SLOVAK REPUBLIC FAQ

Travel Connections

• Through Prague:
• Czech Airlines
• (U.S. & Canada): (800) 223-2365
• (London): 44(071) 255-1898
• Delta (800) 241-4141
• Through Vienna: (Schwechat Airport lies only 50 km (30 miles) west of Bratislava)
• Departure times of BUSES from Vienna airport (Schwechat) to Bratislava: (The trip takes approx. 1 - 1.5 hours, depending on traffic at the border)
  8:20, 10:20* 11:50, 13:20, 15:20, 17:20, 18:50*, 20:50, 22:50 (*not on Sunday)
• Departure times for hydrofoil BOATS:
• leave Vienna 9AM-- arrive in Bratislava 10AM
• leave Vienna 6:45PM -- arrive in Bratislava 7:45 (after Sept. 15: the 2nd trip leaves at 4:45P.M.!)
• After October 16: no ships until 16th of April.
• Contact:
  Blue Danube Travel
  Ph. (421/2) 5296-2262 or (421/2) 5296-2258.
  Fax: (421/2) 5443-3905 or (421/2) 5296-3501.
  NOTE: Fares are lower for Slovaks than foreigners!

"I went Budapest-Bratislava-Vienna. This was not a very fast boat and it was hard to see anything unless you got there early to get a front seat or stood in the gangway. That part of the Danube is in flat country and I did not think it was very interesting. The hydrofoil was operated by DDSG. Their e-mail address is info@ddsg-blue-danube.at."

TRAINS from Vienna to Bratislava: 
Departures: Arrivals: 
  08:00      09:07
  12:00      13:07 
  16:17      17:07 
  18:28      20:04 
  21:10      22:27 
  

Tourist Information

Some Slovak Embassies:

• US:
  2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 250, Wash. DC (202) 965-5160
  Fax: (202) 965-5166; visa/passport phone number: (202) 965-5164
• Canada:
  50 Rideau Terr., Ottawa, On. (613) 749-4442
  commercial section e-mail: aw344@freenet.carleton.ca
• U.K.
  25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W84QY (44-171) 243-0803
• Australia:
  47 Culgoa Circuit, O'Malley Canberra A.C.T. 2606
  Tel. (61/6) 290-15-16; Fax (61/6) 290-17-55
• Switzerland:
  3006 Bern
  Tel. +41 (031) 352 36 46; Fax +41 (031) 351 48 59

Visa requirements:

• U.S. and G.B. citizens: Up to 30 days: not necessary (with valid passport)
• Canadian citizens: VISA NO LONGER REQUIRED

"Slovak Parliament adopted a measure requiring foreigners to have US$15 for every day they plan to spend in the country. If the visitor has no cash, (s)he can show a credit card or an invitation from a Slovak resident, a certificate that the person is attending a seminar, a cure- program at a spa, and so on."
"The bad news is that the formulation of the law is pretty vague and too much is left on the customs officers. It will only increase their arrogance."

Slovak Information Center in NY:

• 406 E. 67th St, N.Y. 10021 (212) 737-3971

Slovakia Travel Service

• 10 East 40th Street, Suite 3601, New York, NY 10016 (212) 213-3865, fax (212) 213-4461.
• 17-18 Old Bond St, London 44(071/629-6058)

Czech Airlines: (the widest network of flights to Slovakia)

• U.S. & Canada: (800)223-2365
• London: 44(071/255-1898)

Selected Cities and Regions:

• Bratislava

HIGH TATRAS

The Tatra mountains are the northernmost and the highest part of the 1200 km (745.5 mile) long Carpathian bow. The main ridge follows the west-east direction for the length of 78 km (48.5 miles). The whole area of Tatra mountains is 786 sq. km (488.5 sq. miles). The mountains are divided into three parts: Western and Eastern Tatras and the Lower Tatras. The Eastern Tatras are called Belianske Tatry and the Western part is Vysoke Tatry (High Tatras). The length of ridge of High Tatras is 26.5 km. (16.5 miles) and the highest peak is the Gerlachovsky stit (2655 m - 8711 ft). Parallel to this Tatra ridge, but ca. 40 km (25 miles) to the south are Nizke Tatry (Low Tatras) with the highest peak Dumbier (2043 m - 6703 ft) and Chopok (2024 m - 6640.5 ft), the most attractive skiing resort in Slovakia.

