Travel Destinations / Slovenia

Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe, where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain meets the Karst. This small green country measures 20,273 km2 in area, and is home to sincere, hospitable people of great diligence. It has an exceptional number of top athletes, and a wealth of cultural creativity. In Slovenia it is not difficult to compare the value of goods and services, as they are priced in one of the world’s major currencies, the euro.

Slovenia has numerous sites of special natural interest, with features of all four main areas: the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Karst and the Pannonian Plain. It also has a wealth of diverse architecture and urban design. You can truly feel at home in Slovenia’s towns. It is a land of greenery, which offers great opportunities for activity holidays. Its high-quality accommodation guarantees a comfortable stay. It is perfect for a summer holiday, a winter break or a weekend away and also famed for its excellent food, accompanied by one of its fine wines.The friendly, hospitable and attentive locals will guarantee you a pleasant stay. You can feel Slovenia.

Culture:

Slovenia has a population of two million, of whom the vast majority are ethnic Slovenes. People hailing from the other former Yugoslav republics make up a significant minority, albeit less than 10% of the total population. The Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities have protected minority status, despite their small size.The majority of people live in towns and cities, but a significant number live in the countryside. Agriculture accounts for only a small proportion of the workforce, while the majority work in services and manufacturing.Slovenes are renowned as a diligent, hard-working nation, part of the reason that Slovenia is the wealthiest of the new EU members. They constantly aim to prove themselves and to progress. Their toil and persistence has allowed many Slovenes to achieve at the global level. A very good example is the country’s athletes, particularly those involved in extreme sports, from mountaineering and extreme skiing to ultramarathon biking and swimming exploits.

Slovenes are also very thorough in learning foreign languages to make themselves understood. Even primary school students can speak foreign languages. The majority of people can speak good English, while most have a good grasp of German. A large share of the population can communicate in the languages of the old Yugoslavia, while there are many fluent Italian speakers in the areas bordering Italy.

Shopping:

You're other half has given you a list of what you should bring them from Slovenia? Perhaps you're mum has always liked collecting spoons? Or maybe the true love in your life is the (wo)man in the mirror, and you feel the urgent need shower him/her with lavish gifts? Whatever the situation, Ljubljana won't let you down. Many people travel to Slovenia just to do their shopping in fact! Zip straight away to Ljubljana's bevy of markets where you can get classic Slovenian souvenirs like lace, brandy, black pottery, glassware, beehive panels and honey. As well as your standard commercial stores, Ljubljana is also home to BTC - the biggest shopping centre in Europe (no fib!) - ready to fulfill even the strangest of shopping needs. Your pockets look too full, let out some of the load! Spend, spend, spend!!!

Transport:

Train:

Direct express trains from neighbouring countries and many other parts of Europe offer you an easy way to get to Slovenia You can also travel overnight on trains with sleeper cars. Travelling by train is one of the most comfortable ways to travel. Slovenia is part of the Eurail Global Pass system, which means that you can use this pass to travel in Slovenia.

Car:

Travelling by car around Slovenia is very straightforward, with the roads clearly and well signposted. Some local roads can get a little narrow and winding, but for all that they are pleasant and interesting. There are plenty of petrol stations. And if you want to get to the other end of the country in a hurry, you can take the motorways, for which you need a vignette (sticker which can be bought at any petrol station)

Air:

Slovenia has good air connections with many European cities. The majority of flights arrive at Ljubljana Jože Pu?nik Airport, from where you can catch daily flights to cities all over Europe. The airport is also served by two low-cost airlines. Some international flights use the airports in Maribor and Portorož.

Bus:

You can reach Slovenia by coach and bus from a number of European cities. There are even direct coach services from cities thousands of kilometres away, in Sweden and Denmark for example.Most international coaches stop in Ljubljana. Coaches travel through here from Italy, Austria, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden, Kosovo and Macedonia

Sea:

You can reach Slovenia from neighbouring Italy and Croatia by fast passenger catamaran or hydrofoil. Vessels from foreign ports may only land at the ports of entry in Koper and Piran (and Izola in the summer season). This also applies to people arriving in Slovenia in sailing vessels, motor boats or yachts. Facilities for nautical tourists on Slovenia's coast include three modern marinas and a yacht centre where repairs can be carried out and supplies obtained.

Bike:

Slovenia’s roads and trails are ideal for biking. Every biker can find a route that suits. Families with children and recreational bikers can seek out quiet country roads with little traffic. Harder-core bikers who want to prove themselves can take on mountain passes, while mountain bikers can enjoy some of the most spectacular routes in this part of Europe.

If you are not sure how devise your own itinerary, why not check out the multi-day itineraries offered by regional tourist boards. These travel plans include lists of attractions worth visiting, recommendations of places to eat and drink, and suitable accommodation. And of course you can adapt the itinerary to your own wishes and requirements.

If you want a totally carefree holiday and prefer to leave the organising to someone else, travel agents offer several interesting itineraries. These are generally for small groups travelling by minibus or executive coach. Although the itinerary is decided in advance, many travel agents will adapt them to the wishes and needs of the group members.

Money:

Slovenia's currency, the tolar, was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2007. The euro is the single European currency and is currently used by 15 other member states of the

European Union as well as Slovenia.

There are seven euro banknotes, which are identical in all the countries of the eurozone. The banknotes have values of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.

There are eight euro coins. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, while each country in the eurozone has its own design on the obverse. Despite their different designs, coins from different countries are legal tender in all the countries of the eurozone.

Health:

In Slovenia there is no danger of contracting any dangerous diseases, so no special vaccination requirements are made for travelling here.
Vaccination against tetanus is recommended, but not essential.

Weather:

The weather in Slovenia varies from season to season. There are also three climatic influences that meet in the country. A harsh Alpine climate prevails in the mountains, the coast has a sub-Mediterranean climate, and the north-east lowlands have a continental climate. The average temperature is above 20°C in July, and around 0°C in January. It is worth checking the current weather, so that you can dress and equip yourself appropriately.

Best time to visit:

Spring is a very nice season in Slovenia especially April and May when colourful wild flowers bloom everywhere on the lush highland meadows.