15 Helpful Slovenia Tips For Your First Visit (2025 Guide)
Slovenia is one of those destinations where no matter how many times you visit, you always find yourself discovering new gems.
There are so many stunning natural wonders, picturesque views, and mountainous landscapes that hold it high on my list of best European countries.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Slovenia quite a few times during my travels, with a trip to Lake Bled or Ljubljana always welcome on my itinerary.
From my time in this beautiful country, I will be going over my recommendations for the best time to visit, top Slovenia travel tips, and everything else you need to know for a wonderful first trip.
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Best time to visit Slovenia
The best time to visit Slovenia is during the shoulder months, particularly June when the weather reaches highs of 24*C.
If you’re visiting in the summer, areas like Ljubljana and Lake Bled are usually bustling, and accommodation is almost double the price.
June has the ideal balance of great weather for hiking and swimming while avoiding the peak tourist crowds, helping you save on expenses and have a more overall relaxing experience.
Top 14 Slovenia Travel Tips
1. Slovenia is very safe
Slovenia is incredibly safe for tourists. It was voted the 9th most peaceful country in the world by the 2024 Global Peace Index.
The most dangerous areas in Slovenia are predominantly away from touristy areas but can expect the occasional petty theft. Places like Llubjana and Lake Bled are perfectly safe.
I’ve walked around Lake Bled many times during the late nights and early mornings and I’ve never felt more safe.
The only thing I needed to worry about was the stampede of mosquitoes attacking me. So in that case, bring your mosquito repellent!
Read next: One Day in Lake Bled Guide
2. It is part of the Schengen Area
Slovenia is part of the Schengen area. For those interrailing or road-tripping from a Schengen country, you won’t need to go through border checks before entering the country.
There are a few countries that will need a Schengen visa to enter the area, which is valid for 90 days. Check out the complete list of countries.
It is also important to note, Non-EU residents can’t travel around the Schengen area for more than 90 days during a 180-day period without a visa.
3. Slovenia is perfect for a road trip
Slovenia is very small and takes no more than 4 hours to drive from end to end. If you are visiting for the first time, I highly recommend hiring a car and taking a road trip around Slovenia’s most beautiful places.
I used Discover Cars to hire my car and picked it up from Ljubljana Airport. If you can’t hire a car, I recommend staying in Ljubljana as it’s well connected to most major areas in Slovenia.
4. Slovenia is cheap
By typical European standards, Slovenia is a cheap country. This is because many of the cities and towns are untouched by tourism.
Only in places like Lake Bled or Ljubljana, you can expect to pay a lot more for travel. But that comes as no surprise, as naturally, it costs more to match the visitor demand.
A meal out in Bled or Ljubljana averages around €15 – €25 per person, whereas areas out of these hotspots cost on average €5 – €10.
5. Explore a hiking trail
They don’t call Slovenia the ‘Green Heart of Europe’ for nothing!
Slovenia has many beautiful areas with lush greenery and stunning mountainous landscapes that can be experienced through hiking.
Areas like Triglav National Park and the landscapes around Lake Bled offer some of the most scenic trails you’ll find in Europe.
Parking is widely available with transport links in and around areas with some gorgeous hikes so you won’t miss out much if you don’t have a car.
Read next: Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Triglav National Park.
6. Slovenia has a lot of caves
Slovenia is famous for it caves. Over 13000 caves have been discovered so far, with that number expected to rise in the future.
Each cave has its unique features, and stories behind what has been naturally formed over millions of years.
Postojna Cave and Škocjan are Slovenia’s most famous caves, showcasing underground caverns, Stalactites and Stalagmites, and just another level of beauty.
7. English is widely spoken in Slovenia
Slovenia’s proficiency in English is one of the best in Europe. This comes as no surprise, given the country’s emphasis on a high level of education.
Not everyone will speak perfect English, so stick to general phrases rather than using jargon or slang.
In tourist areas like Lake Bled and Ljubljana, you can expect the most proficiency with locals, so you shouldn’t need to worry about communicating if you are in desperate need of help
8. Slovenia has many stunning lakes and rivers
Slovenia is home to some of the most beautiful lakes and rivers in the world. Honestly, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Lake Bled is Slovenia’s poster child, but other lakes like Bohinj and Jasna are just as beautiful.
Trails around the Soca River also offer hikes with jaw-dropping stop-offs in charming towns, natural gorge formations and cascading waterfalls; you name it!
