Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Slovenia, a beautiful country nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia. Slovenia travel doesn’t get nearly as much attention as its neighboring countries, but it’s really worth visiting, even just for the natural beauty. For first-time visitors, there are some things you should know before visiting Slovenia.
Where is Slovenia?
Many people confuse Slovakia and Slovenia and often wonder where Slovenia is located. Slovenia is located just south of Austria. It shares borders with Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Italy. There’s a small slice of Adriatic coastline, but it’s mostly a mountainous country. It’s a fairly small country, approximately the same size as Massachusetts. You can drive across Slovenia in about four hours. This makes it easy to explore the country on day trips from one base town. Ljubljana is a great choice for where to stay in Slovenia.
Things to Do in Slovenia
There are many cool things to do in Slovenia, and much of it is outdoors as Slovenia is a beautiful country with mountains, lakes, and beaches.
- Ljubljana is the capital city and well worth exploring. You’ll see historic bridges and castles, as well as experience some of the local culture and cuisine.
- Visit Postojna Cave, where you take a train deep into the mountain before embarking on a cave tour on foot. There are dozens of caves and tours in Slovenia; Postojna Cave is the second-longest cave in the country.
- Visit Lake Bled, and take a boat tour out to the island in the middle of the lake. This is the picture postcard view that’s become a worldwide screen saver and famous photo. It’s great to see it in person!
- Slovenia wine country is a great way to tour the country and sample local wines
- Hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter
Where to Stay in Slovenia?
Slovenia has a wide range of accommodation to suit any kind of traveler. Ljubljana makes a great home base as you can easily access the rest of the country without moving hotels. However, it can be fun to stay in some of the smaller villages as well. You’ll find regular hotels, Airbnb’s, alpine resorts, bed-and-breakfast inns, and hostels.
Is Slovenia Safe?
Slovenia is very safe to visit. Our innkeeper mentioned she “heard of” a tourist getting their bag stolen once, so that tells you that petty crimes are a rare occurrence. We felt very safe during our trip to Slovenia. Of course, always use your usual travel smarts, but there’s not too much to worry about in terms of safety in Slovenia.
Getting Around Slovenia
It’s pretty easy to get to Slovenia. You can take the train or the bus from Italy or Austria, or take a bus from Croatia. There are lots of buses and trains to get around within Slovenia as well. However, this is a great country to explore by car. It’s simple to rent a car and take your own self-guided Slovenia tour. The roads are great so it’s an easy country to drive in.
Connectivity in Slovenia
Staying connected in Slovenia is not a problem. We had WiFi and/or cell coverage pretty much everywhere we went in Slovenia. There were a few areas in the mountains with spotty coverage, but overall, we had no trouble getting service in Slovenia.
Service in Slovenia
Slovenia is a well-educated country, and we had excellent service everywhere. They are happy to help you decide what to see or what to eat. Plan to tip around 10-15% when you are dining out in Slovenia.
Slovenian Cuisine
Fish is a very popular thing to eat in Slovenia. There are many rivers, and the ocean is not far away. You’ll also see a lot of grilled vegetables as well as steak and meat. You’ll notice an influence of Serbian and Croatian food in the cuisine here. You’ll also see Austrian and Italian food in Slovenia, and the wine is really good, too. However, desserts are the best part about eating out in Slovenia! They have some really good sweets to try, from layer cake to cream cake to pastries.
Shocks to Expect When You Visit Slovenia
Other Slovenia Travel Tips
A few other things to know before you visit Slovenia:
- The currency in Slovenia is the Euro
- Credit cards are widely accepted (mostly Visa and MasterCard)
- Slovenian language is notoriously difficult, but many people speak English
- Tap water in Slovenia is ok to drink
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
I’ve been to Slovenia several times, with my family and as a solo traveler. It’s really a great country to visit, with beautiful scenery and fantastic food. As a smaller country, it’s easy to explore a variety of attractions. Want more travel tips for the Balkan region? Check out these blog posts: