Slowakye - Slovakia

Slowakye (Slowaaks: Slovensko) of die Slowaakse Republiek (Slovenská republika) is 'n land in Sentraal-Europa. Die belangrikste redes om Slowakye te besoek, is die natuurskoon, aanskoulike geskiedenis en groot geleenthede vir ontspanning (en as gevolg van die klein grootte van die land is dit maklik om al drie te kombineer).

Slowakye het nege nasionale parke, wat 'n relatief groot deel van die land beslaan en die hoogste deel van die Karpate-bergreeks, die Hoë Tatras, wat uitstekende geleenthede bied vir berg- en wintersport sowel as wonderlike uitsigte. Geologies is 'n aansienlike deel van Slowakye uit kalksteen, wat in kombinasie met baie fonteine ​​en riviere gelei het tot die vorming van talle grotte (12 oop vir die publiek, waarvan verskeie op die UNESCO gelys is) en die pragtige rotsformasies, klowe en watervalle van die Slowaakse Paradys en Slowaakse Karst. Selfs buite hierdie gebiede is daar 'n paar pragtige landskappe, en die hele Slowakye word bedek deur duisende goed gemerkte staproetes.

Vir geskiedenisliefhebbers het Slowakye die hoogste aantal kastele en kastele per capita ter wêreld, wat wissel van eenvoudige ruïnes tot goed bewaar bewoonbare kastele met meubels, dus as u 'n liefhebber van die Middeleeuse geskiedenis is, hoef u nie verder te soek nie. Daar is ook talle Goties en barokke stede en dorpe regoor Slowakye, insluitend die hoofstad. Daar is ook goed bewaarde voorbeelde van hout-volksargitektuur, waaronder kerke wat geheel en al van hout gemaak is en die hoogste houtaltaar ter wêreld.

Daar is talle minerale en termiese fonteine ​​in Slowakye, en rondom sommige van hierdie wêreldberoemde spa's is 'n uitstekende genesende behandeling of net 'n eenvoudige ontspanning. U kan ook heerlik kuier, swem en sonbaai aan die oewer van verskeie plaaslike mere en swembaddens, of AquaCity-waterpark probeer as u meer avontuurlustig voel. In die besonder, Bratislava spog ook met 'n lewendige naglewe en is 'n gewilde partytjie-bestemming.

Streke

Stede

• 48.14472222222217.1127777777781 Bratislava - hoofstad en die grootste stad van Slowakye met 'n pragtig gerestoureerde historiese sentrum vol Gotiese, Barok- en Renaissance-kerke, huise en paleise, geplaveide strate, fonteine, aangename kafees en lewendige en kosmopolitiese atmosfeer
• 48.73527777777819.1452777777782 Banská Bystrica - was een van die belangrikste myndorpe van die Hongaarse deel van die Oostenryks-Hongaarse Ryk; pragtige gerestoureerde plein, baie kerke, kastele en museums en gedenkteken van die Slowaakse Nasionale Opstand
• 48.71666666666721.253 Košice - die metropool van die ooste, die tweede grootste stad van die land met die oostelikste Gotiese katedraal ter wêreld, die oudste Europese wapen, 'n wonderlike historiese middestad met die katedraalkompleks, talle kerke, paleise en interessante museums.
• 48.31472222222218.08754 Nitra - die oudste Slowaakse stad, met 'n pragtige kasteel en 'n aantal kermisse
• 49.0520.35 Poprad - die ingang na die Hoë Tatras
• 49.13333333333318.6833333333336 Rajecké Teplice - baie rustige kuurdorp omring deur die wonderlike Mala Fatra Nasionale Park
• 48.89416666666718.0405555555567 Trenčín - een van die mooiste Slowaakse dorpe met 'n kasteel wat bokant die stad uitkyk oor die historiese sentrum en die rivier Váh
• 48.3777517.5862111111118 Trnava - ou Slowaakse stad met die meeste kerke (12) en 'n goed bewaarde barokargitektuur
• 49.21666666666718.7333333333339 Žilina - Vierde grootste stad met 'n goed bewaarde historiese middestad, beïnvloed deur die Duitse argitektuur en 'n unieke museum vir die tinkerkultuur, geleë in die Budatín-kasteel

Ander bestemmings

• 48.9083333320.41 Slowaakse Paradys Nasionale Park — Slovenský Raj bestaan ​​uit diepe klowe en klowe wat geskep word deur die water wat in watervalle deur die kalksteen val.
• 49.16666666666720.1333333333332 Hoë Tatras — Vysoké Tatry is die grootste nasionale park in Slowakye en 'n sentrum vir wintersport en voetslaan.
• 49.0388888919.278333333 Vlkolínec — UNESCO erfenislysdorpie, wat die karakter van 'n tradisionele Karpatiese dorpie behou
• 48.57920.5444 Slowaakse Karst Nasionale Park - Slovenský kras, bekend vir sy grotstelsels, wat deel uitmaak van die UNESCO-wêrelderfenis
• 49.02277777777820.5905555555565 Levoča - Pragtige Middeleeuse pêrel van die Spis-streek omring deur stadsmure met 'n unieke stadsaal van die renaissance, burgerhuise, talle kerke en die St. James-katedraal, waar die grootste gotiese houtaltaar ter wêreld geleë is
• 48.78222222222218.5861111111116 Bojnice - die mees besoekte kasteel in Slowakye, amper ongeskonde met pragtige bewaarde interieurs.
• 48.58333333333317.8333333333337 Piešťany - die bekendste kuuroord in Slowakye
• 48.9988888920.753055568 Kasteel Spiš - een van die grootste kastele in Europa en a UNESCO Wêreld-erfenis gebied.
• 49.29521.2758333333339 Bardejov - is 'n kuuroord in Noord-Oos Slowakye wat talle kulturele monumente in sy intakte middeleeuse middestad uitstal en een van UNESCOse wêrelderfenisgebiede.

Verstaan

Slowakye is 'n moderne demokratiese land en is 'n lid van die Europese Unie.

Terrein

Baie van die sentrale en noordelike deel van Slowakye is ruig en bergagtig. Gerlachovský štít op 2 655 m (8 711 voet) in die Hoë Tatras is die hoogste piek. Die Tatra-berge in die noorde, gedeel met Pole, is afgewissel met baie skilderagtige mere en valleie. Hierdie gebiede ervaar laer temperature, en mense leef gewoonlik van skape wat wei.

Die laaglande is in die suide, met die laagste punt van die Bodrogrivier 94 m (308 voet) bo seespieël. Die grond hier is baie vrugbaarder, veral die gebied tussen Klein Donau en Donau, en was meer landbouagtig. Die weer is sagter en veral somers kan verbasend warm word.

Geskiedenis

Die gebied wat die huidige Slowakye is, is sedert die vroeë paleitiese era gevestig. Voor die innerlike migrasie van Slawiërs en Hunne was die Keltes en Romeine die belangrikste kulture. Tot vandag toe kan artefakte en bewyse van die teenwoordigheid van hierdie kulture gevind word.

Die Slawiese stamme wat die gebied in die 5de eeu binnegeval het, het hier 'n opeenvolging van invloedryke koninkryke geskep. Gedurende hierdie era, wat geduur het tot die 10de eeu toe die Groot-Morawiese Ryk verbrokkel, het Slawiërs die Christendom aangeneem en baie middeleeuse fortkastele is gebou, waarvan sommige tot vandag toe ruïnes het.

In die 10de eeu het Slowakye deel geword van die Koninkryk van Hongarye, wat na 1867 'n unie met die Oostenrykse Ryk gevorm het en die Oostenryks-Hongaarse monargie. Hierdie unie, wat tot 1918 geduur het, het 'n groot invloed gehad op die vorming van die hele streek. Dit was 'n multinasionale staat met baie kulture wat saamgewoon het en vorm 'n algemene kulturele geskiedenis wat deur baie Sentraal-Europese lande gedeel word.

In 1918 sluit die Slowake by die nou verwante Tsjegge aan om die republiek Tsjeggo-Slowakye te vorm. Interbellum Tsjeggo-Slowakye was ook 'n baie uiteenlopende staat met groot etniese minderhede, waaronder Hongare, Jode en Duitssprekendes. Daar was selfs meer moedertaalsprekers van Duits in hierdie land as etniese Slowake. Gedurende die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het Tsjeggo-Slowakye kort verdeel, terwyl die Tsjeggiese streke deur die Nazi's beset is en Slowakye 'n marionetstaat geword het wat onder leiding van vader Jozef Tiso met die Nazi's saamgewerk het. Na die chaos van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het Tsjeggo-Slowakye 'n kommunistiese land geword binne die Sowjet-beheerde Oosblok. Die Sowjet-invloed het in 1989 in duie gestort en Tsjeggo-Slowakye het weer vry geword.

Vir baie jare oorskadu deur hul noord-westelike Tsjeggies bure, politieke verteenwoordigers van Tsjegge en Slowake besluit om op hul eie te staak. Die Slowake en die Tsjegge het ooreengekom om op 1 Januarie 1993 vreedsaam van mekaar te skei Slowakye 'n land in eie reg geword. Dit staan ​​bekend as die Velvet Egskeiding. Albei lande bly kultureel nou en daar is 'n hoë vlak van politieke en ekonomiese samewerking tussen die twee lande.

Historiese, politieke en geografiese faktore het veroorsaak dat Slowakye moeiliker ondervind het om 'n moderne markekonomie te ontwikkel as sommige daarvan Sentraal-Europees bure, maar nou spog dit met een van die ekonomieë wat die vinnigste in Europa groei en is hy sedert 2004 lid van die Europese Unie en die NAVO. Slowakye is nou 'n lid van die Schengen-ooreenkoms, en die land het die Euro op 1 Januarie 2009 aanvaar.

Etnisiteite

Daar is 'n paar ooreenkomste tussen die Tsjeggiese en Slowaakse kulture, maar die twee nasionaliteite bly onderskeidelik. Een van die opvallendste verskille is dat, terwyl Tsjegge grotendeels ateïste is, Slowake grootliks Katolieke is, soos hul Poolse bure.

Slowakye was byna 'n millennium deel van die Hongaarse ryk, en 'n sterk Hongaarssprekende minderheid van 9,7% bly oor, meestal gekonsentreer in die suide van Slowakye. Historiese Duitse bevolking is ná die Tweede Wêreldoorlog ontwortel en verdryf, maar hul historiese invloed bly.

