Slovaks are known to be very friendly and generous. Today, it is not uncommon to find someone who knows the language, which makes getting around quite easy. Surprisingly a high percentage of the younger generations speak fluent English and/or German.

Bratislava - an off-the-beaten town located only 45 minutes from Vienna is still not very well marketed, though it provides numerous attractions for foreign visitors and tourists. Its UFO-shaped restaurant at the top of a famous bridge built in 1973 (closed as of July 3, 2003) is something that most people haven't seen in any other city in the world. Bratislava's castle, which resembles an upside-down table, and the Slovak Broadcasting Station Building, an upside down pyramid, clearly demonstrate Slovak creativity and the people's willingness to try the unusual.

 

Official name: SLOVENSKA REPUBLIKA (SLOVAK REPUBLIC)
Political system: PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
Declaration of independence: JANUARY 1st, 1993
Highest legislative power: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Official language: SLOVAK
Business languages: SLOVAK, ENGLISH, GERMAN
Capital city: BRATISLAVA, 440,421 INHABITANTS (END OF 1994)
Other major cities: KOSICE, BANSKA BYSTRICA, NITRA, ZILINA, TRENCIN, PRESOV, TRNAVA, POPRAD
Main port: None, Slovakia is a land-locked country
Area: 49,035 km2
Coastline: None, Slovakia is a land-locked country
Main rivers: DANUBE, VAH, HRON, HORNAD, IPEL, ORAVA, LABOREC
Population: 5,263,541 (END OF 1994)
No. of inhabitants per km2 : 107
Population growth: 0.2% (1993)
Ethnic structure of the population: SLOVAK (85.6%), HUNGARIAN (10.8%), CZECH, ROMANY, GERMAN, UKRAINIAN AND RUTHENIAN
Religions: ROMAN CATHOLIC (80%), GREEK CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT, JEWISH, ORTHODOX
Literacy: 99%