Slovakia Travel Guide

• Tipping is not customary or even normal in Slovakia. Of course, tipping a server, hotel staff, or taxi is always a nice gesture. Ten percent would be very welcome. It is often best to leave it in cash to ensure the service staff receive the tip. You can also round up to the closest euro or two.
• In their everyday lives, the Slovaks dress like people anywhere else in the Western world. They are casual, often wearing jeans and sneakers, which is the trend all over Europe. People dress up in the evenings, especially for dinner, and a collared shirt and long pants are recommended for men. A dress, slacks, and a nice blouse are recommended for women. Clothing in urban areas is fashionable, while older, rural people remain more conservative. 
• Driving in Slovakia is usually relatively easy. The roads are overall well-maintained. In the Slovak Republic, vehicles travel on the right side of the road. Headlights must be on at all times (day and night). The maximum legal speed on highways is 130 kilometers per hour (78 mph). On smaller roads, the maximum speed is 90 kph (54 mph). Seat belts are a requirement for all passengers, even in the back seats. Right turns on red are not permitted. Using your mobile phone while driving is strictly prohibited. Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. The blood alcohol tolerance level is zero percent. A highway user decal/vignette must be purchased online for travel on most major roads outside Bratislava. People seemed respectful drivers and not aggressive.
• Credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and some shops, and there are plenty of ATMs in larger towns. Exchange offices can be found, but it’s usually better value to change your money in a bank. Always exchange in the local currency rate and not your home rate.
• Economically, this is a strong country with low unemployment. Many international automobile companies base their operations here due to the local expertise of the population.
• When meeting strangers, shake hands, and don’t use first names when addressing older people. Casual greetings like ahoj are only for close friends.
• Slovak cuisine rests on three elements: potatoes, pork, and cabbage. Because of the many neighboring countries, you’ll also find hints of Polish, Hungarian, and Ukrainian cuisine. The main courses are usually a combination of meat with potatoes or dumplings. Slovak dumplings are similar to gnocchi. Meat is usually breaded and fried or cooked in a sauce. The main meal of the day is lunch, which starts with soup.
• Whether in a restaurant or at home, starting your meal with soup is the norm in Slovakia. Some soups are broth-based with veggies, while others are cream-based. Some soups pique your appetite, while others feel like entire meals!
• Table manners are Continental, where the fork is in the left hand and the knife is in the right while eating. Put your napkin on your lap as soon as you sit down. Finish everything on your plate.
•  If invited to a Slovak home, you must remove your shoes at the door, even when told not to (they’re just being polite.)
• Bring wine or chocolates if you’re invited to dine at a local home.
• Vineyards in the southeast produce good white wine, the most distinctive being Tokaj, a sweet dessert wine. For a few weeks in September, you can get fresh burčák, a fruity, bubbly, semi-fermented white with which Slovaks and Czechs toast the harvest. We bought some during our travels and enjoyed it. Slivovica, made with plums, and borovička, made with juniper berries, are popular spirits. 
• Due to various occupations in the last century. The feelings about Russia and Czechoslovakia can differ widely based on the generations. Our driver from Slovakia told us that in his family, his parents did not feel life was bad under communist rule. They felt safer, and life was predictable. The younger generation can see it in a very different. He said it is a topic that can cause a lot of strain, so it is best not to go there. This is a good recommendation for a visitor as well. Avoid such topics so as not to insult their view of the past.
• Keeping fish in the bathtub before Christmas is a tradition because eating carp at Christmas is supposed to bring good luck. Since carp are bottom feeders, they taste better if kept in clean water in a tub for several days before eating. Keeping the fish in the bathtub also ensures it stays fresh until Christmas Day. These days, many families in the countryside still carry on this tradition.
• May 1 is a national holiday in Slovakia, without school or work. Instead, the men go out into the forests to find tall trees to use as Maypoles. The Slovak traditional Maypole is a tall tree that has been stripped of all of its branches except the very top two to three feet, which are left intact to look like a small Christmas tree. Slovaks tie colorful ribbons to these branches, symbolizing love, new life, and good growth. 
• The Slovaks love their tea. Herbal teas are an incredibly popular way to heal whatever ails you. If you get ill, ask the local pharmacist what they recommend. Many of these herbal tea blends are produced in the country. Slovakia’s tea obsession isn’t evident only during illness but also in health. Several beautiful tea houses, like Čajovňa na zámku in Zvolen Castle or Čajovňa Klopačka in Banska Stiavnica, offer a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy the perfect cup of tea.
• The Slovaks tend to be reserved yet have a friendly demeanor. They value good humor and hard work.
• Ice hockey and soccer are the most popular team sports in Slovakia. In winter, Slovaks enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. 
• It is a safe country with low crime.

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