In die oostelike deel van die land is daar baie Romeine / Sigeuners en sommige Rusnacs / Rusins ​​en Oekraïners. Daar woon ook Tsjegge, Pole en nog steeds Duitsers in Slowakye.

Klimaat

Slowakye het 'n gematigde klimaat met sonnige warm somers en koue, bewolkte, vogtige en sneeu winters. Die klimaat is kontinentaal, met vier seisoene, en hoewel die algehele klimaat sag is, is daar 'n aansienlike temperatuurverskil tussen somer- en wintermaande.

Dit is oor die algemeen warmer in suidelike streke en die laaglande, waar somertemperature op warmer dae bo 30 ° C (86 ° F) kan klim, en waar reën in die winter meer algemeen is as sneeu, wat gewoonlik oor 'n paar dae smelt.

Noordelike en veral bergagtige streke het 'n kouer klimaat, met somertemperature wat nie meer as 25 ° C (77 ° F) is nie. Veral in die berge is sneeu algemeen in die winter en kan dit nogal koud word, met temperature wat tot -20 ° C (-4 ° F) daal.

In die berge kan die weer binne enkele minute dramaties verander en dit kan selfs in die somer reën of sneeu. Neem toepaslike toerusting en moenie die weer onderskat nie.

Vakansies en feeste

Slowakye is 'n oorwegend Katolieke land, en daar word dus belangrike Christelike vakansiedae gehou, asook ander vakansiedae. Tensy anders aangedui, is dit openbare vakansiedae en is banke en die meeste geriewe en winkels gesluit:

• Slowaakse Republiekdag - 1 Januarie - Gereglik is Tsjeggo-Slowakye op 1 Januarie in twee verdeel, dus is Oujaarsdag 'n nasionale vakansiedag. Dit word tradisioneel gevier deur tot die middaguur te slaap.
• Epifanie - 6 Januarie - Vier die koms van die Three Magi in Betlehem. Winkels en banke is gesluit.
• Mardi Gras periode ('Fasiangy') - dit is nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar eerder 'n feesseisoen. Sommige dorpe hou 'n tradisionele mark met voedsel en drankies wat aangebied word, en daar kan 'n optog in maskers deur die stad wees, en daar word talle balle, danse en karnavalle gehou. 6 Januarie tot Aswoensdag (Februarie of Maart).
• Paasfees - Maart / April, datums hang af van die maankalender. Goeie Vrydag en Paasmaandag is albei nasionale vakansiedae. Daar is 'n aantal verskillende tradisies wat verband hou met Paasfees. Die tradisionele kos wat bedien word, bevat eiers en spesiale Paasham, met brood en peperwortel.
  • Godsdienstige mense gaan na die mis, en dit is miskien die enigste keer dat dit waarskynlik mense in tradisionele klere in sommige dorpe sal sien; dit kom egter al hoe minder voor. Almal sal egter aangetrek wees.
  • Dwarsdeur Slowakye, kraslice word voorberei, wat eierdoppe is wat met ornamente versier is en met kleure oorgeverf is. Dit, tesame met lekkers en geld, word aan seuns gegee wat vriende en huise besoek, waar dit hul taak is om seker te maak dat die vroue die volgende jaar gesond en voorspoedig sal wees deur hulle met water of parfuum te spuit en te klop. met 'n wilgerstaf versier met linte. Dit word genoem oblievacka en sibacka. Dit hou meestal in groot hoeveelhede alkohol, kos en nat T-hemde, en word deur niemand ernstig opgeneem nie. Die gewildheid daarvan het egter afgeneem. As u 'n vrou is, moet u nie klere dra wat u graag wil hê as u op Paasmaandag buite gaan waag nie, want daar kan water na u gegooi word of parfuum gespuit word. As u hierdie duidelik barbaarse tradisie wil betoog, moet u dit in waterdigte klere doen.
• Internasionale Arbeidsdag - 1 Mei - Dit word gevier deur nie te werk nie.
• Dag van oorwinning oor die fascisme - 8 Mei - Viering van die einde van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog in Europa.
• Internasionale Kinderdag - 1 Junie - Nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar kinders het dalk vrye skooltyd en daar word verskillende aktiwiteite vir hulle gereël, en hulle kry gewoonlik lekkernye.
• Sint Cyril en Methodius-dag - 5 Julie - fees van die aankoms van die groot Christelike sendelinge na Slowakye (in 863). Hulle het die Evangelies in die destydse Slawiese taal vertaal, 'n nuwe alfabet bedink om Slawies-spesifieke klanke te skryf en die liturgiese tekste (soos die Missal en die Psalms) vertaal en sodoende 'n Slawiese taal as die vierde liturgiese taal laat aanvaar. deur Rome (na Hebreeus, Grieks en Latyn). Sint Cyril het ook die eerste gedig in die Slawiese taal, Proglas, geskryf en beklemtoon die belangrikheid van 'n geskrewe taal vir elke nasie.
• Slowaakse gedenkdag vir die nasionale opstand - 29 Augustus - Vakansie ter herdenking van die opstand teen Nazi's tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog.
• Grondwetdag - 1 September - Kinders is mal daaroor, aangesien die skool een dag later begin.
• Dag van die geseënde maagd Maria - 15 September - 'n beskermheilige van Slowakye.
• Vinobranie Dit is nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar 'n fees wat die wynoes vier, wat gewoonlik in Oktober in wynproduserende streke gehou word. Stede werk saam sodat dit op verskillende naweke op verskillende plekke gehou word en u kan verskeie besoek. Dit sluit opelugmarkte in wat straatkos, drankies (veral jong wyn) en verskillende handwerk verkoop.
• All Saints Day - 1 November - Dit is 'n dag om diegene wat oorlede is, te onthou. Halloween word nie in Slowakye gevier nie, en dit is nogal 'n ernstige godsdienstige vakansie. Alle winkels is gesluit en baie mense gaan na begraafplase om vir hul geliefdes kers op te steek.
• Stryd om die dag van vryheid en demokrasie - 17 November - Gedenk die studentedemonstrasie wat die einde van die kommunisme bewerkstellig het.
• St Nicolaus se dag - 6 Desember - Dit is nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar word gesien as 'n begin van die Kerstyd. Tradisioneel laat St Nicholaus oornag 'n paar lekkers (as die kind goed was) of steenkool / ui (as die kind hom verkeerd gedra het) oornag (verrassend genoeg, die meeste kinders kry lekkers, nie ui nie). Vieringe word in dorpe gehou, waar iemand geklee as St nicolaus (dink Santa Claus) en sy helpers engele / duiwels help om lekkers uit te deel onder die skare van gretige kinders. Kersmarkte gaan oop en Kersliggies word aangeskakel.
• Fees van St Lucy - 13 Desember - Nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar baie tradisies hou verband met hierdie dag, wat wissel volgens streek. U kan byvoorbeeld 13 stukke papier neem, een leeg laat staan ​​en name van 12 seuns op die ander skryf as u 'n meisie is. Een word elke dag tot op Oukersaand verbrand, wat oorbly is 'n naam van jou toekomstige man (blank = ewig alleen).

• Kersfees - Oukersaand, Kersdag en Boksdag (24-26 Desember) is nasionale vakansiedae. In Slowakye word Kersfees hoofsaaklik tydens Oukersaand gevier, wanneer 'n tradisionele gesinsete gehou word, waarna geskenke geopen word. Aangesien daar op Kersaand 'n vasdag in die Christelike kalender is, word daardie dag geen vleis geëet nie. 'N Tradisionele ete begin met 'n dun wafer, geëet met knoffel (vir die gesondheid) en heuning (vir geluk en voorspoed). Dit word gevolg deur 'n sop (sampioen of koolsop), en 'n hoofgereg van gebraaide karp en spesiale aartappelslaai. Baie variëteite kerskoeke (bv. Gemmerbrood) word ook geëet. Tradisies verskil egter.
• Silvester - 31 Desember - Oujaarsaand is nie 'n nasionale vakansiedag nie, maar word wyd gevier, meestal deur partytjies te hou. Om middernag rooster mense die nuwe jaar met 'n glasie sjampanje. Baie stede het 'n vuurwerkvertoning om Nuwejaar te vier. Vuurwerke en dronk mense is volop.

Gaan in

Slowakye is 'n lid van die Schengen-ooreenkoms.

• Daar is normaalweg geen grensbeheer tussen lande wat die verdrag onderteken en implementeer nie. Dit sluit die grootste deel van die Europese Unie en enkele ander lande in.
• Daar is gewoonlik identiteitskontroles voordat u op internasionale vlugte of bote gaan. Soms is daar tydelike grensbeheer by landgrense.
• Net so, a visum toegestaan ​​vir enige Schengen-lid is geldig in alle ander lande wat onderteken het en het die verdrag geïmplementeer.
• Sien asseblief Reis deur die Schengen-gebied vir meer inligting oor hoe die skema werk, watter lande lid is en wat die vereistes vir u nasionaliteit is.

Erkende vlugtelinge in besit van 'n geldige reisdokument uitgereik deur die regering van een van die bogenoemde lande / gebiede, is vrygestel van die verkryging van 'n visum vir Slowakye (maar geen ander Schengen-land, behalwe Duitsland en Hongarye) vir 'n maksimum verblyf van 90 dae in 'n tydperk van 180 dae.

U moet in elk geval 'n identiteitsbewys by u hê, maar sorg dat u 'n identiteitsbewys in grensstreke hou, om moeite te vermy.

As u 'n visum benodig, moet u altyd vooraf by 'n ambassade aansoek doen. Daar is geen kans dat u 'n visum aan 'n Slowaakse grens sal kry nie, maak nie saak hoe u binnekom of wat u nasionaliteit is nie.

Met die vliegtuig

• 48.1717.2127781 Bratislava lughawe (BTS ^IATA). Ryanair bedryf lae koste vlugte na Bratislava vanaf verskillende Europese stede, waaronder Londen, "Milaan" -Bergamo, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Dublin, Rome (Ciampino), "Parys" (Beauvais), "Brussel (Charleroi) en 'n paar ander. Hierdie vlugte kan redelik goedkoop wees, dus as u van buite Europa aankom, kan u uiteindelik geld bespaar deur na 'n groter lughawe te vlieg en dan na Bratislava te koppel. Hulle werk nie altyd daagliks nie en gebruik soms afgeleë / ongewone lughawens, dus dit is beter dat u vlieg Lughawe Wene.
  Norwegian Airlines vlugte vanaf Kopenhagen lughawe en Oslo-lughawe, Gardermoen, en daar is ook vlugte na Moskou en Ben Gurion-lughawe met onderskeidelik UTAir en Sun d'or Airlines.  

