o SK - INEX Slovakia

Open-air museums - “skanzeny”
SKANZEN is a museum of folk architecture. The name was created by the first museum
of a similar kind (skansen), which was established in 1891 in Sweeden. You can find in
the open air museums buildings which would be impossible to protect their original
location, for example because of nearby water bodies. The houses, churches and other
buildings are placed at greater distances mainly due to the risk of fire (they are mostly
from wood). The open-air exceptionality always have something to say contemporaries
and their descendants.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND SKANZENY in Slovakia?
- Banská Štiavnica - open air mining museum
- Bardejov - open air museum of folk architecture
- Èièmany - traidiitonal village with folf architecture
- Humenné - open air museum of folk architecture Vychylovka
- Martin - open air museum of folk architecture
Martin
- Pribylina - open air museum of folk architecture
- Stará Lubovòa - open air museum of folk
Èièmany
architecture
- Svidník - open air museum of folk
architecture
- Vlkolínec - traidiitonal village, UNESCO
- Vychylovka - open air museum of folk
architecture
- Zuberec - Brestová - open air museum
of folk architecture
Zuberec
Stará ¼ubovòa
Svidník
Bardejov
Pribylina
Humenné
Vlkolínec (UNESCO)
Banská Štiavnica - mining museum
Hornonitriansky banský skanzen (Prievidza) - mining museum
page 31
Open air mining museum in BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA
- you can visit exposition with lecture on the ground and also under the ground. Not
good for people with claustrophobia! The tour takes 90 minutes.
Entrance: daily JUL – AUG - MON 12:00-17:00, TUE-SUN 9:00 - 18:00; APR-JUN & SEPOCT daily except Mondays 9:00-17:00; NOV-MAR - closed
Admission fees: full price 5 €, reduced 2,50 €
More information: http://www.muzeumbs.sk/?page_id=100
Open air museum in BARDEJOV
- you can visit exposition in the area of the Bardejov spa and see the traditional buildings
from the locality of Horny Saris. The traditional folk music festivals are organized during
the summer here.
Entrance: MAY – SEP daily except Mondays 9:30-16:30;
OCT-APR daily except Mondays 9:30-15:00
Admission fees: full price 1,50 €, reduced 1 €; guide for 10 € (40 min.)
More information: http://www.muzeumbardejov.sk/expozic/skanzen.htm
Traditional village and open air museum ÈIÈMANY
- you can see how people lived and worked in the village, as well as examples of folk
costumes and folk arts. Two expositions - From the life and work of the people of
Cicmany / Family customs and Exhibition of folk living (2 buildings!)
Entrance: daily JUN – AUG 9:00-16:30;
SEP-MAY daily except Mondays 8:00-16:00
Admission fees: full price 2 €, reduced 1,30 €
More information: http://pmza.sk/?page_id=56
page 32
Open air museum in HUMENNÉ
The Open-Air Museum Humenne is located some 200 m to the north-east of the manor
and shows folk wooden architecture of the east-Carpathian region. Do not forget to visit
also museum in the MANOR.
Entrance: daily MAY - OCT 9:00-18:00, NOV - APR closed
Admission fees: full price 2 €
More information: http://www.muzeumhumenne.sk/
Open air museum in MARTIN
The open-air Museum of the Slovak Village shows the folk architecture, type of dwelling
and lifestyle of traditional rural communities in Slovakia from the 19th to early 20th
century.
Entrance: daily JUL – AUG 9:00-18:00; SEP-OCT & MAY-JUN daily except Mondays 9:0017:00; NOV – APR daily except Monday and Saturday 10:00 – 14:30
Admission fees: full price 2 €, reduce price 1 €
More information: http://www.skanzenmartin.sk/
Open air museum in PRIBYLINA (near Liptovský Mikuláš)
The Museum of the Liptov Village Pribylina is an extended exhibition of the Liptov
Museum at Ruzomberok. This section includes buildings from the inundanted area of
the water reservoir Liptovska Mara and from a few villages of Upper and Lower Liptov.
Entrance: daily MAY – NOV 9:00-17:00; daily NOV-APR 9:00 – 16:00
Admission fees: full price 3 €, reduce price 1,50 €
More information: http://www.liptovskemuzeum.sk/index/
page 33
Open air museum in STARÁ ¼UBOVÒA
The open-air museum presents cultural values of ethnically mixed region in northern
Spisz and north-western Saris. With it´s character presents unique variousness of life in
this area. It is right under the castle Stará Lubovòa. So do not miss to visit also the castle!
