Slovenia Travel Guide

Social Conventions

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Usual European social conventions apply and informal dress is widely acceptable. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas, theaters, public offices and in waiting rooms.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

The national airline, Adria Airways (www.adria-airways.com), operates direct flights from London and many other European cities to Ljubljana.

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Ljubljana (LJU) (Brnik) (www.lju-airport.si) is 26km (16 miles) northwest of the city. To/from the airport: Buses are available to Kranj (journey time - 15 minutes) and to Ljubljana (journey time - 45 minutes) regularly. Taxis are also available (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Bank, post office, duty-free shop, car hire (international and domestic companies), restaurant, snack bar, shops, and Internet cafés.

Maribor (MBX) and Portoroz (POW) also have some limited international flight connections.

Getting There By Water

Main port: Koper (www.luka-kp.si).

Between March and October, there are scheduled trips across the Adriatic on the Prince of Venice (tel: (05) 617 8000; www.kompas-online.net) catamaran, which runs between Venice and Portoroz and Piran (journey time - 2 hours).

There are four marinas (Izola, Koper, Piran and Portoroz) to choose from for visitors arriving on private vessels.

Cruise ships call on the Slovenian coast.

Getting There By Rail

Connections and through trains are available from principal eastern and western European cities. The Eurocity Mimara train connects Ljubljana, Munich, Salzburg and Zagreb, while the Casanova high-speed service links direct to Venice. There are direct trains to Slovenia from Austria (Vienna and Villach), Bulgaria, Croatia (Zagreb), Greece, Hungary (Budapest), Italy (Trieste and Venice), Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Switzerland. Some international trains have couchette coaches as well as bar and dining cars. Contact Slovenske železnica (tel: (01) 291 3332; www.slo-zeleznice.si) for more information. On some lines transport for cars is provided.

Rail Passes

InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Getting There By Road

The following are among the frontier posts open for road traffic:
From Italy: San Bartolomeo-Lazaret; Albaro Veskova-Skofije; Pesse-Kozina; Fernetti-Fernetici (Sezana); Gorizia-Nova Gorica; Stupizza-Robic; Uccea-Uceja; Passo del Predil-Predel; and Fusine Laghi-Ratece.

From Austria: Wurzenpass (Villach)-Korensko Sedlo; Loibltunnel-Ljubelj; Seebergsattel-Jezersko; Grablach-Holmec; Rabenstein-Vic; Eibiswald-Radlji od Dravi; Langegg-Jurij; Spielfeld-Sentilj; Mureck-Trate; Sicheldorf-Gederovci; Radkersburg-Gornja Radgona; and Bonisdorf-Kuzma.

From Hungary: Bajansenye-Hodos.

From Croatia: Jelsane-Rupa.

Nearly all the border crossings mentioned above are open 24 hours a day and are served by buses.

Duty Free

Overview

Slovenia is within the European Union. If you are traveling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. There are no longer any allowance restrictions on these tax-free items.

If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Slovenia by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco.
• 2L of wine and 1L of spirits.
• 50g perfume and 250mL of eau de toilette.
• Listed items to not exceed €175 in value.

Note: An export license is required for articles of archaeological, ethnographic, artistic, scientific or cultural value; or for articles over 100 years old.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

There are no scheduled domestic flights.

Getting Around By Water

There is no scheduled domestic water transport in Slovenia.

Getting Around By Rail

There are efficient intercity and stopping services. Train travel is generally inexpensive and is run by Slovenske železnice (tel: (01) 291 3332; www.slo-zeleznice.si).

Rail Passes

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Slovenia. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Getting Around By Road

Traffic drives on the right. There is a good network of high-quality roads in Slovenia. For further information, contact the national automobile club Auto-Moto Zveza Slovenjie (AMZS) (tel: (01) 530 5300; www.amzs.si).

Coach/bus: There is a good bus network, which functions throughout Ljubljana and connects the capital with all major towns and cities. Ljubljana city buses are run by Avtobusna Postaja (AP) (tel: 090 934 230; www.ap-ljubljana.si). AP also run local services in many other urban areas and longer distance routes within the country.

Regulations: Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in cities, 90kph (56mph) on roads outside residential areas, 100kph (62mph) on roads reserved to motor traffic and 130kph (80mph) on motorways. School buses cannot be overtaken. Seat belts are compulsory (including in the back, if provided). Dimmed headlights must be turned on at all times while driving (even during the day).

Emergency breakdown service: AMZS (tel: 1987).

Documentation: Full national driving licenses with a photograph are accepted. An International Green Card for non-EU members can be purchased at the border. International car insurance is mandatory.

In July 2009, the six-month vignette (toll sticker) was discontinued for cars and vans. They are available annually. Vignettes are required in order to use the motorways and express roads in Slovenia and can be purchased from petrol stations.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

All major Slovenian towns and cities have a decent bus network, though there are no underground trains or trams in Slovenian towns and cities. Efficient bus services in Ljubljana, Maribor and a number of other urban centers are run by Avtobusna Postaja (AP) (tel: (090) 934 230; www.ap-ljubljana.si).

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times from Ljubljana (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Slovenia.

	Road	Rail
Portoroz	1.45	-
Maribor	2.00	2.30
Bled	0.45	1.15
Murska Sobota	3.00	3.30
Novo Mesto	1.00	1.30