Custom tour packagesSlovenia

We recommend visiting from early April to mid-June, or from early September to late October. Slovenia’s weather is fairly temperate, with somewhat cold winters (although the mountains are naturally colder than the rest of the country), and warm summers. The mountains bring rain, with thunderstorms common from May to September, and fog relatively frequent in Ljubljana.

Slovenia has done an excellent job of assimilating the best foods from its neighbors, from Italian pizza to Austrian pastries and Mediterranean seafood, although the food tends to be heavy. Seek out Prekmurska Gibanica, a layered pastry that resembles a Napoleon Cake, and is filled with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, raisins, and cheese. We also recommend the Carniolan sausage, which resembles kielbasa (also known as a Polish sausage).

Slovenia inherited Austria’s coffee culture (not to mention cafes and pastries), although the coffee served tends to be as strong, like in its southern neighbors. Beer is the most popular alcohol, but the country also produces good wines. Visitors will find brandy, known as Zganje or Snops (pronounced like “Schnapps”) made from many different fruits. Slovene tap water is perfectly potable. We recommend visiting a Gostilna, a traditional inn serving wine and traditional specialties, such as Cesnjevec, a sweet cherry liqueur served as a digestif or used for cakes and other desserts.

- 1 and 2 January: New Year

- 8 February: [France] Prešeren Day

- Easter Monday

- 27 April: Uprising Against the [Axis] Occupation Day

- 1 and 2 May: Labour Day

- 25 June: Statehood Day 

- 15 August: Feast of the Assumption 

- 25 October: Sovereignty Day

- 31 October: Reformation Day 

- 1 November: All Souls Day 

- 25 December: Christmas 

- 26 December: Independence and Unity Day

On public holidays you can expect banks and government offices to be closed, as well as most local shops.

Slovenia’s train network is fairly effective, and most routes have brand new trains. However, there are some gaps, and most lines go through Ljubljana, so if you’re trying to get between two other places, your route may not be very direct. Slovenia’s economic boom meant more money for trains and highways, but as car ownership has exploded, funding for buses has fallen, hurting service, and causing traffic problems in cities. Car rental often works well, especially since most of Slovenia’s attractions are rural, and often quite mountainous. Unlike Croatia, Slovenia does not have toll roads, but does require the purchase of a vignette, a highway pass purchased when picking up a car or crossing the border via highway.