Slovakia Travel Guide

Language

Slovak is the official language, which is closely related to Czech. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, although outside Bratislava, English is not widely understood.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. The Euro replaced the koruna (SKK) as the official currency on 1 January 2009. Travelers checks are the safest way to carry money and are accepted at all major banks and exchange offices (dollars and pounds sterling give the best exchange rates). Shops are increasingly accepting credit cards, but it is best to check beforehand. ATMs are common.

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Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220/230 volts, 50Hz. Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Slovakia is +421. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Area codes are used, e.g. Bratislava is (0)2. Internet cafes are common in most large towns and there is free wireless connection in Primates and Hviezdoslavs squares in Bratislava. Cellular network coverage is good, extending even into parts of the Tatras. Most towns have public phones and cards can be purchased in post offices and newspaper agents.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving from EU countries do not need to pay duty on any items provided they are for personal use or intended as gifts. Travelers to Slovakia from non-EU countries do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of distilled liquor and spirits; and 50g of perfume.

Tourist Office

Slovakia Tourist Board, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 50 700 801 or www.slovakiatourism.sk

Embassies in Slovakia

• United States Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5443 0861.
• British Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5998 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Prague, Czech Republic (also responsible for Slovakia): +420 27210 1800.
• Australian Embassy, Vienna, Austria (also responsible for Slovakia): +43 (0)1 506 740.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 2077 1025.
• Irish Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5930 9611.
• New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for Slovakia): +49 (0)30 20621.

Slovakia Embassies Abroad

• Slovak Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 237 1054.
• Slovak Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7313 6470.
• Slovak Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 749 4442.
• Slovak Embassy, ACT, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1516.
• Slovak Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 2051.
• Slovak Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 0012.

Emergency

Emergencies: 155 (Ambulance), 158 (Police).

Language

Slovak is the official language, which is closely related to Czech. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, although outside Bratislava, English is not widely understood.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. The Euro replaced the koruna (SKK) as the official currency on 1 January 2009. Travelers checks are the safest way to carry money and are accepted at all major banks and exchange offices (dollars and pounds sterling give the best exchange rates). Shops are increasingly accepting credit cards, but it is best to check beforehand. ATMs are common.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220/230 volts, 50Hz. Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Slovakia is +421. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Area codes are used, e.g. Bratislava is (0)2. Internet cafes are common in most large towns and there is free wireless connection in Primates and Hviezdoslavs squares in Bratislava. Cellular network coverage is good, extending even into parts of the Tatras. Most towns have public phones and cards can be purchased in post offices and newspaper agents.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving from EU countries do not need to pay duty on any items provided they are for personal use or intended as gifts. Travelers to Slovakia from non-EU countries do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of distilled liquor and spirits; and 50g of perfume.

Tourist Office

Slovakia Tourist Board, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 50 700 801 or www.slovakiatourism.sk

Embassies in Slovakia

• United States Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5443 0861.
• British Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5998 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Prague, Czech Republic (also responsible for Slovakia): +420 27210 1800.
• Australian Embassy, Vienna, Austria (also responsible for Slovakia): +43 (0)1 506 740.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 2077 1025.
• Irish Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5930 9611.
• New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for Slovakia): +49 (0)30 20621.

Slovakia Embassies Abroad

• Slovak Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 237 1054.
• Slovak Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7313 6470.
• Slovak Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 749 4442.
• Slovak Embassy, ACT, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1516.
• Slovak Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 2051.
• Slovak Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 0012.

Emergency

Emergencies: 155 (Ambulance), 158 (Police).

Language

Slovak is the official language, which is closely related to Czech. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, although outside Bratislava, English is not widely understood.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. The Euro replaced the koruna (SKK) as the official currency on 1 January 2009. Travelers checks are the safest way to carry money and are accepted at all major banks and exchange offices (dollars and pounds sterling give the best exchange rates). Shops are increasingly accepting credit cards, but it is best to check beforehand. ATMs are common.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220/230 volts, 50Hz. Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Slovakia is +421. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Area codes are used, e.g. Bratislava is (0)2. Internet cafes are common in most large towns and there is free wireless connection in Primates and Hviezdoslavs squares in Bratislava. Cellular network coverage is good, extending even into parts of the Tatras. Most towns have public phones and cards can be purchased in post offices and newspaper agents.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving from EU countries do not need to pay duty on any items provided they are for personal use or intended as gifts. Travelers to Slovakia from non-EU countries do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of distilled liquor and spirits; and 50g of perfume.

Tourist Office

Slovakia Tourist Board, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 50 700 801 or www.slovakiatourism.sk

Embassies in Slovakia

• United States Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5443 0861.
• British Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5998 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Prague, Czech Republic (also responsible for Slovakia): +420 27210 1800.
• Australian Embassy, Vienna, Austria (also responsible for Slovakia): +43 (0)1 506 740.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 2077 1025.
• Irish Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5930 9611.
• New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for Slovakia): +49 (0)30 20621.

Slovakia Embassies Abroad

• Slovak Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 237 1054.
• Slovak Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7313 6470.
• Slovak Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 749 4442.
• Slovak Embassy, ACT, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1516.
• Slovak Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 2051.
• Slovak Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 0012.

Emergency

Emergencies: 155 (Ambulance), 158 (Police).

Language

Slovak is the official language, which is closely related to Czech. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, although outside Bratislava, English is not widely understood.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. The Euro replaced the koruna (SKK) as the official currency on 1 January 2009. Travelers checks are the safest way to carry money and are accepted at all major banks and exchange offices (dollars and pounds sterling give the best exchange rates). Shops are increasingly accepting credit cards, but it is best to check beforehand. ATMs are common.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220/230 volts, 50Hz. Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are in use.

Communications

The international dialing code for Slovakia is +421. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Area codes are used, e.g. Bratislava is (0)2. Internet cafes are common in most large towns and there is free wireless connection in Primates and Hviezdoslavs squares in Bratislava. Cellular network coverage is good, extending even into parts of the Tatras. Most towns have public phones and cards can be purchased in post offices and newspaper agents.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving from EU countries do not need to pay duty on any items provided they are for personal use or intended as gifts. Travelers to Slovakia from non-EU countries do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of distilled liquor and spirits; and 50g of perfume.

Tourist Office

Slovakia Tourist Board, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 50 700 801 or www.slovakiatourism.sk

Embassies in Slovakia

• United States Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5443 0861.
• British Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5998 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Prague, Czech Republic (also responsible for Slovakia): +420 27210 1800.
• Australian Embassy, Vienna, Austria (also responsible for Slovakia): +43 (0)1 506 740.
• South African Honorary Consulate, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 2077 1025.
• Irish Embassy, Bratislava: +421 (0)2 5930 9611.
• New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for Slovakia): +49 (0)30 20621.

Slovakia Embassies Abroad

• Slovak Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 237 1054.
• Slovak Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7313 6470.
• Slovak Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 749 4442.
• Slovak Embassy, ACT, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1516.
• Slovak Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 2051.
• Slovak Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 0012.

Emergency

Emergencies: 155 (Ambulance), 158 (Police).