9. Transport in Slovenia is very efficient
The transport networks in Slovenia are surprisingly advanced given the size of the country, with transport connections to most cities easily accessible.
Public transport is also very punctual, which can be hard to say for most of Europe!
Each time I’ve visited, the trains and buses are always ready to board before the departure times. It made transport a whole easier!
10. Prepare to be charged for tourist tax
Ah, yes, the dreaded tourist tax. Slovenia requires you to pay a tourist tax, and your charge will depend on where you stay.
In popular areas like Lake Bled and Ljubljana, you can expect to pay around €3.13 per night for adults and €1.56 for children from 7-18 years old. I stayed just outside Bled in Jesenice, a much quieter area where I only paid €2 a night.
I recommend researching how much you might have to pay before your stay.
11. Don’t expect many food specialities
When you’re just a quick drive away from Italy, Slovenia might have a lot to live up to when it comes to food. That said, Slovenia doesn’t have many food specialties.
Mind you, that isn’t to say the food they do have available isn’t great. I think it’s delicious!
During your visit to Slovenia, there are a few dishes you must try. If you’re travelling around Lake Bled, don’t miss the Bled Cream Cake, consisting of layers of thin pastry filled with custard and whipped cream.
In most places in Slovenia, make sure to try Idrijski Žlikrofi. It is a type of dumpling filled with potatoes, meat and spices. Delicious!
12. Slovenia doesn’t have many beaches
Slovenia’s coastline is only 28.5 miles long, which is very short compared to its neighbouring countries. That being said, there aren’t many beaches to choose from.
If you want to find a beach, you will need to move towards the country’s Adriatic coastline. The country’s main beaches are found here next to Venetian towns like Izola and Koper.
Just outside of Piran’s Old Town, you can also find Portorož Central Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Slovenia.
13. Bring a refillable bottle
Like many countries along the Adriatic Coast, the water in Slovenia is among the cleanest in the world and free.
Tap water is safe and delicious to drink, with refillable water fountains available in most major tourist areas.
You can get around with just a refillable water bottle in Slovenia, so instead of purchasing a new bottle, save your euros and fill it up!
14. Tipping in Slovenia is not mandatory
Tipping in restaurants isn’t a requirement in Slovenia. Though it is always noted as a good gesture to pay around a 5 – 10% tip in restaurants and it is typically done through cash.
When I visited Ljubljana, some Italian restaurants also charged me for bread and the use of cutlery and tablecloths.
The Coperto Rule is not a traditional practice in Slovenia and is only common in its neighbour country, Italy. The waiter explained to me that this was the reason for the charge, as some restaurants in Ljubljana have adopted their customs.
15. Try their local wine
Slovenia is very reputable for its wines, sharing the same passion for wine production as its close neighbour, Italy.
It has around one vineyard for every 70 people, with 75% of its wine production being white wine.
There are also a few popular red wines in Slovenia. Terrano is a notable favourite, a dark red wine made from the popular Refosco Grape.
Fun fact: Maribor has the oldest vine in the world, which grows grapes even today and has been in business for over 450 years.
Where to stay in Slovenia
There are so many amazing places to stay in Slovenia, suited to all travellers, whether you’re a solo traveller or a family venturing on a European holiday. Here are my recommendations:
Best options:
- Ljubljana – The capital is incredible in its own right but is also a brilliant base to explore the rest of Slovenia, with a well-connected train and bus station centrally located. You can arrive at some of Slovenia’s most popular destinations in hours, including Lake Bled, Piran, Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
- Lake Bled – One of the most beautiful places in Europe, with serene walks and pristine lakes at your doorstep. It is located near Triglav National Park, which is a great place to explore.
- Triglav National Park – Trigav is one of Slovenia’s gems and is otherworldly in every sense. It has gorgeous towns, glacier lakes, cascading waterfalls and much more.
Affordable options:
- Jesenice – This is one of the most affordable options for those visiting Lake Bled, only an 18-minute drive away. I managed to find accommodation for €50 a night, almost ⅓ of what I paid to stay by Lake Bled in the summer. Jesenice also has a main train station that takes you directly to Bled Jezero, Bled’s nearest train stop.
- Kranj – Slovenia’s third biggest city, the city of Kranj has much to see in its own right with a charming Old Town. It is well connected by public transport and located between Ljubljana and Lake Bled, with far cheaper accommodation, averaging around €67 per night.