"Most of the tops can't be walked, they are just to steep and sharp - you're looking at real mountain climbing. But some are OK, for instance Maly Ladovy Stit (2602M) or Rysy (2499.6). The trails are good; some have chains to help you up and down. Really good walking, but can be a bit arduous, I was there for ten days and eventually endered up knackered but not complaining.

In the Tatra National Park you are quite restricted (for ecological reasons) what you can do - for instance your not supposed to leave the trails, light any fires, swim in the lakes or pick the flowers. There are no campsites - everyone stays in Chatas (mountain huts). You get a bed (it can be a bunk bed or a mattress on the loft floor) and blankets or a duvet. (Take a bag liner if your fastidious.) You will share the room with other people, mixed sex and ages. The only reason for taking a sleeping bag and a foam mat is that if there are no beds left, you can sleep on floor in the main room.

The lower huts have more/better amenities for instance showers, proper toilets, bars & restaurants but the higher huts have more character. I went by myself and didn't have any problems getting in, but it's definitely safer to pre-book (ask at the Chata your in), especially if there are more people trekking together.

A few points about the high Chatas:

Tourist Help:

• Satur:
• Stary Smokovec (052/24-17)
• Poprad (052/232-62)
• Liptov
• American Express c/o Tatratour: Nam. Sv. Egidia 9, Poprad (052/637- 12)
• Police: (158)
• Medical emergency: (24-44)
• Car repair: (2704)
• Mountain Rescue Unit: "Horska sluzba" (052/28-20)

Some Hotels

• Poprad: Europa Volkerova ul. (052/327-44)
• Smokovec:
  • Grand, Stary Smokovec (052/21-54)
  • Hotel Smokovec (052/442-5191)
    "Rooms are modest, but baths are new and every room hasa small balcony. Rooms in front have good mountain views. This bargain hotel has a restaurant and a swimming pool. A double is US$ 20."
• Strbske Pleso: Patria (052/925-91)

Some Dining

• Smokovec: Tatranska Kuria (052/2806)
• Lomnica: Zbojnicka Koliba (052/967-630)

You can get information about Skiing in the Tatras here.

"A while back I was seeking info on a potential skiing holiday in Slovakia and was asked to give feedback if I did go.

Well we did go. Flew into Bratislava, 1 night at the Ibis, train to Tatranska Lomnica and 5 nights at Penzion Belin, back to Bratislava and home. Overall it was a very enjoyable stay. Bratislava itself seemed to be nice in parts but developing somewhat haphazardly in others. Tesco appears to have slotted in nicely replacing the former state run department stores. They appear to be a day out destination. Public transport in the city is great. Cheap, efficient and clean. The people were helpful too.

The train ride to the High Tatras puts whoever has replaced British Rail to shame. Obviously it is overmanned but I love seeing the station masters in their red hats at even the smallest stations come out and stand to attention as the train whizzes past. Superb service all round.

The High Tatras mountains are beautiful and it is upsetting to see the damage caused by last year's winds. I can't remember hearing about this on our news but the number of trees destroyed is huge. Tatranska Lomnica itself is quaint if a little quiet at night. The big news for most of the week there was the performance of the Slovak Ice Hockey team at the Olympics. Restaurants were good quality and there was good food on offer.

The only negative aspect for now was the extent of the skiing and the number of lifts. Although it had one long run from top to bottom some parts had rocks showing through which were quite tricky to cross and the queue for the lift was time consuming.

However, overall it was a great place to visit and judging from the number of English voices I heard is gaining in popularity. The Slovaks we met were friendly and helpful and the infrastructure of the country very good. Well worth a return visit!"

• Banska Bystrica
• Zilina
• Zvolen

"One place I visited was a health spa called Piestany about 40 miles from Bratislava. I talked to a couple of the clients there, they told me that they got better service than at the Mayo Clinic in the USA, but at a tenth of the price. I liked Piestany, it was nice and clean and we stopped at one of the hotels there for afternoon tea and the price was so low and I felt guilty about paying so little that I added a large tip and was told off for being overgenerous. We want you to come back, they said."

