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The Slovak Republic is located at the precise geographic centre of Europe. Hence, this Central European country is referred to as the "Country at the Heart of Europe." Slovakia borders five other countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine. Inspect our maps to get a better idea.

Slovakia is modern European country mixed with a deep rural tradition. Geographically, it is primarily a mountainous country with numerous winter activities. It has a continental European climate with moderate winters and warm summers. Most infrastructure and many of the tourist facilities are on par or near Western European standards.

There's a refreshing absence of McDonald's-style commercialism that is rampant across Western Europe. Quaint and jovial with a surprisingly rich cultural life, Bratislava is a capital city without the usual congestion. The High Tatras are a magnificent range of European mountains (only second to the Alps in elevation) dotted with villages with deep peasant traditions. You'll find Slovaks to be an extremely helpful, pleasant people prepared to go out of their way to welcome you. From film and folk festivals, to castle tours to snowboarding and hiking you'll find Slovakia a spectacular country to visit and invest.

Kapustnica

• The best known Slovak soup is kapustnica, a hearty cabbage soup with smoked pork sausage that often contains mushrooms, and sometimes plums, especially during Christmas. This soup is also served at weddings. It is also perfect to cure away the chill on a cold day.

Fazuova Polievka

• Another typical Slovak soup is fazuova polievka, which is made of beans and root vegetables such as carrots and parsley. Sometimes, smoked pork is added.

Cesnakova Polievka

• While in Slovakia, be sure to try cesnakova polievka, a garlic soup usually cooked in chicken broth with parsley and egg, or croutons.

Lunkovarolka Chrenovou Penou

• A typical Slovak appetizer know as lunkova rolka chrenovou penou, which is a slice of ham stuffed with horseradish flavoured cream. Is delicious to be eaten during the hot season, as the cream which is stuffed in the pastry is cold.

Bryndza Cheese

• This is another famous appetizers of the Slovaks. Done in a pastry dough. then flavored with paprika and served with bread. Eaten during festivals or occasions.
  Slivovica

Alcohol is an integral part of dining in Slovakia. The most popular before dinner drink in Slovakia is slivovica, a brandy made of plums. Many like to start their dinner with.

Set to receive an invitation to join NATO in November 2002 and the European Union in May 2004, Slovakia is fully integrated into the European market. Slovakia’s business and legal environment is built around EU standards and the country is a member of the WTO and OSCE.

GDP

• Slovakia’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been growing steadily, reaching 3.3 per cent in 2001 and projected at 3.6 per cent in 2002. Growing domestic demand has been driving the rise, aided by gains in fixed investment.

Labour Market

• Slovakia continues to struggle with a lack of employment opportunity, though the unemployment rate has been slowly falling from a 2001 high of around 21 per cent to a current level of 17.6 per cent.
  The country’s transition from central planning to a market economy has especially hit the industrial sector, where unemployment remains around 21.7 per cent.

Productivity

• While employment levels have been growing only slightly, since 1995 labour productivity has expanded rapidly, growing between four and seven per cent annually.

Inflation

• Inflation in Slovakia has recently been at low levels, hitting 2.7 per cent in spring 2002, which has contributed to a growth in domestic demand. Although this figure was down from 2001 inflation of 7.1 per cent, the National Bank of Slovakia expects the rate to stabilise at around 4.2 per cent by 2005.

Exports

• Slovakia’s export earnings continue to grow, particularly to countries in the European Union. In 2001, exports were up 11.3 per cent, year-on-year, 61.7 per cent of which went to the EU. Sectors driving Slovak exports include mechanical engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and metallurgy.

Imports

• Besides exports, Slovakia has been increasing its share of imports – by 21 per cent year-on-year in 2001. A big part of this surge was from the import of machinery, electrical appliances and motor vehicles, excluding passenger cars.

FDI

• Slovakia’s growing economy has also led to healthy growth in foreign direct investment (FDI), which reached a year-on-year increase in 2000 – the highest increase among all EU candidate countries.

