Slovenia Tourism - Travel to Slovenia

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Quick Facts
Capital	Ljubljana
Government	parliamentary democratic republic
Currency	tolar (SIT)
Area	total: 20,273 sq km water: 122 sq km land: 20,151 sq km
Population	1,932,917 (July 2002 est.)
Language	Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Religion	Roman Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%

Slovenia is a country in Central Europe that lies in the eastern Alps at the northeastern end of the Adriatic Sea. Despite its small size, with Austria to the north, Italy to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast and Croatia to the south, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes.

Regions in Slovenia

Map of Slovenia

Administrative divisions: 182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities

Cities in Slovenia

Ljubljana - Capital

Ports and harbors

Urban municipalities (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )

Other destinations - Travel to Slovenia

Understand Slovenia Tourism

Climate in Slovenia

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Terrain

A short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

History of Slovenia

The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new nation, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991.

Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy make Slovenia a leading country among the new members of the EU and NATO.

Get into Slovenia

Travel to Slovenia By Plane

Slovenia's main international airport Brnik is half an hour ride from Ljubljana (the capital). Several foreign companies and one slovene company Adria Airways offer direct flights from most European cities. From the airport you can grab a taxi or an hourly bus to Ljubljana.

Travel to Slovenia By Train

Trains may be different from what you're used to in Western Europe. (In Bled, Ljubljana, and Jesenice...) The time of arrival for the next train is not displayed next to the tracks, nor is the train's destination. This information must be found out either from a chalkboard (may have incorrect times) or some other sign near the train station building. Otherwise, many speak English in Slovenia, and they will always help you get where you're going.

Getting off the train can also be difficult. There is no loudspeaker announcement of the next station, and there is usually just one sign at the smaller stations, such as Bled. It may be helpful to ask the ticket checker for assistance in choosing the right station, or rely on the train's rough arrival time, if you have planned ahead.

Travel to Slovenia By car

Slovenia has very good mainroads, connected to it's neighbour countries. In direction from Austria: Wienna->Graz->�entilj->Maribor or Salzbrug->Villach->Jesenice (through the Karavanke tunnel). In direction from Italy: Vennezia->Trieste->Koper or Venezzia->Gorizia->Nova Gorica.

Travel to Slovenia By Bus

Travel to Slovenia By Boat

Get around in Slovenia

Ljubljana has a good bus system. It is also small enough that you will be able to walk everywhere in the center.

Slovenia Talk

Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%

Hvala = Thanks

Prosim = You're welcome, Please

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Eat - Travel to Slovenia

Drink

Sleep - Slovenia Tourism

Ljubljana offers two all-year hostels (Celica and Bit Hotel) and several student's homes, that functioan as hostels in the summer. Celica is located 10 minutes from the main railway station and 15 minutes from the city centre. It is very interesting hostel, a redecoreted millitary prison in fact. It was part of a millitary base Metelkova, which got squated after the Jugoslav Army abandoned it. Two syears ago, the cells of the former prison were assigned to several Slovenian artists, who designed every one of them individualy.

Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Area: total: 20,273 sq km
water: 122 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Coastline: 46.6 km
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
Land use: arable land: 11.48%
permanent crops: 2.68%
other: 85.84% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People in Slovenia

Nationality: noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 88%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Bosniak 1%, Yugoslav 0.6%, Hungarian 0.4%, other 5% (1991)
Religions: Roman Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%

Government in Slovenia

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local short form: Slovenija
local long form: Republika Slovenija
Government type: parliamentary democratic republic
Legal system: based on civil law system
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Davorin KRACUN
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York and Cleveland
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: P. O. Box 254, Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

Economy in Slovenia

Economy - overview: Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. Privatization of the economy proceded at an accelerated pace in 2002, and steps were taken to bring down the budget deficit from 2.9% of GDP in 2002 to 1.2% in 2003. Despite the economic slowdown in Europe in 2001-02, Slovenia maintained 3% growth. Internal structural reforms to improve the business environment, encouragement of direct foreign investment, and measures to curb inflation are needed to prepare the way for EU membership.

Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Agriculture - products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Currency: tolar (SIT)
Currency code: SIT
Exchange rates: tolars per US dollar - 251.40 (January 2002), 242.75 (2001), 222.66 (2000), 181.77 (1999), 166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 722,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1 million (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 805,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 48 (2001)
Televisions: 710,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .si
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (2000)
Internet users: 600,000 (2001)

Transportation in Slovenia

Railways: total: 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (489 km electrified) (2001)
Highways: total: 19,586 km
paved: 17,745 km (including 249 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,841 km (1998 est.)
Airports: 14 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Military

Military branches: Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)

Transnational Issues in Slovenia

Disputes - international: Slovenia and Croatia have not obtained parliamentary ratification of 2001 land and marine boundary treaty, which cedes villages on the Dragonja River and Sveta Gera (Trdinov Peak) to Croatia, and most of Pirin Bay to Slovenia but restricts Slovenian access to the open sea; Austria has minor dispute with Slovenia over nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals