Slowakia

Do

thumb|453x453px|The medieval mining town of Banská Štiavnica Visit the nearest chateau/castle - many of them are hundreds of years old, some preserved in a habitable state with period furnishing. Many guided tours are offered as well. Go hiking! The entirety of Slovakia (except for the 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 here. 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 Dobšinská Ice Cave (in the Slovak Paradise), and Ochtinská Aragonite Cave, Domica, Jasovská Cave and Gombasecká Cave (all in the Slovak Karst)

thumb|330x330px|Domica Cave in Slovak Karst|border

Visit a local festival - in the early spring 'Fašiangy' (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 centre of the town will usually be closed and a traditional market will be available, mostly with local produce and handicrafts for sale and plenty to eat and drink. In bigger cities, similar Christmas markets open during the Advent season. Ski and snowboard in the mountains, especially the High Tatras and the …

Eat

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. However, a lot of Slovak dishes that use meat don't use it as a primary ingredient. 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 vegetarian, 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 a…

Sleep

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 p…

Stay safe

alt=A silver-coloured Slovak police car with a blue-yellow pattern|thumb|A police car Slovakia is a very safe country, even by European standards. As a visitor you are unlikely to encounter any problems whatsoever. Violent crime is especially uncommon, and Slovakia sees less violent crime per capita than many other European countries.

In case of an emergency, dial 112, the universal European emergency number. You may also dial 150 for the fire brigade, 155 for an ambulance, and 158 for the police.

When visiting cities, exercise the same caution as you would in any other European city - use common sense, be extra careful after the dark, stay aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings in sight, and avoid drunks and young men. Pickpockets can sometimes be found in bigger crowds and at major transit stations.

Attitudes towards LGBT travellers are fairly tolerant, especially so in the Bratislava region. In other parts of the country you might get weird stares for open displays of homosexuality, however, you are at no real risk of violent crime. Nevertheless, exercise caution, especially so due to the 2022 Bratislava terrorist attack, which unfortunately inspired more open displays of hostility - but also empathy.

Attitudes towards other races and ethnicities (i.e., not white) are generally very tolerant for much of the population. You might be stared upon if very "foreign-looking," but this is often simple curiosity. Nonetheless, the situation can differ in places with h…

Stay healthy

thumb|Liptovská Mara water reservoir in [[Central Slovakia]] No vaccination is necessary to visit or stay in Slovakia, although if you plan to visit countryside areas, a tick vaccination is recommended. Hepatitis A and B vaccination is also advisable as with all European countries.

Despite its many issues, the standard of healthcare is relatively high, but the language barrier might be a problem as not many doctors speak English. However, this should not be a problem in major towns, which have a Fakultná nemocnica.

The huge majority of foods and drinks are perfectly safe, and the hygiene standards in Slovakia are the same as elsewhere in the European Union.

Tap water is drinkable everywhere - according to one study, water used as tap water in the Bratislava-Vienna region is the cleanest in the world. If you prefer mineral waters, you can choose from a multitude of brands, since Slovakia has quite possibly the highest number of natural mineral water springs per capita.

The High Tatras might not be the biggest or tallest mountain range, but some trails may feature strenuous climbs, and rocky terrain, and the weather may prove unpredictable. Take proper gear, do not overestimate your abilities, and use common sense.

If you decide to swim in the local rivers/natural pools/lakes, as many locals do, remember that unless expressly stated otherwise, these activities are not supervised by a lifeguard, and you are doing so at your own risk.

Ticks can be found in the countryside f…

Respect

alt=An old European street with parked cars|thumb|A street in the city of Košice Slovaks are friendly and peaceful people living in a free, democratic state. There are not really issues that would provoke actual hostility or trouble. Usually the worst thing that can happen is that you would be thought a bit boorish and have some history explained to you over a beer. However, it pays to be respectful and sensitive when discussing certain topics.