10 things you need to know before your holiday to Slovenia
The green heart of Europe, a wonderful country to visit: Slovenia. But with these 10 facts, your holiday will run even more smoothly!
Slovenia uses the Euro
You simply pay with euros in Slovenia. Slovenia is part of the EU. So that’s easy. And you can pay by card anywhere with your Dutch debit card. But what about prices? > Is Slovenia expensive?
English, German, Slovene
Most (young) Slovenians speak excellent English. Those over 50 usually speak better German. And in Slovenia, they speak Slovene. Quite a difficult language. But Google Translate gets you pretty far. Hvala! That means thank you.
No shopping on Sunday
Shops and other businesses are closed on Sunday. Not so much for Christian reasons. On Sundays, Slovenians prefer to head out into nature with their families. Restaurants and petrol stations are still open on Sundays. Good to keep in mind for your shopping.
Vignette for the motorway
If you’re using the motorway in Slovenia, you’ll need a vignette. Choose a week or a month yourself, and remember that heavy vehicles like motorhomes and buses need a 2B vignette. Otherwise, you’ll get a hefty fine when you get home in the Netherlands. Read all about the vignette + official sales point
Brake for 70
Normally, you can drive 90 on main roads in Slovenia. But at tunnels, the maximum speed limit is usually lower. It’s wise to brake at that point. Because after a 70 sign, 100 metres further on there might be a police officer with a speed gun. We find it a bit unfriendly, but that’s how the police do it here.
Lights required
If you drive without your headlights on, people may flash their lights at you. In Slovenia, it’s always mandatory to have your car’s lights on. Good to know. Saves you a potential fine, or accident.
Super deluxe
You do your shopping here at well-known and lesser-known supermarkets. The cheapest are Lidl and Hofer. And Hofer is basically just Aldi. You’ll pay more at Spar and Mercator.
In the Netherlands we complain that Lidl doesn’t have everything, but in Slovenia it’s actually Lidl that stocks certain products just like in the Netherlands, while at other supermarkets you’ll struggle to find them.
Convenient fresh items? Like pre-cut vegetables, ready-made potatoes, salad meals and microwave meals. You’ll hardly find them here. You’ll need to cut your own veg and cook for yourself. Or eat out. Because eating out here is still very affordable.
Water is drinkable
You can drink the tap water here. Crystal clear clean water comes down from the mountains. So even on the road, you may find natural springs with drinkable water.
Slovenia is small
You don’t need to make a massive round trip through Slovenia. Almost everywhere in the country is within a 2-hour drive. And the drives aren’t a punishment. You’ll be amazed by this beautiful country. Do keep in mind that distances might look short on the map, but because of mountain roads they can take much longer in terms of travel time. A route planner will give you a better idea of journey times.
I’m not afraid of the big bad wolf
Almost 60% of Slovenia is forest. So there are wolves, foxes, deer, jackals and even brown bears in Slovenia. But because there are plenty of dense forests where no one goes, the animals live there quietly without being disturbed by tourists. So the chance of coming face to face with a large wild animal is negligible. No worries.
