Difference between revisions of "Slovakia"

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|hitch = <rating country='sk' />
 
|hitch = <rating country='sk' />
 
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'''Slovakia''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]] with borders to [[Austria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Poland]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Hungary]]. Off the international routes, few drivers may stop when you are standing on the road, so it is best to ask directly at gas stations. Some, but not many drivers speak English or German, especially younger ones. Russian is more widely understood among older people, but not necessarily liked. It is not common from the drivers to ask money for a ride. Hitchhiking in Slovak is called ''stopovanie, stopovať''.
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'''Slovakia''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]], bordering [[Austria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Poland]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Hungary]].
 +
 
 +
It is most of the time very easy to find a ride, waiting times are usually less than half an hour. Slovak people are incredibly friendly and will do their best to make you feel comfortable. Some will even invite you to have lunch with their family and/or have a drink with friends! Some, but not many drivers speak English or German, especially younger ones. Russian is more widely understood among older people, but not necessarily liked. In some southern areas of the country (where towns and villages are marked by blue signs), there is a substantial Hungarian-speaking minority. It is not common for drivers to ask money for a ride. Hitchhiking in Slovak is called ''stopovanie, stopovať''.
  
 
Hitchhiking (and indeed all pedestrian access) is not allowed on motorways, but one can hitchhike from entry ramps or ask drivers for a lift at petrol stations. On the country's national roads, you can simply stand wherever cars are going slowly and put out your thumb. Use a card displaying a two-letter code of your destination town (see below in section "Number plates"), if your intended destination cannot be obvious to the drivers. It is not advised to hitch on an older national road which runs parallel to a newer motorway, because all longer-distance traffic uses the motorway (unless of course you only want to get to the nearest village). Hitchhiking in pairs of a man and a woman is the best bet: most successful and also secure.
 
Hitchhiking (and indeed all pedestrian access) is not allowed on motorways, but one can hitchhike from entry ramps or ask drivers for a lift at petrol stations. On the country's national roads, you can simply stand wherever cars are going slowly and put out your thumb. Use a card displaying a two-letter code of your destination town (see below in section "Number plates"), if your intended destination cannot be obvious to the drivers. It is not advised to hitch on an older national road which runs parallel to a newer motorway, because all longer-distance traffic uses the motorway (unless of course you only want to get to the nearest village). Hitchhiking in pairs of a man and a woman is the best bet: most successful and also secure.
  
 
== Phrasebook ==
 
== Phrasebook ==
 +
Slovak is a Slavic language with many divergent dialects. Even Slovak people from the west do not always understand Slovak people from the east, but the standard language described here is understood by all. In the southern areas drivers speak rather Hungarian, so you might try the [[Eastern Europe phrasebook#Hungarian|Hungarian phrasebook]].
  
Slovak is a Slavic language with many divergent dialects. Even slovak people from the west do not understand slovak people from the east.
+
* Hello (formal/casual - do not use for older people) '''Dobrý deň'''/'''Ahoj'''
 
 
* Hello (formal/casual) '''Dobrý deň'''/'''Ahoj'''
 
 
* Please '''Prosím'''
 
* Please '''Prosím'''
 
* Thank you '''Ďakujem'''
 
* Thank you '''Ďakujem'''
Line 26: Line 27:
 
* Yes '''Áno'''
 
* Yes '''Áno'''
 
* No '''Nie'''
 
* No '''Nie'''
* To the next gas station '''Na ďalšiu benzínku'''
+
* To the next petrol station '''Na ďalšiu benzínku'''
 
* I will get down here '''Tu vystúpim'''
 
* I will get down here '''Tu vystúpim'''
 
You can find a lot of [http://stopar.sk/ offers for hitchhikers] at [http://www.stopar.sk/index.php?newlang=english stopar.sk] (available in English). However, most drivers expect you to pay something for the ride (less then 1 EUR for km)
 
[[File:DSCN0478.JPG|thumb|250px|left|[[User:Titush|Titush]] hitchhiking towards Slovakia]]
 
  
 
== West-East travelling ==  
 
== West-East travelling ==  
 +
Slovakia is a small country. Because the country is mountainous, there are few major roads across the country. The D1 highway, running along the north of the country, is the main east-west road in Slovakia.
  
Slovakia is a small country. Because the country has many hills the aren't many routes to go nor are they good/many highways. So the main traffic stream is West-East and reverse. Therefore most of the people use the D1 highway what is called the big northern way.
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But as the new motorway R1 was finished the streams seperated. Sometimes they are called the northern way and the southern. They split near [[Trnava]] and join in [[Ružomberok]]. Going both ways there is always a part where there is no highway/motorway (After they will finish the [[Žilina]]-[[Ružomberok]] part this will no longer be valid. But they are not going to finish it at least the next 5 years.) but just a national road. For the north one it is the road 18, for the south it is the road 59.  
  
