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 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 -

placed at greater distances

open air museum of folk architecture - Martin - open air museum of folk architecture- Pribylina - open air museum of folk architecture- Stará Lubovòa - open air museum of folk 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

Banská Štiavnica - mining museum

Hornonitriansky banský skanzen (Prievidza) - mining museum

Vlkolínec (UNESCO)

Pribylina

Bardejov

Svidník

Humenné

Stará ¼ubovòaZuberec

Vychylovka

Martin

Èièmany

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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 & SEP-OCT daily except Mondays 9:00-17:00; NOV-MAR - closedAdmission 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

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Open air museum in HUMENNÉThe 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 closedAdmission fees: full price 2 €More information: http://www.muzeumhumenne.sk/

Open air museum in MARTINThe 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 9:00-17:00; NOV – APR daily except Monday and Saturday 10:00 – 14:30Admission 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 – 16:00Admission fees: full price 3 €, reduce price 1,50 €More information: http://www.liptovskemuzeum.sk/index/

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Open air museum in STARÁ ¼UBOVÒAThe 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 closedAdmission fees: full price 2 €, reduced price 1 €More information: http://www.muzeumsl.sk/en/

Open air museum in SVIDNÍKAn 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 closedAdmission fees: full price 1,99 €, reduced price 1 €More information: http://www.snm.sk/?2064

Traditional village and open air museum

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 - closedAdmission fees: freeMore information: http://www.liptovskemuzeum.sk/index/

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.

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Open air museum and historic forest railway in VYCHYLOVKAThe 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 - closedAdmission 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/

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UNESCO heritage in SlovakiaSlovakia 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)

?Levoèa, Spiš Castle and associated cultural monuments Levoèa Spiš Castle a medieval ecclesiastical town Spišská Kapitula frescos in a medieval church in Žehra Spišské Podhradie?Vlkolínec (folk architecture)

?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)

?Wooden churches in central and eastern Slovakia (in Hervartov, Tvrdošín, Kežmarok, Leštiny, Hronsek, Bodružal, Ladomírová, Ruská Bystrá)

Vlkolínec

Banská Štiavnica

BardejovLevoèa and Spiš

Hronsek

LeštinyTvrdošín

Dobšinská ice cave

Domica

Gombasecká cave

Krásnohorská cave

Jasovská cave

Ladomirová

Bodružal

Hervatov

Natural Phenomena Cultural MonumentsWooden churches

Poloniny

http://www.slovak-republic.org/unesco/page 36

Cultural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA - old mining townIf you do not visit Stiavnica, you are really crazy :) This town is 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

undoubtedly

BARDEJOV - historical spa townThe 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

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Cultural UNESCO heritage in Slovakia

Levoèa, Spiš Castle and associated cultural monumentsThere 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 architectureVlkolínec 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=ukpage 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.

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

Hronsek

Svätý kríž (St.Crossò) in Paludza

Bodružal

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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 KarstThe 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

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Spas and mineral water1300 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.

ŠtúrovoVe¾ký Meder

Smrdáky

Dudince

Pieš�any

Trenèianske Teplice

Nimnica

Sliaè

Sklenné Teplice

Bojnice Turèianske Teplice

Rajecké Teplice

Štrbské plesoVyšné Ružbachy

Bardejov

Trenèianske Teplice

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Spas and mineral water - links for more information

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

Dudince

Pieš�any

Sliaè Štrbské Pleso

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Bratislava - capital city of SlovakiaBratislava 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:

Presidential Palace (Grassalkovich Palace)

Hlavné NámestieMain Square

Bratislava castle

St. Michal´s gateSummer Archbishop's PalaceThe office of the Slovak govournmentSlovak National Theatre - Old buildingSt. Martin´s Cathedral

page 43

Paparazzi

Schoner NaciNapoleon

Old Town HallStará RadnicaDevín castle

High School Grosllingova

Hviezdoslavovo námestie - Hviezdoslav´s square Modrý kostolík - Blue church

page 44

Apollo Bridge Sad Janka Krá¾a - park of Janko Krá¾

Danubiana - museum of modern art in Èunovo

Devín castleRozhlas - Radio building Petržalka Defence system from 2WW Slavín

New Bridge and UFO restaurant Slovak National Theatre - New BuildingNational Bank of Slovakia

page 45

page 46

Petržalka

Devín castle

1-Bratislava castle2-Hlavné námestie3-Presidential Palace4-Paparazzi, Schoner Naci, Napoleon5-Old Town Hall6-St.Michal´s gate7-St.Martin Cathedral8-Hviezdoslavovo square9-Slo.National Theatre10-Blue church11-Grosslingova school

