Eastern Europe - Travel To Slovenia

 

It's a tiny country, about half the size of Switzerland, and counts just over two million people. But the only way to describe pint-sized Slovenia (Slovenija), an independent republic bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, is that it's 'a mouse that roars'.

Slovenia has been dubbed a lot of things since independence in 1991 - 'Europe in Miniature', 'The Sunny Side of the Alps', 'The Green Piece of Europe' - and, though they may sound like tourist-brochure blurbs, they're all true. From beaches, snow-capped mountains, hills awash in grapevines and wide plains blanketed in sunflowers, to Gothic churches, baroque palaces, historic castles and art nouveau civic buildings, Slovenia offers more diversity than countries many times its size. Its incredible mixture of climates brings warm Mediterranean breezes up to the foothills of the Alps, where it can even snow in summer. With more than half of its total area covered in forest, Slovenia truly is one of the greenest countries in the world - and in recent years it has also become Europe's activities playground.

Among Slovenia's greatest assets, though, are the Slovenes themselves - welcoming, generous, multilingual, broad-minded. As far as they are concerned, they do not live emotionally, spiritually or even geographically in 'Eastern' Europe - their home is the very heart of the continent.

Best time to find the cheapest flights to Slovenia

Every season has its attractions in Slovenia. Snow can linger in the mountains until late June and even July, but spring is a great time to be in the lowlands and flower-carpeted valleys (though it can be pretty wet in May and June). At the same time the days are getting longer, the theatres and other cultural venues are in full swing, off-season rates still generally apply and local people are not yet jaded by waves of summertime visitors.

Summer (mid-June to sometime in September) is the ideal time for hiking and camping, but it’s also the peak season for visitors, making accommodation (and a restaurant table) in Ljubljana and on the coast hard to come by without advance booking. September can be an excellent month, with plentiful local fruit and vegetables, shoulder-season tariffs in effect again and the tourist masses home and back at work. You can still swim comfortably in the Adriatic in September, but by mid-October most of the camping grounds have closed down and the days are growing shorter. Autumn is beautiful, particularly in the mountains of Gorenjska and Štajerska, and it’s the best time for hiking and climbing (though October and November can be rainy).

Winter (December to March) in Slovenia is for skiers. It can be very cold and, away from the mountains, often quite bleak. At the same time, winter sees museums and other tourist sights closed or their hours sharply curtailed. Skiers should bear in mind that Slovenian school kids have winter holidays for about 10 days between Christmas and just into the New Year and again for a week in the second half of February.

Navigating Slovenia

Traffic drives on the right. There is a good network of high-quality roads in Slovenia. There is a good bus network, which functions throughout Ljubljana and connects the capital with all major towns and cities.

Facts about Slovenia

• In the capital Ljubljana, cross the lifeblood Ljubljanica river towards to the Town Hall (1718) with its baroque fountain and two open courtyards and then explore the surrounding cobbled old town.

• Head for the twin towers of Ljubljana Cathedral (1708), which house some impressive frescoes in what is widely regarded as the finest ecclesiastical building in the country.

• Tour Ljubljana's fine treasure trove of cultural institutions - choose from the City Museum, National Museum, the National Gallery, Plecnik's House and the Modern Art Gallery.

• Take a train into the spectacular 20km (12-mile) cave of Postojna, only one hour's drive from the coast, which has been deemed one of the greatest sights of natural beauty, and features gigantic stalagmites and a cavernous hall which can hold over 10,000 people.

• In the port of Koper, explore the old town and see the Town Tower (1480), the 15th-century Cathedral, the loggia and the Praetor's Palace; also of interest is the Romanesque Carmin Rotunda (1317). The excellent Provincial Museum houses old maps of the area.

• Piran is Slovenia's coastal jewel, southeast of Koper. Enjoy the flurry of Venetian architecture and the waterfront seafood restaurants or just enjoy a swim in the Adriatic shadowed by the town's voluminous hilltop church.

• To the south of Maribor, see the Roman remains and medieval centre of Ptuj, which is also the scene of traditional carnivals. Ptuj's old town overflows with cobbles, churches and impressive baroque buildings.

• In the mountain resort of Bled, see the neo-gothic Parish Church (1904) with its interesting frescoes and Bled Castle, the former seat of the bishops of Brixen. Perching above a 100m (328ft) drop, the castle offers magnificent views over the city and lake.

Slovenia Airports

Ljubljana (LJU) is 26km (16 miles) northwest of the city.
Maribor (MBX) and Portoroz (POW) also have some limited international flight connections.

Visa/Passport requirements

Virtually everyone entering Slovenia must have a valid passport, although citizens of the EU as well as Switzerland need only produce their national identity card on arrival for stays of up to 30 days. It’s a good idea to carry your passport or other identification at all times.

Citizens of virtually all European countries as well as Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA do not require visas to visit Slovenia for stays of up to 90 days. Those who do require visas (including South Africans) can get them at any Slovenian embassy or consulate for up to 90 days. They cost €35 regardless of the type or length of validity. You’ll need confirmation of a hotel booking plus one photo and may have to show a return or onward ticket.

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