Welcome back to my blog! This week I will help you plan a road trip in Slovenia, one of Europe’s most amazing destinations for hiking and nature lovers. If you’re looking for a mixture of stunning alpine lakes, mountains, and some cultural stops in cities then this is the perfect destination for you.
Planning a trip can sometimes be a little bit daunting and overwhelming. There are so many things to consider and so much research to do that you might not know where to start. To help you with this task, I have compiled this blog with the steps to follow. Planning a road trip has never been easier!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STEP 1: DECIDE WHEN YOU WANT TO GO
The first thing you need to do is decide your travel dates. To do this, you have to consider two main things: when is the best moment to go and how many days do you need.
When is the best moment to visit Slovenia?
The answer to this question will depend on what activities you want to do while in Bavaria.
- Winter: If you’re looking to do some skiing and other snow activities, then winter is the season for you. However, if like me, you are looking to enjoy some nice hiking routes, then winter is definitely not the time to go.
- Spring & Autumn: Late spring and early autumn are probably the best times to visit, the weather is not so warm and there are fewer people there. However, when you visit in these seasons, there is always the risk of rain. Also if you visit too early in the season, some of the hike trails might still be closed for safety reasons.
- Summer: The summer months are definitely a good option. Warmer and longer days are the best for nature activities. However, this is also high season which can mean more people there. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. I was there, the third week of August, and apart from Lake Bled, the rest of the places we visited where not so crowded.
How many days do you need to visit Slovenia?
The number of days you need to visit Slovenia will also depend on what you want to do and see. No matter how much you try, it is impossible to visit everything during a trip (unless you spend several months there).
Keeping this in mind, I think a week or 10 days is enough if you’re planning to do a hiking trip in the Julian Alps. If you want to also explore other areas of the country, then I would recommend two weeks.
STEP 2: HOW TO GET TO SLOVENIA?
Once you have decided on your travel dates, the second step is to choose how to get there. Most probably you will fly there, but you can also decide to make it a road trip if you are from Europe.
Book your flights
When visiting Slovenia, I recommend you book your flights to Ljubljana Airport. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is the perfect place to begin your trip.
I would only recommend flying to another airport if you find a great deal.
Drive to Slovenia
While driving to Slovenia instead of flying might not be your first option. If you live in Europe and plan to do a road trip, this could be an interesting option as well. It might not be as fast as flying but it would allow you to skip Step 3. Also, it is always more comfortable to drive your car!
Documentation needed to enter Slovenia
If you are a citizen of any of the countries in the European Union, you can enter Slovenia with only your national ID. For any other nationalities always visit the official site of the country to have the latest travel requirements.
STEP 3: RENT A CAR
What is a road trip without a car? Once you have booked your flights to Slovenia, it is time to rent a car.
A car is the best way to move around the country and will grant you some flexibility when planning your itinerary and what places to visit.
Most of the places we visited in Slovenia, could be reached by public transport. However, despite it being cheaper, you would lose quite a lot of time going from one place to another.
I always use RentalCars.com when booking a car for a trip.
STEP 4: BUY YOUR VIGNETTE
To drive on the highways in Slovenia, you will need to have a vignette as a toll system. If you’re renting a car in the country, then your car will already have this vignette available and you don’t need to worry about anything. If, on the other hand, you are driving your car directly from home, then the vignette is a must.
Getting the vignette is very easy:
- You can stop at a gas station near the border and buy a sticker that you will have to put on your windshield.
- You can register online, and get an e-vignette. This way, you can get it in advance and you don’t have to put anything in your windshield.
STEP 5: GET SOME INSURANCE
When travelling through Europe I always make sure to have with me the European Health Insurance Card.
On top of that, even if you are a citizen of the EU, it is always important to get some insurance. Especially if you like a bit more adventurous vacations like me. This way you can enjoy your vacation knowing that you are covered no matter what happens.
STEP 6: DECIDE YOUR ITINERARY
Once you have your flights, method of transportation, and insurance, it is time to plan your itinerary. This will vary depending on which kind of holiday you are looking for. Slovenia is a hiking paradise for people who love being in nature. However, it does offer some other interesting activities.
- Relaxing holidays near the coast: Why not relax and catch up on your tan near the Adriatic Sea? Piran is the perfect place to spend a few days on the coast.
- Cultural holidays: Spend some time visiting the vibrant cities of Ljubljana or Maribor.
- Holidays in nature: Enjoy the wonderful hikes that you can do in the Julian Alps.
STEP 7: BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Where you stay in Slovenia will depend on the itinerary you have decided in Step 5. I always book my accommodations either via Booking.com.
During the summer months, Slovenia can be a popular destination so I recommend that you book your accommodation as soon as you have decided where you want to visit. This will give you more choices and affordable prices.
STEP 8: MAKE RESERVATIONS BEFORE HAND
Depending on what you want to visit, you have to consider booking your tickets in advance.
Some popular places like the Vintgar Gorge, or the Postojna Cave have limited access to help preserve the natural habitat and they get sold out during the high season.
This also applies to restaurants in the main cities like Ljubljana, Maribor and even Piran.
STEP 9: PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT SLOVENIA
Another important thing to consider if you want to plan your road trip in Slovenia on your own is to research some practical information and tips to consider about the country you are visiting.
- Language: The official language is Slovene. However, tourism is a big contributor to the country so almost everybody speaks English.
- Currency: The currency in Slovenia is Euros.
- Cash and Credit Cards: In general, the use of cards is accepted almost everywhere. However, there might be some parking machines or mountain huts that do not accept cards so I always recommend having some cash available with you.
- Safety: Slovenia is quite safe so you should not be very concerned during your visit. Maybe pay some extra attention to pickpockets if you visit bigger cities like Ljubljana.
- Weather Conditions: If you plan to go hiking in the Julian Alps, always check the weather conditions before starting your hike. Weather in the mountains can be no joke.
- Electricity: Slovenia uses type C and type F plugs and operates with 230V.
- Driving in Slovenia: Driving in Slovenia is also quite easy. The general speed limits are 90km/h on general roads and 50km/h within the city. As for highways, this can vary between 110 to 130km/h. If you are planning on driving on mountain roads and passes, please make sure you are comfortable driving on this kind of road.
STEP 10: PACKING YOUR SUITCASE FOR SLOVENIA
What to pack in your suitcase will also depend on when you visit Slovenia or what kind of holiday you are looking for. Here are some things you should not forget to put in your suitcase:
- Swimsuit & Towel. Even though the coast of Slovenia is not very big, during the warm summer months it is common for locals and tourists to go for a swim in Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj. Why not join them after a day of hiking in the area?
- A hat or cap to protect you from the sun. Even in mountain regions, the sun can be quite strong. A hat will protect you from an unwanted heat stroke.
- Light and breathable clothing for the summer. This will also be a lifesaver during the summer months.
- Warm layers if you’re not visiting during the summer months.
- Hiking sturdy shoes if you are planning to enjoy some hikes.
STEP 11: HAVE FUN
You’re all set, all you need to do is enjoy your trip and have fun!
And that’s it for my blog about how to plan a road trip in Slovenia. I hope you liked it and found it useful. Let me know what you think in the comments!
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