When individuals ask me about my favourite international locations on the planet, one in every of my solutions all the time takes them abruptly: Slovenia. Sure, Slovenia is one in every of my favourite international locations on the planet!
This little former-Yugoslavian nation nestled between Croatia and Austria packs an enormous punch. It is acquired unimaginable landscapes, scrumptious meals and wine, heat and real individuals, and is blissfully ignored by many vacationers in Europe.
I first visited Slovenia in 2013, and completely fell in love with its colourful capital of Ljubljana, and its alpine gem of Lake Bled. After I was planning a return journey to Slovenia in 2023 with my buddy Ashley, I used to be actually fearful that the nation would have modified past recognition, as typically occurs with under-the-radar locations.
However guess what? Slovenia felt just about precisely the identical 10 years later! The entire issues I liked about it on my first journey – the gorgeous cities, untouched nature, and very nice individuals – have been all nonetheless there. And I feel you’ll most likely find it irresistible, too.
In the event you’re contemplating taking a visit to Slovenia anytime quickly, listed below are some important issues I feel you could know first. As a result of, whereas Slovenia is a reasonably simple nation to journey in total, it nonetheless positively has its quirks.
Issues to know earlier than you go to Slovenia
1. Slovenia will not be giant
First, a fast geography lesson. Slovenia is positioned in southern Central Europe, and is taken into account a Balkan nation. It is bordered by Croatia to the south, Hungary to the east, Austria to the north, and Italy to the west.
It isn’t a big nation by any means; it covers simply 7,827 sq. miles (20,271 sq km), and you may drive throughout the widest a part of Slovenia in roughly 3.5 hours. (For comparability, Slovenia is about half the dimensions of Switzerland, and barely smaller than the US state of New Jersey.)
It isn’t very crowded, both, being dwelling to about 2.1 million individuals.
2. Slovenia has various landscapes
For a comparatively small nation, Slovenia has some unimaginable range in what you may see and do! You’ll be able to benefit from the (admittedly tiny however nonetheless there) coast in Piran, go mountaineering within the Julian Alps in Triglav Nationwide Park, discover cities like Ljubljana and Maribor, go underground in unimaginable karst caves, drool over alpine lakes like Lake Bled, and go to one in every of three completely different wine areas.
On my first go to to Slovenia, I used to be completely blown away by how unimaginable the surroundings was. A lot of Slovenia is hilly and mountainous, which I do not suppose most individuals notice!
3. Slovenia is a brand new(ish) nation
Slovenia after all has been populated for hundreds of years. It was a part of the Holy Roman Empire for practically 1,000 years, after which was underneath Habsburg rule as a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire till the top of WWI.
After WWI, Slovenia united with Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia to kind the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1918. That kingdom lasted till 1929, when it formally modified its identify to Yugoslavia (and ultimately added Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia).
Throughout WWII, the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in 1941, and divided up present-day Slovenia for occupation. Nazi Germany, Italy, and Hungary all managed completely different components of the Slovenian lands, and impressed one of many largest resistance actions of WWII. (Be taught extra about WWII history and sites you can visit in Slovenia right here.)
After WWII (1946), Yugoslavia grew to become a socialist federation, largely underneath the rule of Josip Broz (AKA “Tito”). Slovenia was the primary nation to secede from Yugoslavia, declaring its independence in 1991.
So, technically, Slovenia as a rustic has solely existed since 1991!
4. Slovenia is a member of the EU
Regardless of its relative “youth,” Slovenia is a member of the European Union, having joined formally in 2004. Which means that the forex utilized in Slovenia is the Euro.
5. You continue to want to hold money
Not like many different Euro-zone international locations, you may nonetheless need to carry some money on you in Slovenia. You should utilize a bank card at motels and most eating places in bigger cities, however exterior of the cities money continues to be most popular, particularly for smaller purchases.
So positively hit up an ATM whenever you arrive so you may you should definitely have some money on you.
6. You may get by tremendous with English
Slovene (or Slovenian) is the official language of Slovenia, and is a Slavic language. You may additionally discover Hungarian and Italian spoke as co-official languages, together with some Croatian, Serbian, and German.
However do not let this intimidate you; most Slovenians communicate at the very least two languages, with English being the most typical second language. So if you happen to solely communicate English, you may be simply tremendous visiting Slovenia. Individuals who work in tourism communicate glorious English in my expertise, and it is normally in rural areas close to the border the place English won’t be somebody’s second language.
7. Slovenia could be very inexperienced
Slovenia is a inexperienced nation – each actually and figuratively.