Die alternatief is Lughawe Wene (UITSIG ^IATA), wat net 37 km (23 myl) van Bratislava af is. Dit bied 'n gemakliker manier om met die belangrikste lugdienste na Slowakye te kom, maar dit kan duurder wees. Dit ontvang ook 'n baie groter aantal langafstandvlugte. Direkte busse per lughawe per lughawe na Bratislava se hoofstasie. Alternatiewelik kan u 'n taxi neem wat ongeveer € 70 kos.

Kleiner internasionale lughawens wat meestal vir huurvlugte gebruik word, sluit in:

• 49.07361111111120.2411111111112 Poprad - Tatry (www.airport-poprad.sk; TAT ^IATA)
• 48.66305555555621.2411111111113 Košice internasionale lughawe (KSC ^IATA)
• 48.63805555555619.1341666666674 Sliač (SLD ^IATA)

Ander opsies sluit lughawens in Praag in (PRG ^IATA) en Boedapest, met beide stede ongeveer 4 uur met die openbare vervoer. Daar is ook direkte vlugte tussen Praag en Bratislava en Praag en Kosice, wat saam met vlugte na Praag die maklikste toegang per vliegtuig na die oostelike deel van die land bied.

U kan ook vlieg na Krakau as u na die Tatra-berge. Busse vanaf Krakau ry na verskeie Slowaakse dorpe rondom die Tatra-berge en Orava.

Met die trein

Van die Tsjeggiese Republiek

As dele van die voormalige Tsjeggo-Slowakye is die treine tussen Tsjeggië en Slowakye gereeld. EC-treine ry elke twee uur vanaf Praag na Bratislava en Žilina. Daar is 'n daaglikse trein vanaf Praag na Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Poprad en Košice. Al hierdie stede het 'n direkte oornagverbinding vanaf Praag.

Goedkoop kaartjies SporoTiket Evropa kan gekoop word by die Tsjeggiese spoorweë se e-winkel, minstens 3 dae voor die tyd. Die prys begin by € 15 vir sitplek of € 26 vir rusbank. 'N E-kaartjie is slegs geldig in die trein wat op die kaartjie aangedui word.

As u groter buigsaamheid wil hê of nie vooraf via die internet kan koop nie, kan u 'n aansienlike afslag kry by 'n treinstasie as u 'n retoerkaartjie genaamd CityStar. Sodanige internasionale retoerkaartjie is geldig vir een maand op enige trein (en kan glad nie via die internet gekoop word nie).

Vanuit Duitsland

Daar is twee-uur bedags en een treintog vanaf Berlyn na Bratislava. Goedkoop kaartjies kan gekoop word by die webwerf van die Duitse nasionale spoorweg, al word die nagtrein nou deur die Oostenrykse nasionale spoorweë bemark as Nightjet. Kaartjies begin vanaf € 39, afhangende van die vraag. Early bird-kaartjies is slegs geldig vir die presiese trein wat u bespreek. Nightjet-treine het verdere verbindings van ander Duitse stede na Wene, waarvandaan u op plaaslike treine kan skakel vir die 60 km (1 uur) reis na Bratislava.

Van Oostenryk af

Streekuitdrukkings per uur werk vanaf Wene na Bratislava. U kan die EURegio-kaartjie vir € 16 gebruik - 'n retoerkaartjie wat 4 dae geldig is.

Van Pole af

Daar is 'n oornag-motor vanaf Warszawa via Tsjeggiese gebied na Bratislava. Direkte treinverbindings vanaf Pole is baie swak, 'n bus is oor die algemeen 'n beter alternatief. Daar is maar min plaaslike treine wat net oor die grenslyn ry - een trein Zwardoń (PL) –Skalité (SK). Daar is geen internasionale passasiersverkeer by Nowy Sącz–Prešov (sedert Des 2010) en Lupków-Medzilaborce lyn (sedert Des 2009).

As u regtig met die trein van Pole af wil reis, berei u voor op 'n dagrit met baie treinveranderings. Dit is goedkoper om slegs Poolse kaartjies tot by grenspunt (Skalité Gr.) Te koop en dan 'n Slowaakse binnelandse kaartjie teen dirigent te koop (€ 1,30 toeslag).

Van Hongarye af

Daar is EC treine vanaf Boedapest na Bratislava elke twee uur en twee IC treine per dag vanaf Boedapest en Miskolc aan Košice. Anders as 'n reis vanaf Pole, sou dit nie goedkoper wees om die Slowaakse afdeling by dirigent te koop nie. In plaas daarvan is daar 'n bilaterale retoerkorting van 60% (dit wil sê 'n retoerkaartjie is goedkoper as 'n eenrigtingkaartjie).

Van Oekraïne en Rusland

Daar is 'n daaglikse direkte slaapmotor vanaf Moskou, Kiev en Lvov na Košice, Poprad en Bratislava. Die reis is baie lank - 2 nagte vanaf Moskou en Kiev en 1 dag en nag vanaf Lvov - vanweë die toestand van die spoorwegnetwerk in die westelike Oekraïne, die langdurige doeaneproses by die grens sowel as die breek van die spoor tussen Oekraïne (Russies meter) en Slowakye (standaardmeter).

Dit is baie goedkoper om slegs 'n Oekraïense of Russiese kaartjie na die Oekraïense grensstasie te koop Kap, koop dan 'n kaartjie van Chop na die eerste Slowaakse stasie Čierna nad Tisou, en koop dan 'n Slowaakse binnelandse kaartjie by die dirigent (€ 1,30 toeslag). Maar dan het u geen slaapplek vir die Slowaakse afdeling nie en moet u na sitplekmotor in Chop verander.

'N Ander opsie is om 'n CityStar-kaartjie in Rusland te koop (of Slowakye as die pryse goedkoper is), wat egter slegs geldig is vir groepe tot vyf lede. CityStar-kaartjie as bedieners is eenmalige geldige tweerigtingkaartjie tussen die stasies en word aangebied met 'n afslag vir elke volgende passasier op die kaartjie. U moet natuurlik ook ekstra slaapplek koop.

Met die bus

Onder vele ander is daar gereelde dienste vanaf Wene, Praag en Boedapest na Bratislava; en van Uzjhorod, Oekraïne na die oostelike Slowaakse stad Michalovce en van Krakau, Pole deur Zakopane, Pole na Poprad.

Om 'n bus van Praag na Bratislava te neem, is stadiger, maar goedkoper as trein as u vooraf 'n kaartjie koop, bv. by Studente-agentskap, Slowaakse lyne, of die gebruik van die algemene busbesprekingstelsel AMSBus.

Busse vanaf Pole en Oekraïne is die beste opsie, dit is vinniger en meer gereeld as treine.

Vanaf Boedapest is die reis 4 uur, die bus stop vir 5 minute by Györ en in 'n klein restaurant in die straat.

Met die motor

Slowakye het 'n snelwegnetwerk wat met buurlande verbind is.

Te voet

• Daar is 'n ponton-veerboot wat toeganklik is vir motorbestuurders en voetgangers Angern an der March (Oostenryk) en Záhorská Ves (Slowakye). 05: 00-22: 00.

Kry rond

CP bied 'n buitengewone nuttige webwerf en slimfoon-app met geïntegreerde roosters vir alle treine en busse in Slowakye, insluitend alle vervoer binne en buite die stad, selfs wat aandui vanaf watter baan u bus sal vertrek. Dit is ook nuttig vir internasionale reise van / na Slowakye.

Met die trein

Trein is verreweg die beste opsie om oor Slowakye te reis, mits u nie 'n privaat voertuig het nie. Gereelde vinnige treine verbind alle belangrike stede, maar daar is minder plaaslike treine, selfs by hooflyne. Vir plaaslike vervoer is 'n bus gewoonlik 'n beter alternatief. Treine is redelik goedkoop, met pryse wat met busse kompeterend is, en volgens westerse standaarde goedkoop. Hulle is betroubaar en skoon.

Kies 'n InterCity-diens as u gemaklik in Westerse styl wil hê; IC-treine verbind Bratislava, Žilina, Die Hoë Tatras en Košice en het verpligte besprekings. Dit kan u van die skare red: gewone treine word druk, gewoonlik op Vrydae en Sondae of rondom vakansiedae. Wees op die uitkyk vir sakkerollers by groot stasies en hou geldswendelary weg. Daar is ook sporadiese rooftogte by slapende passasiers wat in die oornag langlyne reis.

Die meeste treindienste binne die land word deur ZSSK, is ander treinoperateurs Leo Uitdruklik en Regiojet beide bied langafstandtreine aan en Regiojet ook streektreine tussen Bratislava en Komarno.

Afslag en kaartjies

• Internetkaartjies deur ZSSK - met 5% afslag kan gekoop word met behulp van 'n kredietrekening. Internetkaartjies in elektroniese of gedrukte vorm vir binnelandse treine is geldig op die gekose trein en datum of op enige volgende trein (alhoewel u die sitplekbespreking verloor het) op dieselfde roete op die eerste geldigheidsdag (behalwe alle IC-treine en Ex 1502 Chopok trein). Kaartjies wat by stasies gekoop word, is geldig vir enige reis op die gegewe roete binne 'n bepaalde tydperk (gewoonlik een of twee dae, afhangend van die afstand), en dus baie buigsaam. Sommige internasionale kaartjies kan slegs op stasies gekoop word. As u nie die stasie op die ZSSK-webwerf kan vind nie, probeer dan die landstaal (Wien in plaas van Wene; Praha in plaas van Praag, ens.)

• Gratis vervoer - kinders jonger as 16 jaar en bejaardes ouer as 62 jaar ongeag burgerskap of verblyfstatus; en studente onder 26 jaar en pensioentrekkers jonger as 62 jaar (insluitende aftrede met gesondheidsorg) wat burgers of permanente inwoners van die EU-lidlande is. U moet by die treinmaatskappy geregistreer word; vergeet nie die grootte van die grootte van 2x3 cm nie (up-to-date, ongebruikte, professioneel, skerp en helder genoeg, van voor af uitgebeeld, sonder enige hoofbedekkings of agtergrond).

