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Welcome to Slovakia

Slovakia offers a great variety on a small territory:

- Beautiful nature - 9 National Parks and Nature Reserves.
- Medieval castles and beautiful chateaux, some of them in ruins, others used as museums showing us how the nobles once lived. 
- Caves allowing us to admire the beauty nature created underground.
- Villages that still look as they did one hundred years ago and where people still preserve the old traditions.
- Spas where different health problems can be treated by the healing effects of the natural resources of hot and cold mineral water, or where you can simply relax.
- Sites that are included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

 

General Information about Slovakia:

State administration

The Slovak Republic was founded on 1st January 1993 as a democratic state with the parliamentary form of government. The President of the Republic is elected directly from among the citizens and remains in office for 5 years. The National Assembly (the Parliament) is the legislative power; its 150 members are elected for a 4 year term. The supreme body of the executive power is the government with the Chairman at its head. 

Area

49.035 km2

Location

Slovakia lies in Central Europe. Central and northern Slovakia is a mountainous region. The southern and eastern Slovakia is a lowland region, being an important agricultural area of the country.

Time Zone

1 hr ahead of GMT, the summer time which lasts from March to October is 2 hrs ahead of GMT, as in all European countries.

Borders

Ukraine 95.8 km, Poland 508.2 km, Austria 115.3 km, Hungary 630.9 km, Czech Republic 261.3 km.

Climate

Slovakia has a moderate climate, with cold and severe winters, and with moderate and rainy summers. The lowest annual temperatures can be found in the mountains (Lomnicky Stit -3,7°C). The warmest zone is the Podunajska Nizina (the Danube Lowland) 10.3°C. .

Population

The Slovak Republic has 5.379.455 inhabitants (2001)

The capital

Bratislava (451.616 inhabitants)

Practical Information about Slovakia:

Visa Requirements

For citizens of the European Union a valid personal ID is sufficient, except for UK citizens, who require a full British passport. The complete list of countries, requiring a valid visa to enter Slovakia, can be found on the home page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of SR or you can acquire further information at the relevant Embassy.

Insurance

Other than the usual travel insurance, it is necessary to obtain a mountain search and rescue insurance when mountain hiking is involved. In some areas this insurance is part of the tourist fee. Further detailed information about the insurance and its purchase can be obtained from any local tourist information office.

Important telephone numbers

SOS, emergency calls 112

Police 112

Ambulance/Rescue 112, 16155

Fire/Rescue 112

Road service (ASA Slovakia) 18 124

Currency

EURO (from 1/1/2009)

Electricity

230 V/50 Hz, standard socket with a safety pin

Language

Official language is Slovak. The most often spoken foreign languages are English and German. Less frequently used languages are French, Spanish, Italian and Russian. In the South of Slovakia, Hungarian is the preferred language. Basic Slovak phrases can be found in the short vocabulary.

Traffic regulations

All traffic signs comply with European standards.
The drink/drive limit in Slovakia is 0. This also applies to drug taking. Strict laws apply when drivers are found under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Seatbelts are compulsory at all times and for all car occupants whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Persons shorter than 150 cm must be seated in special safety seats. It is against the law to transport animals and children under the age of 12 in the front seats.
As of 1st February 2009, drivers of motor vehicles must use dipped headlights at all times.
It is against the law to use mobile phones and anti-radar devices whilst driving. Motor vehicles can only be used on made-up roads (this also applies to motorcycles, scooters, quad bikes, etc), used for sport and entertainment in the open air. There are some exceptions - vehicles used for safety and security purposes and for provision of supplies to inaccessible places are able to go off-road.
For quad bikes, both the driver and the passenger must wear safety goggles and for vehicles with speed reaching above 45 km/h, a helmet is also required.

Speed limits

towns/villages . 50 km/h (unless a relevant road sign advises the driver otherwise)

outside towns/villages - 90 km/h (unless a relevant road sign advises the driver otherwise)

motorways and dual carriageways - max. 130 km/h, min. 80 km/h

motorways and dual carriageways in towns/villages - max. 90 km/h, min. 65 km/h

Town destinations

Bratislava - Wien 60 km

Bratislava - Prague 350 km

Bratislava - Zilina 210 km

Bratislava - Banska Bystrica 213 km

Banska Bystrica - Kosice 237 km

Banska Bystrica - Poprad 140 km

Zilina - Kosice 265 km

 

Hotels

Radisson Blu, Bratislava
The Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel is situated in the heart of Bratislava.

Crowne Plaza, Bratislava
Hotel is situated in the heart of the city, opposite the Presidential Residence.

Chopin Airporthotel, Bratislava

The Chopin Airporthotel is the closest hotel to the M. R. Štefánik International Airport.

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