July and August are the peak months in Slovenia; tourists flood the coast, and prices for accommodations rise. Go in spring or early autumn, and you will be blessed with a dearth of crowds and great weather for hiking and exploring the countryside. Skiing is popular from December to March.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies to Slovenia are in Ljubljana . Embassies and consulates abroad include: Australia, Level 6, 60 Marcus Clarke St., Canberra, ACT 2601 (☎262 434 830; vca@gov.si); Canada, 150 Metcalfe St., Ste. 2101, Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 (☎613-565-5781; www.gov.si/mzz-dkp/veleposlanistva/eng/ottawa/embassy.shtml); Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 2nd fl., 32 Nassau St., Dublin 2 (☎1 670 5240; vdb@mzz-dkp.gov.si); UK, 10 Little College St., London SW1P 3SJ (☎020 72 22 57 00; www.gov.si/mzz-dkp/veleposlanistva/eng/london/events.shtml); US, 1525 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (☎202-667-5363; www.gov.si/mzz-dkp/veleposlanistva/eng/washington). Citizens of New Zealand should contact the embassy in Australia.
Visa And Entry Information. Citizens of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not need visas for stays of up to 90 days. Visas take from four to seven business days to process and are not available at the border.
There are tourist offices in most major cities and tourist destinations. Staff members generally speak English or German and, on the coast, perfect Italian. They can usually find accommodations for a small fee and generally give advice and maps for free. Kompas is the main tourist organization.
The euro (€) has replaced the tolar in Slovenia. SKB Banka, Ljubljanska Banka, and Gorenjska Banka are common banks. American Express Travelers Cheques and Eurocheques are accepted almost everywhere, but major credit cards are not consistently accepted. MasterCard and Visa ATMs are everywhere.
Medical facilities are of high quality, and most have English-speaking doctors. EU citizens receive free medical care with a valid passport; other foreigners must pay cash. Pharmacies are stocked according to Western standards; ask for obliž (band-aids), tamponi (tampons), and vložki (sanitary pads). Tap water is safe to drink. Crime is rare in Slovenia. Women should, as always, exercise caution and avoid being out alone after dark. There are few minorities in Slovenia, but minorities generally just receive curious glances. Navigating Slovenia with a wheelchair can be difficult and requires patience and caution on slippery cobblestones. Homosexuality is legal, but may elicit unfriendly reactions.
By Plane. Flights arrive at Ljubljana Airport (LJU). Most major airlines offer connections to the national carrier, Adria Airways (www.adria-airways.com). To save money, consider flying into Vienna, AUT, and taking a train to Ljubljana.
By Train And Bus. First and second class differ little on trains. Those under 26 get a 20% discount on most international fares. ISIC holders should ask for the 30% popust (discount) off domestic tickets. Schedules often list trains by direction. Prihodi vlakov means arrivals; odhodi vlakov is departures; dnevno is daily. Eurail is not accepted in Slovenia. Though usually more expensive than trains, buses may be the only option in mountainous regions. The bus is also a better choice than the train to Bled, as the train station is far from town. Buy tickets at stations or on board.
By Car, Ferry, Bike, And Thumb. Car rental agencies in Ljubljana offer reasonable rates, and Slovenia’s roads are in good condition. A regular ferry service connects Portorož to Venice, ITA, in summer. Nearly every town in Slovenia has a bike rental office. While those who hitchhike insist that it is safe and widespread in the countryside, hitchhiking is not recommended by Let’s Go.
Email And Internet. Internet access is fast and common. Though free Internet is hard to find anywhere but in the biggest cities, there are Internet cafes in most major tourist destinations. Expect to pay approximately €2-4 per hour.
Telephone. All phones take phone cards, sold at post offices, kiosks, and gas stations. Dial ☎115 for collect calls and ☎1180 for the international operator. Calling abroad is expensive without a phone card (over US$6 per min. to the US). Use the phones at the post office and pay when you’re finished.
Mail. Airmail (letalsko) takes from one to two weeks to reach Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Address Poste Restante as follows: first name, LAST NAME, Poste Restante, post office address, Postal Code, city, SLOVENIA.
Language. Slovenian is a South Slavic language written in the Latin alphabet. Most young Slovenes speak at least some English, but the older generations are more likely to understand German or Italian. The tourist industry is generally geared toward Germans, but most tourist office employees speak English.
All establishments charge a nightly tourist tax. Youth hostels and student dormitories are cheap (€15-20), but generally open only in summer (June 25-Aug. 30). Hotels fall into five categories (L, deluxe; A; B; C; and D) and are expensive. Pensions are the most common form of accommodation; usually they have private singles as well as inexpensive dorms. Private rooms are the only cheap option on the coast and at Lake Bohinj. Prices vary, but rarely exceed US$30. Campgrounds can be crowded, but most are in excellent condition. Camp in designated areas to avoid fines.
For homestyle cooking, try a gostilna or gostišče (country-style inn or restaurant). Traditional meals begin with jota , a soup with potatoes, beans, and sauerkraut. Pork is the basis for many dishes, such as Svinjska pečenka (roast pork). Kosher and vegetarian eating is therefore very difficult within the confines of Slovenian cuisine. Those with such dietary restrictions might find pizza and bakery items their best options. Slovenia’s winemaking tradition dates from antiquity. Renski, Rizling, and Šipon are popular whites, while Cviček and Teran are favorite reds. Brewing is also centuries old; Lako and Union are good beers. For something stronger, try žganje , a fruit brandy, or Viljamovka, distilled by monks who guard the secret of getting a whole pear inside the bottle.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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