But as the new motorway R1 was finished the streams seperated. Sometimes they are called the northern way and the southern. They split near [[Trnava]] and join in [[Ružomberok]]. Going both ways there is always a part where there is no highway/motorway (After they will finish the [[Žilina]]-[[Ružomberok]] part this will no longer be valid. But they are not going to finish it at least the next 5 years.) but just a national road. For the north one it is the road 18, for the south it is the road 59. Still the north route is the more used becouse it's a habit. But in the summer it is close to be equal.
+
Still the north route is the more used because it's a habit. But in the summer it is close to be equal.During the winter the northern route becomes more used by people going at least to [[Ružomberok]], becouse on the south route there are a lot of skiing centres so most of the cars go there and they tend to be full and there is always a traffic jam so the long distance drivers avoid this route.  
  
During the winter the northern route becomes more used by people going at least to [[Ružomberok]], becouse on the south route there are a lot of skiing centres so most of the cars go there and they tend to be full and there is allways a trafiic jam so the long distance drivers avoid this route.  
+
The parts with no highway make the traveling slower but can be an advantage for you. On many parts there are traffic jams and the roads go through many cities so you can hitchhike on bus stops and traffic lights and you can catch a pretty long ride.
  
The parts with no highway make the traveling slower but can be an advantage for you. On many parts there are traffic jams and the roads go through many cities so you can hitchhike on bus stops and traffic lights and you can catch a pretty long ride.
+
Another small group of cars that go from west to the farest east ([[Košice]] and more east) go by the so called big south route. It's a route that start in [[Bratislava]], goes by the D1 highway, continues by the R1 motorway and then gets off the motorway in [[Zvolen]] and continues by the national roads and then the big northern way and the big southern way meet in [[Košice]]. But this is the least used route. The meaning of mentioning this option is just to be said that some people go that way and it is still possible to hitch there.
  
Another small group of cars that go from west to the farest east ([[Košice]] and more east) go by the so called big south route. It's a route that start in [[Bratislava]], goes by the D1 highway, continues by the R1 motorway and the gets off the motorway either in [[Nitra]] or in [[Zvolen]] and continues by the national roads and then the big northern way and the big southern way meet in [[Košice]]. But this is the least used route. The meaning of mentioning this option is just to be said that some people go that way and it is still possible to hitch there.
+
== North-South travelling ==
 +
There is a road [[E77]] passing through the middle of [[Slovakia]] connecting [[Krakow]] and [[Budapest]]. It is also the main route used by Turkish trucks driving from [[Turkey]] to [[Poland]], [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]], [[Estonia]], and [[Finland]]. It is very hitchhike-friendly and passes through  [[Ružomberok]], [[Banská Bystrica]], [[Zvolen]], and [[Šahy]]. Even though it is relatively easy to hitchhike along the route, it is best to wait at the border crossings [[Parassapuszta-Šahy border crossing]] (south) or [[Trstená-Chyzne border crossing]] (north) when looking for long-distance rides.
  
 
== Cities ==
 
== Cities ==
Line 51: Line 51:
 
* [[Žilina]]
 
* [[Žilina]]
 
* [[Nitra]]
 
* [[Nitra]]
 +
* [[Trenčín]]
 
* [[Poprad]]
 
* [[Poprad]]
[[File:Hugo.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Hugo hitchhiking from [[Poprad]] to [[Zilina]]]]
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[[File:Hugo.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Hugo hitchhiking from [[Poprad]] to [[Žilina]]]]
  
 
== Border crossings ==
 
== Border crossings ==
* [[Barwinek-Vyšný Komárnik border crossing]] with [[Poland]]
+
===[[Ukraine]]===
* [[Milhosť-Tornyosnémeti border crossing]] with [[Hungary]]
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* [[Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhhorod border crossing]]
* [[Parassapuszta-Šahy border crossing]] with [[Hungary]]
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* [[Ubľa-Malyi Bereznyi border crossing]]
 +
* [[Velké Slemence-Mali Selmenci border crossing]] (pedestrian crossing, EU/EEA & Ukrainian passports only)
 +
===[[Poland]]===
 +
* [[Barwinek-Vyšný Komárnik border crossing]]  
 +
* [[Trstená-Chyzne border crossing]]
 +
===[[Hungary]]===
 +
* [[Milhosť-Tornyosnémeti border crossing]]
 +
* [[Parassapuszta-Šahy border crossing]]
 +
===[[Austria]]===
 +
* [[Devínska Nová Ves-Schlosshof border crossing]] (bicycle and pedestrian bridge) north of [[Bratislava]]
  
