ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
The only domestic scheduled airline is currently DanubeWings (V5).
On the way by car / bus
Car : The road network covers around 17,630 km. Motorways are marked with the letter ‘D’ and the corresponding number and expressways are marked with the letter ‘R’ and the corresponding number. The most important connecting road leads from Bratislava via Trencin, Banská Bystrica, Zilina, Kralovany and Poprad to Presov and Kosice.
In the Slovak Republic, tolls apply to all vehicles except motorcycles on motorways and some other roads. There are 10-day, 30-day and annual vignettes. The e-vignettes can be obtained from automobile clubs and some travel agencies, from machines at border crossings, from Slovak post offices, from some petrol stations and online at www.eznamka.sk.
TheThe ADAC international emergency call station in Prague is also responsible for the Slovak Republic (Tel: (02) 61 10 43 51/52, Internet: www.adac.de) and offers assistance to ADAC members and holders of ADAC international health and accident insurance regarding hotels, rental cars, vehicle or patient repatriations.
Bus: The extensive bus network connects all villages.
Documents: National driver’s license and vehicle registration document. For nationals of EU and EFTA countries, the license plate is used as proof of insurance. Nevertheless, EU and EFTA citizens are recommended to use the International Green Insurance Cardtake with you in order to benefit from full insurance cover in the event of any damage. Otherwise, the statutory minimum liability insurance coverage applies. The green card can also make it easier to record accidents.
Traffic regulations:
– Compulsory seat belts.
– Absolute ban on alcohol at the wheel.
– The use of cell phones at the wheel is only permitted when using a hands-free system or a headset.
– Motorized vehicles must drive with dipped headlights all year round, including during the day.
– It is mandatory for drivers to wear safety vests when they leave their vehicle outside of built-up areas and stay on the road.
– Winter tires are compulsory in snow and ice.
Speed limits:
in built-up areas: 50 km / h,
on urban motorways: 90 km / h,
on motorways: 130 km / h.
Traveling in the city
There are buses, trolleybuses and trams in Bratislava and all other cities. Tickets can be bought at newspaper kiosks, from machines near the stops or directly on the bus. Most buses and trains have unit fares; Season tickets are available. The tickets are validated by machines. Buses and trams marked in blue run all night. Taxis in the big cities have meters and are relatively cheap, at night you pay a surcharge.
On the go by train
The railway network (3665 km) is operated by the Railways of the Slovak Republic (ZSR) (Internet: www.zsr.sk).
Several express trains run daily between Bratislava and most cities and holiday resorts. On the main routes it is advisable to reserve in advance. Fares are low; There is a surcharge for express trains. On the route network, the EuroCity (EC) travels between major cities and abroad, the InterCity (IC) between domestic cities, express trains (Ex) travel inland and abroad, regional trains (Zr) andConnecting trains (Os).
Further information is available from the general agencies of the railways in Vienna and Berlin (addresses see International Travel).
Out and about by ship
Several navigable waterways totaling 279 km, the main river is the Danube, the main ports are in Bratislava and Komarno.
TRAVEL WARNING
Country-specific safety instructions
Crime
Petty crime in the form of pickpockets and car break-ins is particularly common in tourist centers (Bratislava, High Tatras, health resorts). Theft in hotels cannot be ruled out either.
Travelers are also advised of the increased risk of theft when traveling by car. In particular, newer vehicles of the brands BMW, Mercedes, Audi and VW with foreign license plates are at risk, even if they are equipped with an electronic immobilizer.
For some time now, attacks have been increasing on the motorway between Brno / Brno (Czech Republic) and Bratislava, in which the driver is brought to a stop by the thieves signaling with hand signals that something is wrong with the car. In several cases, travelers were approached at rest areas or at petrol stations in the city of Bratislava, from / towards Brno / Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Trnava or Žilina and pointed out to alleged defects in the vehicle, while valuables were stolen from the vehicle. In other cases, cars were damaged unnoticed at petrol stations (e.g. tires slashed), so that they were quickly left lying on the side of the road. Then the thieves offered their help and used the emergency situation to steal valuables from the unlocked car. Increased vigilance is therefore advisable in these motorway sections. When it comes to taxi rides, it is often cheaper to order a taxi by telephone than to get into a vehicle waiting on the street. To avoid inflated prices, travelers should set the fare and route in advance.