12-Summer Arcibishop´s Palace13-Sad Janka Krá¾a14-New Bridge and UFO restaurant15-Apollo Bridge16-National Bank of SVK17-Slavín18-Radio building19-Defence system from 2WW

Danubiana in Èunovo

12

3

45

6

78

99

1011

12

14 15

161817

19

Mlynské NivyPrievozskáKa

rad

žièo

va

Koši

cká

Bajkalská

Mýt

na

Šancová

Pražská

Brnianska

Lamaèská cesta

Horský park

Karlova Ves

Jarošova

Raè

ian

ska

Vajn

orsk

á

Bajkalská

Trnavská cesta

Trnavská cesta

Ružinov

Kuchajda

Vrakunská cesta

Gagarinova

Hradská

Airport

Vrakuòa

Sad Janka Krá¾a

Einsteinova Prísta

vný

most

Dolnozem

ská cesta

Panó

nska

ces

ta

Vied

ensk

á ce

sta

Bratská

Kutlíkova

Chorvátskerameno Dunaj

Slovakia

Austria

13

Another map with the cult places in Bratislava: http://www.mpba.sk/en

Music and summer festivals

page 47

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 :)

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 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.

Nové

Modern music festivals: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.

Food that you should tryBryndzové halušky potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon on the top

Bryndzové pirohy potato dumplings filled with sheep cheese and bacon on the top

Fried cheese with french fries

Zemiakové plackypotato “pancakes”

LangošDeep Fried Bread Cake

Parenica and other kind of sheep cheeseYou can try several shapes of sheep cheese which is very traditional

BábovkaPound Cake

VianoèkaPound Cake

More at: http://www.slovak-republic.org/food/

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Drinks that you should tryKofola and VineaFirstly, 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.

BeerYou 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.

Tea and tea housesThere 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.

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How to travel to SlovakiaWe 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 PLANEIf 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: Vienna airport: Shuttle bus: http://www.blaguss.sk/,

http://cp.atlas.sk/vlakbus/spojenie/

BY BUS OR TRAINThe bigest train and bus station in Slovakia is in Bratislava. You can use several train and bus connections from different European big cities.

BY CARYou 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.

www.letiskobratislava.skwww.viennaairport.com

http://www.slovaklines.sk/Upload/CPhtml/10280601.htm

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How to travel - tips and tricksYou 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 trainThe 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.

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How to travel - tips and tricksThe 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!

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How to travel - tips and tricksHow 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.Y o u c a n g e t t h e c a r d i n t h e s e t r a i n s t a t i o n s : 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

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/

Back

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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Platnos�Validity

Dátum narodeniaDate of birth

MenoName

JUNIOR RAIL PLUS

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5.8.2008

2.9.1983

FilipRýchlik

Front

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/

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.

Notes or short code used below in the table with conection:Aut.st. = autobusová stanica = bus stationŽel.st. = železnièná stanica = train stationŽel.zast. = železnièná zastavka = the train station, usually in small villageOsob.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 transportKríž. = 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 otherHor.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 .

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Vlaky + AutobusyCestovný p.:

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SPOJENIE ODCHODY ZÁSTAVKOVÉ CP SPOJE

Informácie o CP

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Rail transport Public bus lines

Bardejov

Banovce nad Bebravou

Brezno

Bratislava

Dolný Kubín

Dunajská Streda

Galanta

Handlová

Košice

NitraKežmarok

Hlohovec

Komárno

Kysucké Nové Mesto

Liptovský Mikuláš

Levoèa

Levice

Luèenec

Martin

Humenné Michalovce

Nové Mesto nad Váhom

Nové Zámky

Partizánske

Pieš�any

Poprad

Považská Bystrica

Prešov

Prievidza

Púchov

Rimavská Sobota

Ružomberok

Senica

Sereï

Spišská Nová Ves

Svit

Šahy

Ša¾a

Stará ¼ubovòa

Štúrovo

Šurany

Trenèín

Trnava

Trebišov

Vranov nad Top¾ou

Žiar nad Hronom

Žilina

Zvolen

Banska Bystrica

Public city transport

Information about the timetable

Air transport

Trains Buses Flights new

Trains + buses

Combination

Select timetable

Timetable

CONNECTION DEPARTURES STOP LEAFLETS LINES

How to travel in BratislavaThe 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 thepublic transportin Bratislava:

Important connections in Bratislava:Airport – Central Railway Station bus 61 (ticket for 60 min.)Central Railway Station – Central Bus Station trolleybus 210 (ticket for 15 min.)Petržalka station – Central Bus Station bus 99 than change bus 88 (ticket for 60 min.)

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).

tickets luggage

NEVER EVER TRAVEL

WITHOUT MARKED TICKET!

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Another useful informationPlease 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,

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 :)

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/

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Hope to see you in SlovakiaHope to seeyou in Slovakia