Practical information for travellers in Slovakia

Living Conditions

Eating

Food Specialties

Slovak food is influenced by Hungarian, Austrian and German cuisines. The Slovaks offer numerous specialties such as a big variety of soups, vegetable-based dishes, smoked pork meats and numerous pasta-based dishes.
The culinary specialties vary from one region to another.
One of the most popular dishes is the Bryndzové halusky: potatoes covered with grilled bacon and ewe's milk cheese .
The kapustnica: vegetable soup with mushrooms and small pieces of smoked pork. It is traditionally served on important occasions such as weddings or at Christmas.
Sunkova rolkas chrenovou: it is an appetizer with small pieces of ham, dipped into a horseradish sauce and served with a wild berries brandy (borovicka).
For dessert, you can enjoy the Slovak pancakes (palacinky) with a chocolate sauce, some jam or soft white cheese with grapes. Finally, you can enjoy the Makove sulance, a  fried vermicelli-based dessert with poppy seeds and sugar sprinkled on top.
Finally, you can enjoy your dinner with a plum brandy: the slivovica.

Drinks

Slovak aperitifs are Slivovica (plum brandy) and fruit brandies such as Hruskovica (pear), Marhul'ovica (apricot), Borovicka (juniper berries) or Demanovka (spices).
Slovakia is historically a wine producing area. Slovak wines are Burciak (a young wine), Trebisov, Tokay (a sweet wine), Rheinriesling, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltiner, Traminer, Silvaner and Muller-Thurgau.
Widespread non-alcoholic drinks are Vinea (a drink made from grape must) and Kofola.

Dietary Restrictions

There are no culinary restrictions in Slovak cooking.

Paying

Domestic Currency

Euro

ISO Code

EUR

To Obtain Domestic Currency

The currency is the Euro or the EUR. You can easily find MasterCard ATMs and more and more Visa card ones. Money can be changed in banks, post offices, hotels and some department stores.

Possible Means of Payment

In shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. you can pay in cash or by credit card.

Speaking

Official Language

The official language of Slovakia is Slovak which is spoken by 85% of the population.

Other Languages Spoken

It is important to note that other languages are used in this country such as Hungarian, Ukrainian, Polish and Czech. Hungarians represent the largest minority in Slovakia, with more than 10% of the total population. Most Hungarians speak their mother tongue and live in the south of the country. Finally, Czechs represent the third national minority and keep their own language: Czech.

Business Language

Slovak, German and English.

Useful Resources

To Find a Job

Grafton
Profesia
Europersonnel