The national currency in the Slovak Republic is the Slovak crown (1 EUR = 38,45 SKK). National Bank of Slovakia emits the banknotes in the nominal value of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 a 5000 and coins in the nominal value of 1,2,5,10 Slovak crowns and 50 halers. In many cases it is possible to pay by EURO, most often in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.
Money can be exchanged in banks or exchange offices. In non-cash system of payments is prevalent the usage of credit payment cards (American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Eurocard/Mastercard) and debit payment cards (Maestro and Visa Electron).
All large banks and exchange offices accept traveler’s cheque Thomas Cook, American Express and Visa. The charge for the traveler's cheque exchange is minimum 1% of the cheque nominal value. It is possible to exchange the cheques maximum up to the limit of 6 500,- SKK (note: 1 EUR = 38, 450 SKK) or maximum 10 cheques per one transaction. The exchange offices are located in all bank branches, supermarkets and hotels.

Passports and Visas

A valid passport is required to enter the Slovak Republic. It must be valid for the period of stay in the Slovak Republic, and for 2 months after the end of a visa if a visa is required for Slovak Republic entry. Visas can be obtained from the Slovak Republic embassy accredited for the given country.
The Slovak Republic is European Union member. EU citizens have the right to free movement in other EU countries and the right to stay in another EU country for a 6 months period if they are in possession of a valid identity card or passport.

Language

The official language is Slovak language, which belongs to the group of Slavonian languages and it is similar to Polish or Russian languages. In the international trade is frequently used English language. Many Bratislava residents often speak fluently German, French or Italian.

Climate

Bratislava is located in mild climate zone of continental nature, which is characterized by distinct differences between temperatures in summer and in winter as well as by 4 seasons of the year taking turns. Within the past years, however, transition of winter to summer is almost without the spring transition in Bratislava, whereas it happens in Bratislava that winter weather with average temperatures around zero degrees Celsius abruptly changes into summer from one day to another one. The same applies to transition of summer to winter, which happens quickly, whereas autumn is usually little distinctive and short. As well snow cover is usually scantier than it used to be in recent past. Before your trip, we recommend to follow local weather report.

Time

Slovakia is located in the Central European time zone and annually uses the time switch between summer and winder time. Summer time is shifted back by one hour to GMT (GMT+1) and winter time is shifted by two hours to GMT (GMT+2).

Banks

Banks are opened from Monday to Friday from 09:00 till 18:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 till 12:00. In supermarkets the banks are opened also on Saturdays till 16:00 and are opened also on Sundays.

Post Offices

The post offices are usually opened from Monday to Friday from 08:00 till 18:00 and on Saturdays from 08:00 till 12:00. Some have in working days midday break from 12:00 till 13:00.
The main post office in the city centre on SNP Square is opened 7 days a week:

Telephone

The international country code for Slovakia is 00421. The trunk code for Bratislava is 2. Information on the phone numbers of fixed telephone network can be obtained on Slovak Telecom phone number 1181, information on phone numbers of mobile operator network can be obtained on phone number 1185 for Orange Slovakia network and on phone number 1188 for T-Mobile network. Information on the international phone numbers can be obtained on phone number 12149.
Emergency phone number is 112.
Public telephone boxes are for coins or telephone cards, which can be purchased in each kiosk, newsstand or tobacco shop.

Shops

The shops are mostly opened from Monday to Friday from 08:00 till 18:00, on Saturdays from 08:00 till 12:00. Large department stores and supermarkets have longer opening hours and are opened also on Sundays. Some hypermarkets with foodstuffs are opened 27 hours a day, 7 days in a week.