Wages

• Average monthly salary in Slovakia is US$247, which is 92 per cent lower than the EU average and 50 per cent lower than the average in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

The Slovak Republic came into existence on January 1, 1993 as one of the successor states of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. The Slovak Republic is a parliamentary democracy with autonomous legislature (parliament), executive (president and government) and judicial branches (incl. Constitutional court).

The Constitution guarantees every citizen equality before the law irrespective of gender, religion, race, national origin, social status or political conviction. State bodies can act only on the basis of the Constitution, within its limits, and to the extent and in the manner defined by law. International treaties on human rights and other basic agreements that have been ratified by the Slovak Republic, and promulgated in a manner determined by law, take precedence over the Slovak Republic's own laws, provided that they secure greater constitutional rights and liberties

Fly directly from United Kingdom to Bratislava's and Kosice's International airports, although daily connections are available from Moscow, Prague, Budapest and Zurich, Switzerland. Most major airlines land at Vienna's Schwechat International airport instead. Overseas flights are accessible through Vienna Schwechat (40 km from Bratislava).

Daily low cost airlines fly from Stansted to Bratislava airport from £ 17 single (the flight takes 1hour 15 minutes) or from Southampton, Heathrow, Birmingham, via Prague to Slovak airports.

Flights within Slovakia are serviced by local carriers with daily service between Kosice and Bratislava. Regular service to Poprad (High Tatras) and other regional areas is also available. Private planes and helicopters can also be chartered.

Slovakia has a continental climate, with four distinct seasons. Winters are typically cold and dry, while summers tend to be hot and humid.

The average daily temperature range in Bratislava is -4° to 2° C (29° to 39° F) in January and 19° to 31° C (61° to 85° F) in July; temperatures tend to be cooler in the mountains. Bratislava receives an average of about 650 mm (about 26 in) of precipitation annually. In areas of high altitude, snow is often present for as many as 130 days each year..

EuroCard/MasterCard is accepted at most financial institutions. Banks also accept VISA, American Express, and Eurocheques although with less regularity. At most banks the daily Eurocheque draft is limited to a maximum of 10000 SKK. International hotels also accept most credit cards.

Banks and exchange offices will also exchange hard currency, and there is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be imported into Slovakia. Avoid exchanging money from individuals on the street. Exporting of Slovak currency is regulated so inquire at the customs office if you plan on taking Slovak crowns with you.

Travelers' checks are generally not accepted in stores, small hotels or restaurants, although Eurocheques are taken at some locations. Banks and exchange offices will exchange travelers' checks for a fee. A convenient way of accessing cash outside business hours is to use an automated teller machine (ATM), usually marked as BANKOMAT (bank machine). Most Slovak ATMs belong to one of the major international banking systems such as MasterCard, VISA, Plus, Maestro or Cirrus.

Credit cards are starting to be widely used and are accepted at most hotels, gas stations, more exclusive restaurants and shops. Usually a purchase has to be over 1000 SKK in order for a merchant to accept VISA, American Express or MasterCard.

They are (similar) countries (Austria and Slovakia) but still a little different. You have lots of things in Slovakia that do not exist in Austria in the same form. Last year I made a trip on a raft floating down the Dunajec River through a marvellous gorge at Cervený Kláštor (Red Monastery) - you won't find something like that in Austria. Lots of thermal springs, Gothic and wooden churches, castles, chateaux and caves along with an ethnical multitude are very unique."

HE Ulrike Matzner, Austrian Ambassador to Slovakia

"I value every opportunity to extend my knowledge and appreciation of other countries and Eastern Europe is almost mind blowing in terms of its impact upon me. Slovakia is a jewel in the crown and in terms of scenery, value for money, food, beautiful architecture, etc. It is truly a great place to visit."

Mr. Roger Stott, Chair of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

"...Both my wife and I were delighted to view for the first time your wonderful forests..."

Carl Spielvogel, businessman, former US Ambassador to Slovakia