Entrance: daily MAY - SEP 9:00-18:00; OCT daily except Mondays 9:00 - 16:00;
NOV - APR closed
Admission fees: full price 2 €, reduced price 1 €
More information: http://www.muzeumsl.sk/en/
Open air museum in SVIDNÍK
An Open-air exhibition spreads on an area of 10 hectares in the vicinity of the
amphitheatre which is annually the scene of the traditional Festivities of the Culture of
Ruthenian-Ukrainians in Slovakia.
Entrance: MAY - OCT MON-FRI 8:30-18:00, SAT-SUN 10:00-18:00; NOV - APR closed
Admission fees: full price 1,99 €, reduced price 1 €
More information: http://www.snm.sk/?2064
Traditional village and open air museum VLKOLÍNEC (UNESCO heritage)
You can enjoy the visit of the traditional village under UNESCO protection. You can also
visit museum in the Farmer house. The building is one of a set of two and three-room
logwood houses, typical construction of regional architecture in the northern parts of
Central Slovakia.
Entrance: daily except Mondays APR-JUN 9:00-15:00; daily JUL-SEPT 9:00 to 17:00; daily
except Mondays OCT 9:00 to 15:00, NOV-MAR - closed
Admission fees: free
More information: http://www.liptovskemuzeum.sk/index/
page 34
Open air museum and historic forest railway in VYCHYLOVKA
The Museum of the Kysuce Village is an open-air museum showing the mode of life and
culture of the people in Kysuce from the 19th and the 1st half of the 20th century. The
exhibition including 34 buildins - dwelling houses, outhouses, ecclesiastic and social
buildings.
An organic part of the exhibition is also a historic narrow-gauge forest railway from the
beginning of the 20th century. A renovated track of a preserved section of the national
cultural monument - the Kysuce - Orava railway line - runs to the open-air museum.
Above the museum stands a preserved railway terminus which helped to overcome
great differences in ground elevations.
Entrance: MAY – OCT MON-FRI 9:00-17:00, SAT-SUN 9:00 to 18:00, NOV-APR - closed
Admission fees for open air museum: full price 3 €, reduced price 1,50 €
Admission fees for horest railway station: full price 3 €, reduced price 1,50 €
More information: http://kysuckemuzeum.sk/
Open air museum in ZUBEREC - BRESTOVÁ (near Tvrdošín)
You can find here agricultural and ordinary buildings (houses, agricultural buildings,
larders, haylofts, a chalet and others) sacral buildings (a wooden church, churchyard,
belfries) and the Orava craftsmen's buildings (a craftsman's house, a mill and a sawmill,
a smithery, and others). The museum is in fact a small village with a wooden church, a
churchyard and where there are also seasonal buildings.
Entrance: OCT –MAY daily except Mondays 8:00-15:30;
JUN,SEP daily 8:00 to 17:00; JUL-AUG daily 8:00-18:00
Admission fees: full price 2,50 €, reduced price 2 €
More information: http://muzeum.zuberec.sk/
page 35
UNESCO heritage in Slovakia
Slovakia has 7 sights inscribed in the World Heritage List – 5 cultural and 2 natural.
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Banská Štiavnica (a former major mining town) and tajchy (ancient water
reservoirs around the town)
?
Bardejov (a historic town)
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Wooden churches in central and eastern Slovakia (in Hervartov, Tvrdošín,
Kežmarok, Leštiny, Hronsek, Bodružal, Ladomírová, Ruská Bystrá)
?
Levoèa, Spiš Castle and associated cultural monuments
Levoèa
Spiš Castle
a medieval ecclesiastical town Spišská Kapitula
Leštiny
frescos in a medieval church in Žehra
Vlkolínec
Spišské Podhradie
?
Vlkolínec (folk architecture)
Hervatov
Tvrdošín
Bardejov
Levoèa and Spiš
Bodružal
Poloniny
?
Caves in the Slovak Karst:
Dobšinská Ice Cave
Domica Cave
Gombasek Cave
Jasovská Cave
Ochtinská Aragonite Cave
?
Primeval beech forests in Poloniny
National Park and Vihorlat Mountains
(localities: Havešová, Stužica, Rožok
and Kyjovský Forest)
http://www.slovak-republic.org/unesco/
Jasovská cave
Krásnohorská cave
Dobšinská ice cave
Ladomirová
Gombasecká cave
Hronsek
Banská Štiavnica Domica
Cultural Monuments page 36
Natural Phenomena
Wooden churches
Cultural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia
BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA - old mining town
If you do not visit Stiavnica, you are really crazy :) This town is undoubtedly the gem among
the towns of Slovakia situated in the heart of the Štiavnické vrchy Mts. Its undeniable values
and beauty caused that it is one of the first Slovak towns that has been included into the List
of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in 1996.