== Number Plates ==
+
== Links ==
  
The plate consists of two letters followed by the coat of arms of Slovakia, then three numbers followed by two letters. The first two letters represent the town, and because these codes are well known by drivers, you can write them on signs.
+
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/stopari.czsk/ FB group for Czech and Slovak hitchhikers]
  
[[File:Slovak_registration_3183.JPG|thumb|Number plate of town Ilava, Slovakia]]
+
== Personal Experiences ==
  
 +
''Summer 2022: I really liked hitchhiking in Slovakia, it's easy (20min-1h) and people are friendly. Normally, you don't do a lot of kilometres in one ride, because people are moving from one small town to another.''
 +
''The country is very beautiful despite the fact that in general it consists only of small towns but that's gives you an opportunity of easy camping. There are a lot of green zones and parks where you can camp. Locals tell that there are a lot of wild bears in the big national parks (as the Tatras), so be careful sleeping in the forest. '' --[[User:HHer-Vert|HHer-Vert]]
  
* BA, BL - [[Bratislava]]
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== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
* BB - [[Banská Bystrica]]
 
* BJ - [[Bardejov]]
 
* BN - [[Bánovce nad Bebravou]]
 
* BR - [[Brezno]]
 
* BS - [[Banská Štiavnica]]
 
* BY - [[Bytča]]
 
* CA  -[[Čadca]]
 
* DK  - [[Dolný Kubín]]
 
* DS  - [[Dunajská Streda]]
 
* DT  - [[Detva]]
 
* GA  - [[Galanta]]
 
* GL  - [[Gelnica]]
 
* HC  - [[Hlohovec]]
 
* HE  - [[Humenné]]
 
* IL  - [[Ilava]]
 
* KA  - [[Krupina]]
 
* KE  - [[Košice]]
 
* KK  - [[Kežmarok]]
 
* KM  - [[Kysucké Nové Mesto]]
 
* KN  - [[Komárno]]
 
* KS  - [[Košice-okolie]]
 
* LC  - [[Lučenec]]
 
* LE  - [[Levoča]]
 
* LM  - [[Liptovský Mikuláš]]
 
* LV  - [[Levice]]
 
* MA  - [[Malacky]]
 
* MI  - [[Michalovce]]
 
* ML  - [[Medzilaborce]]
 
* MT  - [[Martin]]
 
* MY  - [[Myjava]]
 
* NR  - [[Nitra]]
 
* NM  - [[Nové Mesto nad Váhom]]
 
* NO  - [[Námestovo]]
 
* NZ  - [[Nové Zámky]]
 
* PB  - [[Považská Bystrica]]
 
* PD  - [[Prievidza]]
 
* PE  - [[Partizánske]]
 
* PK  - [[Pezinok]]
 
* PN  - [[Piešťany]]
 
* PO  - [[Prešov]]
 
* PP  - [[Poprad]]
 
* PT  - [[Poltár]]
 
* PU  - [[Púchov]]
 
* RA  - [[Revúca]]
 
* RK  - [[Ružomberok]]
 
* RS  - [[Rimavská Sobota]]
 
* RV  - [[Rožňava]]
 
* SA  - [[Šaľa]]
 
* SB  - [[Sabinov]]
 
* SC  - [[Senec]]
 
* SE  - [[Senica]]
 
* SI  - [[Skalica]]
 
* SK  - [[Svidník]]
 
* SL  - [[Stará Ľubovňa]]
 
* SN  - [[Spišská Nová Ves]]
 
* SO  - [[Sobrance]]
 
* SP  - [[Stropkov]]
 
* SV  - [[Snina]]
 
* TT  - [[Trnava]]
 
* TN  - [[Trenčín]]
 
* TO  - [[Topoľčany]]
 
* TR  - [[Turčianske Teplice]]
 
* TS  - [[Tvrdošín]]
 
* TV  - [[Trebišov]]
 
* VK  - [[Veľký Krtíš]]
 
* VT  - [[Vranov nad Topľou]]
 
* ZA  - [[Žilina]]
 
* ZC  - [[Žarnovica]]
 
* ZH  - [[Žiar nad Hronom]]
 
* ZM  - [[Zlaté Moravce]]
 
* ZV  - [[Zvolen]]
 
  
 +
{{nomadwiki}}
  
 
{{hitchbase_country|172}}
 
{{hitchbase_country|172}}
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
 
  
 
{{IsIn|Eastern Europe}}
 
{{IsIn|Eastern Europe}}
[[trash:Slovakia]]
+
 
  
 
[[Category:Slovakia| ]]
 
[[Category:Slovakia| ]]

Revision as of 16:28, 16 August 2022

Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Information
Language: Slovak
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5 455 000
Currency: Euro (EUR, €)
Hitchability: <rating country='sk' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
<map lat='48.6667' lng='19.5' zoom='6' view='0' float='right' country='Slovakia'/>

Slovakia is a member state of the European Union as well as the Schengen Agreement, bordering Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary.