• KLASIK RAILPLUS deur ZSSK - kos 35 € en bied 25% afslag op 'n standaard binnelandse tarief vir een jaar. Die moeite werd as u van plan is om meer as 140 € van die standaardgeld oor 'n jaar te spandeer (ongeveer vyf retoerkaartjies Bratislava - Košice). Moenie 'n foto van 2x3 cm vergeet vir registrasie nie. Kan gekombineer word met 5% afslag met 'n kredietrekening.

• Leo Uitdruklik en Regiojet langafstandtreine - dit is goedkoopste as u vooraf aanlyn bespreek en is gekoppel aan 'n spesifieke trein en tyd.

Met die bus

Busverbindings is gewoonlik stadiger as treine, maar kan u kry waar treine dit nie kan doen nie. Sommige private ondernemings bied ook afslag vir reisigers met 'n buitelandse ISIC-kaart (staatsbeheerde ondernemings nie, tensy u 'n Slowaakse burger is). Kaartjies vir langafstandroetes - 100 km (insluitend van / na die Tsjeggiese Republiek of binne die Tsjeggiese Republiek) kan gekoop word by AMSBus na verpligte registrasie (Engelse weergawe is ook beskikbaar). Die reis van Bratislava na Nitra is 'n seldsame voorbeeld van 'n roete waar busse aansienlik vinniger en goedkoper is as treine.

Busse is stiptelik, en dit is dus raadsaam om vooraf by die busstasie aan te kom. Die tyd wat in die rooster aangedui word, is die tyd dat dit die stasie verlaat. Die meeste kaartjies word direk by die bestuurder gekoop, dus u sal waarskynlik kontant benodig. Alhoewel die busbestuurder u kleingeld sal gee, veral vir korter (goedkoper) reise, is dit raadsaam om kleiner denominasies te hê. U kan verwag dat u 'n klein ekstra fooi sal betaal as u 'n groot sak dra.

Turancar en Studente-agentskap goeie voorbeelde van privaat busmaatskappye wat redelik betroubaar en gemaklik is (aangesien hulle nuwe busse gebruik met LCD-skerms aan boord), wat betyds werk en studente-afslag bied vir buitelanders met ISIC.

Met die taxi

Ride-hailing is beskikbaar in Slowakye en die volgende is die mees verwagte verskaffers:

• Bout. Sluit baie dorpe in. (Jul 2020 opgedateer)
• Uber. Werk in Bratislava. (Jul 2020 opgedateer)

Met die motor

Die padnetwerk is uitgebreid en in 'n algemene toestand. Die meeste hoofweë (veral in die westelike dele) is tweespoorig en in goeie herstelwerk, maar die meeste kleinpaaie is een baan, en die onderhoudstandaard hiervan kan wissel van goed tot taai. Langs die hoofroetes en hoofweë is brandstofstoppies en restaurante (odpočívadlo of čerpacia stanica) is baie gereeld en in kleiner dorpe sal jy heel waarskynlik klein kioskies vind (stánok) of vrugte- of kaasstaander (ovocný stánok vir vrugte, stánok so syrom langs die pad, met plaaslike lekkernye teen lae pryse.
Die bestuurstyl in Slowakye is, veral vergeleke met lande in Wes-Europa, aggressiewer en van laer standaard. 'N Mens moet bewus wees van ander motors wat vinnig ry en aan jou kant van die pad verbysteek, veral in die bergagtige gebiede van die land.

Bestuur

Voertuie ry aan die regterkant van die pad en die spoedbeperkings is oor die algemeen 50 kmh (31 mph) in 'n dorp, 90 kmh (56 mph) buite opbougebiede en 130 kmh (81 mph) op snelweë. Vragmotors en motors met karavane / sleepwaens is egter beperk tot 80 km / h (50 mph) buite opbouareas of op snelweë, en motorfietse is beperk tot 90 km / h (56 mph) op snelweë.

Dit is verpligtend om gordels in motors en bakkies te dra en kinders van 11 jaar of jonger of laer as 150 cm moet op die agtersitplek geplaas word.

Kopligte moet te alle tye aangeskakel wees, ongeag die weerstoestande en of dit 'n nag of dag is. Skakel dit dus aan.

In die winter kom sneeu en ys gereeld op die paaie voor, en winterbande word aanbeveel. In uiterste weer kan sommige klein bergpaaie sneeukettings benodig.

Slowakye het 'n nultoleransiebeleid teenoor alkohol. Moenie drink en bestuur nie. As niks anders nie, dan omdat die strawwe erg is.

Die gebruik van helms is verpligtend vir motorbestuurders en passasiers op motorfietse van watter grootte ook al, en 'n bril moet ook deur motorbestuurders met 'n enjins groter as 50cc gedra word.

Polisie se teenwoordigheid is gereeld op die paaie, en veral die hoofweë, in gemerkte en ongemerkte voertuie.

As u van plan is om op die snelweë te ry, let daarop dat voertuie 'n verpligte plakker moet toon (vignet) in die regter boonste hoek van die motor se voorruit (verpligte plek, aangesien dit meestal deur 'n vaste elektroniese kamerastelsel nagegaan word). Die vignet kan by die meeste vulstasies gekoop word en is tien dae (€ 10), vir 'n maand (€ 14) of langer geldig. Let daarop dat die vignet vanaf die punt van inskrywing op alle snelweë verpligtend is. As u sonder een betrap word, sal u 'n boete onderwerp. As u 'n motor huur, is dit heel waarskynlik by die huur ingesluit, maar onthou om na te gaan of navraag te doen wanneer u huur / bespreek.

If you understand Slovak, many private radio stations include a great traffic coverage as a part of their news, which will inform you about any obstructions on the road, car accidents, traffic jams and even police presence so it is certainly worth tuning in. There is also a website called Stellacentrum, where you can find general information about traffic and police patrols (they even inform, where the police patrols actually are).

Parkering

Most places offer free parking, however in the central areas of the bigger cities, there may be fees for parking. In the cities outside of Bratislava, the most common method for paid parking, is a closed area, where you enter and receives a slip from a machine. On the way out you'll have to return the slip and pay to a person. The person most likely do not speak English, but if you look confused enough he or she will hand you a handwritten note with the amount. Try to pay the exact amount with cash, and avoid paying with large bills, as these places rarely have much cash at hand. In central Bratislava you can find places, where you have to get a parking slip from a vending machine and pre-pay for your parking. The slip then has to be placed behind the wind shield of the car and must be visible from the outside.

Renting

Renting a car is a convenient, efficient and relatively cheap (prices start at approx. €65/day at car rental chains with free mileage) way to explore Slovakia, especially if you intend to visit more remote areas, where train and bus services may be more sporadic. Don't expect neither GPS nor road map to be included and remember to check if highway vignette (see above) is included; it most likely, is but not always. Ask when booking and if it is not, then they can most likely easily include it without any handling charges.

Ryloop

Hitchhiking in Slovakia is best done by asking around at gas stations. It used to be that most people only speak Slovak (and possibly understand other Slavic languages) so it was difficult for foreigners who don't speak Slavic languages. However, nowadays most of the young people speak English and almost as many speak German.

Keep in mind that trains and buses in Slovakia are cheap for Westerners, and (apart from extremely rural areas where people are generally less wary of hitchhikers) it might take a while for someone to pick you up. You can find some offers if you travel from Slovakia and into Slovakia as well on specialized web pages. The biggest hitchhikers page in Slovakia is stopar.sk. There you can find offers in English, German, French, Polish, Czech and Hungarian language and it is free.

Op voet

There is a long tradition of hiking and mountain walking in Slovakia, and it is an extremely popular sport. Most people you meet will have gone on a hike at least once in their life, and many do so regularly, and can give you advice about the most interesting local trails. The trail network is also very well maintained. The quality and efficiency of the sign-posting system is unique in European (and probably World) context.

Every route is marked and signposted, different trails being given a different colour. There are four colours used - red, blue, green and yellow. Longest and most sternous trails are usually marked red, and it is possible to traverse from north-eastern Dukla Pass all the way to the west (Bradlo, near Bratislava) along the Slovak National Uprising Heroes trail (750 km) along one such red-marked path. However, the trails are numerous, suitable for various levels of fitness, and many lead through beautiful scenery. In towns, you will usually see a signpost, with arrows pointing in different directions, marking the colour of the path and the average walking times to the nearest set of destinations. All you need to do is to follow the colour, there will be a mark every hundred metres or so, and consists of a 10-cm-by-10-cm square three-section mark where the edges are white and the chosen path's colour in the middle.

It is also possible (and highly recommended) to purchase 'tourist maps' of smaller slovak regions. These are based on sets of former military maps, have a very good resolution (1:50000) and can be purchased from most kiosks, information centres and bookstores for bargain price of between €1.50-2.50. These are published by the Slovak Tourist Club (KST), which maintains all the trails, and show all the marked trails in the area, including the average walking times, which makes route planning very easy and efficient. You can also use hiking websites such as Freemap Slovakia (based on Openstreetmap data) or HIKING.SK

Praat

Sien ook: Slowaakse frase

The official and most widely-spoken language is Slowaaks. Slovaks are very proud of their language, and thus, even in Bratislava you will not find many signs written in English outside of the main tourist areas. In some parts of the country, especially in the east, dialects are used which may sound quite different from the codified language. However, understanding the official language should rarely be a problem and attempts to speak Slovak will be appreciated!

Slovak is written using the same Roman characters that English uses, with some added accents or diacritics, so Western travellers won't have any trouble reading signs and maps. While some words are tongue twisters, the knowledge of the alphabet including the letters with diacritics will go a long way as Slovaks pronounce every letter of a word with the stress always on the first syllable (it may be on the second syllable in some eastern dialects).

Tsjeggies and Slovak are mutually intelligible, yet distinctive languages. At first, one might think they are dialects of each other - older people in both countries tend to understand the other language better than younger people who were born after the breakup of Czechoslovakia.

Since the territory of Slovakia was under Hungarian influence for centuries, there is a significant Hongaars-speaking minority of 9.7%. Most of the Hungarians live in southern regions of the country and some of them speak no Slovak. Other Slovaks however normally do not speak or understand the Hungarian language.