Mining schools and science also flourished in the town: the oldest mining school in the
Kingdom of Hungary was founded in 1735. It was promoted to the Mining Academy in 1762,
the first superior mining school in Europe.
You can visit several cultural and natural objects in and around the town. Starting with
historical Calvary, Old and New Castle, open air mining museum,... Swim in lakes - Tajchy and
enjoy great hiking tours.
See more p.26 and 32. And also: http://www.banskastiavnica.sk/index.html
BARDEJOV - historical spa town
The historic core Bardejov with complex structures forming the Jewish
suburb became the fourth location of the cultural heritage inscribed on
the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Do not miss to visit also the famous spa in Town - Bardejovské kúpele,
open air museum in the are of the spa, historical center of the town.
See more at p.32 and at: http://www.bardejov.sk/ and
http://www.muzeumbardejov.sk/expozic/skanzen.htm
page 37
Cultural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia
Levoèa, Spiš Castle and associated cultural monuments
There are 5 sites of the cultural UNESCO heritage in Spiš region:
The Castle of Spiš is the largest medieval castle compound in central Europe
along with the little town of Spišské Podhradie (with typical Renaissance and
Baroque burgher houses), the Church town of Spišská Kapitula (including
several sacral monuments and above all the impressing two tower cathedral of
St Martin) and the Gothic church of the Holy Spirit in Žehra from the 14th century
and frescoes in its interior from the 14th and 15th centuries. Well conserved
monuments along with the charming natural setting of the travertine territory of
the National Nature Reserve Dreveník forms a unique whole. In June 2009, the
historic town of Levoèa was included in this group of Spiš monuments.
See more at p.30 and at: http://eng.levoca.sk/;
http://www.spisskemuzeum.com/
Vlkolínec - village full of the folk architecture
Vlkolínec is a town in district Ružomberok, and is permanently inhabited
community, currently with 35 residents in 18 houses out of 55 houses. For the
first time, it was mentioned in 1376 as a street of Ružomberok. It is a reservation
of folk architecture in the best condition from all reservations in the country.
This purely wooden village entered the List of World Natural and Cultural
Heritage by UNESCO in 1993.
A typical example of a house in Vlkolínec is the farmers' house - a detached
outdoor part of the expositions of the Liptov Museum. The house was built in
1886 and opened to public in 1991.
See more at p.34 and at: http://vlkolinec.sk/?theme=uk
page 38
Cultural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia
Wooden churches in central and eastern Slovakia
(in Hervartov, Tvrdošín, Kežmarok, Leštiny, Hronsek, Bodružal, Ladomírová, Ruská
Bystrá)
Specific samples of sacred architecture in Slovakia are the wooden churches. Their
folk builders expressed the perfect harmony of the human soul with nature and the
effort to disengage from earthly worries. Among the oldest are the Gothic wooden
churches (for example Hervartov, Tvrdošín). The “articled” churches are other type
of wooden churches (for instance Sv. Kríž, Leštiny, Kežmarok, Hronsek). The
“articled” churches are those built under the article of the law issued by Emperor
Leopold I at the end of the 17th century.
There is also a third type of wooden churches built in eastern Slovakia, mostly in the
18th century. First they were owned by the Greek Catholic denomination, later
some of them were changed into Orthodox churches. The special features of the
East Christian rite are reflected in their interior decoration and furniture where the
unique Carpathian icons dominate. They are normally fitted into iconostases
ornamented in the Baroque and Rococo styles.
Hronsek
Svätý kríž (St.Crossò) in Paludza
Wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, which were
added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008, possess an extraordinary
worldwide value. The churches include: Roman Catholic churches in Hervartov and
Tvrdošín, Evangelical articular churches in Kežmarok, Leštiny and Hronsek, and
churches of Eastern rite in Bodružal, Ladomirová and Ruská Bystrá.
See more at: http://www.museum.sk/dostol/defaulte.php
Bodružal
page 39
Natural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia
Slovakias unique natural phenomena are represented in the UNESCO List by caves
and abysses of Slovenský kras karst and by Dobšinská ¾adová jaskyòa cave. In
2007 the Carpathian primeval beech forests of the Bukovské vrchy and
Vihorlatské vrchy Mts. in the east of Slovakia were added to this list.
