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 really go that little bit smoother!
Slovenia uses the Euro
You pay in Slovenia using the euro. Slovenia is part of the EU. So that makes things easy. And you can use your Dutch debit card everywhere for payments. But what about the 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 tricky language. But with Google Translate you can get quite far. Hvala! That means thank you.
No shopping on Sundays
Shops and other businesses are closed on Sunday. Not so much for Christian reasons. But on Sundays, Slovenians head out into nature with their families. Hospitality venues and petrol stations do remain open on Sundays. Handy to bear in mind for your grocery shopping.
Motorway vignette
If you are planning to use the motorway in Slovenia, you will need a vignette. Choose for a week or a month, and do note that heavy vehicles like motorhomes and buses need a 2B vignette. Otherwise, you risk a hefty fine delivered to your home in the Netherlands. Read all about the vignette + official points of sale
Brake for 70
The standard speed limit on provincial roads in Slovenia is 90. But at tunnels, the maximum speed is usually reduced. It’s advised to slow down at these points. Because after a 70 sign, just 100 metres onwards you might find a police officer with a speed gun. We find that a bit unfriendly, but that’s how the police do things here.
Lights required
If you drive without your lights on, people might start flashing their headlights at you. In Slovenia, you’re always required to have your car lights on. Good to know. Could save you a possible fine, or an accident.
Super deluxe
You can do your shopping here at well-known and lesser-known supermarkets. The cheapest are Lidl and Hofer. Hofer is actually just Aldi in a different coat. You’ll pay more at Spar and Mercator.
In the Netherlands, we moan that Lidl doesn’t have everything, but in Slovenia, it’s actually Lidl that stocks some of the same products as in the Netherlands, which are harder to find at other supermarkets.
Fresh convenience foods? Like pre-cut vegetables, Celavita potatoes, ready-made salads and microwave meals. You’ll hardly find them here. You’ll need to cut your vegetables and do your own cooking. Or eat out. Because that’s still very affordable here.
Water is safe to drink
The tap water here is perfectly safe to drink. Crystal-clear clean water flows straight from the mountains. So even when you’re on the road, you’ll sometimes come across natural springs with drinkable water.
Slovenia is small
You don’t need to do a huge road trip through Slovenia. Almost every spot in the country can be reached within a two-hour drive. And those drives aren’t a chore. The scenery in this beautiful country will take your breath away. Just note that distances may look short on the map, but mountain routes can quickly make travel times much longer. A route planner can give you a better idea of journey times.
I’m not afraid of the big bad wolf
Almost 60% of Slovenia consists of forest. So yes, there are wolves, foxes, deer, jackals and even brown bears in Slovenia. But because there are lots of dense woods that no one visits, the animals can live there peacefully, undisturbed by tourists. So, the odds of coming face to face with a large wild animal are negligible. No worries.