While you can make do with English and Duits in Bratislava, in smaller towns and villages they are not as widely spoken, though many younger people are usually able to speak English. Older residents may know some German and Russian, as well as tourist area workers. People born between 1935 and 1980 will have learned Russies in school, though few Slovaks will appreciate being spoken to in Russian as this language has some negative connotations due to the Communist era, and these days, English has largely supplanted Russian as the most widely taught foreign language. Due to the significant tourism growth in the north and the east of Slovakia, English is becoming more widely used and you may try Pools. Other Slavic languages, especially Russian, Serbian, Croatian, and Slovene may also work. In the east Rusyn, an East Slavic language closely related to Ukrainian, is spoken. It is also intelligible with Russian to some extent.

Sien

Slovakia combines all the typical features of a grand European history with highly attractive nature and a traveller-friendly modern atmosphere. Its fairly small capital Bratislava may not have the majestic sights you'll find in some other Eastern European capitals, but it has an energetic vibe to it, a lovely Old Town, Bratislava Castle and endless options to have a great time. The city as a whole is a quaint mix of 18th-century rococo and concrete Communist building blocks. An afternoon coffee in one of the countless street cafés along the famous Danube river is an absolute must and a good chance to people-watch and absorb the ambience. For a touch of grandeur, take a river tour down to Devin Castle, an excellent example of Slovakia's record-high number of castles and chateaux. Some of them are little more than a pile of stones hidden in a deep forest, others are luxurious baroque mansions or citadels in the middle of towns. Other worthwhile examples are Kasteel Spiš (one of the largest castle sites in all of Europe) and the 19th century Bojnice Castle, a favourite tourism destination for the Slovaks. Almost equally popular is the beautiful Orava Castle naby Dolný Kubín, high up on a rock overlooking the Orava river. Other good picks for large historic city centres include the old towns of Košice, Trnava en Levoča. Banská Štiavnica is a fabulously preserved medieval mining town and one of the country's World Heritage Sites. Where Banská Štiavnica mined for silver ore, the smaller but equally well-preserved medieval town of Kremnica was built above gold mines and boasts the oldest still-working mint in the world.

If you love nature, Slovakia will be great for you. Large parts of the country are covered with dense forests and the abundance of wildlife includes brown bears, wolves, and lynxes. Die Tatra-berge, more specifically the Hoë Tatras, are a prime attraction and offer impressive mountainous panoramas as well as great opportunities for skiing and other outdoor sports. In the large karst areas throughout the country there's an impressive number of grotte. A dozen or so are accessible for tourists. Die Ochtinská Aragonite Cave naby Rožňava stands out, as it is one of the only three aragyonite caves in the world. Together with other caves of the Slovak Karst, it is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list. If you enjoy hiking, try the Slowaakse Paradys Nasionale Park, famous for its beautiful canyons and ravines with many waterfalls and rocky formations. For a more relaxing encounter with Slovakia's natural environments, head to one of the many mineral springs and spas. Piešťany is one of the best-known ones, but your options are countless.

If you get the chance, travel a bit through Slovakia's countryside. It's dotted with historical villages, sometimes seemingly untouched by time, and often a good way to catch a glimpse of the country's folk traditions. Die gehuggie van Vlkolínec is considered a prime example of folk countryside architecture, but Čičmany en Brhlovce are lovely villages too.Historic churches are impossible to miss, as you'll find them in every village, town and city. Especially well-known are the many wooden churches in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country.

Koop

Geld

Wisselkoerse vir euro's Vanaf 4 Januarie 2021: VS $ 1 ≈ € 0,816 Verenigde Koninkryk £ 1 ≈ € 1,12 Australiese $ 1 ≈ € 0,63 Kanadese $ 1 ≈ € 0,642 Wisselkoerse wissel. Huidige tariewe vir hierdie en ander geldeenhede is beskikbaar vanaf XE.com

Slovakia uses the euro, soos verskeie ander Europese lande. Een euro is verdeel in 100 sent. Die amptelike simbool vir die euro is €, en die ISO-kode daarvan is EUR. Daar is geen amptelike simbool vir die sent nie.

Alle banknote en munte van hierdie gemeenskaplike geldeenheid is wettig betaalmiddel in al die lande, behalwe dat muntstukke met 'n lae denominasie (een en twee sent) in sommige daarvan uitgefaseer word. Die banknote lyk dieselfde in lande, terwyl munte 'n standaard ontwerp op die agterkant het, wat die waarde uitdruk en 'n nasionale landspesifieke ontwerp aan die voorkant. Die voorkant word ook gebruik vir verskillende ontwerpe van gedenkmuntstukke. Die ontwerp van die voorkant beïnvloed nie die gebruik van die muntstuk nie.

Until January 1, 2009, the official currency was the koruna ("crown", sk) which can still be found and accepted by the central bank until 2017 at a rate of 30.126sk to €1.

Bankdienste

Automatic teller machines (ATM, "bankomat" in Slovak, pl. "bankomaty") are widely available in Slovakia except in smaller villages, and obtaining money there should not present a problem. In most of small villages you can gain money at local postal offices (cashback). Credit cards and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Cirrus Maestro are widely accepted both in shops and restaurants in bigger cities.

Kantel

Kantel is not compulsory in Slovakia, but in practice it is common in establishments where you sit in (cafes and restaurants), where rounding up the bill or leaving around 10% tip is common. The tip is given directly to the waiter (i.e. tell him/her how much to give you back), not left on the table in most establishments. Tips are not included in the bill, if there is a percentage shown on your bill, this is usually the VAT. Tip is added to the bill and should be handed to the waiter while you pay, before you leave the table. Tipping is not compulsory, so if you are not satisfied with the service, don't feel obliged to tip! You will not be hassled if you don't.

Tipping is not common in over-the-counter establishments, bars or for other services.

Eet

Sien ook: Central European cuisines

Slovak cuisine focuses mostly on simple and hearty recipes. Historically, what is now considered genuinely Slovak has been the traditional food in the northern villages where people lived off sheep grazing and limited agriculture - in the harsh conditions many crops don't grow, and herbs are more accessible than true spices. Therefore, the staple foods mostly involve (smoked) meat, cheese, potatoes and flour. This does not make the food bland, however, and much of it is quite filling and flavoursome, though can be a bit heavy. As no strong spices or truly exotic ingredients are used, sampling local wares is a safe and rewarding experience.

Some dishes are authentically Slovak, many others are variations on a regional theme. A lot of cheese is typically consumed, out of meats pork and poultry products are the most common, with some beef and game dishes, most common accompaniments being potatoes and various types of dumplings. Since Slovakia is a land-locked country, fish and seafood options are limited (carp is served at Christmas, trout is the most common fish). Soups are quite common both as an appetiser and, as some are quite filling, as a main dish.

If you are a vegetariese, the variety of food in the cities should be decent. However, when venturing out into the countryside, the offer may be limited as vegetables are mostly considered a side and/or eaten mostly raw or in salads. Also, be aware that even though some dishes will be in the vegetarian section of the menu, this merely means that they're not predominantly meat-based and still might be prepared using animal fats or even contain small pieces of meat, so make your requirements clear. Fried cheese with ham or Cesar salad(!) are good examples. Still, almost every restaurant in the country will serve at least the staple choice of fried cheese (the normal, non-ham variety) with fries, which is a universally popular. There should be a good selection of sweet dishes as well, with pancakes, dumplings filled with fruits, jams or chocolate and sweet noodles with nuts/poppy seeds/sweet cottage cheese most common. Seeking out the nearest pizzeria is also a good and accessible option mostly everywhere.

The main meal of the day is traditionally lunch, though this is changing especially in cities due to work schedules, and dinner is increasingly becoming the main meal there.

In all but the most exclusive restaurants it is not customary to be shown to your table by the staff. So when you enter, do not hang out by the door, but simply pick a table of your choice and enjoy. Once you are comfortably seated, waiting staff will be over shortly to give you the menu and let you order drinks.

Again with the possible exception of the most exclusive establishments, there is mostly no dress code enforced in restaurants and informal clothing is fine. Hauling yourself into a restaurant for a well-deserved meal after a day of hiking/skiing in your sporty clothes might attract a few frowns, but you certainly won't be turned away. Generally, anything you would wear for a stroll in town is perfectly fine. You don't need a jacket or closed shoes and in summer shorts are also acceptable.

Slovak food

Bryndzové halušky is a Slovak national dish made out of potato dumplings and a special kind of unpasteurized fermented sheep cheese called 'bryndza'. This meal is unique to Slovakia and quite appetising (and surprisingly filling), and you should not leave Slovakia without trying it. Please note that while this dish will usually be listed in the vegetarian section of the menu, it is served with pieces of fried meaty bacon on top, so if you are a vegetarian make sure to ask for halušky without the bacon. Halušky can be found in many restaurants; however, the quality varies as it is not an easy dish to prepare. If you at all can, seek out an ethnic Slovak restaurant (this can be harder than it sounds), or at least ask locals for the best place in the vicinity. In the northern regions you will also find authentic restaurants called 'Salaš' (this word means sheep farm in Slovak and many take produce directly from these), which serve the most delicious and fresh variety. Sometimes, a variety with smoked cheese added on the top is available. A separate dish called strapačky might also be available where sauerkraut is served instead of bryndza, but it is not as typical (this will also come with bacon on top).

A salaš will usually serve also other typical Slovak dishes, and many will offer several varieties of sheep cheese to buy as well. They are all locally produced, delicious, and well worth buying if you are a cheese fan. Verieties include bryndza (primarily used to make 'Bryndzové halušky', but it is a soft spreadable cheese which is very healthy and often used as a spread), blocks of sheep cheese (soft and malleable, delicious on its own or with salt), parenica (cheese curled in layers into a small peelable roll, sold smoked or unsmoked) and korbáčiky (this word means hair braids in Slovak, and korbáčiky are threads of cheese woven into a pattern resembling a basic braid). Some of these cheeses are available to buy in supermarkets as well but these are mass-produced and not as good.

Most other dishes are regional, and their varieties can be found elsewhere in Central Europe. These include kapustnica, a sauerkraut soup typically eaten at Christmas but served all year round in restaurants. It is flavoursome and can be mildly spicy based on what sausage is used. Depending on the recipe it may also include smoked meat and/or dried mushrooms.

Various large dumplings called pirohy can be found and depending on the filling can be salty or sweet. Fillings include sauerkraut, various types of cheese or meat or simply fruits or jam. They closely resemble Polish pierogi .

