Here are the top tips from holidaymakers who have already visited Slovenia.
To write this article, I asked my followers what they would have liked to know before their trip to Slovenia.
Here are the tips from holidaymakers who have already been on holiday in Slovenia
Due to Slovenia’s small size, the most frequently cited tip will surprise you. For me, living here, it doesn’t surprise me at all because I know the incredible potential of this small country.
Céline : “I wish I’d known it was such a welcoming and beautiful country so I could have planned more time and stayed longer!”
Secret Slovenia: Here’s the most liked answer and therefore the most frequently quoted tip from travellers who have already been to Slovenia. I can confirm that there is so much to do here and the landscapes are so varied that all holidaymakers feel they have to leave too quickly. In Slovenia, you’ll find almost the whole of Europe in miniature. In short, you can go on a three-week holiday in Slovenia with the certainty of never being bored and always doing or discovering something new every day. For my part, even after more than ten years here, I’m still discovering great new places every year.
Marine G : Don’t EVER believe a guidebook that tells you it’s an “easy hike” or “a short climb” 😁
Secret Slovenia: Almost all Slovenians hike and have a good level of fitness. Here, a hike of just two hours even with a good climb will be considered easy. In short, Slovenians give excellent hiking advice because they know their country very well, but if they say “difficult”, it’s because it’s “really very difficult”.
- If you want a nice, easy hike, take the Velika Planina cable car or the hikes I recommend on the Pokljuka plateau
- A little harder, but also very beautiful hikes, go for the magnificent peaks of Visevnik or Veliki Vrh
Marine G.: Don’t forget real hiking boots, as you’ll need to be really well shod to visit even the smallest tourist site
Secret Slovenia: Yes, it’s a habit I’ve adopted by imitating my Slovenian friends. Even if they go for a short walk of an hour, they’re always very well equipped with good hiking boots, hiking trousers (never just jeans), a merino wool t-shirt, a good rucksack, a water bottle… and so on. Do the same and, if possible, pack good quality hiking equipment.
Tina B. : That I was going to fall in love with the country and that it would be very hard to come back!
Secret Slovenia: I couldn’t agree more. Slovenia’s dolce vita is the main reason I decided to live in Ljubljana. All holidaymakers love it. You’ll feel it immediately after a few hours or days there and you won’t want to leave. Plan a long holiday, not just 2 or 3 days, because you’ll be biting your fingers off.
Veronique D. : You should spend at least 3 days in the beautiful and welcoming capital.
Secret Slovenia: Yes, Ljubljana is one of Europe’s smallest capitals, but it’s a great place to live and there’s so much to do. Read this article on 101 things to do in Ljubljana with a list of the things I like to do here. It’s also a very green capital where you can go forest walking, mountain biking and even canoeing on the river that runs through the centre! Here’s the best accommodation in the capital.
Muriel Stéphane L.: Learn some basic words before you leave – thank you – hello – goodbye – please – and words for eating and drinking!
Secret Slovenia: Slovenians really appreciate this, and it also comes in handy once you’re there (to get to the right toilet door in a restaurant, for example, it’s best to know how to say man/woman in Slovenian).
Marlène L: Don’t spend your time trying to find the cheapest fuel possible as its price is regulated by the state 😂
Secret Slovenia: That’s right! Prices have been the same for a long time. Petrol is a little cheaper than in France. Since 2020, they vary in Slovenia and you don’t have to take petrol on the motorway, in short, like in France.
Володей М: “Don’t forget to have cash when leaving the “cities”.
Secret Slovenia: If you’ve got into the habit of paying for everything with your contactless bank card, you’re bound to run into difficulties in Slovenia. In some places, you’ll only be able to pay in cash, as I explain in this article full of advice on how to avoid all the classic problems in Slovenia. Read it carefully!
Important tip : In Slovenia, always carry cash with you on holiday.
Marine G. : Make sure you have change for car parks too, because half the time you can’t pay by card
Secret Slovenia: In tourist areas, it’s becoming increasingly common for car parks to charge. The money is used to protect Slovenian nature from the impact of thousands of tourists coming to the same place. A car park attendant will often come and see you once you’ve parked, but he won’t have a credit card terminal, hence my advice to carry cash.
Emilie: I knew absolutely nothing about Slovenia before I went. There were no unpleasant surprises or disappointments. I scoured Secret Slovenia during the 13-hour drive and we found some nuggets. Even back in France, we’re still reading your articles
Secret Slovenia: I’ve been writing this travel guide to Slovenia for fifteen years now and I’ve tried to make it easy to read, not to drown you with unnecessary information, to make precise selections for the must-sees and above all to think about how you can have a great holiday here. You can do the work yourself by reading Lonely Planet Slovenia, the backpacker’s forum or blogs by travellers who have actually only been in Slovenia for a few days, but you will be wasting a lot of time when there is already so much to read on Secret Slovenia. Nobody has done the same work for more than ten years. The more you read the blog, the more beautiful, successful and trouble-free your holiday will be. To sum up, I would advise you not to spread yourself too thin by multiplying the sources of information on Slovenia.
Sarah V.: “I discovered too late that you could buy agricultural products from Slovenians who have a sign in front of their house… It’s a shame because it could have made a big impression. It’s a shame because it would have been a great way to meet people”
Secret Slovenia: A great plan! Many Slovenians sell their small produce. This is the country with the highest number of beekeepers per 1,000 inhabitants, so you’ll often find honey (med), but also wine (vino), onions, fruit at Goriska Brda, and so on. Stop at the side of the road when you see signs and stock up on good local produce for your holiday.
Raphaele K.: Don’t do what we do in France and tell ourselves we’ll take less time than the estimated hiking time on the sign… because we’ll take more! 😂😓
Secret Slovenia: Yes, if you’re going hiking, the times on the signs correspond to those of a fit hiker. To avoid any nasty surprises and a potential storm at the end of the day, do as the Slovenians do and set off early in the morning!
Mélanie G. : Don’t listen to those who say it’s a small country, so 8 days is enough. We spent 18 days there and there’s still so much to see and discover.
Secret Slovenia: This is in fact the same advice as the very first in the article. If you’re only planning to go for a few days, go for a week. If you’ve planned a week or two, add an extra week if you can. Use the article on itineraries in Slovenia.
Augustin M.: Knowing that all the good tips are on Secret Slovenia 😉
Secret Slovenia: Yes, it’s all there! I’ve spent days and days looking and I’ve made a selection of the best.
Jessy S.: that most of the restaurants (the kitchen) close around 10pm in the evening… sometimes it’s hard to find something to eat after 10pm.
Secret Slovenia: It’s true that restaurants close quite early, but in return they’re open all afternoon. In Slovenia, you can eat at any time of day, and that makes life easier on holiday. The time zone is the same, but Slovenians live an hour ahead of the French because of the sun (we’re in the east!).
Océane B.: The motorway tax sticker 😁
Slovenia Secret: In Slovenia, there are no tolls, you buy a cheap vignette and you travel freely. This vignette is a great deal!