Slovenia

EXPLORE SLOVENIA                              Your Comprehensive Destination Guide At a Glance Total area: 7,827 square miles Capital: Ljubljana Main Religion: Various religions, including Christianity, Islam, Orthodox, Protestantism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Population: 2.1 Million Official Language: Slovenia Currency: Euro Banking Hours: M-F 08:00–12:00, 14:00–17:00 and Sat 08:00–12:00 Telecommunication: Country code: +386 Climate: Slovenia has three main climate types: sub-Mediterranean, Alpine, and continental.  Slovenia’s climate also varies by region, and local influences can create a wide range of climate conditions. The best time to visit Slovenia is in spring and fall, especially mid-May–June and September–early October. These seasons offer good weather and fewer crowds. Travel Requirements Passport: A valid passport valid for at least three months after you leave Slovenia. Visa: You don’t need a visa if you’re a US citizen traveling for business or tourism for less than 90 days. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you’ll need a long stay “D” visa or a residence permit.  Entry and exit stamp: You’ll need to get a stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen Area and show it when you leave.  Health: The CDC recommends that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against measles. You should also consider getting a TBE vaccine if you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors in areas where ticks are likely to be found.  Customs: You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. For example, you can’t take meat, milk, or products containing them into the EU. You should also declare cash or travelers’ checks if the value is 10,000 euros or more.  You can contact the nearest Slovenian embassy or consulate for more information about visas, currency, customs, and quarantine rules.  Transportation Options Main Airport: Slovenia currently has three international airports: Ljubljana, Maribor, and Portoroz. Flying to Ljubljana is the only option. Ljubljana Airport: The Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is the No. 1 airport in Slovenia. The airport is about 16 miles (26 km) north of the city center. From the airport, there is an airport bus to the city center; travel time is about 50 minutes; other travel options you can find here. As mentioned above, the airport in Ljubljana is, in most cases, the best choice when traveling to Slovenia, especially if traveling to cities in the central, northern, or northwestern part of the country. Some of the main sights in Slovenia—Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, the Triglav National Park, and the Postojna cave—are fairly pretty close to the airport. Maribor Airport: The Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport is about 6 miles (10 km) south of the city center; you can take a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer there and back. Currently, the airport is mainly used for seasonal and charter flights, which means you will, in most cases, have to fly to Ljubljana airport if you are going to the Maribor area; alternatively, traveling to Graz airport might be an option to consider.  Portoroz Airport: Portoroz is located 4 miles (6 km) south of Portoroz, which is basically on the border with Croatia. The airport is now used for smaller charter, business, and cargo flights. Still, a planned runway expansion could make Portoroz an attractive alternative to the airports in Trieste and Pula. Within one hour from the airport, the following cities are located: Trieste, Koper, the Slovenian Adriatic coast, Umag, Novigrad, Rovinj, and Porec on the Istrian peninsula. Zagreb airport is located only 25 miles (40 km) from the Slovenian border, 78 miles (125 km) from Maribor, and 93 miles (150 km) from Ljubljana, so it could be used as an alternative when traveling to Slovenia. Bus: This is a popular way to get around, with many city and suburban lines that run throughout the day and seasons.  Ljubljana has excellent bus connections to all European countries. Train: You can travel to most places nationwide using the Slovenske eleznice (S) train network. However, routes can be circuitous, and you usually need to transfer to Ljubljana. Taxi: A convenient way to get around, especially if you’re arriving in Slovenia without a car.  Car: The easiest way to travel around the country, especially if you want to explore more places.  Slovenia’s roads are well-signed, but some local roads are narrow and winding. Kavalir: An environment-friendly electric vehicle that can get around short distances within Ljubljana’s car-free city center area. Bike: A popular means of transportation, especially in urban areas.  You can rent a bike at many points if you don’t have one. Driving: See our Balkan Road Trip Travel Safety Tips Slovenia is considered one of the safest countries in the world, but there are some things to be aware of when traveling there:  Crime: While violent crime is rare, petty crimes like pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen, especially in crowded areas. To protect yourself, be aware of your surroundings, keep your belongings safe, and don’t leave them in visible places.  Drink-spiking: Drink-spiking can happen at popular nightclubs and can lead to sexual assault. Don’t accept drinks from strangers to avoid this, and stick with people you trust.   Vehicle break-ins can happen, especially at petrol stations and service areas. To avoid this, lock your vehicle, use anti-theft devices, and park in well-lit areas.  Demonstrations: Demonstrations can occur sometimes, especially in Ljubljana. Exercise caution, avoid affected areas, and monitor local news to stay safe.  Mountain activities: Mountain activities can be dangerous, especially if you’re unprepared. Weather conditions can change rapidly.  Road safety: Main roads are generally safe, but secondary roads tend to be narrow.  Extreme weather: All parts of Slovenia can experience sudden, extreme storms, including strong winds, rain, snowfall, lightning, and hailstorms.  Storms can cause landslides and road closures.  Travel insurance: The U.S. Embassy recommends purchasing additional travel insurance to cover medical evacuations, extended hospital care, and canceled flights.  Health Safety Slovenia is generally considered a safe country to visit, and it has a nationalized healthcare system that provides high standards of care.  Fun Facts! The capital city of Slovenia is Ljubljana,