Overview
Slovenia is a country in Europe according to computergees. Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia is now more reminiscent of its Alpine neighbors Austria and Italy than Eastern Europe. Forested mountains are dotted with glacial lakes, and pretty chalet-style homes overlook idyllic green meadows. The face of Slovenia is fresh and natural, its people are authentic and hospitable. The prosperous, beautiful capital of Ljubljana is a university city whose student community gives the architectural gem a youthful character. The Ljubljana River flows through the city and there are numerous promenades, cafes and small shops on its banks. the picturesque,
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Lufthansa (LH) flies from Frankfurt and Munich to Ljubljana. Swiss (SR) flies from Zurich to Ljubljana.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Ljubljana: 1 hour 10 minutes; Munich – Ljubljana: 50 mins, Hamburg – Ljubljana: 2 hrs 10 mins; Vienna – Ljubljana: 45 mins; Zurich – Ljubljana: 1 hour; Munich – Maribor: 1 hour 35 minutes
Arrival by car
Travelers can use numerous border crossings from Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia to Slovenia. The largest are open 24 hours a day. They are: Austria: Wurzenpass (Villach) – Korensko Sedlo; Loibl tunnel (Klagenfurt) – Ljubelj (Ljubljana); Seebergsattel – Jezersko; Rabenstein – Vic; Eibiswald – Radlje ob Dravi; Spielfeld (Graz) – Sentilj (Maribor); Langegg – Jurij; Italy: Albaro Veskova – Skofije; Pesse (Trieste) – Kozina; Fernetti (Trieste) – Fernetici (Sezana); Gorizia – Nova Gorica; Passo del Predil – Predel; Fusine Laghi-Ratece; Hungary: Bajansenye – Hodos; Croatia: Jelsane-Rupa. There is a continuous connection from Graz via Maribor via the A4 motorway to Zagreb in Croatia. long-distance bus: Flixbus connects numerous cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with destinations in Slovenia. Eurolines buses run from Germany to Slovenia. Toll: Motorways and expressways are subject to tolls. Vehicles under 3.5 t GVW require a vignette. Vehicles over 3.5 t GVW pay a distance-based toll. Documents: The national driving license is sufficient.
Arrival by train
The Slovenian railway company, Slovenske železnice, offers direct connections from Ljubljana to, among others, Belgrade, Budapest, Graz, Munich, Prague, Salzburg, Venice, Vienna, Zagreb and Zurich. International trains have sleeping and couchette cars, dining cars and a bar. EuroCity trains run between Munich and Ljubljana via Villach in Austria and on the Graz – Maribor route, among others. The night train EuroNight connects Zurich with Ljubljana. ÖBB Nightjet night trains (www.nightjet.com/) run from Germany and Switzerland via Austria to Slovenia. Motorail trains run from Hamburg to Villach, near the Austrian-Slovenian border.
rail passes
The Interrail One Country Pass and the Interrail Global Pass are also valid in Slovenia.
Arrival by ship
Koper is a popular port for cruise ships. There are marinas for sailing boats in Koper, Portoroz and Izoli.
Cruise ships
Shipping companies such as MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, Tui Cruises, Seabourn and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) call at Koper in Slovenia on their cruises.
Ferry provider
Venezia Lines operate catamaran ferries between Piran and Venice from April to October (journey time: 2 hrs 30 mins).
Transportation
Air Travel Note
There are no scheduled flights within Slovenia due to the small size of the country. Portoroz Airport (POW) on the Adriatic coast is known for panoramic flights and skydiving.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network is well developed. Motorways connect Ljubljana, Postojna and Razdrto with the coast in the south-west of the country, Ljubljana with the port city of Koper on the upper Adriatic and with Kranj, Maribor, the Gorenjska region in the north-west and the Karavanke tunnel leading from Jesenice to Austria. The A4 motorway leads to the border (border crossing Slivnica / Macelj) to Croatia. Toll: The use of motorways and expressways is subject to a fee. Car drivers can choose between 7-day, monthly or annual vignettes, motorcyclists between 7-day, half-yearly or annual vignettes. The vignettes are available at PETROL, MOL and OMV petrol stations near the border, at Slovenian post offices and in branches of the Slovenian Automobile Club AMZS. Vehicles over 3.5 t (including heavy mobile homes) must be equipped with the “DarsGo unit” transponder, which is offered by the DARS motorway company. Petrol stations on expressways and motorways are open 24 hours a day. Unleaded petrol is available at all petrol stations. For more information, contact the Slovenian Automobile Club Auto-Moto Zveza Slowenije, tel. +386 (1) 530 53 53. Cycling: The Parenzana (D-8) is a well-known cycling route along the coast connecting Italy with Croatia. Coming from Austria, the Drava Cycle Path runs to Maribor. Helmets are not compulsory for cyclists in Slovenia.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Right
Condition of the roads
Slovenian roads are generally in very good condition.
