Slovakia Travel Guide

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Shopping

Popular souvenirs include pottery, porcelain, woodcarvings, hand-embroidered clothing and food items. There are a number of excellent shops specializing in glass and crystal, while various associations of regional artists and artisans run their own retail outlets. Other special purchases include folk ceramics from all regions of the Slovak Republic, and woodcarvings from the eastern and central parts (Kyjatice, Michalovce and Spi¡sská Belá). Bratislava is steadily attracting Western stores, with neon signs and swish facades brightening up a once slightly staid city, with this trend towards globalization of the shopping market slowly spreading throughout the country.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1200. Shopping centers open until 2100, with hypermarkets open 24 hours.

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency (including traveler's checks) can be exchanged at bureau de change, main hotels, all banks, road border crossings, as well as major travel agencies.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa) and debit cards (Maestro and Visa Electron) are widely accepted.

Travelers Checks

American Express, Thomas Cook and Visa traveler's checks are accepted in banks and at bureau de change. Exchange rate charges are at least 1% of the nominal check value. To avoid additional charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in Euros, US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if traveling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Banking Hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0800-1800.

Exchange Rate