Goulash is a regional dish made with cuts of beef, onions, vegetables and squashed potatoes with spices, which is very hearty and filling. Depending on the thickness it can be served as a soup (with bread) or as a stew (served with dumplings). Goulash can be sometimes found outdoors during BBQs or at festival markets, where it is prepared in a big cauldron, sometimes with game instead of beef - this is the most authentic. A variety called Segedin goulash also exists, which is quite distinct and prepared with sauerkraut. Goulash can be quite spicy.

Apart from kapustnica and goulash, which are more of a main dish, other soups are quite popular as an appetiser. Mushroom soup is a typical Christmas dish in many parts, and there are several soups made out of beans or bean sprouts. In restaurants, the most common soups are normal chicken and (sometimes) beef broth, and tomato soup and garlic broth (served with croutons, very tasty, but don't go kissing people after) are also very common. Some restaurants offer certain soups to be served in a small loaf of bread ('v bochniku'), which can be an interesting and tasty experience.

Other typical streetfood includes lokše, potato pancakes (crepes) served with various fillings (popular varieties include duck fat and/or duck liver pate, poppy seeds or jam) and langoš, which is a big deep fried flat bread most commonly served with garlic, cheese and ketchup/sour cream on top. A local version of a burger is also common, called cigánska pečienka (or simply cigánska). This is not made out of beef, however, but instead pork or chicken is used and is served in a bun with mustard/ketchup and (sometimes) onions, chilies and/or diced cabbage. If you are looking for something sweet, in spa cities such as Piešťany, you will find stands selling spa wafers, which are usually two plate-sized thin wafers with various fillings. Try chocolate or hazelnut.

Especially in the western parts, lokše can be found in a restaurant as well, where they are served as side for a roasted goose/duck (husacina), which is a local delicacy.

Other foods worth trying are chicken in paprika sauce with dumplings ('paprikas'), Schnitzel ('Rezeň' in Slovak, very common dish. 'Čiernohorsky rezeň' is a variety that is made with potato dumpling coating used instead of batter and is very good) and Sviečková (sirloin beef with special vegetable sauce, served with dumplings). From the dessert section of the menu, try plum dumplings (sometimes other fruit is used, but plums are traditional); this is a good and quite filling dish on its own as well.

In some parts of the countryside, there is a tradition called zabíjačka, where a pig is killed and its various meat and parts are consumed in a BBQ-like event. This is a lot more historic celebration than you are likely to find in mostly modern Slovakia, but if you have an opportunity to attend, it may be an interesting experience, and the meat and sausages are home-made, delicious and full of flavour. If you can find home-made húrka (pork meat and liver sausage with rice) or krvavníčky (similar to hurka, but with pork blood) on offer elsewhere, they are both very good. Daar is ook tlačenka (cold meat pressed together with some vegetables, served similar to ham), which is served cold with vinegar and onion on top, and can be bought in supermarkets as well. Various other type of sausages and smoked meats are available commercially.

A thick fried slice of cheese served with French fries and a salad is also a common Slovak dish. It is served in most restaurants, and worth trying out, especially the local variety made from smoked cheese ('údený syr'/'oštiepok') or 'hermelín' (local cheese similar to Camembert). This is not considered a substitute for meat.

There is a good variety of bakery products, including various sweet pastries- try the local fillings of poppy seeds and/or (sweet) cottage cheese (tvaroh). Strudel (štrúdla) is also popular, try the traditional apple and raisins filling or fancier sweet poppy seeds and sour cherries version. For something savoury, try pagáč, which is a puff pastry with little pork cracklings. Local bread is excellent, but please note that some of the several varieties are sprinkled with caraway seeds. You may or may not like this! Baguettes and baguette shops/stands are very common and you will be able to choose from a variety of fillings.

For dessert, visit the local cukráreň. These establishments, though slowly merging into cafes, exclusively specialise in appeasing your sweet tooth and serve a variety of cakes, as well as hot and cold drinks and (sometimes) ice-cream. The cakes resemble similar fare in the Czech Republic or their Viennese cousins. The selection is diverse and on display, so just pick one you like the look of, perhaps a 'krémeš' (a bit of pastry at the bottom, thick filling of vanilla custard, topped with a layer of cream or just chocolate) or 'veterník' (think huge profiterole coated in caramel), selection of tortas etc.

When you are shopping in the supermarket, remember to pick up Tatranky en / of Horalky, two brands of similar wafers with hazelnut filling and lightly coated in chocolate that the locals swear by.

International Cuisine

Italian restaurants and pizzerias are extremely popular in Slovakia, and have become ubiquitous. Even if you don't go to an ethnic Italian restaurant, there will be a pizza or pasta dish on almost every restaurant menu. Italian (and generally Mediterranean)ice cream is also very popular.

Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine is also becoming more common everywhere, and kebab/gyros (a bun with sliced bits of meat) stands are very common.

In bigger cities, you will find a selection of ethnic restaurants including Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, French and many others. Moreover, as mentioned above, many Austrian, Czech, Hungarian and Polish dishes with a Slovakian twist are commonplace.

Fast food establishments can be found in Slovakia as anywhere else in the world, McDonalds can be found in many bigger and smaller cities. However, due to the other food being relatively cheap in comparison to the Western prices of fast foods, this is not usually considered the truly budget option. A food in a cheaper restaurant will cost 1-1.5x the price of a meal combo (sometimes even less) and might prove a better value. Still, these establishments are reasonably popular, especially with the younger generation.

Drink

Nie-alkoholiese drankies

For non-alcoholic drinks try Vinea, a soft drink made from grapes, in both red and white and also non-carbonated. Kofola, a Coke-type soft drink, is also very popular among locals and is available both on tap and bottled. Slovakia is one of three countries in the world where Coca-Cola is not the number one in the market.

Mineral waters are some of the best in the World, come in numerous varieties and each has unique positive health effects (e.g. getting rid of heartburn, improving digestion etc.) depending on the type of minerals naturally found in the water.There are many types available from shops and supermarkets, for example Budiš, Mitická, Slatina, Rajec, Dobrá Voda, Zlatá studňa, Fatra etc. Others are only available directly from the many natural mineral springs common all across the country. As these are true 'mineral' waters, they will invariably contain minerals, and the taste will differ according to the brand/spring. If you don't like one, try a different brand! You may also try mineral waters with various flavourings, ranging from raspberry to 'mojito'.

In contrast to what you might be used to, sparkling water is the default option, so if you prefer still you might have to look for this specifically. The level of carbonation is marked by the label. Dark blue or Red label usually indicates carbonated ones ("perlivá"), a green label indicates mildly carbonated ones ("mierne perlivá") and white, pink or baby blue indicates those without carbon dioxide ("neperlivá"). Due to the excellent local choice and quality of the water, international brands are not as common.

In restaurants, serving of a free glass of water is not a part of the culture, so remember that if you ask for one it is quite likely that you will be brought (most likely sparkling) mineral water instead (and charged for it).

Out of hot drinks koffie is available everywhere, mostly in three varieties (cafes in cities will offer more) - espresso, 'normal' coffee which is served medium-sized, small and black and Viennese coffee which is 'normal' coffee with a dollop of cream on top. Cappuccinos are quite common as well. Coffee is served with sugar and cream/milk on the side. Hot chocolate is popular as well. Tee rooms are quite popular as a place to chill out in major cities. These usually have a laid-back, vaguely oriental ambiance, and offer a great variety of black, green, white and fruit teas. Schisha might be on offer as well. A part of this culture spread to the other catering establishments, most of which will now offer a choice at least between fruit and black tea. Note that black tea is served with sugar and lemon in Slovakia, serving of milk or cream is not common. Some places may offer a beverage called 'hot apple', which tastes a bit like softer hot apple juice.

Alkoholiese drank

Drinking is very much a part of the Slovak culture and some form of alcohol will be served at most social occasions. However, the locals mostly hold their liquor well and being visibly drunk is frowned upon, so be aware of your limits. Note that some locally brewed spirits may be stronger than what you are used to, and that the standard shot glass in Slovakia is 50ml, which may be more than you are used to if arriving from Western Europe. If you order double vodka, you will get 1dl of it! Alcohol in general is cheap compared to Western Europe or the US. There are no special shops, and alcoholic beverages can be purchased in practically any local supermarket or food store. You can legally drink and purchase alcohol if you are 18 years or older, but this is not very strictly enforced. You still might be IDed in some city clubs if you look very young, however.

Vir beers, there are a great variety of excellent local brews that are similar in style and quality to Czech beers (which are also widely available), and beer is mostly the local drink of choice. Try out the Zlatý Bažant, Smädný Mních, Topvar en Šariš. Šariš is also available in a dark version that is thicker and heavier on your stomach. If the local tastes do not satisfy, "Western" beers are sold in the bigger restaurants and pubs.

Slovakia has also some great local wyne, many similar to Germanic Riesling styles. There is a number of wine-growing regions in the south with centuries worth of tradition, including the area just outside Bratislava. If you can, try to visit one of the local producer's wine cellars, as many are historical and it is a cultural experience as of itself. You might also be offered home-made wine if you are visiting these areas, as many locals ferment their own wines. The quality obviously varies. Every year at the end of May and beginning of November, an event called Small Carpathian Wine Road takes place in Small Carpathian Wine Region (between Bratislava en Trnava), where all the local producers open their cellars to the public. Buy a ticket in the nearest cellar and you will receive a wine glass and admission into any cellar in the region, where you can sample the best produce from the previous year.

There are also sweeter wines grown in South-Eastern border regions called Tokaj. Tokaj is fermented out of the special Tokaj grape variety endemic to the region (part of which is in Hungary and part in Slovakia) and it is a sweet dessert wine. Tokaj is considered a premium brand with a world-wide reputation and is arguably some of the best Central Europe has to offer. Other Slovak wines might not be widely known outside the region but they are certainly worth a try. Around the harvest time in the autumn, in the wine-producing regions, young wine called burčiak is often sold and popular among the locals. As burčiak strengthens with fermentation (as it becomes actual wine), its alcohol content can vary quite wildly.

Slovakia produces good spirits. Excellent is the plum brandy (Slivovica), pear brandy (Hruškovica) or herb liquor Demänovka. But the most typical alcohol is Borovička, a type of gin. Tsjeggies Fernet, a type of aromatic bitter spirit is also very popular. In some shops you may try a 25 or 50 ml shot for very little money, so as to avoid buying a big bottle of something of unknown flavour, then decide whether to buy or not to buy. International brands are also available, but at a price premium (still cheaper than in most Western countries, however).