Caves in the Slovak Karst
The UNESCO list includes Dobšinská Ice Cave, Domica Cave, Gombasek Cave,
Jasovská Cave, Ochtinská Aragonite Cave.
More information about caves on p. 17-22 and at: http://www.ssj.sk/
Primeval beech forests in Poloniny
National Park and Vihorlat Mountains (localities: Havešová, Stužica, Rožok and
Kyjovský Forest)
The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathian, an outstanding example of
undisturbed, complex temperate forests, constitute a transnational serial
property of ten separate components along a 185 km axis from the Rakhiv
Mountains and the Chornohirskyi Range in Ukraine, west along the Polonynian
Ridge, to the Bukovec and Vihorlat Mountains in Slovakia.
They contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of beech and many species
associated with, and dependent on, these forest habitats. They are also an great
example of the recolonization and development of terrestrial ecosystems and
communities after the last Ice Age, a process which is still ongoing.
More information at:
http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&idp=3992
page 40
Spas and mineral water
1300 mineral sources in Slovakia that are used like curative water and high quality mineral water for drinking. There are 21
thermal spas built on these mineral springs, usually divided in three groups according to their kind:
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Balneological spas: Piešany, Trenèianske Teplice, Bojnice, Dudince, Sliaè, Smrdáky, Brusno, Lúèky, Sklené Teplice,
Turèianske Teplice
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Climatic spas: Štrbské Pleso, Nový Smokovec, Štós, Tatranské Matliare, High Tatras
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Mixed spas: Bardejov, Rajecké Teplice, Èíž, Nimnica, Vyšné Ružbachy
Slovakia is literally overflowing with hot springs, mineral water sources, spas and even a geyser. While in the U.S. spas are
generally expensive and considered a luxury, the Central and Eastern European spa tradition stresses affordability, health and
relaxation.
Štrbské pleso
Vyšné Ružbachy
Bardejov
Rajecké Teplice
Nimnica
Trenèianske Teplice
Smrdáky
Piešany
Bojnice
Sliaè
Turèianske Teplice
Dudince
Trenèianske Teplice
Ve¾ký Meder
Štúrovo
Sklenné Teplice
page 41
Spas and mineral water - links for more information
Piešany
Dudince
Bardejov - http://www.kupele-bj.sk/
Bojnice - http://www.kupele-bojnice.sk/
Dudince - http://www.kupeledudince.sk/
Nimnica - http://www.kupelenimnica.sk/
Piešany - http://www.kupelepiestany.sk/
Rajecké Teplice - http://www.spa.sk/
Sklené Teplice - http://www.kupele-skleneteplice.sk/
Sliaè - http://www.spa-sliac.sk/
Smrdáky - http://www.kupelesmrdaky.sk/
Štrbské Pleso - http://kupele.strbske-pleso.info/
Štúrovo - http://www.vadas.sk/
Trenèianske Teplice - http://www.kupele-teplice.sk/
Turèianske Teplice - http://kupele.turcianske-teplice.info/
Ve¾ký Meder - http://www.thermalcorvinus.sk/
Vyšné Ružbachy - http://www.ruzbachy.sk/
Also you can check: http://www.slovak-republic.org/spa/
Trenèianske Teplice
Sliaè
Štrbské Pleso
page 42
Bratislava - capital city of Slovakia
Bratislava is at the centre of Europe, a fact reflected by its excellent transport connections. Vienna, with its large international
airport, is only 60 kilometres away; Budapest is 200 km to the southeast; and Prague just 300km to the northwest. All of these
cities are connected to Bratislava by multi-lane highways and regular international express trains.
Whether you fly, arrive by boat along the River Danube, or by car or train, getting to the city is quick and easy. Bratislava is the
gateway to Slovakia, both practically and symbolically. Walking around Bratislava you will discover that it really is a little big city.
The city's excellent public transport system, provided by trams, buses and trolleybuses, means you can move around easily
outside the old town core. More about travelling in Bratislava by Public transport on p.51 or at http://imhd.zoznam.sk.
