Slovenia Travel Tips and Insider Guides
Click a city or region to browse our insider travel tips and guides about Slovenia.Our Insider's Articles about Slovenia
The first-time visitor is often drawn to Piran by beautiful photographs of a turquoise sea and Venetian-style architecture,... [Read the full story]
“My soul is jolly/As though it had been drinking the Karst teran,” wrote poet Oton Župancic. A karst is a landscape... [Read the full story]
The Istrian peninsula, which contains portions of Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, has loads of wine tasting opportunities,... [Read the full story]
Sad to say goodbye to the inspiring people of Piran, I jumped in a rental car and drove north along the Italian-Slovenian border... [Read the full story]
I’d read a lot about Piran, a coastal town just across the border in Slovenia, and wanted to sample its high quality... [Read the full story]
Visiting four Western Balkan countries—their 90’s war behind them—revealed a dynamic region less dangerous than... [Read the full story]
It looks like a fairy tale. Out of the lake rises a stone staircase. Step delicately over the edge of your rowboat,... [Read the full story]
Imagine a perfect little pocket sized nation, green as the greenest hills you have ever seen and ruled benevolently from a castle... [Read the full story]
About Slovenia
After a few days in Slovenia, it’s tempting to say that the country has it all: a beautiful coastline on the Mediterranean, huge parks, hiking, cycling, rafting, and kayaking; the Alps in the east, the high plateaus in the southeast, and wine country all over; wealthy cities filled with breath-taking architecture, haute cuisine, and modern transportation. And that’s just on the surface. Huge limestone caves run beneath the country, providing serious adventure for the casual spelunker. Slovenia is roughly the size of New Jersey, but there’s a lot to see. Here are tips to help guide you on your trip to Slovenia.
Slovenia closely identifies with neighboring Austria, and it was part of the Austrian Empire in the 19th century. After WWI, it was part of Yugoslavia. It declared independence in 1991, and a 10-day war followed in which there were few casualties. Slovenia’s transition to independence was much more peaceful than that of other Balkan states, such as Croatia and Bosnia. It became a part of the European Union in 2004, and the official currency is the Euro.
Slovenia borders Austria, Italy, Croatia, and Hungary. Some of Slovenia’s most interesting cities are Ljubljana (the capital), Bled, and Piran. The charming old town in Ljubljana is filled with cafes and museums, making it ideal for strolling. From the bridges that cross the Ljubljanica River you’ll see much of the city’s grand architecture.
The town of Bled is built on a lake that has an island with a castle in the middle, the snow-capped mountains beyond that.
Piran is a one-time Venetian port town and one of the prettiest towns on Slovenia’s coast. It is located on the Istrian Peninsula, which is known for its gastronomy and white truffles. The Slovenes’s wine is top notch, and wine country is always nearby.
Slovenia’s train and bus systems are very reliable. However, it’s worth renting a car because so much of Slovenia’s draw is found in nature. Like most European countries, you’ll need to purchase a road tax sticker, or vignette sticker (unless you get your rental from within the country, in which case it should come with one). Make sure to purchase a vignette sticker at the last gas station before crossing the boarder into Slovenia or face a possible fine.
As of September 2011, U.S. travelers visiting Slovenia for 90 days or less do not need a visa. The official language is Slovene, but English is widely spoken.
