Slovakia

Capital City: Bratislava

People: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8%

Religion: Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13%

Language: Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6%

Currency: Slovak Koruna

Electrical Voltage: 220 volts

How to get there:
By plane: Bratislava has its own airport. Sky Europe provides the most convenient and cheap way to fly to Bratislava from London, Paris and many other European cities, as well as Kosice airport within Slovakia (22 destinations in total). Ryanair operates to Stansted, Hahn and some other cities.
Full service carriers providing service to Bratislava BTS are Czech Airlines and Lufthansa. Czech Airlines (CSA) provides several flights a day to/from its Prague hub. Similarly Lufthansa (LH) provides several flights a day to/from its Munich hub. There is also nonstop connection to Moscow and several other cities to the east.

By train: The easiest way to get to Slovakia by train from west is via Vienna, in Austria. Bratislava is a simple 50 - 70 minute trip on a express or a local train (either via Kittsee or Marchegg).
Trains also travel to Slovakia from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and the Ukraine. Crossing to and from Ukraine is a lengthy process due to bogie changing (different gauge in Ukraine) and security measures. Keep in mind that crossing borders by train anywhere in Europe implies hefty surcharges. The best option is to buy a ticket to a station just on the other side of the border, and buy another one for onward travel there. You'll avoid the surcharge that way.

By bus: Among many others, there are regular services from Vienna, Prague and Budapest to Bratislava; and from Uzhhorod, Ukraine to the eastern Slovak town of Michalovce.
From Budapest the travel is 4 hours, the bus stop for 5 minutes at Györ and in a small restaurant in the road. You need to show your passport at the border, for Hungarian police and after to Slovak police. Sometimes you get only one stamp in the passport from only one country.

Weather: Slovakia enjoys a moderate continental climate. The weather is sunny in spring and fall, with temperatures between 10 and 20 (C). Temperatures average in the low 20s (C) in summers, evenings may be cool. Winter temperatures average around 0 (C).

Travel Documentation and Custom Duty: Since Slovakia is a EU member, citizens of EU countries do not require a visa for stays in Slovakia.
Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Mexican, Venezuelan and US citizens are all permitted to stay for up to 90 days without a visa.
South African citizens require a visa for entry into Slovakia, unless they have indefinite leave to remain as a resident in another EU country.
If you need a visa, always apply at an embassy beforehand. There are zero chances you get a visa at a Slovak border, no matter how you enter and what your nationality.

Getting Around: Train, Car

Tourism Website: http://www.slovakia.org/tourism

Medical Facilities:

Banks:

Emergency Numbers: Police: 158, Ambulance: 155, Fire: 150