WHAT TO SEE:
Bratislava castle
Hlavné Námestie
Main Square
Presidential Palace
(Grassalkovich Palace)
Summer Archbishop's Palace
Slovak
National
Theatre
Old
building
The
office of the Slovak govournment
St. Martin´s Cathedral
St. Michal´s gate
page 43
Paparazzi
Schoner Naci Devín castle
Napoleon
Old Town Hall
Stará Radnica
High School Grosllingova
Hviezdoslavovo námestie - Hviezdoslav´s square
Modrý kostolík - Blue church
page 44
Apollo Bridge
Sad Janka Krá¾a - park of Janko Krá¾
Rozhlas - Radio building
Petržalka
New Bridge and UFO restaurant
Danubiana - museum of
modern art in Èunovo
Defence system from 2WW
National Bank
of Slovakia
Devín castle
Slavín
Slovak National Theatre - New Building
page 45
Raèianska
Pra
žsk
á
Horský park
tna
Mý
16
3
Devín castle
5
2
4 9
7
8
1
11
10
Mlynské
9
14 Sad Janka
15
Krá¾a
13
ia
vak
Slo tria
Aus
Pan
ón
ta
ces
ska
ces
ta
ská
zem
lno
Vie
de
ns
Do
ká
ce
sta
Einsteinova
Petržalka
19
kova
Kutlí
Chorvátske
rameno
Ružinov
Hr
ad
s
ká
Gagarinova
ká
vozs
Prie
Nivy
ká c
est
a
Vrakuòa
Košick
á
6
Vra
kun
s
á
alsk
Bajk
12
Karlova Ves
Karadžièova
18
Airport
Trnavská cesta
ta
ces
ká
s
v
a
Trn
vá
Šanco
17
Danubiana
in Èunovo
Kuchajda
Ba
jka
lsk
á
ian
ska
Bra
tská
Va
jno
Brn
Jar
o šo
va
rsk
á
Another map with the cult places in Bratislava: http://www.mpba.sk/en
ma
èsk
ác
es
ta
Pr
íst
av
ný
m
os
t
La
Dunaj
1-Bratislava castle
2-Hlavné námestie
3-Presidential Palace
4-Paparazzi, Schoner
Naci, Napoleon
5-Old Town Hall
6-St.Michal´s gate
7-St.Martin Cathedral
8-Hviezdoslavovo square
9-Slo.National Theatre
10-Blue church
11-Grosslingova school
12-Summer Arcibishop´s
Palace
13-Sad Janka Krá¾a
14-New Bridge and UFO
restaurant
15-Apollo Bridge
16-National Bank of SVK
17-Slavín
18-Radio building
19-Defence system
from 2WW
page 46
Music and summer festivals
The Slovak music is not very popular in the world but that does not mean it is not good :)
Nowdays music bands: Para, Polemik, Puding pani Elvisovej, Noisecut, Lavagance, Billy Barman, Le payaco, Haffner, Horkýže
slíže, Jana Kirschner, I.M.T Smile, The Uniques, Diego, Desmod, ... and much more small bands all around Slovakia.
If you are curious, just check the groups on Youtube. You will find for sure some of their songs.
You can listen to Slovak and also other music on several music festivals or having fun on another festivals :)
Modern music festivals:
POHODA Trenèín - biggest music festival
in Slovakia which lasts for 4 days in
beginning of July. It is the most
expensive (around 90eur per ticket)
with app. 30 000 visitors.
GRAPE Piešany - second bigest festival,
ticket app. 30eur, 15 000 visitors.
TOPFEST Nové Mesto nad Váhom - rock
festival at the end of June, ticket app.
40eur, 10 000 visitors.
BUDZOGÁÒ Terchová - metal punk rock
festival in August, ticket app. 20eur.
Folk music festivals:
There are several folk music festivals organized during
the summer. The ticket costs around 20eur and for
usually three days you can enjoy traditional Slovak folk
music.
“Fun” festivals:
Cirkul'art Bratislava - festival of new
circus in the end of May. Some of its parts
are for free.
KREMNICKÉ GAGY Kremnica
- festival of humor and fun
organized in August for one
weekend.
page 47
Food that you should try
Langoš
Bryndzové halušky
potato dumplings with sheep
cheese and bacon on the top
Deep Fried Bread Cake
Parenica and other kind of
sheep cheese
Bryndzové pirohy
potato dumplings filled with sheep
cheese and bacon on the top
Fried cheese
with french fries
You can try several shapes of
sheep cheese which is very
traditional
Bábovka
Pound Cake
Vianoèka
Zemiakové placky
Pound Cake
potato “pancakes”
More at: http://www.slovak-republic.org/food/
page 48
Drinks that you should try
Kofola and Vinea
Firstly, kofola is not Coca cola. It is similar but more spicy and less
sweet. Slovaks are very proud of Kofola. You can also buy Kofola
from tap in pub (big - 0,5l, small 0,3l) and it costs app. 1eur for big
one.