Slovenia is 73% rural, with 61% of land coated by forests, in line with the European Commission. Add in loads of farmland and a few protected nationwide parks, and Slovenia is sort of actually very, very inexperienced.
Slovenia can also be “inexperienced” within the sense that it is fairly a eco-conscious nation. All the nation has been deemed a Inexperienced Vacation spot of the World, and Ljubljana was named Europe’s Inexperienced Capital in 2016 (a incontrovertible fact that Ljubljana’s mayor continues to be very, very pleased with).
Slovenia leans into its inexperienced and sustainable fame, with a Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism plan, plus photo voltaic panels and electrical automobile charging stations in every single place.
8. Beekeeping is large right here
The artwork of modern-day beekeeping was born proper right here in Slovenia – it’s even been designated an instance of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. And it’s certainly ingrained in Slovenian tradition; roughly 1 in each 200 individuals in Slovenia is a beekeeper, and you will find colorfully-painted beehives and native honey on the market in practically each city.
Bee tourism (AKA apitourism) is alive and effectively in Slovenia, and yow will discover all kinds of bee-related issues to do, from honey massages (sure, it is an actual factor!) to staying in a single day in a beehive or bee-themed resort. (Take a look at the best bee experiences in Slovenia right here.)
Or, steer clear of the bees and simply get pleasure from all of the native honey and honey-based treats and desserts as you journey round Slovenia.
9. Slovenia makes nice wine
Do not feel too unhealthy if you happen to did not know that Slovenia makes wine in any respect; Slovenian wine is not typically exported, and a lot of the tourism emphasis right here is placed on locations like Ljubljana and Lake Bled. However I am right here to let you recognize that Slovenia is dwelling to a few completely different wine areas, and makes some nice wine!
Slovenia has really been making wine for a really very long time; it is dwelling to the world’s oldest grape vine within the metropolis of Maribor, which is greater than 400 years previous and STILL produces grapes!
The three completely different wine areas in Slovenia are the Podravska Wine Area within the northeast, the Posavska Wine Area within the southeast, and the Primorska Wine Area within the southwest (the latter of which could be very Italian-influenced). A lot of the wines produced in Slovenia are white, and a vineyard proprietor defined that almost all Slovenians desire their wines candy and fruity, so you may discover plenty of these right here (as a result of, keep in mind, the overwhelming majority of Slovenian wine produced is drunk by Slovenians!).
On my most up-to-date journey to Slovenia, I traveled to Maribor particularly to go to some native vineyards. I spent a day within the Styrian wine area that straddles the Slovenia-Austria border (it’s the Štajerska area inside Podravska in Slovenia, and known as the Steiermark in Austria), and it was so price it! Positively an underrated wine vacation spot in Europe.
10. Beware portion sizes
Slovenia is not essentially identified for its big portion sizes like another international locations (taking a look at you, USA), however we have been constantly stunned (and generally hilariously appalled) by being delivered large portion sizes of meals.
Just like the “meat platter for 2” that ought to have really been known as the “meat platter for 2 households,” or the “small burgers” we ordered at a roadside restaurant that have been greater than our heads, or the seafood risotto at Lake Bled that was served in a cooking-sized pan.
It isn’t a nasty thought to ask about portion dimension whenever you’re ordering – although Slovenians prefer to downplay issues, so that you would possibly simply need to plan to share meals with a buddy if you happen to can, simply to be protected!
11. Driving in Slovenia is straightforward (largely)
The best solution to discover Slovenia past Ljubljana is to drive your self. There’s not an amazing prepare system right here, and public transit leaves lots to be desired (largely as a result of Slovenia is simply so rural).
The excellent news is that driving in Slovenia is fairly simple. There are a pair predominant highways that join all the foremost cities, and roads basically are paved and well-maintained. They drive on the best right here, and we did not discover Slovenian drivers to be overly aggressive or something.
However there are some quirks to driving in Slovenia! A number of issues to know:
- Technically talking, you want an Worldwide Driving Allow to drive in Slovenia together with your house driver’s license if you happen to’re not Slovenian. (For my American readers, you may get one in every of these at any AAA location.) Nevertheless, in observe nobody ever requested us to see this in Slovenia. Nevertheless it’s most likely nonetheless finest to get one, simply in case.
- Slovenia LOVES highway indicators; there are such a lot of alongside all the foremost roads. Weirdly, although, some vacationer sights appeared to lack what appeared like important signage.
- Double examine the instructions out of your mapping app if you are going to barely extra distant components of Slovenia. Waze led us astray greater than as soon as, sending us down unpaved farm tracks as an alternative of roads. If a highway is numbered, you are tremendous. If it is not numbered, you would possibly need to double examine that it is really a highway earlier than you drive down it.
