USEFUL TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING TO SLOVENIA

Useful links on internet

USEFUL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
http://www.slovenia.info/en/FAQ.htm?faq=0&lng=2
INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERES
http://www.slovenia.info/en/Home.htm?home=0&lng=2

General information
Population: 2,055,000

Position: Slovenia is in central Europe.

Area: 20,273 km2

Government: Slovenia is a democratic republic founded on the principle of the

separation of powers of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of authority.

Capital city: Ljubljana, population: 280,000

President of the Republic: Borut Pahor

Prime Minister: Miro Cerar

President of the National Assembly: Milan Brglez

Membership of international organisations: Slovenia has been a member of the

European Union since 1 May 2004 and a member of NATO since 7 April 2004. It is also a
member of many other international organisations.

Administrative division: 58 administrative units, 212 municipalities.

Other major centres: Maribor, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo Mesto, Velenje, Murska Sobota.

Official language: Slovene; also Hungarian and Italian in their respective ethnically
mixed areas.

Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic; Slovenia also has 40 other
officially registered religious communities.

Currency: euro (EUR), since 1 January 2007.

GDP per capita (in EUR): 17.778 € (2011)

Registered unemployment rate: 11,8% (2011)

Average age: 41.4 years

Life expectancy: men 73 years, women 81 years

Fertility rate: 1.2

Climate: Alpine, Pannonian, Mediterranean

Time: Central European Time (UTC + 1), Central European Summer Time (UTC + 2)

Average temperatures: July 21°C, January 0°C

Electricity supply: 230 V

Units of measurement: metric – metres, kilometres, grams, kilograms. Temperatures

are expressed in degrees Celsius.

Length of borders: with Austria 330 km, with Italy 280 km, with Hungary 102 km and
with Croatia 670 km; total 1,382 km

Length of coastline: 46.6 km

Highest peak: Triglav, 2,864 m

Geometric centre of Slovenia: Vače

Average height above sea level: 556.8 m

Universities: University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Primorska.

How to get to Slovenia

Slovenia lies in central Europe, and borders Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary. It is just a
few hours’ travel from Venice or Vienna. Slovenia is easy to reach from neighbouring
countries, with good road and rail links, and daily flights from numerous European cities.
As a maritime nation, Slovenia can also be reached by sea.

How to get to Slovenia by all the different means of transport is described in detail in
individual columns. Some basic information is given here.

By car
The majority of drivers enter Slovenia by motorway. To drive on motorways in Slovenia
you must have a vignette, or face heavy fines. The basic cross-shaped motorway network
in the country is almost complete, with only a short section of the Dolenjska road yet to
be built.

Local roads are the most picturesque and interesting routes around the country, and
provide the best opportunity to get to know its natural beauty and its sights. The journey
planner makes it easier to find the right roads.

Road safety regulations require the use of dipped lights at all times when driving, even
during the day, while the maximum allowable blood alcohol level is 0.5 parts per
thousand. Breath tests are frequent, so it is perhaps better to avoid drinking and driving
altogether.

There are 24-hour service stations and petrol stations approximately every 30 km on the
motorways. Petrol stations are also common in the cities and in smaller towns.

In case of breakdown on the road, the AMZS will be happy to assist. Call 1987.

Cars can be rented at specialist agencies in cities and airports. Fleets include various
categories of vehicles.
By bus and train

Buses and trains to Slovenia run every day from numerous European cities. It is also
possible to arrive by sleeping car.

By air

There are daily flights from Slovenia’s main international gateway, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik
Airport, to a number of European cities, including flights operated by two low-cost
airlines, EasyJet and Wizz Air, which fly to London, Paris and Brussels. Adria Airways,
Slovenia’s sole carrier, has the most flights to Ljubljana. Another possibility is to fly to one
of the foreign airports in the neighbourhood and access Slovenia from there by bus, train
or rented car. Transport services from nearby airports to Slovenia are also offered by the
low-cost carrier GoOpti.

By sea

Between May and October powerboats operate frequent routes from Venice, Trieste,
Poreč and Rovinj. Cruise ships occasionally dock at Koper. If arriving on your own vessel,
you should be aware that the international border crossings are at Koper and Piran, and
at Izola between May and October. Izola, Koper and Portorož have fully equipped marinas
where boats can moor.

Opening times

BANKS

MON–FRI 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

(Some banks close their branches at 12.00 pm for one hour.)

Cash dispensers – you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day from cash dispensers around
the country. Most cash dispensers also accept MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, Cirrus and Visa
Electron Plus. Slovenia is extremely well provided with cash dispensers. Many of them
offer other types of services in addition to cash withdrawals.

Changing money – bureaux de change, hotel receptions, travel agents, petrol stations
and large shopping centres

POST OFFICES
MON–FRI 8.00 am – 6.00 pm
SAT 8.00 am – 12.00 pm
(Some post offices are also open later. Find the one closest to you.)

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

TUE–SUN 9.00 or 10.00 am – 5.00 or 6.00 pm

Closed Mondays
(Find contact details for the museum you wish to visit.)

PHARMACIES

MON–FRI 7.00 am – 7.00 pm

SAT 7.00 am – 1.00 pm
(All large towns have duty pharmacies that are open 24 hours a day.)

SHOPS

MON–FRI 7.00 am/9.00 am – 7.00 pm/9.00 pm

SAT 7.00 am/9.00 am – 1.00 pm/3.00 pm
SUN 9.00 am/1.00 pm (only large shopping centres)

(The opening times of shops may vary. In larger towns there is at least one food shop
open 24 hours a day. Some basic essentials are available 24 hours a day from larger
petrol stations.)