By Car -- Car travel offers the most flexibility, and if your plans are to see some of the countryside away from the main cities, you should consider renting a car. To rent, you'll need a license that's valid in the country of origin (U.S. state licenses are acceptable), a major credit card, and a passport. Slovak driving rules follow Continental norms. A yellow diamond denotes a main road where you do not need to yield to incoming traffic at intersections. At unmarked intersections, yield to cars on the right. Cars on roundabouts have the right of way. Speed limits are 130kmph (81 mph) on highways and drop down to 60kmph (37 mph) in villages and incorporated areas. Speed limits are rigorously enforced and if caught you'll have to pay a spot fine, usually 1,000 Sk ($33/£18) or higher. The blood alcohol limit is zero. Slovakia has very few four-lane, limited-access highways, so prepare yourself for some slow two-lane stretches, where you're usually trapped behind a belching truck or a painfully slow bus. Remember to pass with care and only with a clear line of sight.
By Train -- Slovakia's aging but serviceable national rail line, ZSR (tel. 02/2029-1111; www.zsr.sk), is the best way to travel between major cities, including Zilina, Trencín, Poprad, and Kosice.
By Bus -- In theory, nearly any city, town, or village is accessible by Slovakia's dense public bus network, SAD (tel. 02/5556-7349; www.sad.sk). In reality, while the network is dense, service can be sporadic. The timetables are oriented toward commuters and fall off during the evenings and on weekends and holidays. Bus schedules are notoriously difficult to read. Just as you're rejoicing that your bus should be coming in 10 minutes, you'll discover that it only runs on certain days or during certain months of the year.
