GENERAL
Capital
Bratislava.
Geography
According to topschoolsintheusa, the Slovak Republic borders with the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine. Mountains, plains, gorges, lakes, karst landscapes, forests and meadows – these are the natural attractions that the Slovak Republic has to offer all year round. The Slovak Republic is relatively small, which makes the transition from plains to mountain ranges all the more surprising.
Almost half of the state is determined by the Carpathian Mountains, which run through the north and have a low mountain range. Within this region there are other mountain formations, the best known are the Little and White Carpathians, Malá and Vel’ká Fatra, the High and Low Tatras and the Slovak Ore Mountains. Around a quarter of the forest in the High Tatras was destroyed by a hurricane in November 2004. The reforestation should happen within the next two decades.
Government
Republic since 1993. Constitution of 1993, last amendment 2001. National Council with 150 members. Independent since 1993. The Slovak Republic is a member of the EU.
Head of state
Andrej Kiska, since June 2014.
Head of government
Robert Fico, since April 2012.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz. Adapter not required.
Time zone
Central European Time: CET +2 (CET +3 from March 26 to October 29, 2017)
MONEY
Currency
1 euro = 100 cents. Currency abbreviation: €, EUR (ISO code). There are banknotes in the values 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, coins in the denominations of 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
Credit cards
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are accepted in larger hotels, petrol stations, in some restaurants and in larger shops. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
EC / Maestro card / Sparcard
With EC / Maestro card and PIN number, cash in the local currency can be withdrawn from ATMs throughout Europe. In many European countries it is also possible to pay with the ec- / Maestro card in shops. Cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted in Europe and worldwide. Further information from banks and credit institutes. The same applies to the German Sparcard, the successor to the postal savings book as a means of procuring currency in Europe. With the Sparcard and PIN number, cash can be withdrawn from European ATMs with the Plus logo.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
There are no restrictions on the import or export of national or foreign currencies for travelers within and outside the EU, but there is an obligation to declare cash from the equivalent of € 10,000 (including travelers checks, other currencies or checks made out to third parties).
Currency Exchange
Foreign currencies (including travelers checks) can be exchanged in all branches of banks, exchange offices, larger hotels and at border crossings.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Slovak. Czech, Russian and Hungarian are also spoken; German and English mostly only in the cities.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Business people dress quite formally. Long meals are definitely possible in negotiations.
Business hours: I. General Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Economy
Commercial Department of the Slovak Embassy
Friedrichstrasse 60, D-10117 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 16 57 68.
Commercial Department of the Slovak Embassy
Armbrustergasse 24, A-1190 Vienna
Tel: (01) 37 85 27 21/2.
Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Central Europe (SEC)
Wiesenstrasse 10, PO Box 1073, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (044) 620 66 83.
Internet: www.swisscham.ch
Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gorkého 9, SK-816 03 Bratislava
Tel: (02) 54 43 32 91.
Internet: www.test.sopk.sk/an/index.php
National Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Miletičova 23, SK-82109 Bratislava 2
Tel: (02) 50 24 45 00.
Internet:www.nadsme.sk
Business contacts
Commercial Department of the Slovak Embassy
Friedrichstrasse 60, D-10117 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 16 57 68.
Commercial Department of the Slovak Embassy
Armbrustergasse 24, A-1190 Vienna
Tel: (01) 37 85 27 21/2.
Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Central Europe (SEC)
Wiesenstrasse 10, PO Box 1073, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (044) 620 66 83.
Internet: www.swisscham.ch
Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gorkého 9, SK-816 03 Bratislava
Tel: (02) 54 43 32 91.
Internet: www.test.sopk.sk/an/index.php
National Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Miletičova 23, SK-82109 Bratislava 2
Tel: (02) 50 24 45 00.
Internet:www.nadsme.sk
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing to many countries possible. There are coin and card phones. Most public phones are card phones. Telephone cards are available from post offices, train stations, department stores, kiosks and hotels. Long distance calls in hotels can be very high.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800. Network operators are EuroTel Bratislava (Internet: www.eurotel.sk) and Orange (Internet: www.orange.sk). The reception / transmission area covers the whole country with the exception of distant regions.
International roaming can be used within the EU at the Euro tariff. Customers of all European mobile network operators automatically make all calls in and from other EU countries at the euro rate. However, the Eurotariff does not apply to other mobile communications services such as SMS, MMS and data transmission.
Internet
Internet provider is Euro Web (Internet: www.ew.sk). There are internet cafes in larger cities. Mobile surfing on the Internet is made possible by the Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots, which are subject to a charge (Internet: goodspeed.io/de/index.html).
Post Office
Poste restante can also be sent to all post offices. Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Art books, china, wood carvings, hand-embroidered clothing, and ceramics.
Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 9 am-6pm, Sat 9 am-12pm. Some shops are also open on Sundays.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
There is no shortage of restaurants, beer cellars, cafes and cozy wine bars. There are interesting theater and opera programs in the larger cities, and discos and nightclubs in the big cities.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There are over 1000 hotels. In the high season (May – October, but especially July / August) there are few places to stay, so booking in advance is recommended. Currently there are higher class hotels in Bratislava, the district towns, e.g. B. Banská Bystrica and Kosice, the well-known health resorts and tourist centers in the central and eastern part of the country. More information from the Slovak Restaurant and Hotel Association, Cikkerova 5, SK-974 01 Banská Bystrica. Tel: (048) 414 46 69. (Internet: www.isternet.sk/zhr).
Categories: The international 5-star system has been introduced. Private bathrooms can generally be expected from 3 stars upwards.
Camping
At campsites, which are divided into four classes, common facilities include showers, cooking facilities, a shop and, in some cases, rental caravans.
Autocamper: In the lower classes you will find the following facilities: parking lot, fenced campground, day and night reception, washroom, toilet, drinking water and a covered cooking area with washing up facilities. In the higher classes there is also a kiosk, showers with hot and cold water, toilet, washing and ironing facilities, reception, common room, sale of souvenirs, etc. Further information can be obtained from the Slovak Camping and Caravanning Society, Dom Sportu, Junácka 6, SK-832 02 Bratislava. Tel: (02) 49 24 92 26.
Other accommodation options
Fall into four classes. In cheaper motels, each room has a sink with hot and cold running water and central heating. There is a separate bathroom and toilet for men and women on each floor. In more upscale motels, expect an elevator, bath or shower in every room, radio, and sometimes a TV.
CULTURE
Religion
Mainly Roman Catholic (68.9%); also Protestants (10.8%), followers of the Reformed Church, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists and Jews. In the eastern part of the country there is also a Greek Orthodox religious community (4.1%).
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Continental climate with four distinct seasons. The average daily temperature is -2 ° C in winter and 21 ° C in summer. January is the coolest month, while July and August are the hottest.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +421 Area (square km) 49033 Population 5445027 Population density (per square km) 111 Population in 2015 Member of the EU Yes main emergency number 112