It is most of the time very easy to find a ride, waiting times are usually less than half an hour. Slovak people are incredibly friendly and will do their best to make you feel comfortable. Some will even invite you to have lunch with their family and/or have a drink with friends! Some, but not many drivers speak English or German, especially younger ones. Russian is more widely understood among older people, but not necessarily liked. In some southern areas of the country (where towns and villages are marked by blue signs), there is a substantial Hungarian-speaking minority. It is not common for drivers to ask money for a ride. Hitchhiking in Slovak is called stopovanie, stopovať.

Hitchhiking (and indeed all pedestrian access) is not allowed on motorways, but one can hitchhike from entry ramps or ask drivers for a lift at petrol stations. On the country's national roads, you can simply stand wherever cars are going slowly and put out your thumb. Use a card displaying a two-letter code of your destination town (see below in section "Number plates"), if your intended destination cannot be obvious to the drivers. It is not advised to hitch on an older national road which runs parallel to a newer motorway, because all longer-distance traffic uses the motorway (unless of course you only want to get to the nearest village). Hitchhiking in pairs of a man and a woman is the best bet: most successful and also secure.

Phrasebook

Slovak is a Slavic language with many divergent dialects. Even Slovak people from the west do not always understand Slovak people from the east, but the standard language described here is understood by all. In the southern areas drivers speak rather Hungarian, so you might try the Hungarian phrasebook.

  • Hello (formal/casual - do not use for older people) Dobrý deň/Ahoj
  • Please Prosím
  • Thank you Ďakujem
  • Direction Smer
  • Highway Diaľnica
  • Are you going to ...? Idete do ...?
  • Are you please going in direction of ...? Idete, prosím, smerom na ...?
  • Goodbye Dovidenia
  • Yes Áno
  • No Nie
  • To the next petrol station Na ďalšiu benzínku
  • I will get down here Tu vystúpim

West-East travelling

Slovakia is a small country. Because the country is mountainous, there are few major roads across the country. The D1 highway, running along the north of the country, is the main east-west road in Slovakia.

But as the new motorway R1 was finished the streams seperated. Sometimes they are called the northern way and the southern. They split near Trnava and join in Ružomberok. Going both ways there is always a part where there is no highway/motorway (After they will finish the Žilina-Ružomberok part this will no longer be valid. But they are not going to finish it at least the next 5 years.) but just a national road. For the north one it is the road 18, for the south it is the road 59.

Still the north route is the more used because it's a habit. But in the summer it is close to be equal.During the winter the northern route becomes more used by people going at least to Ružomberok, becouse on the south route there are a lot of skiing centres so most of the cars go there and they tend to be full and there is always a traffic jam so the long distance drivers avoid this route.

The parts with no highway make the traveling slower but can be an advantage for you. On many parts there are traffic jams and the roads go through many cities so you can hitchhike on bus stops and traffic lights and you can catch a pretty long ride.

Another small group of cars that go from west to the farest east (Košice and more east) go by the so called big south route. It's a route that start in Bratislava, goes by the D1 highway, continues by the R1 motorway and then gets off the motorway in Zvolen and continues by the national roads and then the big northern way and the big southern way meet in Košice. But this is the least used route. The meaning of mentioning this option is just to be said that some people go that way and it is still possible to hitch there.

North-South travelling

There is a road E77 passing through the middle of Slovakia connecting Krakow and Budapest. It is also the main route used by Turkish trucks driving from Turkey to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. It is very hitchhike-friendly and passes through Ružomberok, Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, and Šahy. Even though it is relatively easy to hitchhike along the route, it is best to wait at the border crossings Parassapuszta-Šahy border crossing (south) or Trstená-Chyzne border crossing (north) when looking for long-distance rides.

Cities

Hugo hitchhiking from Poprad to Žilina

Border crossings

Ukraine

Poland

Hungary

Austria

Links

FB group for Czech and Slovak hitchhikers

Personal Experiences

Summer 2022: I really liked hitchhiking in Slovakia, it's easy (20min-1h) and people are friendly. Normally, you don't do a lot of kilometres in one ride, because people are moving from one small town to another. The country is very beautiful despite the fact that in general it consists only of small towns but that's gives you an opportunity of easy camping. There are a lot of green zones and parks where you can camp. Locals tell that there are a lot of wild bears in the big national parks (as the Tatras), so be careful sleeping in the forest. --HHer-Vert

Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)