Slovakia - Eastern Europe - page 610

Major Festivals in Slovakia
The major festivals in Slovakia usually celebrate either religious rites or the
country's folk origins. Among the biggest religious celebrations is the annual
Maria pilgrimage in Levoca the first weekend in July. Unless you're a pilgrim,
try to avoid Levoca on that weekend; otherwise you'll find yourself elbow to
elbow with 100,000 other people looking for hotel rooms and tables at restau-
rants. Nearly every village holds a folk festival of some sort or another during
the summer months (too many to list here), but the granddaddy of them all is
the V;chodná festival in early July in the town of V;chodná, not far from Lip-
tovsk; Mikulás. The Pohoda Music Festival (www.pohodafestival.sk) in mid-July
in Trencín is the highlight of the outdoor rock music season, drawing many of
the best alternative and independent bands from around Europe and United
States.
machines. At press time, the exchange rate was about 30 Sk for 1 U.S. dollar, and 54
Sk = 1 British pound.
As a member of the European Union, Slovakia is expected to adopt the euro some-
time toward the end of the decade. Many establishments catering to visitors will quote
prices in euros and accept them as payment. Some hotels quote exclusively in euros.
Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and shops. Traveler's
checks are less useful and must usually be cashed at banks. ATMs are ubiquitous in
both big and small towns. They remain the best way to get cash on the spot.
WHEN TO GO
Slovakia has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are generally
warm to very hot, and have reliably good weather. Winter is ski season in the resorts
of the Malá Fatra, and the Low and High Tatras. Ski season starts in late December
and runs through March. Spring and fall are generally ideal. The months of May, Sep-
tember, and October bring warm sunny days and crisp cool nights. By the end of
October, hotels and many sights start shutting down for the winter.
HOLIDAYS
January 1 (New Year's Day, Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic), Janu-
ary 6 (Epiphany), Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday (Mar/Apr), May 1 (Labor
Day), May 8 (Victory over Fascism Day), July 5 (St. Cyril and Methodius Day),
August 29 (Slovak National Uprising Day), September 1 (Constitution Day), Septem-
ber 15 (Day of Our Lady of Sorrows), November 1 (All Saints' Day), November 17
(Day of the Fight for Democracy), December 24 (Christmas Eve), and December 25
and 26 (Christmas Day). Offices, banks, museums, and many stores are closed on hol-
idays, though some stores and restaurants remain open.
GETTING THERE
BY PLANE Bratislava's regional airport ( letisko ), M.R. S tefánik Airport ( & 02/
3303-3353; www.letiskobratislava.sk) is 9km (5 miles) northeast of the city. Czech Air-
lines/CSA (www.csa.cz) maintains regular air service to and from Prague. Budget carrier
SkyEurope (www.skyeurope.sk) flies to several European capitals, including London,
Paris, Amsterdam, and Rome, and several smaller European cities. Other airlines that
fly to Bratislava include Austrian Air and Lufthansa. Vienna's Schwechat airport