Planning a Trip

The Regions in Brief

For a small country, Slovakia possesses a wealth of regional diversity, both cultural and geographic. The western third of the country includes the capital Bratislava and, except for a few hills running north of the city, is relatively flat. It includes the Danube lowlands and much of the border region with Hungary. The central region, running from the Malá Fatra highlands east of Zilina to the country's highest peaks, the High Tatras, is considered quintessential Slovak territory. The eastern third of the country defies description. While geographically it's relatively flat, ethnically speaking it's diverse, including ancient communities of Poles, Hungarians, Ukrainians, and Germans. Here folkways and traditional wooden architecture dominate and religion is very important. A visit here is very much a trip back in time.

Entry Requirements

There are no special requirements for entering Slovakia. Passport holders from the U.S., Canada, and Australia can enter the country without a visa and stay for 90 days. Passport holders from E.U. member countries do not need a visa.

Money

The unit of currency is the Slovak crown (koruna), designated as Sk. Bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 Sk. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 Sk. You may also see little-used coins of 50 hellers, which is half a crown. Ten-koruna coins are handy for parking machines and other vending machines. At press time, the exchange rate was about 30 Sk for 1 U.S. dollar, and 54 Sk = 1 British pound.

As a member of the European Union, Slovakia is expected to adopt the euro sometime toward the end of the decade. Many establishments catering to visitors will quote prices in euros and accept them as payment. Some hotels quote exclusively in euros. Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and shops. Traveler's checks are less useful and must usually be cashed at banks. ATMs are ubiquitous in both big and small towns. They remain the best way to get cash on the spot.

Tips on Accomodations

The number of newer, privately owned hotels is on the increase. If you arrive in town without a room, the best place to go is the local tourist information office. Many of these, including the helpful office in Bratislava, can advise on rooms and book according to your wishes. Failing that, look around for private rooms, usually identified by the word "Ubytovanie" (accommodations) or "Privat" on the outside. These are invariably bed-without-bathroom setups, usually in an unused part of the family home, but are almost always clean and cheap.

Tips on Dining

With disposable incomes on the rise, more people are eating out more often and the restaurant situation is improving. The transformation is easiest to see in Bratislava and Kosice. That said, you may still find yourself in a small town with relatively few options aside from the ubiquitous pizzeria on the main square and a couple of unappetizing pubs, catering mostly to old guys crouched over beers. In that case, go with the pizza.