Vinea is nonalcoholic drink from grapes. It is sweet and you can
buy red and white one.
Beer
Tea and tea houses
There are tea houses everywhere in Slovakia
even not Slovakia is not known as tea country.
So do not miss to visit tea house in most of the big
cities.You can find several in Bratislava.
If you are visiting Banska Stiavnica do not miss to
visit Klopaèka - famous tea in old mining building.
You can also smoke shisha in the most of the tea
houses.
You can find several kinds of Slovak beers.
You can buy beer in shops (2l; 1,5l; 0,5l
bottles or cans). The beer is not very
expensive. The expensive beer you can
find in pubs or restaurants especially in
touristic parts of Slovakia. But mostly the
beer is quite cheap.
page 49
How to travel to Slovakia
We encourage you to choose a different traveling option than airplane, if possible. Please think twice before booking your tickets
and ask yourself "how will my transportation choice affect the environment?" Air travel is the most-polluting form of
transport!
BY PLANE
If you decide for a plane: If you want to come to Slovakia by plane, the easiest way is to take plane directly to the Bratislava
airport. From there you can catch a bus 61 that runs every 20 minutes every day and that will take you to the main railway station.
You can also take a taxi, which should not cost more than 7 Euro.
An alternative is to fly to Vienna, one of Europe's busiest airports, and travel one hour by shuttle bus to Bratislava. Buses run
every hour from early morning until late evening.
Bratislava airport: www.letiskobratislava.sk
Vienna airport: www.viennaairport.com
Shuttle bus: http://www.blaguss.sk/,
http://www.slovaklines.sk/Upload/CPhtml/10280601.htm
http://cp.atlas.sk/vlakbus/spojenie/
BY BUS OR TRAIN
The bigest train and bus station in Slovakia is in Bratislava. You can use several train and bus connections from different
European big cities.
BY CAR
You can get to Bratislava via highway from Praha, Vienna or Budapest. Slovakia has got good highways but not lot of. The roads ar
anyway in good conditions. You can meet cows or another animals just very rarely :) The bigest trafic is in Bratislava. Forget about
good parking! Parking in our capital city is very expensive. On other hand it is very good with parking and driving outside of it.
page 50
How to travel - tips and tricks
You can easily travel by buses or trains. The buses and trains are almost all the time on time (especially when they leaving
the first stop :)) So do not count on the possibility that “it could be late”. Slovaks do not like to wait so they are trying to
avoid situation that people will be waiting :)
Travelling by train
The trains have very good connections. There is only operator – Slovak railways. You can get almost anywhere you want by
train considering the far destinations and from there by local bus or train. You need to buy the tickets in the train station as
you will meet the conductor in the train for 100%. In case of small village train station, they are not working so you can buy
the ticket from the conductor at train. In case you are absolutelly late and you do not have time to buy the ticket at the
station find the conductor as soon as possible and you can buy the ticket in the train but without the “fine”.
There are several kinds of trains in Slovakia:
R - Rýchlik=Fast Train - Fast train stopping in any big city. This is the most “popular” or more frequent train that you can meet on our railways.
Zr - Zrýchlený vlak=Semi fast train - Something similar as Rýchlik but that one has usually little bit more stops in big but “less important” cities
in Slovakia.
Os - Osobák=slow passager train - Regional train going between villages, stopping “everywhere”. They are travelling just between small
distances.
Ex - Express - The train has lower number of stops but the fare is for normal ticket price.
REX - Regional Express - Usually going between Vienna and Bratislava. It is cheaper to buy return ticket (around 14 eur) as one way one.
IC - Intercity - Connecting the biggest cities in Slovakia. They are the fastest way how to get to the next side of republic but you need to pay
(beside the normal ticket) extra fee for IC train (1,32Eur) and for place (0,66 eur in “slight day” (SAT,TUES,WED) or 2,65 eur in “strong days”
(SUN,MON,THU,FRI). So the travel could be more than 3 eur more expensive.
EC - Eurocity - Going between biggest cities, connecting the biggest European cities. There is special extra fee for these trains - 1,32 EUR which
you need pay together with normal ticket.
EN - EuroNight - Night trains. There is special extra fee for these trains - 1,32 EUR which you need pay together with normal ticket. You can also
pay for a bed or a seat there.