How to get around Slovenia
Driving in Slovenia
Driving is the easiest and best way to explore Slovenia. You can rent a car for as cheap as €21 a day.
I recommend using Discover Cars, where you can pick your rental straight from the airport or near your accommodation.
You must have an international driving license to drive in Slovenia.
If you plan to use Slovenia motorway, you will need a vignette, which is a prepaid toll sticker connected digitally to your vehicle’s licence plate. This can be purchased weekly, monthly or yearly at petrol stations, post offices, borders, or online. If you purchase in person, you will need to display this on your dashboard.
Make sure to check with the rental company whether a vignette is already assigned to the vehicle.
Public Transport
Public transport is easy to navigate around in Slovenia. Buses and trains are widely available in most areas, except remote areas where you’ll likely need to rely on catching a taxi or use a car rental.
I used buses and trains for most of my journeys in Slovenia. I recommend getting a train whenever possible as it’s just so much easier. You can purchase train tickets straight from the Slovenske železnice app using card payments and present it to the ticket inspector as a QR code.
Relying on a card is somewhat risky for buses, with some cities yet to adopt card payments to purchase tickets, so carrying euros with you is still recommended.
If you are in Ljubljana, you can get an Urbana Card, which is a prepaid smart card that allows you to pay for city buses through a total credit balance. You can purchase these and top them up at any local newspaper agent or tourist centre around Ljubljana.
Tours
Tours are a brilliant way to explore the areas of Slovenia. They often include transport to and from your chosen location and will have set itineraries tailored to different interests.
I’ve been on many tours in Slovenia and recommend it to tourists who are visiting for the first time.
Mainly because it gives them that comfort blanket of easy navigation to and from their accommodation, plus, an experienced guide will give you that authentic experience to learn about the local culture.
You can find the best Slovenia tours here.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Slovenia
Is it common to tip in Slovenia?
Tipping isn’t customary in Slovenia but is appreciated by staff for good service. In restaurants, you typically tip around 5-10% or round up the bill to the nearest whole number.
As normal in hotels, tipping is more common if staff provide excellent service. If you go on free walking tours in places like Ljubljana, it is customary to provide a tip and is considered almost rude if you don’t.
Do I need cash in Slovenia?
Yes and no. You will only need cash if you plan to visit lesser-known areas in Slovenia. Some public buses also don’t accept card payments.
If you are visiting Lake Bled or Ljubljana, you can easily survive by just using a credit/debit card.
Is Slovenia safe for tourists?
Yes, Slovenia is incredibly safe and has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. It also has a very high standard of healthcare and public transport is safe and well maintained.
Final thoughts
Slovenia is a real gem and you won’t regret visiting. From pristine lakes to gorgeous landscapes, it really is a bucket list destination.
This guide should provide everything you need to know for your first visit to Slovenia, from top travel tips, to transport options to and from the country’s most beautiful areas.
If you have any questions or would like to share your experience in Slovenia, please leave your message below. I hope you have a lovely time, as I have on countless occasions!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO SLOVENIA
Slovenia Flights – Looking for cheap flights to Slovenia? I’ve used Skyscanner more times than I can remember. It will scan the entire internet for prices on flights from all airlines, so you can find the best deal on your flight!
Slovenia Travel Insurance – Do I need travel insurance for Slovenia? Yes of course! I always get travel insurance in case anything happens during my travels. I highly recommend SafetyWing as your go-to, for the best travel insurance.
Slovenia Rental Cars – Should I rent a car in Slovenia? Absolutely! I’ve rented a car to travel around Slovenia multiple times. With many remote areas in Slovenia, it’s definitely the best way to get around. Discover Cars is my go-to rental agency and offers the best rates wherever you travel.
Slovenia Hotels – Need to find accommodation in Slovenia? I’ve been booking all my hotels through Booking.com for years. Their large range of flexible accommodation options can suit all travel styles. Plus, their loyalty discounts are a huge bonus!
Slovenia Tours/Activities – For your tours or activities in Slovenia, I couldn’t recommend GetYourGuide enough! I use it everywhere I go, and it is brilliant for thinking of ideas for activities to do.
Slovenia Phone Plans – If you need phone data for your travels around Slovenia, I recommend getting an eSim using Airalo. It’s been my saviour! It offers affordable roaming with great coverage. You can download the sim straight from their app and top it up whenever you want.
