Before You Go: Slovenian Travel Basics

Citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries can enter Slovenia for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visa. If you plan on staying longer than 90 days or are a citizen of another country, more information can be gotten at the Slovene Foreign Ministry website--English text link at the bottom of the page.

As tapwater is safe to drink in all of Slovenia, no vaccinations are required for visitors to Slovenia. However, as with most Eastern European countries, it is advisable to get innoculated against tick-borne encephalitis if it is available in your country.

Slovenia's unit of currency is now the Euro. It converted from the tolar on January 1, 2007. Banks are the best place to exchange currency. You can also use private exchange agencies, tourist offices, at post offices, and at some hotels, though rates are usually less favorable here when compared to banks.

American Express Travelers' Checks are the most recognizable, though some banks require that you have the issuing receipt before they will exchange them for tolars. Credit and debit cards can be used to withdraw money from ATMs as well as to pay for items over the counter. Cards you can't go wrong with are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express--other cards may give you some trouble as they are less recognizable internationally.

Trains are easy, convenient, and efficient--there isn't a whole lot of distance to travel within Slovenia, so trains can get you to most destinations quickly. The ICS, or Inter City Slovenia trains are the fastest and the nicest, though they don't allow bicycles on board like the other rail systems within Slovenia.

Buses may be able to reach more destinations than trains, and they are inexpensive and hardly ever crowded. In larger cities, it's possible to buy bus tickets in advance, but this is only necessary in the busiest seasons.