- In the event you’re driving into Slovenia from one other nation, know that your automobile requires a vignette sticker or e-vignette to be able to drive/pay on Slovenian toll roads. (In the event you hire a automobile IN Slovenia, nevertheless, your rental automobile ought to have already got one.)
12. Slovenia is a well-liked biking vacation spot
One different factor to learn about driving in Slovenia is that you simply would possibly end up sharing the highway with bikes and bicycle cyclists, particularly up round Triglav Nationwide Park.
Slovenia in a well-liked vacation spot for biking, with a number of the prime cyclists on the planet coaching right here yearly. And its attractive countryside and winding mountain roads are additionally enjoyable to trip for motorcyclists.
So positively simply preserve a watch out for bikes of all sorts, and provides them loads of area as you share the highway.
13. Slovenia is an lively vacation spot
Past the capital metropolis of Ljubljana, the primary issues to do in Slovenia are largely outdoor – mountaineering, biking, visiting caves, paddling on lakes, seeing waterfalls, and so forth.
And whereas the tourism infrastructure in Slovenia is mostly superb, plenty of the preferred issues to do and see embrace some quantity of strolling and climbing stairs. And, in my expertise, native individuals (and web reviewers) severely underplay simply how a lot of every you would possibly must do to be able to go to a spot.
Ljubljana and Lake Bled have accessible motels, eating places, and so forth. However Slovenia as a complete actually does require respectable mobility to be able to absolutely see.
14. Generally there isn’t any information on-line
One of many main challenges to planning a Slovenia journey that goes past the primary highlights (and generally even together with them) is the dearth of information obtainable on-line.
Positive, yow will discover motels to e-book and get instructions. However if you wish to discover data on when a small vineyard is open, or the right way to e-book a keep in a beehive cabin? Good luck! Slovenia – and particularly rural Slovenia – continues to be lagging a bit behind in relation to getting data up on the web. Even some main sights have complicated web sites that appear to be lacking essential information.
In some circumstances, you may simply need to wing it, or present as much as locations and see what occurs! (Or learn blogs like this one, the place I share all the things I discovered with you!)
15. Individuals in Slovenia are pleasant and real
Slovenians are, in my expertise, pretty individuals. They are often straight trustworthy generally, however they’ve an amazing humorousness and are usually open and pleasant to guests. My buddy Ashley and I had so many pretty interactions with pretty people in Slovenia, a few of which we’re nonetheless speaking and laughing about to this present day.
Individuals will not essentially smile at you for no purpose on the road in Slovenia (this is not the American Midwest, in any case!), however if you happen to ask for assist or have a query, the rapid response from a neighborhood is more likely to be “In fact!”
16. Slovenia continues to be underneath the radar
Regardless of it being well-positioned in Europe and really simple to journey round, Slovenia nonetheless stays delightfully under-the-radar as a vacationer vacation spot.
Will that ultimately change? Maybe. However the nation’s mostly-rural make-up coupled with its dedication to sustainability makes me suppose (or hope, at the very least) that it’d by no means grow to be utterly overwhelmed with vacationers – which is nice information!
I anticipated Slovenia to have modified lots in 10 years, however it actually felt nearly the identical in 2023 because it had in 2013. Sure, a number of the hottest spots in Slovenia do get busy throughout the summer season months, however for essentially the most half that is nonetheless a spot you may go to with out coping with lengthy strains and big crowds.
17. Slovenia is comparatively inexpensive
The Balkan international locations are usually thought to be a extra inexpensive a part of Europe to journey in, however I might say that Slovenia might be one of many costlier Balkan international locations to go to.
Are you able to go to Slovenia on a price range? Sure, after all. There are hostels and guesthouses, and you may grocery store and focus totally on free outside issues to do. However if you happen to’re touring with a extra reasonable price range, I might say that Slovenia compares to Italy and Croatia when it comes to value of journey. (It seems fairly a bit like Switzerland in some areas, however fortunately it is rather more inexpensive than Switzerland!)
Meals is inexpensive, many outside issues to do are free, and you may positively discover mid-range motels within the $100-$150 an evening vary. My buddy Ashley and I spent about $3200 between the 2 of us (not together with flights) throughout a 10-day highway journey the place we did not stress about our price range an excessive amount of. We rented a automobile, booked nicer motels, did a number of paid actions, and ate out 2-3 meals per day.
Hopefully this provides you a greater thought of what touring in Slovenia is basically like. It is one in every of my favourite international locations on the planet, and I hope these Slovenia journey suggestions may also help you with your individual journey.
Is Slovenia a spot you want to go to?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!
