Slovakia - Eastern Europe - page 611

( & 431 - 7007 - 22233; www.viennaairport.com), 67km (40 miles) west of Bratislava,
offers the most flight options, and remains the only option for direct flights from North
America. Bratislava is a 70-minute bus ride away (see details in the Bratislava section,
below).
BY TRAIN Regular train service links Bratislava with Vienna (1 hr.), Prague (5-6
hr.) and Budapest (3 hr.). For exact times, check the Slovak State Railway 's ( Z SR)
( & 02/2029-1111; www.zsr.sk) online timetable (use “Praha” to search for Prague,
“Wien” to search for Vienna, and so on). Most international trains arrive at Bratislava's
centrally located Hlavná Stanica (Predstanicne nám. 1; & 02/18188 ), about 20 min-
utes by tram or 10 minutes by taxi to the Old Town.
BY BUS The Slovak national bus carrier, SAD ( & 02/5556 - 7349; www.sad.sk),
together with the Europe-wide consortium of bus operators, Eurolines (www.
eurolines.com), maintains regular long-distance bus service from Bratislava to a num-
ber of European capitals and other cities, though this service is coming under increas-
ing competition from budget airlines. Bratislava's bus station is at Mlynské nivy 31.
BY CAR Bratislava lies on a main central European motorway, linking Prague with
Budapest. The drive to Bratislava from Prague (320km/200 miles) will take 3 to 4
hours, depending on traffic. From Budapest (250km/155 miles) expect to drive about
3 hours. The drive from Vienna (70km/42 miles) will take about 1 hour, but try to
avoid travel on Fridays to miss frequent preweekend backups at the border crossing.
Note that you will have to buy a special sticker to drive on Slovak highways. The
sticker, available at the border crossings and at major gas stations, costs 150 Sk
($5/£2.75) for 1 week, and 300 Sk ($10/£5) for a month. If you rent a car in Slova-
kia, the rental should include a valid highway sticker.
BY BOAT It's possible to travel between Bratislava and Vienna by high-speed cata-
maran (about 75 min.). Check Twin City Liner & 0903/610 - 716; www.twincity
liner.com). Boats depart from the main dock area on Rásuzovo náb, just behind the
Devin Hotel. Fares average about 729 Sk ($25/£13) one-way. Regular ferry service is
also available to Vienna and Budapest (about 4-5 hr. away). Contact LOD ( & 02/
529 - 3222; www.lod.sk).
GETTING AROUND
BY CAR Car travel offers the most flexibility, and if your plans are to see some of
the countryside away from the main cities, you should consider renting a car. To rent,
you'll need a license that's valid in the country of origin (U.S. state licenses are accept-
able), a major credit card, and a passport. Slovak driving rules follow Continental
norms. A yellow diamond denotes a main road where you do not need to yield to
incoming traffic at intersections. At unmarked intersections, yield to cars on the right.
Cars on roundabouts have the right of way. Speed limits are 130kmph (81 mph) on
highways and drop down to 60kmph (37 mph) in villages and incorporated areas.
Speed limits are rigorously enforced and if caught you'll have to pay a spot fine, usu-
ally 1,000 Sk ($33/£18) or higher. The blood alcohol limit is zero. Slovakia has very
few four-lane, limited-access highways, so prepare yourself for some slow two-lane
stretches, where you're usually trapped behind a belching truck or a painfully slow bus.
Remember to pass with care and only with a clear line of sight.
BY TRAIN Slovakia's aging but serviceable national rail line, Z SR ( & 02/2029 - 1111;
www.zsr.sk), is the best way to travel between major cities, including Z ilina, Tren c ín,
Poprad, and Ko s ice.