The best choice is to travel by R (rýchlik) or Zr (zrýchlený vlak) due to economical and time reasons.
page 51
How to travel - tips and tricks
The best and biggest train stations with good
connections also to villages and small cities are in:
-Bratislava
-Trenèín, Žilina (north-west)
-Banský Bystrica, Zvolen (central)
-Prešov, Košice (north-east)
There are 2 main rails:
-North from BA to KE
-South from BA to KE
through BB
Discounts in trains:
-Group – you can get discount of 20% for ticket of 2.class when travelling in group of 6 people. More than people are
travelling together bigger the discount could be . The group needs to have one person over 18 who will be the leader (that
person needs to have some identity card).
-Birthdays – you can get seat in 1.class for price of 2.class travelling during the day of your birthdays.
-JuniorRail Plus – card up to 26 years, you can buy it on the biggest Train stations for around 14 eur. You can get the discount
of 40 % of any connection (just and only) in Slovakia. You just ask for “lístok do .... na JuniorRail” (ticket to ... for JuniorRail)
when you are buying your ticket. Then you need to show your ticket together with the card to the conductor in the train
during the control. The card is valid also as Euro26 card (or known also as Youth card).
Please do not ask for discount for student card or Euro26 card or any another card. The Slovak railways do not accept it. You
need to have the student card valid and issued by some Slovak university. Other are unfortunately not working in Slovakia !
They could sell you the student ticket on the train station but the conductor in train will not accept it and you would need to
pay for whole ticket in train!
page 52
How to travel - tips and tricks
How to get JuniorRail?
You need to be from 6 until 26 years old. The card is valid for one year but until you will
reach 26 years.
You can get the card in these train stations:
http://www.slovakrail.sk/index.php?id=stanice-s-registracnou-pokladnic
What you need? - your identity card (passport or ID card) + one photo 3 x 3,5 cm
JUNIOR RAIL PLUS
Èíslo
Number
J 01125
Platnos
Validity
5.8.2008
Dátum narodenia
Date of birth
2.9.1983
Meno
Name
Front
Filip
Rýchlik
Back
The card costs 16,50Eur. If you are planning to travel more than to workcamp and back
you should think about to buy it. Also you can use the card in any museums, castles,
caves, ... and get reduced entrance.
For more information about train travelling: http://www.slovakrail.sk/
Travelling by bus:
There are several companies working in Slovakia. You can go to big cities quite frequently.
You can get discount of 15% for international tickest by Slovaklines – the biggest bus company in Slovakia – using Euro26
card. Try to ask also for student discounts on your studentcard.
You can buy the tickets in the buses from the driver. Please do not pay with big paper money. The bus drivers use to get
very angry when they need to give you money back from 50Eur :)
For more information about bus travelling: http://www.eurolines.sk/ or http://www.slovaklines.sk/
page 53
How to check the best travel connection in Slovakia?
The best way to find good connection is by using CP web page (CP = cestovné poriadky = timetables)
http://cp.atlas.sk/vlakbus/spojenie/
SPOJENIE ODCHODY ZÁSTAVKOVÉ CP SPOJE
You can find there connection for buses, trains, combination of buses
and trains (that one is very usefull) and also the regional buses in the
cities.
Just check it in the section “Timetables” and you can check what are
you looking for.
Cestovný p.: ?
Informácie o CP
Vlaky + Autobusy
Odkia¾: ?
Kam: ?
Vymeni
Len priame spojenia ?
Dátum a èas:
?
3.6.2012 Fri
Odchod
Prida prestupné miesta?
7:00
Príchod
Rozšírené zadanie
H¼ADA
Východzí
ENG
GER
Notes or short code used below in the table with conection:
Aut.st. = autobusová stanica = bus station
Žel.st. = železnièná stanica = train station
Žel.zast. = železnièná zastavka = the train station, usually in small village
Osob.st. = Osobná stanica = Personal station, you can expect Train station
behind that name
Hl.st. = hlavná stanica = main station, usually main train station. For example:
Bratislava, hl.st.
AS MHD = autobusová stanica Mestkej hromadnej dopravy = bus station of
public transport
Kríž. = križovatka = crossroad inside the city.
Rázc. = rázcestie = crossroad – sometimes the bus stops just on the crossroad of roads between villages/cities. The bus is usually not
continuing to the village but going another way. So from here you need to walk to the village. Usually you can reach the village in not more
than 20 minutes by walking.
Walk to the station for 5min = the train station is really close, usually the bus and train station are near each other
Hor.koniec = horný koniec = the upper end of village. You can find that kind of stops usually in villages which are consisting from one long
street. For example the longest village in Slovakia is Anton with 7km long .
