Prostitution is illegal in Slovakia and any form of pimping or organized solicitation is punishable by law. That is the official stance but - like most other major capitals - you will find a steady supply of erotic massage salons, up-market escort services and strip bars in Bratislava - which are officially legal. There are several striptease saloons within city center and around the city.
These are usually oficially registered and are quite safe to enter. You can watch pole dance, gogo dancers or have a private lap dance. They usually serve alcohol here, which is however quite expensive. Also, there is an entry fee - your euros will get changed for "saloon dollars" which you can then offer to the dancers.
These establishments often use a variety of techniques to overcharge guests, especially if they only speak a foreign language. One of the most known tricks on guests are overcharged drinks which you need to order for you and your "partner". Most prostitutes now work at so-called "privates" - unmarked apartments around the city with one or several girls usually requiring telephone arrangement. Street prostitution is limited to areas frequented by truck drivers and Austrian clients - the highway Panonska towards the Hungarian border in Petrzalka, as well as a stretch of road near the Slovnaft refinery.
Because of the grey area that defines the legal status of prostitution in Bratislava, there is no guarantee of healthcare for prostitutes from the state and most are assumed to be drug addicts by the police and municipality.
In the centre, especially in some of the more expensive bars, there are good looking female prostitutes looking for foreign clients. Often, their ultimate goal is to steal from any unsuspecting client so utmost caution is advised for those tempted to engage their services. There are known cases of clients being drugged up and robbed of their belongings by gangs using women posing as prostitutes in Bratislava.
