Dunajska Streda, Slovakia

Capital City

With a population of just 22,826, Dunajska Streda is a small town that struggles to maintain its historic character amid rapid modernization. Over 85% of the city's historic center has been demolished and replaced with drab communist-era concrete buildings, stripping the town of its former charm. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the town's long and convoluted name changes over the centuries. And ethnic tensions simmer, with a history of violence against the Jewish population and recent clashes between Hungarian and Slovak soccer fans.

This sleepy town is likely best suited for Hungarians seeking to live in a predominantly Hungarian-speaking enclave, though even they may find the heavy bureaucratic burden and eroding cultural heritage difficult to stomach. For most expats, Dunajska Streda offers little to recommend it.