It’s a pint-sized place, with a surface area of just over 20,000 sq km, and two million people. But ‘good things come in small packages’, and never was that old chestnut more appropriate than in describing Slovenia. The country has everything – from beaches, snowcapped mountains, hills awash in grape vines and wide plains blanketed in sunflowers to Gothic churches, baroque palaces and art nouveau buildings. Its incredible mixture of climates brings warm Mediterranean breezes up to the foothills of the Alps, where it can snow in summer.
The capital, Ljubljana, is a culturally rich city that values liveability and sustainability over unfettered growth. This sensitivity toward the environment also extends to rural and lesser-developed parts of the country. With more than half of its total area covered in forest, Slovenia really is one of the ‘greenest’ countries in the world.
COUNTRY FACTS
Area 20,273 sq km
Capital Ljubljana
Country code 386
Currency euro (€)
Emergency Ambulance 112, fire 112, police 113
Language Slovene
Money ATMs are everywhere; banks open Monday to Friday and (rarely) Saturday morning
Population 2.06 million
Visas Not required for citizens of the EU, Australia, USA, Canada or New Zealand
MONEY
The official currency is the euro. Exchanging cash is simple at banks, major post offices, travel agencies and a menjalnica (bureau de change), although many don't accept travellers cheques. Major credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, and ATMs are ubiquitous.
BUS
Buy your ticket at the avtobusna postaja (bus station) or simply pay the driver as you board. In Ljubljana you should book your seat at least a day in advance (fees: domestic €1.50, international €2.20) if you’re travelling on Friday, or to destinations in the mountains or on the coast on a public holiday. Bus services are restricted on Sundays and holidays.
A range of bus companies serve the country, but prices are uniform: €3.10/5.60/9.20/12.80/16.80 for 25/50/100/150/200km of travel.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Roads in Slovenia are generally good. Tolls are not paid separately on the motorways; instead all cars must display a vinjeta (road-toll sticker) on the windscreen. They cost €15/30/110 for a week/month/year for cars and €7.50/30/55 for motorbikes and are available at petrol stations, post offices and certain newsstands and tourist information centres. These stickers will already be in place on a rental car; failure to display such a sticker risks a fine of up to €300.
Renting a car in Slovenia allows access to cheaper out-of-centre hotels and farm or village homestays. Rentals from international firms such as Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz vary in price; expect to pay from €40/210 a day/week, including unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver (CDW), theft protection (TP), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and taxes. Some smaller agencies have somewhat more competitive rates; booking on the internet is always cheaper.
Dial 1987 for roadside assistance.
TRAIN
Much of the country is accessible by rail, run by the national operator,Slovenian Railways (Slovenske Železnice; www.slo-zeleznice.si). The website has an easy-to-use timetable.
Figure on travelling at about 60km/h except on the fastest InterCity Slovenia (ICS) express trains that run at an average speed of 90km/h.
Purchase your ticket before travelling at the železniška postaja (train station); buying it from the conductor onboard costs an additional €2.50.
ESSENTIAL FOOD & DRINK
Little Slovenia can boast an incredibly diverse cuisine, with as many as two dozen different regional styles of cooking. Here are some of the highlights:
Brinjevec A very strong brandy made from fermented juniper berries (a decidedly acquired taste).
* Gibanica Layer cake stuffed with nuts, cheese and apple.
* Jota A hearty bean-and-cabbage soup.
* Postrv Trout, particularly the variety from the Soča River, is a real treat.
* Potica A kind of nut roll eaten at teatime or as a dessert.
* Prekmurska gibanica A rich concoction of pastry filled with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples and cheese and topped with cream.
* Pršut Air-dried, thinly sliced ham from the Karst region, not unlike Italian prosciutto.
* Ričet A rich stew of barley and beef.
* Štruklji Scrumptious dumplings made with curd cheese and served either savoury as a main course or sweet as a dessert.
* Wine Distinctively Slovenian tipples include peppery red Teran from the Karst region and Malvazija, a straw-colour white wine from the coast.
* Žganci The Slovenian stodge of choice – groats made from barley or corn but usually ajda (buckwheat).
* Žlikrofi Ravioli-like parcels filled with cheese, bacon and chives.
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