Where to get essential items in Slovakia
You can use this guide to find the basic items you might need upon arrival in Slovakia.
The country welcomes Ukrainian refugees, with the government encouraging local families to open up their homes as temporary shelters.
There are several border checkpoints between Ukraine and Slovakia:
| Ukraine | Slovakia |
|---|---|
| Uzhhorod | Vyšné Nemecké |
| Malyi Bereznyi | Ubľa |
| Chop | Čierna nad Tisou |
| Mali Selmentsi (only pedestrians) | Veľké Slemence (only pedestrians) |
Volunteers at these border crossings can help to provide free food, warm drinks, and assistance.
This guide to important addresses and contact numbers for Ukrainians in Slovakia may also be useful for you.
If you need to buy some basic items, you can read the below guide to find places to buy food, medicine, clothing, transport tickets, mobile services, and accommodation in Slovakia.
Links provided in this article will take you to Google Maps locations, highlighting essentials in towns and cities closest to the border.
Food
In Slovakia, some of the most popular supermarkets are:
Medicines
In the Slovakian language, ‘Lekáreň’ is the word for pharmacy.
Most 24/7 pharmacies can be found in the capital, Bratislava. Slovakia has affordable over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, and prescriptions are cheap to fulfill.
Here are a few pharmacies you’ll find in the country:
Hygiene products
In Slovakia, you can find hygiene products in most supermarkets and pharmacies.
Clothing
There are various clothing stores in Slovakia where you can pick up the essentials, such as the following shops:
Most large clothing shops in Slovakia are located in the capital, Bratislava.
For second-hand clothes, try the following stores:
Pet products
If you have a pet, you can find supplies at the following stores in Slovakia:
Transport services
Public transport is popular in Slovakia, with the following methods being the most common options to get around:
- Bus
- Train
- Trolleybus
- Tram
You can find ticket information and route planners on the IMHD website.
There are also taxi services, including:
There are a few car-sharing services, such as:
| 🔍 You can also read the guide to getting into and moving around Slovakia for further information. |
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Mobile prepaid
There are four main mobile service providers in Slovakia, which are:
- Orange
- Telecom
- O2
- 4ka SWAN
Orange provides free sim cards for refugees from Ukraine. You can read this guide to find out how you can access a free sim.
The sim cards can be picked up from:
- Orange mobile stations at border crossings:
- Ubľa (Orange van)
- Veľké Slemence
- Vyšné Nemecké
- On the main train station in Bratislava
- At any store listed below
Accommodation
To find accommodation in Slovakia, you can browse the following websites:
Translation apps for Slovakian phrases
For speedy translations, Google Translate is highly recommended.
This Slovakian-English translation app on the App Store is also useful for fast and accurate translations.
| We’re committed to doing everything we can to help people in Ukraine today. We’ve created a community support page to help those who are currently unsure what they can do. Whether you want to donate, or you’re in Ukraine seeking refuge, we hope some of this information can be useful. |
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