6. Living in Slovakia

 

 

Transport

Travel by train

Trains in the Slovak Republic are safe and agreeable way to travel. There exist basically 6 different types of train:

Os Passenger train ("osobný vlak" in Slovak)

Zr Accelerated train ("zrýchlený vlak" in Slovak)

R Fast train ("rýchlik" in Slovak)

Ex Express

IC Intercity

EC Eurocity

The websites of the Slovak Railways www.slovakrail.sk or www.zsr.sk provide information on time schedule, prices, duration and whether you have to switch the trains at any point. The websites www.cp.sk and http://www.vlak-bus.cz/ provide a complex travel itinerary. Here you can choose the means of public transport (bus, train, airplane, town public transport) but also search for optimal combination of them to find the shortest journey.

Travel by coach

While the trains are more comfortable, coaches are sometimes more direct, they connect most of the towns and villages, and are reliable and satisfactory. The first thing is to check out the website at www.cp.sk or www.vlak-bus.cz.

When travelling by coach within Slovakia, tickets can be bought when boarding. It is possible to buy a ticket with a seat reservation for long distance coaches at the ticket office of any main bus station.

For international bus travel you can buy tickets at the ticket office, travel agency or from Eurolines which provide passage to several European cities. For the lines operated by Eurolines (or its domestic branch Slovaklines) it is possible  buy/book a ticket online at www.eurolines.sk.

Travel by plane

 Travel by plane within the country is also rather comfortable. There are airlines that provide connections within

Slovakia and to foreign countries, such as Slovak Airlines www.slovakairlines.sk, and SkyEurope Airlines www.skyeurope.sk.

 

There are 6 airports in Slovakia. The biggest are in Bratislava ("Letisko M. R. Stefanika www.letiskobratislava.sk, www.airportbratislava.sk), in Kosice ("Medzinarodne letisko v Kosiciach" www.airportkosice.sk) and in Poprad ("Medzinarodne letisko Poprad-Tatry" www.airport-poprad.sk).

Local Transport

The public transport system in towns is quite reliable. A network of public transport - usually buses (in Bratislava and Kosice also a network of trams and trolleybuses) covers most of the towns. Operating hours are from 5:00 to 23:00. After 23:00 there are a few night bus lines.

Every town is responsible for running its own public transport ("mestska hromadna doprava" in Slovak, abbr. MHD).

Travel by car

Driving Licence

A driving licence issued in another state authorises the holder, when in the Slovak Republic, to drive motor vehicles of the categories indicated in it, provided that the driving licence meets the conditions given in the International Convention on Road Traffic (Article 2, Article 41, and Appendix 6 of the Convention on Road Traffic, Vienna 1968).

If a driving licence issued in another state does not meet these requirements, the foreign national may only drive a motor vehicle if he/she is the holder of a valid international driving licence.

All foreign national driving licences are recognised in Slovakia. Visitors riding mopeds must be at least 15 years old and must hold a driving licence even if such a licence is not required in their country of permanent residence. Visitors riding motorcycles over 50 ccm must be at least 17 years old and visitors driving cars or lorries at least 18 years old.

Speed limits

On a motorway: 130 km/h (80 mph)

On a motorway in built-up area: 80 km/h (49 mph)

On an open road: 90 km/h (55 mph)

In built-up area: 60 km/h (30 mph)

 

Motorway stickers

For the motorways, your automobile must have a motorway sticker valid in the given calendar year. They are available at border crossings, petrol stations and post offices. The sticker must be placed on the right-hand side of windscreen and you must always have the second part of the sticker with you and show it to a police officer upon request. Any sticker not fixed is not valid. Motor-bikers don't need toll stickers on motorways.

Petrol stations

Petrol stations are located throughout the whole territory of Slovakia. They are usually open 24 hours daily, and easy to find except in the most remote areas. Most of these are operated by Europe's largest petroleum companies and are well stocked.

Taxi

There are many taxi companies, although cruising taxis are seldom available. Taxi stands are located throughout the towns. Taxis ordered by phone have cheaper fares (usually 50 % cheaper). The fare is flexible and varies from company to company. When taking a taxi, look for one with company's name on the car.

To find out contact numbers on taxi services in the particular town search Yellow pages at www.zlatestranky.sk (it is possible to enter free text, or select Yellow pages categories; Industry, Transport & Agriculture; Transportation).

Banks

There are many banks, usually members of international corporations offering ordinary banking services such as current accounts and sub-accounts, domestic and foreign payments, electronic banking, debit and credit cards, cheques, deposit products, securities, private banking, unit trusts, mortgage financing, loans, Exchange and even insurance services.  

Credit & debit cards

Major credit cards (American Express, Diners' Club, Visa, Eurocard/MasterCard) and debit cards (Maestro, Cirrus, Eurocheque cards and Visa Electron, Eurocard/ MasterCard) may be used for cash withdrawal from automatic dispensers (ATM) as well as for payments in hotels, restaurants, shops and petrol stations. Credit cards can also be used to obtain currency.

Travellers' cheques

Thomas Cook, American Express, Visa, Swiss Bankers, Citybank travellers' cheques are accepted in banks and at exchange offices. Exchange rate charges are at least one per cent of the nominal cheque value. To avoid additional charges, travellers are recommended to take travellers' cheques in Euros, US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. You can also use the services of Western Union, operating in the Tatra Banka throughout the Slovak Republic.

Exchange rate

The National Bank of Slovakia website ("Naodna banka Slovenska" www.nbs.sk) offers up-dated information on exchange and interest rates, and other financial data. Note the exchange rate of a commercial bank may vary slightly.

 

Communications and Post Offices

Computers, scanners, printers, hand helds etc. are widespread and easily purchased anywhere in the country in specialized shops, hypermarkets or shopping centres.

Getting the internet connected

There are two easy ways to be connected at home. Either you can use your phone wire (ISDN) or a cable connection. For the former, contact Slovak Telecom (www.st.sk) and for the latter, The Chello Company (www.chello.sk, only in Slovak). In the office there is a wider range of options. Slovak Higher Education Institutions are connected through SANET (Slovak Academic Network www.sanet.sk). Companies and individuals can also use private service providers.

Internet Cafes are widespread and not confined to large towns. For more information you can either browse the Internet or check Yellow Pages. www.zlatestranky.sk.

General Phone Numbers:

Emergency calls:

General Emergency - 112

Ambulance - 155

Fire - 150

Police - 158

Town police - 159

Enquiry services:

Directory enquiries - information about telephone numbers in Slovakia - 1181

International directory enquiries - information about telephone numbers abroad - 12 149

Info Assistant - Practical information for everyday use - 12 111

Exact time - 12 110

Wake?up calls-12 125

National calls mediated by an operator - 12 102

International calls mediated by an operator - 12 131

Postal services

At a Slovak post office (http://www.posta.sk/) you can pay your utility bills, receive cash on delivery consignments, buy lottery tickets, get film developed, receive payments, make phone calls, buy phone and mobile phone cards, and, of course, send telegrams, faxes and mail. Poste Restante services are also available. For incoming packages and money orders you must bring your passport with you.

At the website http://www.posta.sk/, you can search also for local postcodes, after entering town and street.

Electrical Appliances

In Slovakia 230 V/50 Hz electrical system is used and appliances are designed for a round pin plug and receptacle (socket) with male grounding pin. For safety and to avoid damage to electrical appliances, it is important to bring equipment designed for the mentioned frequency and voltage, use dual voltage equipment or voltage converters/ transformers.