Slovakia

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Located in Eastern Europe, Slovakia is a small, landlocked nation of five million inhabitants. It is bordered by Poland in the north, Hungary in the south, Austria, Ukraine in the east and the Czech Republic to the West. Slovakia has rapidly become a popular holiday destination with western visitors, particularly after its accession to the European Union in January 2004.

Rural Slovakia is famed for its natural beauty and is the perfect destination for any visitor seeking a relaxed vacation. In recent years, the country has also attracted thousands of younger visitors, many of whom make the capital, Bratislava, the focal point of their visit.

Currency: Slovak koruna (SKK) (1 koruna = 100 haliers) The Euro will replace the koruna as the Slovak currency from 2009. Time: CET (UTC+1) Language: Slovak Telephone Services: +421 Emergency numbers: In the event of an emergency, dial 112, the universal emergency number. Alternatively, dial 158 for the police, 155 to obtain an ambulance, and 150 to alert the fire department.

Climate

Slovakia's climate can be broadly classed as temperate. In general, the country experiences warm summers and cold, overcast winters. However, because of Slovakia's diverse geography, the climate varies across the country.

• The Carpathian mountain range stretches across the country and is a popular skiing destination. The average temperature across this region is a meagre 5 degrees Celsius, with temperatures during the warmest months still falling below 15 degrees Celsius. During the winter months temperatures often fall well under -5 degrees. Whilst all ski resorts are well equipped to provide visitors with a comfortable stay through the winter, backpacking during these months is not advisable, particularly if you are intending to explore the many villages in the Orava and Spi� regions.
• Slovakia's lowlands have a very pleasant climate. Average annual temperatures fluctuate between 9 and 10 Celsius and temperatures rarely exceed 25 degrees in the summer. The Slovak capital Bratislava is located within this climatic zone. Monthly temperatures for Bratislava are given in the table below.

Things to do and see

In recent years Slovakia has become a major tourist hub; the country attracted over 30 million visitors in 2006. However, it remains popular with budget holiday-makers and backpackers, especially as prices tend to be very competitive compared to other European holiday destinations.

Slovakia is famous for its natural beauty. The country's large forests are home to a number of species of brown bears, chamois and lynx. Whilst Slovakia's former communist rulers were not particularly interested in developing the nation's tourist infrastructure, they were responsible for the creation of numerous national parks and protected areas and many hotels arrange guided tours and hikes through these areas. (For a list of Slovakia's national parks, click here.

Whatever your budget, be sure to visit at least one of Slovakia's many magnificent caves. The Ochtinsk� Aragonite Cave has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of only three aragonite caves in the world. If you seek something a little more challenging, then why not consider scaling one of the Tatra Mountains? Slovakia's two mountain ranges, the High Tatras and the Low Tatras attract thousands of visitors each year who wish to take advantage of the excellent ski facilities on offer. Mountain rivers offer fine opportunities for white water rafting and kayaking.

The Dunajec River which runs through northern Slovakia and southern Poland is very popular amongst tourists wishing to experience the best that Slovakia has to offer when it comes to water-sports. Slovak mineral springs and spas provide a fantastic opportunity to unwind after a day of sport. The most famous of these spas is located at Pie�ťany.

Slovakia has gained international fame for its many magnificent castles. The country has the highest number of fortified castles per capita of any European nation and many Slovak palaces date back to the Middle Ages. Of these, the Bojnice Castle is easily the most famous. It dates back to 1113 and was originally constructed as a wooden fortification. Today, the castle has served as the setting of a number of Hollywood fairytales. It also hosts a summer music festival which always proves popular with visitors to the region.

If you are planning on visiting the Slovak capital, then Bratislava Castle is a must-see stop. Located above the Danube, the Castle overlooks the city and provides a splendid view of its surroundings. If you are fortunate enough to visit Bratislava on a cloudless day, then you are likely to be able to catch a glimpse of the Austrian capital, Vienna on the horizon.

Slovakia's many churches are a fine example of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Two such examples are the Church of the Holy Spirit in the town of �ehra and the St. James Church at Levoča. The latter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has the highest wooden alter in the world. The wooden churches of northern and north-eastern Slovakia date as far back as the fifteenth century and are some of the country's most fragile ancient structures.

Even if you are backpacking across Slovakia, be sure to spend some time exploring the historic city of Bratislava. Most sites of historic significance are located in Bratislava's Old Town. Bratislava's town hall, located here, was constructed during the 14th century and is now home to the Bratislava City Museum, one of the largest in Slovakia. As is the case elsewhere in Slovakia, Baroque architecture dominates the Old Town's skyline. The Grassalkovich Palace is a prime example of such construction and is the home of the Slovak president. Bratislava's buildings, however, are not all characteristic of the late medieval architecture. The Church of St. Elizabeth was built in 1903 and her construction keenly reflects the art nouveau influences of the period.

Useful Links

slovakia.travel is the Official tourist website for Slovakia produced by the Slovak government. Another useful tourist website is slovakiatourism.sk.

cia.gov provides useful facts about Slovakia, which are rarely included in tourist guides.

yesterdays.sk has some stunning pictures of the Slovak countryside.

The Slovak Spectator is a current affairs magazine. Published in English, it is likely to provide an interesting read for those wishing to visit Slovakia.

 Bratislava, Slovakia Average Weather

Month	Average Sunlight (hours)	Temperature				Discomfort from heat and humidity	Relative humidity		Average Precipitation (mm)	Wet Days (+0.25 mm)
		Average		Record
		Min	Max	Min	Max		am	pm
Jan	2	-3	2	-18	15	-	84	77	43	12
Feb	3	-2	3	-23	16	-	81	70	47	12
March (expected)	5	1	9	-11	24	-	79	58	42	10
April	7	6	16	-4	28	-	73	49	42	11
May	9	11	21	-3	33	-	72	49	61	11
June	9	14	24	5	37	Moderate	72	50	64	11
July	9	16	26	9	38	Moderate	73	49	73	11
Aug	9	15	26	8	37	Moderate	75	51	69	10
Sept	7	12	22	1	33	-	78	52	40	8
Oct	5	7	15	-5	27	-	84	62	54	11
Nov	2	3	8	-7	20	-	86	76	55	13
Dec	1	0	4	-21	15	-	87	80	59	14