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
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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. ? Banská Štiavnica (a former major mining town) and tajchy (ancient water reservoirs around the town) ? Bardejov (a historic town) ? 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: ? Balneological spas: Pieš any, Trenèianske Teplice, Bojnice, Dudince, Sliaè, Smrdáky, Brusno, Lúèky, Sklené Teplice,
Turèianske Teplice ? Climatic spas: Štrbské Pleso, Nový Smokovec, Štós, Tatranské Matliare, High Tatras ? 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
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Another map with the cult places in Bratislava: http://www.mpba.sk/en
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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.
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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/
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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
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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