CONNECTION
DEPARTURES
STOP LEAFLETS
LINES
Timetable
Fro
Information about the timetable
Select timetable
To:
Rail transport
Trains
Dat
Public bus lines
Buses
Air transport
Flights new
Public city transport
Banska Bystrica
Bardejov
Banovce nad Bebravou
Bratislava
Brezno
Dolný Kubín
Dunajská Streda
Galanta
Handlová
Hlohovec
Humenné
Kežmarok
Komárno
Košice
Kysucké Nové Mesto
Levice
Levoèa
Liptovský Mikuláš
Luèenec
Martin
Michalovce
Nitra
Púchov
Rimavská Sobota
Nové Mesto nad Váhom
Nové Zámky
Ružomberok
Senica
Sereï
Spišská Nová Ves
Partizánske
Piešany
Poprad
Považská Bystrica
Prešov
Prievidza
Svit
Šahy
Ša¾a
Stará ¼ubovòa
Štúrovo
Šurany
Trebišov
Trenèín
Trnava
Vranov nad Top¾ou
Zvolen
Žiar nad Hronom
Žilina
Combination
Trains + buses
page 54
How to travel in Bratislava
The means of public transport in Bratislava are buses, trolleybuses and trams. All you need to do is
to check the routes on the maps which are located on most of the bus stops. It's a good idea to buy a
24hours ticket (4,50 €), a48hours ticket (8,30 €) or a 3-day ticket (10 €) in ticket machines that you
can find on most bus stops or in some news-stand. You can use those tickets to travel by all means of
public transport: buses, trams and trolleybuses. Make sure that you always have a ticket before you get on the bus and mark
it in the machine inside the bus, trolley-bus or tram. Otherwise, if you get caught without a ticket, you have to pay a fine that is
quite high (around 50 Euros). While traveling in Bratislava, you also need to have a ticket for bigger luggage.
For timetables and routes check: www.imhd.sk (English version of the website is available).
TICKETS for the
public transport
in Bratislava:
tickets
Important connections in Bratislava:
Airport – Central Railway Station
Central Railway Station – Central Bus Station
Petržalka station – Central Bus Station
luggage
NE
WITH VER EVE
R
bus 61 (ticket for 60 min.)
OUT
MAR TRAVEL
trolleybus 210 (ticket for 15 min.)
KED
bus 99 than change bus 88 (ticket for 60 min.)
TICK
ET!
How to travel during Night:
Bratisalva has very good transport system during the night. You need to buy special ticket for nigth travelling (1,60 eur) or two
normal tickets. You can find the information on each bus stop with the map of the connections. The best connections for night
are at HLAVNA STANICA stop (at the main train station).
page 55
Another useful information
Please do not speak about Slovakia as Slovenia! They are 2 different countries. Really!
Safety - Slovakia is a peaceful country, not any more dangerous than any other EU country. Slovak people are usually very kind
and helpful. However, that doesn't mean that people should not watch their things. Mostly on large public places a wallet or a
purse can be stolen. People should be very cautious when dealing with money on such places.
Weather in Slovakia - sunny but also cloudly during the spring, hot and dry during the summer, rain and colder weather during
autumn, cold and snow durin the winter. The best time for visit is from May to September.
You can always check the actual weather at: http://www.meteo.sk/ or http://www.pocasie.sk/
Smoking - I tis not allowd to smoke in the trains, buses or other puiblic transport. Smoking prohibition is valid in closed public
areas (covered bus stops, closed sports fields), in publicly accessible spaces (stations, cinemas, theatres, museums, galleries,
exhibition grounds and similar) and at schools.
Drinkng water - There is drinking water from the taps, besides some exceptional cases, when a notification warns about the
possible defect.
Habbits and customs - People take off their shoes after entering house of Slovaks. It is very unpolite to do not follow this rule. To
offer the guests a tot of slivovica (a strong alcohol, usuall app. 50%) or similar distilled liquor (spirits) is considered here as a
demonstration of hospitality and respect and if there is not a cogent reason, it is impolite to refuse such an offer. When
meeting/welcoming the acquaintances are shaking hands.
Usually Slovaks are offering something (food, drinks, ...) to guests during the visit for more times. It is usual that the guest (even if
the guest want to have the offering thing) says “yes” for the offer on the third time. So thats why the Slovaks could be trying to
offer you something for longer time :)
page 56
Hope to see
you in Slovakia