Everyday practical information for Slovakia

Power

• 230 V, 50 Hz, sockets type E and F. The same round two-pin plugs as Germany, France, Poland and most of continental Europe.
• UK, US, Irish and Australian plugs need an adapter. US and Canadian devices also need to handle 230 V - most laptop and phone chargers do, most hair dryers do not.

Language

• Slovak is the language, and it is close enough to Czech that the two are mutually intelligible. Hungarian is widely spoken in the south.
• English is common among younger people and in Bratislava, less so in villages and among older people, where German or Russian may get further.
• "Dobry den" is the all-purpose greeting in shops, restaurants and lifts, and it is expected rather than optional. "Dakujem" is thank you; "prosim" covers both please and you're welcome.

Shops and opening hours

• Public holidays close nearly everything, including supermarkets - Slovakia restricts retail trading on a list of holidays. Check the date before you plan a shopping day or assume you can buy food.
• Sunday is a normal trading day outside those holidays, though smaller shops may not open.
• Supermarkets are cheap and the ones on the edges of towns are cheaper than the small city-centre branches.

Manners

• Take your shoes off in someone's home. This is not negotiable and slippers will usually be offered.
• Table manners are formal by British or American standards - wait for everyone to be served, and "dobru chut" before eating.
• Queues are respected, and pushing in gets a reaction.