If you are a more adventurous type, you can try some home-made fruit brandys that the locals sometimes offer to foreigners. Slivovica is the most common, but also pear brandy, apricot brandy, or raspberry brandy can be found. Drinking is a part of the tradition, especially in the countryside. If you are visiting locals, don't be surprised if you are offered home-made spirit as a welcome drink nor that the host may be quite proud of this private stock. The home-made liquors are very strong (up to 60% alcohol), so be careful. If Slivovica is matured for 12 or more years, it can become a pleasant digestive drink.

In winter months, mulled wine is available at all winter markets and mulled mead is also common. A mixed hot drink called grog, which consists of black tea and a shot of local 'rum' is very popular, especially in the skiing resorts, and really warms you up.

Doen

• Visit the nearest chateau/castle - many are hundreds of years old, some preserved in a habitable state with period furnishings and many guided tours are offered.
• Gaan stap! - the entire Slovakia (except flatlands) is covered with hundreds of miles of extremely well-marked hiking trails, that especially in the national parks lead though gorgeous landscapes. Get the idea hier.
• Visit one of the traditional wooden churches, they're unique to the region. These might not be readily accessible without a car, however.
• Go spelunking - caves are interspersed around Slovakia and as many are open to general public they are some of the most accessible in the world. Many are UNESCO listed, including Dobsinska Ice Cave (in Slovak Paradise), and Ochrinska Aragonite Cave, Domica, Jasovska Cave en Gombasek Cave (all in Slovak Karst)

• Visit a local festival - in the early spring 'Fasiangy' (Mardi Gras) is celebrated, especially in the countryside, and in early autumn the end of the harvest period is celebrated in wine-producing regions. The part of the centre of the town will be closed and a traditional market available, mostly with local produce and handicrafts for sale and plenty to eat and drink. In bigger cities, similar Christmas markets open in December/around Christmas.
• Ski and snowboard in the mountains, especially Hoë Tatras en Lae Tatras. Smaller ranges are also very suitable for cross-country skiing
• Navigate down the rivers Váh or Dunajec on a raft through picturesque gorges. For a more gentle ride, raft down the Small Danube.
• If you're into railway history or would like to spend a day romantically, Slovakia offers a number of phased-out railway tracks, which were once used for transporting wood, but now transport only tourists in cosy steam trains through forests and valleys. The best-preserved of them all is ČHŽ near the town of Brezno.
• Slovakia offers many excellent spas. If you enjoy stinking mud and are willing to pay for it, the best, most famous (and most expensive) spa is located in Piešťany. Important spas are also in Trenčianske Teplice, Rajecké Teplice, Bardejov, Dudince en Podhájska.
• If the above is too sedate for you and you'd welcome some water slides and fun, try water parks in Bešeňová, Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad, Turčianske Teplice, Oravice, Senec. Significantly cheaper are classical open-air pools, some of the best are in Veľký Meder en Štúrovo.

Kulturele geleenthede

• International Film Festival Artfilm. Yearly in June/July in Trenčianske Teplice en Trenčín.  
• International Film Festival Cinematik. Yearly in early September in Piešťany. Young and relatively small film festival. Accreditation for the whole festival is less than €7.  
• International Film Festival Bratislava. Forever in December.  
• Comics-Salón - A event dedicated to Japanese Anime & Manga, Fantasy and SciFi and its fans, but not only them! Great atmosphere, friendly folk and lots of fun awaits you there. This events roots stretch back to 2004, when it was held in "Súza" for the first time. Now, once every year early in September Bratislava enjoys the rush of fine individuals from all over Europe to participate in this unique event. For the past 2 years, the location was moved to "Istropolis" exhibition halls due to space constraints.

Music events

• Pohoda Music Festival. One of the biggest Slovak music festivals, critically acclaimed and recognised on European scale. Yearly in July in Trenčín. Hosts mostly alternative music. 
• Grape Music Festival. Another great smaller alternative music festival. Yearly in August in Piešťany. 

Slaap

There is a wide range of accommodation available in Slovakia. These range from AquaCity, based in Poprad, through to budget priced rooms in rental chalets.

The most luxurious hotels can mostly be found in major cities such as Bratislava and Košice and in the major tourist destinations like the High Tatras or the spa towns (the situation here is unique as the price of the hotel usually includes some of the spa procedures). These hotels offer Western style comfort and prices.

There will be at least one hotel available in every major town or tourist area, but the quality varies. Some of the mid-range hotels were built during the Communist era in the corresponding architecture style, which might make them look less appealing from the outside, though the interiors might be perfectly adequate.

Budget hostels are mostly concentrated in the major cities, and you can expect typical hostel prices as in the rest of (Central) Europe. If you are venturing outside of cities, there are numerous mountain huts available for short-term rent in the mountain areas. Especially in touristy areas there will be many private rooms available for rent, look out for 'Zimmer Frei' signs. This typically does not include breakfast.

When hiking, official maintained mountain cabins offer cheap accommodation for hikers on trails in all of the national parks and a lot of the national conservation areas. They have a limited number of beds (if any) and generally limited capacity, so for the more frequented places during the high season an advance booking might be necessary and is recommended. If you don't manage to book a bed, you might be allowed to still stay overnight, sleeping on the floor in designated areas. Either way, you will probably want to bring your own sleeping bag. The facilities, due to the location, are limited, but there will be a shared toilet and possibly a shower. There's usually a kitchen that serves several hearty hot dishes and a number of drinks at pretty reasonable prices.

It is only legal to pitch a tent in Slovakia outside national parks and propected natural zones (where should be signposts but there might not depending on how and where you enter these), but camping is reasonably popular in summer.Camping grounds in Slovakia (non-exhaustive list):

Naam	Region	Location	Address
Camping Bojnice[dooie skakel]		Bojnice	Kopálková Silvia
ATC Zlaté Piesky		Bratislava	Senecká cesta 2
Autocamping Bystrina		Demänovská Dolina
Tília kemp Gäceľ		Dolný Kubín	Gäceľská cesta
Camping Kamzík		Donovaly
Autocamping Margita a Ilona		Levice-Kalinciakovo
Autokemp Levocska'Dolina		Levoca
Autocamping Oravice		Liesek
Autocamping Turiec s.r.o.		Martin	Kolóna Hviezda c. 92
Autocamping Slnava II		Piestany
Autocamping Lodenica		Piestany
Autocamping Tajov		Tajov
Eurocamp FICC[dooie skakel]		Tatranská Lomnica
Intercamp Tatranec		Tatranská Lomnica	Vysoké Tatry 202
Autocamping Na Ostrove		Trencin
Autocamping Trusalová		Turany
Autocamping Varín		Varin
Autocamping Vavrisovo		Vavrisovo

Leer

In die meeste groot stede behoort 'n aantal Slowaakse taalkursusse en / of privaatonderwysers beskikbaar te wees.

Daar is verskeie uitstekende sentrums vir hoër onderwys in die land, met kursusse wat in Engels aangebied word. Dit sluit in Comenius Universiteit in Bratislava, Slowakye se oudste en mees gesogte universiteit, tesame met Pavol Jozef Šafárik Universiteit in Košice, Matej Bel Universiteit in Banská Bystrica en die Slowaakse Universiteit vir Tegnologie in Bratislava. Meer inligting oor studie in Slowakye kan gevind word hier^{[dooie skakel]}.

Werk

Slowakye is 'n lid van die Europese Unie, dus as u 'n burger van 'n ander lidstaat is, kan u wettig in Slowakye woon en werk sonder beperkinge. Die gewildste webwerf vir poslyste is profesia.sk

Die meeste ambassadekantore sal Europese burgers ook adviseer. Die gemiddelde salaris in 2017 was € 944 per maand. IT-kundiges met die beste salaris betaal meer as € 1500 per maand (konstruksiewerkers verdien ongeveer € 560 per maand en kelners € 340 per maand).

As u van buite die EU afkomstig is, het u 'n visum nodig om in Slowakye te werk, en kontak u en / of die Slowaakse ambassade die beste vir meer inligting. Engels as tweede taal is 'n gewilde werkopsie. Let daarop dat, tensy u aansoek doen vir sekere posisies by internasionale ondernemings en soortgelyke organisasies waar Engels / Duits kan werk, u waarskynlik kennis van Slowaaks sal benodig vir die meeste ander werk.

Bly veilig

Slowakye is oor die algemeen veilig, selfs volgens Europese standaarde, en as besoeker sal u waarskynlik geen probleme ondervind nie. Geweldsmisdaad is veral ongewoon, en Slowakye sien minder geweldsmisdaad per capita as baie Europese lande. Die grootste vrees vir 'n reisiger is egter waarskynlik die paaie.

Paaie is oor die algemeen swak verlig en is baie smal. As u van plan is om te ry u mag nie onder die invloed van alkohol wees nie. Boetes is baie streng as u in so 'n daad vasgevang word.

In geval van nood, skakel 112, die universele noodnommer. Vir die polisie kan u 158, ambulans 155 en brandweermanne 150 skakel.

Dit moet nie nodig wees om te noem dat die 2006 film Hostel, wie se intrige in 'Slowakye' afspeel is 'n volledige fiksiewerk, en die waarskynlikheid dat toeriste ontvoer en gemartel word, is in Slowakye dieselfde as in enige ontwikkelde stad in die VSA of Wes-Europa - astronomies laag. Slowakye word as 'n veilige reisbestemming vir alle toeriste beskou, net soos 'n groot deel van Europa. Net so, die Amerikaanse film Eurotrip (2004) kan 'n sensitiewe onderwerp wees omdat Slowakye uitgebeeld word as 'n vreesaanjaende onontwikkelde land, wat ook vals is.

Wees dieselfde versigtigheid as in enige ander Europese stad as u stede besoek. Gebruik gesonde verstand, wees ekstra versigtig in die donker, bly bewus van u omgewing, hou u besittings in sig en vermy dronkies en groepe jong mans. Sakkies kan soms in groter skare gevind word en by groot trein- / busstasies.