Road classification
The road network is divided into motorways, expressways, main roads and regional roads. Motorways are marked with an A and a number (white letters on a green background); Expressways marked with an H and a number (white letters on a blue background).
Car rental
International and local car rental companies have offices in all major cities, tourist areas and Ljubljana International Airport. The driver of a rental car must be at least 18 years old (may vary depending on the vehicle category) and have held the driver’s license for at least one year. Drivers under the age of 25 often pay an additional young driver fee. The maximum age for drivers at some car rental companies in Slovenia is 80 years.
Taxi
Taxis can be found at taxi ranks and in front of hotels. However, it is advisable to order taxis by telephone and, above all, to ensure that you only use vehicles marked as taxis. Tourists often pay many times the usual amount for “private” providers who like to place themselves in front of hotels.
Bicycle
Bicycles can be rented in the cities.
Coach
The local bus service is well organized and relatively cheap. Timetables and detailed information are available from Avtobusna postaja Ljubljana.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – Driving with dipped headlights, even during the day. – Seat belts are compulsory. – Fog lights are only permitted if visibility is reduced by more than 50%. – Alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰. However, 0.0 ‰ for novice drivers who have not held a driver’s license for 2 years or who are under 21 years old. – It is compulsory for drivers to wear fluorescent warning vests when leaving their vehicle outside of built-up areas, eg in the event of breakdowns or accidents, and staying on the road. – Never leave the vehicle without being asked during police checks, as there are very high penalties. Speed limits: 50 km/h within built-up areas; 90 km/h extra-urban; 110 km/h on expressways;
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; for vehicle damage: Tel. +49 (89) 22 22 22, for illness: +49 (89) 76 76 76. The ADAC partner club in Slovenia is Avto-Moto Zveza Slovenije (AMZS) in Ljubljana, Tel. +386 ( 1) 530 53 53.
Documentation
The national driving license is sufficient. For citizens of EU and EFTA countries, the license plate number is valid as proof of insurance. However, EU and EFTA citizens are advised to take their international motor insurance card with them in order to be able to enjoy full insurance coverage in the event of an accident. Otherwise, the statutory minimum liability insurance coverage applies. In addition, the international motor insurance card can make it easier to record accidents.
Traveling in the city
Ljubljana is easy to explore on foot or by bike, but it also has a well-developed bus network. For bus trips, travelers need either an Urbana Card, which is available at kiosks and is checked on a device for every bus trip, or the Ljubljana Card, which includes bus trips as well as admission to museums and sights and is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours. A cable car goes to Ljubljana Castle. Maribor also has a city bus network and various bike rental companies.
Locally on the way by train
The Slovenian state railway company Slovenske železnice operates a well-developed route network that reaches places throughout the country with different train categories: – Regional trains connect larger towns with smaller towns and villages (only 2nd class). – Local trains operate on suburban commuter routes (2nd class only). – InterCity trains (IC) connect larger towns and cities. – InterCitySlovenija trains (PEN) are fast Pendolino tilting trains operating on the Ljubljana – Maribor – Murska Sobota route. Seat reservations are required for this train category. Museum trains The museum collection of the Slovenian Railways includes a large number of steam locomotives and wagons as well as many other old rail cars. Some of the most important steam locomotives and several wagons were renewed and put back into service. The scenic route between Jesenice and Nova Gorica, which is used by museum trains with steam locomotives, is interesting in the summer months.
rail passes
The Interrail One Country Pass and the Interrail Global Pass are also valid in Slovenia.
Traveling by ship
The main marinas on the Slovenian Adriatic coast are Koper, Izola, Piran and Portoroz. Piran Bay is a good starting point for trips to the thousand islands of the Adriatic.
