Banks: 08.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 12.00, Saturday
Post Offices: 07.00 to 19.00, Monday to Friday; 07.30 to 14.00, Saturday
Government Offices: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 08.00 to 18.00, Monday to Saturday; large stores open on Sundays

There are few threats to visitors’ safety when visiting Bratislava, which is a safe city to travel in. Like other European capitals, the city suffers from pickpockets and the like so watch your belongings carefully when on public transport or at busy tourist sites. Take extra care at night by avoiding dimly lit and unpopulated areas, and by travelling by taxi when possible. If you bring you car with you or rent a vehicle during your stay, take care to park it on a well-lit street and not to leave anything of value on show.

220V, 50Hz; plugs are continental and have two round prongs.

There is no need to have any vaccinations before you travel to Bratislava but it is a good idea to ensure you are up-to-date with basics like tetanus. While vaccination against rabies isn’t recommended for visitors to the city, be aware that this disease is present in Slovakia and ensure you seek medical attention if you get bitten by an animal during your stay.

While the tap water is considered safe for consumption in Bratislava, most travellers prefer to stick to bottled water, which is widely available. If you do get sick during your visit, pharmacies are on hand to serve minor ailments. More serious complaints can be dealt with at one of the city’s major hospitals, which are equipped to cater to all kinds of emergencies. Be sure to take out adequate medical insurance prior to your trip.

Hospital Bratislava Ruzinov: +421 2 4333 6741

The locals in Bratislava speak Slokak, the national language, although you will also hear Czech, Hungarian, German, Ukrainian and Ruthenian being spoken by minorities.

The national currency in Slovakia is the crown, locally known as the koruna. Banknotes come in increments of 5,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 koruna while coins are available in 50, 20 and 10 halierov and 10, 5, 2 and 1 koruna.

Visitors to Slovakia can import the following duty-free: one litre of spirits, 250 cigarettes, two litres of wine, half a litre of perfume and gift up to a value of 1,000 koruna. Foreign currency up to a value of 150,000 koruna can be imported; amounts over this must be declared. The export of antiques requires a certificate from the relevant authority in Bratislava.

Slovakians normally greet one another with a handshake, as with elsewhere in Europe, and it is polite to arrive at meetings on time. While the locals may seem formal at first, Slovaks are typically very polite and helpful towards tourists so you shouldn’t encounter any problems.

When dining out you should dress smartly and leave a 5 to 10 per cent tip if you are happy with the service and a service charge is not already included in the bill. It is not, however, common to tip taxi drivers or waiting staff in small, local restaurants.

EU nationals and citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada do not need a visa to enter Slovakia. The former are allowed to stay for an unlimited time period while the latter can stay for up to 90 days. Visitors from other nations, such as South Africa, Ukraine and India, should apply for a visa in person in advance of travel at their nearest Slovak embassy.

There are four tourist information offices in Bratislava providing useful information for visitors to the city. The main office can be found at Klobucnicka ul. 2, 815 15 Bratislava (phone: +421 2 5443 3715) while other offices are located at the airport, the main railway station and the passenger port.