Wanneer u bergagtige gebiede van Slowakye besoek, veral die Hoë Tatras, laat die hotelpersoneel of ander betroubare persone weet waarheen u presies op pad is, sodat redders uitgestuur kan word om u te vind as u nie terugkeer nie. Die relatiewe klein oppervlakte en hoogte van die Hoë Tatra's is baie misleidend - dit is steil en moeilike terrein met onvoorspelbare weer. Moet nooit alleen stap nie en gebruik regte toerusting. Die bergreddingsdiens is 'n goeie bron van addisionele en huidige inligting. Neem hul waarskuwings ernstig op. In noodgevalle kan hulle gekontak word deur 18300 of die universele 112 te skakel. Maak seker dat u mediese versekeringsdekking die bergaktiwiteite insluit voordat u aandurf, aangesien 'n reddingsmissie in die ontoeganklike terrein duur kan wees.

Let ook daarop dat die weer in die Hoë Tatra geneig is tot skielike veranderinge, veral gedurende die lente en herfs.

Slowakye is een van die min lande wat oor is in Europa, waar mense soos bere en wolwe leef nog in die natuur. Terwyl niemand die afgelope 100 jaar aan 'n beeraanval gesterf het nie, vind daar elke jaar 'n paar aanvalle plaas. U kans om een ​​as toeris teë te kom, is baie laag, maar die moontlikheid bestaan. 'N Beer sal jou vermy as hy weet dat jy daar is, dus die beste manier om dit te vermy, is deur jou teenwoordigheid bekend te maak deur hard te praat / te sing / te klap, ens., Veral in 'n gebied waar hy jou nie maklik kan sien nie afstand. Moenie hardloop as u 'n beer sien nie, maar laat die gebied stadig in die teenoorgestelde rigting. As u een van u hotel sien - moontlik voer uit die vullisdromme - wat 'n bietjie meer algemeen is, maar tog onwaarskynlik, moet u dit NIE nader of voer nie.

Bly gesond

Geen inenting is nodig om in Slowakye te besoek of te bly nie, maar as u van plan is om plattelandse gebiede te besoek, word bosluis-inenting aanbeveel. Ook inenting teen hepatitis "A" en "B" is aan te beveel soos in alle Europese lande.

Bosluise kan gevind word in woude op die platteland en soms ook in groter parke, en in sommige gebiede wat dit mag dra bosluisoordraagbare enkefalitis. Aangesien hulle in bosse en hoër gras woon (as hulle van die bome val). Probeer dus om dik onderbos te vermy as u gaan stap en kyk altyd regoor u liggaam wanneer u terugkeer (bosluise is geneig om warm kolle te soek). Verwyder die bosluis so gou as moontlik deur dit saggies uit die byt te swaai (moenie die liggaam afbreek of druk nie, want die kop sal in die vel bly sit en dalk besmet raak). Moet in geen stadium met kaal hande aan die regmerkie raak nie, gebruik 'n pincet en latexhandskoene.

Die meeste kos en drank is heeltemal veilig; die higiëne-standaarde in Slowakye is dieselfde as elders in Wes- / Sentraal-Europa.

Kraanwater is oral drinkbaar - volgens een studie is water wat as kraanwater in die Bratislava-Wene-streek gebruik word, die skoonste ter wêreld. As u mineraalwater verkies, kan u uit 'n verskeidenheid handelsmerke kies, aangesien Slowakye moontlik die meeste natuurlike minerale waterbronne per capita het.

Die Hoë Tatra's is miskien nie die grootste of hoogste bergreeks nie, maar sommige roetes het weliswaar strawwe beklimmings, rotsagtige terrein, en die weer kan onvoorspelbaar wees. Neem die nodige toerusting, moenie jou vermoëns oorskat nie en gebruik gesonde verstand.

As u besluit om in die plaaslike riviere / natuurlike poele / mere te swem, soos baie inwoners dit doen, moet u onthou dat, tensy uitdruklik anders vermeld, hierdie aktiwiteite nie onder toesig van 'n lewenswag is nie, en dat u dit op eie risiko doen.

Die standaard van gesondheidsorg is redelik hoog, maar die taalgrens kan 'n probleem wees, want nie veel dokters praat Engels nie. Dit mag egter nie 'n probleem wees in groot dorpe met 'n Fakultná nemocnica.

Daar word geen oor-die-toonbank-medisyne in Slowakye in supermarkte of dwelmwinkels verkoop nie, u moet na 'n apteek gaan, selfs as u net 'n aspirien benodig. In selfs kleiner stede moet daar 24/7 oop wees. Wees op die uitkyk vir die naaste groen kruisteken - selfs al is hierdie spesifieke apteek gesluit, sal 'n bordjie in die deur jou na die naaste oopkant wys. As u 'n spesifieke medisyne benodig, moet u seker maak dat u voorskrif gereed is, aangesien baie dwelms dit benodig.

Respek

Slowake is vriendelike en vreedsame mense wat in 'n vrye demokratiese staat woon. Daar is nie een probleem wat vyandigheid of probleme kan veroorsaak nie. Gewoonlik is die ergste ding wat kan gebeur, dat u 'n bietjie boers sou wees en die geskiedenis aan u verduidelik word oor 'n ander bier. Dit betaal egter om respekvol en sensitief te wees wanneer u sekere onderwerpe bespreek.

Onthou dat Slowakye 'n aparte nasie is wat onafhanklik is sedert 1993 toe Tsjeggo-Slowakye in die Slowaakse Republiek en die Tsjeggiese Republiek verdeel het. Dit is ook 'n 'jong nasie', want dit was vir die grootste deel van sy geskiedenis deel van ander multinasionale state soos Oostenryk-Hongarye of Tsjeggo-Slowakye. Daarom kan sommige mense sensitief wees as dit by nasionaliteitskwessies kom. Daar is geen vyandigheid of wrok as dit kom by die Velvet-egskeiding wat Tsjeggo-Slowakye verdeel het nie, en die twee lande bly baie vriendelik. Moenie na Slowakye verwys as 'n deel van 'n ander staat nie, en dit moet goed gaan met u.

Slowakye se posisie gedurende die Tweede Wêreldoorlog was taamlik ingewikkeld, en hierdie onderwerp word die beste vermy as u met nasionaliste praat. Net so het die dekades van die Kommunisme sy stempel op die land afgedruk en dit kan 'n sensitiewe onderwerp wees. Hoewel Slowakye voorheen 'n deel van die Sowjet-blok was, was dit nog nooit 'n deel van die USSR of die Russiese Ryk nie. Onthou dit asseblief.

Die gebruik van die Nazi-saluut is 'n kriminele oortreding in Slowakye.

Die betrekkinge met die Roma / Sigeuner-minderheid is soms gespanne en sommige mense het sterk standpunte oor die onderwerp. Leer uself oor die situasie van minderhede in Slowakye voordat u in enige vorm van gesprek of debat begin.

Slowake is baie gasvry, en as hulle u na hul huis nooi, kan u verwag om goed versorg te word en 'n verskeidenheid kos en drankies aangebied te word. As u vir middagete genooi word, verwag 'n 2-3 gang maaltyd net soos vir aandete, want middagete is tradisioneel die hoofmaal van die dag. Dit word as beleefd beskou om 'n klein geskenkie vir die gasheer saam te bring, soos 'n bottel wyn of goeie drank, 'n boks sjokolade of 'n klein blommetjieblommetjie, maar gee nooit geld nie, want dit sou gevoel word dat u probeer betaal vir die gasvryheid.

Die meeste mense gebruik hul buitelugskoene nie om higiëniese redes binne nie, trek dus u skoene uit in die gang as u by iemand in die huis kom. Moenie bekommerd wees nie, hulle sal vir jou 'n ekstra pantoffels kry om jou voete warm te hou.

Wanneer hulle in 'n restaurant saam met die gesin van die gasheer eet, is dit gebruiklik dat hulle die rekening kies. Dit kan miskien nie gebeur nie, maar moenie verbaas wees as dit gebeur nie.

Wanneer u iemand voorstel of ontmoet, selfs van die ander geslag, en selfs vir die eerste keer, is dit nie ongewoon om mekaar een of twee keer op die wang te soen nie (afhangende van die streek) in plaas van om mekaar te skud. Dit is nie algemeen onder twee mans nie, maar is normaal vir vroue. Moenie skrik nie, en onthou dat dit nie 'n seksuele gebaar is nie.

Verbind

Die internasionale skakelkode vir Slowakye is 421.

In geval van nood, skakel die universele nommer 112. U kan ook direk skakel by 150 vir brandweer, 155 in 'n mediese noodgeval of 158 vir die polisie.

Slowaakse telefone werk op die GSM-standaard, wat die grootste deel van die land beslaan, en 3G die grootste deel van die gebied beslaan. Die dekking is verbasend goed, en u sal dikwels selfs in berggebiede sein, tensy u in 'n diep kloof is. Daar is drie hoofoperateurs - Orange, T-mobile en O2, en almal gebruik die standaard 900 of 1800 MHz, wat miskien nie versoenbaar is met sommige Amerikaanse telefone wat op 1900 MHz werk nie.

Hulle bied almal (saam met 'n paar virtuele operateurs, waarvan Funfón en Tesco Mobile die grootste is) 'n verskeidenheid voorafbetaalde kaarte met verskillende 'pay as you go'-skemas aan (sommige markondersoeke word aanbeveel as u die beste koop wil hê) en aansporings. As u 'n oop telefoon het, is dit maklik om in enige telefoonwinkel op te tel, of u kan 'n goedkoop telefoon koop met 'n voorafbetaalde kaart ingesluit.

Daar is nog steeds 'n paar telefoonkassies beskikbaar, maar met mobiele telefone wat nou algemeen is, neem hulle af. Let ook daarop dat u dalk 'n voorafbetaalde kaart moet koop om van hulle te gebruik.

Wifi en breëband is min of meer oral te vinde, en daar sal 'n internetkafee / speelkamer êrens in kleiner dorpe beskikbaar wees. Ook bied koshuise, kroeë, kafees en sommige openbare instellings soos biblioteke of regeringsgeboue (gratis) wifi.

Hanteer

Alle buitelandse ambassades is geleë in Bratislava, in die stad se ou stad. A lys van ambassades in Slowakye met kontakinligting kan op die land se webwerf gevind word. As u land nie 'n ambassade in Slowakye het nie, kan die naaste ambassade waarskynlik in Wene in Oostenryk gevind word, wat maklik bereikbaar is met die trein, boot, bus of motor vanaf Bratislava.