Good evening. Here is the Monday, July 28 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in a few minutes.
Petržalka celebrates launch of full tram line after years of waiting
The full tram line extension in Petržalka in now a reality. (source: TASR)
Sunday marked a major milestone for Bratislava’s borough of Petržalka. More than nine years after the first tram entered the area, and over three years since construction began on its full extension, Petržalka now boasts a fully operational tram line.
The capital’s largest public transport project officially launched on early Sunday morning when the first tram on line 3 began servicing the new stops at around five in the morning. The newly added stops are: Jungmannova, Gessayova, Zrkadlový háj, Pajštúnska, Veľký Draždiak, Lúčanka, and Južné mesto—the final terminus.
Throughout the day, tram users in Petržalka were greeted by volunteers handing out commemorative tickets and flags. Onboard announcements shared fun facts about the surrounding areas. For instance, passengers learned that up to 1,000 pieces of World War II ammunition were discovered near the Lúčanka stop during the construction.
According to Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo, once traffic lights are fully synchronised, the journey from the end of Petržalka to the city centre should take just 12 minutes. During weekdays this summer, trams are scheduled to run every four minutes. From September, during the morning rush hour, intervals will be shortened to 2.5 minutes, and four minutes in the afternoon.
The launch has led to adjustments in several other public transport services, including route changes, cancellations, and relocated stops.
However, despite the line becoming operational, construction is far from complete. Many of the shelters remain unfinished—glass panels, lighting, ticket machines, and even some pavements are still missing. In several locations, cables are still protruding from the ground, and digital information boards are not yet functional. Larger infrastructure elements, such as bridges at the Kultíkova junction, are also still under construction.
These remaining works are expected to be completed over the coming weeks and months.
Running alongside the extension is a new six-kilometre cycle path, already seeing heavy use by both cyclists and pedestrians. The route is flanked by freshly planted trees, shrubs, and even flowers. Between the rails, ground cover plants from the Sedum genus have been added—not only to improve aesthetics but also to reduce noise. These plants have also been used on the roofs of some shelters.
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SECURITY: A new survey reveals that security is a matter of great importance to voters of both coalition and opposition parties. There is, however, a caveat: they differ on where the threats come from.
ICE HOCKEY: When Craig Ramsay was appointed head coach of the Slovak national ice hockey team eight years ago, the decision was met with scepticism by some experts. But any doubts gradually faded.
INTERNET: A new public tool has been unveiled that allows users to measure the quality of their internet connection with certified accuracy.
TRAVEL: A scenic corner of the Hrabovská dolina valley in northern Slovakia was discovered by chance during a mushroom hunt. A new educational trail now leads there.
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FEATURE STORY
The mysterious black houses
A dig site with finds from the Second Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom during the 15th season of research at the archaeological site of Tell el-Retaba. (source: Jozef Hudec, Lenka Horáková)
The latest archaeological dig by a team of Slovak Egyptologists has unearthed a slew of interesting artefacts – and added to an ancient mystery. The research was part of the 15th season carried out by Jozef Hudec and colleagues from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Slovak Academy of Sciences at the Tell el-Retaba archaeological site on an ancient important route between the Nile delta and Sinai Peninsula.
EVENT FOR THIS WEEK
Folk festival Jánošíkove dni returns to Terchová
Last year's edition of the Jánošíkove Dni folklore festival. (source: TASR)
The northern Slovak town of Terchová, birthplace of national hero and highwayman Jánošík, will host the popular folk festival Jánošíkove dni from July 30 to August 3. Now in its 63rd edition, the international event showcases Slovak folk traditions, including music listed on the UNESCO heritage register. This year’s theme is Svadba (Marriage), with a special exhibition featuring traditional customs and clothing. Visitors can look forward to a rich programme of bonfires, craft displays, dance workshops, multimedia projects, film screenings, and a horse-led parade. Tickets are available for individual days or as a full festival pass.
IN OTHER NEWS
The Slovak police have issued renewed warnings about fraudulent phone calls aimed at extorting money from unsuspecting individuals. Since July 10, 60 such cases have been reported, with scammers defrauding victims of a total of €100,000. Criminal proceedings have been initiated in eight cases. Police urge the public never to withdraw money based on phone requests, stressing that no state institution would ever request funds in this way. Authorities have also warned about a rise in thefts at swimming pools, particularly items left unattended. (Bratislava Police Facebook)
Meanwhile, state insurer VšZP has alerted the public to a phishing campaign targeting even non-clients. The fraudulent emails and SMS messages aim to obtain personal data or money. VšZP reiterates that it never asks for personal or financial details via these channels. (TASR)
With one gold, five silver, and two bronze medals, Slovakia placed 21st in the medal table at the 2025 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival, held last week in Skopje, North Macedonia. This marks the country’s second most successful appearance at the event. Karolína Hajduková made history as the first Slovak girl to win gold in the individual time trial in cycling. Additionally, Lucia Piliarová, Nela Ostrihoňová, and Lilly Murínová secured Slovakia’s first-ever medals in artistic gymnastics. The trio won silver in the team competition, while Piliarová claimed silver in the individual all-around, and Ostrihoňová earned bronze on the balance beam. (SOŠV, EYOF)
From left: Artistic gymnasts Nela Ostrihoňová, Lucia Piliarová a Lilly Murínová with their respective medals. (source: TASR)
Tennis player Eszter Méri captured Slovakia’s first-ever gold medal in women’s singles at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in Germany. She defeated Russian athlete Alevtina Ibragimova—competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete—with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. Together with Martina Marušinová, Méri also earned silver in the women’s team event. Patrik Dömötör added a bronze in the 400-metre hurdles, bringing Slovakia’s total medal count to three. The country placed 33rd overall. (Slovakia Uni Team, FISU)
Developer Immocap has announced the start of construction on the Istropolis project at Trnavské mýto in Bratislava. In the coming days, initial infrastructure work will begin, and will transition into the first phase of full-scale construction later. Two of the nine planned buildings are expected to be completed within two and a half years. (SITA)
President Peter Pellegrini will meet with Czech President Petr Pavel, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar on October 1 at Bratislava Castle. Together, they will open an exhibition dedicated to Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. The heads of state will also hold discussions on current domestic challenges and international political affairs. (TASR)
In 2024, Slovak courts terminated 8,397 of the 10,448 marriages filed for divorce—representing a rate of 90.64 percent. Marriages lasting over 20 years accounted for more than 27 percent of all divorces, according to a new statistical yearbook published by the Interior Ministry. Almost 53 percent of the divorced couples had minor children, with families with one child making up the majority. The most frequently cited reason for divorce by both men and women was “differences in temperament, opinions, and interests.” Infidelity and “other reasons” followed, though the order of importance differed between genders. (TASR)
On Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda awarded Slovak citizens Ján Figeľ, Ján Hudacký, and Pavol Mačala with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The honour, one of the highest awarded to foreigners, recognises their outstanding contributions to international cooperation and their support for independence movements in central Europe. (TASR)
Actor Braňo Deák as King Charles III who was crowned in 1712 as the King of Hungary. The Coronation Days took place over the weekend, harkening back to the almost 300-year-long period when the Bratislava was the coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary. On Saturday, a procession walked through the historic city centre. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, with occasional showers and isolated storms. Daily temperatures will range from 18°C in the north to 27 °C in the south. (SHMÚ)
JULY 29 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Marta
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