular in Slovakia, as are other game meats. Slovakia’s cabbage soup, kapustnica, gulaš, and bread puddings are all dishes you should also try. Don’t forget to wash it down with some bošácka slivoca (plum brandy). Na zdravie!
Save Cash
Slovakia, a European Union member, is one of the most affordable countries using the Euro as its formal currency. Traveling to Slovakia is already affordable, but there are ways to save even more money when visiting this country. Since tourism hasn’t boomed in Slovakia yet (it remains one of Europe’s best kept secrets), hotel prices don’t fluctuate depending on the time of year. Prices, especially in Bratislava, increase during the early week (Monday and Tuesday), during major business conventions, and holidays. By booking directly with the accommodation, you can find great last minute weekend deals.
Purchasing the three-day Bratislava City Card (15 EUR) provides visitors great benefits and deals such as unlimited use of public transportation, a free city tour and discounts on entry to museums, castles and the UFO Observation Deck and also bargains for numerous other activities (such as wine tasting and bike rentals) and accommodations around the city.
Stay Fit
Although small, this country has much to offer adventurers. There are numerous mountains to climb, hike, ski and snowboard. Štrbské Pleso offers everything – even beautiful waterfalls. Resorts areas such as Donovaly, Drienica and Zuberec provide some excellent winter activities and some of Europe’s most affordable skiing.
Tap water in Slovakia is perfectly safe to drink. In fact, it comes out of the tap cool, delicious and refreshing.
Stay Connected
Slovakia, especially Bratislava, is surprisingly connected to wireless Internet. Accommodations, cafes, restaurants, and bars offer the service free of charge for guests. For trekkers who are traveling outside of the cities and need to stay connected, prepaid SIM cards are available for purchase at any of the local mobile carrier shops. SIM cards may be used with unlocked, tri-band phones.
Standard European 230V type-C/F, two-prong electrical outlets are used in Slovakia.