Slovakia Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central Europe.

Area
49,033 sq km (18,932 sq miles).

Population
5.4 million (official estimate 2005).

Population Density
110.1 per sq km.

Capital
Bratislava.
Population: 446,000 (2005).

Government
Republic since 1993.

Language
The official language is Slovak. Hungarian, Ruthenian, Ukrainian and German are spoken by ethnic minorities.

Religion
The majority is Roman Catholic. Protestant churches comprise the remainder with Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist and Baptist denominations. There is also a Jewish minority. There is a Greek Orthodox minority in Eastern Slovak Republic.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
Generally 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Robert Fico since 2006.

Head of State
President Ivan Gasparovic since 2004.

Recent History
Dzurinda’s center-right Slovak Democratic and Christian Union party was defeated in the June 2006 general elections. The left-wing Smer party, led by Robert Fico, won nearly 30% of the vote and became the Slovak prime minister in July 2006 as part of an unlikely alliance with the nationalist Slovak National Party.

Telephone
Country code: 421. Public telephone booths are widely available, including special kiosks for international calls. Surcharges can be quite high on long-distance calls from hotels. Dial 112 for all emergency services.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good, extending over the whole country, with the exception of remote areas.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in main towns.

Media
The constitution guarantees freedom of expression. All major daily newspapers are private and there are over 20 private radio stations. The introduction of commercial TV in the 1990s caused public broadcaster Slovak TV to lose a significant amount of viewers, with private TV broadcaster Markiza now claiming much of the audience. Cable and satellite TV are widely watched. Channels from neighboring countries, such as the Czech Republic and Hungary, have a sizeable audience.

Post
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800.

Press
• The Slovak Spectator, the Slovak Republic’s English-language newspaper, is published weekly.
• Slovak Foreign Trade is published monthly by the Slovak Chamber of Commerce.
• The principal dailies are Novy Cas, Pravda and Sme.
• Popular weekly Slovak magazines include Plus 7 dni, Slovenka and Zivot.

Radio
• Slovak Radio is a public broadcaster, operating five national networks and an external service.
• Radio Expres, Radio Okey and Radio Twist are all commercial stations, as is Fun Radio, a commercial news agency.

Below are Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day and Independence Day of the Slovak Republic.
6 Jan Epiphany. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
8 May Victory Day.
5 Jul St Cyril and St Methodius Holiday.
29 Aug Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising.
1 Sep Slovak Constitution Day.
15 Sep Our Lady of Sorrows.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
17 Nov Fight for Freedom and Democracy Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day and Independence Day of the Slovak Republic.
6 Jan Epiphany. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
8 May Victory Day.
5 Jul St Cyril and St Methodius Holiday.
29 Aug Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising.
1 Sep Slovak Constitution Day.
15 Sep Our Lady of Sorrows.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
17 Nov Fight for Freedom and Democracy Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Contact Information:

Slovak Tourist Board
Slovenská agentúra pre cestovný ruch, Námestie Ľ Štúra 1, PO Box 35, 974 05 Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
Tel: (48) 413 6146.
Website: www.slovakiatourism.sk

Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the UK
25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY, UK
Tel: (020) 7313 6470 or 90 (consular section).
Website: www.slovakembassy.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1300. 

Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the USA
3523 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 237 1054.
Website: www.slovakembassy-us.org


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