"Banska Stiavnica and surroundings contain a unique system of man-made lakes connected through a network of ditches used to deliver water to mines some 500 years ago. Visit the technical museum and the museum of mining (B. Stiavnica together with Banska Bela and Kremnica were important mining towns - gold, silver, antimony). Banska Stiavnica at one time might have been the third largest city of the Hungarian empire, probably after Budapest and Bratislava. You can still go into an actual mine. You can also visit a museum of battles against the Turks in a lovely little castle above the town. There is a larger castle in Antol, about 5 km south, that belonged to rich families related to Maria Theresia. For instance from 1826 - 1945 the famous House of Coburg (Queen Victoria etc.) was the owner of the castle, which is full of furniture, pictures, and literally thousands of trophies. You will see about 50 rooms used for different purposes. Part of the castle is now used as a museum of wood industry and hunting.
For those who think there are no volcanoes in Slovakia, climb one of the hills in Kremnicke vrchy (between Kremnica and Banska Bystrica) and look east to see Polana. You will see the conically shaped caldera of the long dead volcano."

"There is a family guest house named Platanus just beneath the ancient castle ruin of the Beckov castle. Romantic rural environment. Impressive view of the castle directly from the room. Really good for short stay. Very clean. Close to the motorway D1. English speaking owners."

Tourist Help:

• Satur:
• Tr. SNP 4, Banska Bystrica (048/24-25-75)
• Hodzova ul 9, Zilina (041/724-6532)
• American Express c/o Tatratour: Marianske nam. 21, Zilina (041/724-7529)

Some Hotels & Restaurants:

• Banska Bystrica (city phone code: 048)
• Moderate:
• Lux, Nove nam. 2 (241-41)
• Narodny dom, Narodna ul. (243-31)
• Urpin, Ul. Jana Cikkera 5 (245-56)
• Inexpensive: Motel Ulanka, Ulanska cesta (536-57)
• Zilina (phone code: 041) Slovakia, Nam. Ludovita Stura (724-6572)

EASTERN REGION

"Roznava and surroundings: Roznava is 700 years old town with mining tradition (gold, silver, copper). Old Miners Square (it really is a geometrical square) with Watch Tower (used in the times of Turkish invasion) and the Museum of Minership. Betliar: village 6 km from Roznava - old well-known Manor house (re-opened after a long-time reconstruction) and a nice park. Krasna Horka: village 7 km from Roznava - nice big castle on the hill, last owner was the Earl Andrassy's family. Gombasek: 10 km from Roznava - cave (calcium), camping available. Domica: 20 km from Roznava - cave with an underground river (Styx) - tour on small boats, the cave has two entrances (exits) - one on the Slovak and one on the Hungarian territory, camping available. Ochtina: village 25 km from Roznava - Aragonite cave, one of the only three known aragonite caves in the world. Dobsinska Ladova Jaskyna: 35 km from Roznava - Ice cave, camping available. Dobsinska priehrada (dam): village Dedinky with a campsite. Good windsurfing, but water is too cold for swimming. Julius: 20 km from Roznava Dobsina: 25 km from Roznava Dedinky, Mlynky, Biele Vody: 35 km from Roznava - in winter good condition for skiing, in summer trekking. All these places are situated on the areas of either Slovensky raj (Slovak Paradise) or Slovensky Kras (both protected National Parks)."

Tourist Help:

• Satur:
• Rooseveltova 1, Kosice (055/231-23)
• Hlavna ul. 1, Presov (051/24042)
• American Express c/o Tatratour, Alzbetina 6, Kosice (055/248-72)

Some Hotels & Restaurants:

• Kosice (city phone code: 055)
• Expensive: Slovan, Hlavna ul.1 (273-78)
• Moderate: Imperial, Ul. Hrnciarska 1 (221-46)
• Inexpensive:
• SD Medicka 2 - it is a student hostel
• Restauracia Metropol: Sturova ul.
• Presov (phone code: 051)
• Moderate: Dukla, Nam. Legionarov 2 (227-41)
• Inexpensive:Saris, Sabinovska 1 (463-51)
• "Off the beaten track":
• Bardejov
• Levoca
"It's a totally intact medieval town surrounded by a circular wall, with a lovely town square with old buildings and a stunning Gothic cathedral with the world's largest Gothic carved wooden altar, all this being overlooked by a newer pilgrimage cathedral on a high hill. Also nearby is the Spissky Hrad castle somberly perched on a hill over a town between Levoca and Poprad."