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Full country name: Slovak Republic
Area: 49,036 sq km (19,124 sq mi)
Population: 5.4 million
Capital city: Bratislava (pop 452,000)
People: Slovak (85.6%), Hungarian (10.7%), Romany (1.5%), Czech (1%)
Language: Slovak, Czech & Hungarian, German
Religion: 60% Roman Catholic, 10% Protestant, 4% Orthodox
Government: parliamentary democracy
Executive: President: Rudolf Schuster (SOP)
Prime Minister: Mikulás Dzurinda

GDP: US$46.3 billion
GDP per head: US$8600
Annual growth: 6%
Inflation: 6%
Major industries: Metal products, electricity, gas, coke, oil, rubber products, agriculture
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany), Czech Republic, Austria, Poland
Member of EU: no

Events

Practically every day is a saint's day in the Slovak Republic, and 'special days', festivals and public holidays are widely acknowledged. Public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Three Kings Day (6 January), Labour Day (1 May), Cyril and Methodius Day (5 July) and Christmas (24-26 December). The Bratislava Lyre in May or June features rock concerts. During June or July folk dancers from all over Slovakia meet at the Vychondná Folklore Festival, 32km (20mi) west of Poprad. The Bratislava Jazz Days are held in September

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: Nationals of all Western European countries can visit Slovakia without a visa. US, Australian, New Zealand and South African passport holders can stay for 30 days without a visa. If you require a visa to Slovakia, it is strongly advised that you obtain one before commencing your journey or at a foreign consulate. It may be difficult to obtain one at a border crossing.
Health risks: encephalitis, Lyme disease
Time: GMT/UTC plus one hour
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Tourism: More than 100,000 visitors a year

Ideal Time to visit

May, June and September are the prime visiting months, with April and October as chillier and sometimes cheaper alternatives. Most Slovaks take their holidays in July and August when hotels and tourist sights are more than usually crowded, and hostels are chock-a-block with students, expecially in the Tatras mountain resort areas. Luckily, the supply of bottom end accommodation increases in large towns during this time, as student hostels are thrown open to visitors. Centres like Bratislava and the mountain resorts cater to visitors all year round. Elsewhere, from October or November until March or April, most castles, museums and other tourist attractions, and some associated accommodation and transport, close down.