Useful Information
Slovenia is located in the heart of Europe, bordering Austria, Croatia, Hungary, and Italy. Budapest, Vienna and Zagreb are within easy reach for day trips.
Slovenia is rich in resources, naturally beautiful and persistently peaceful. Slovenia has been doing extreamly well since its break from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
Except for a brief period in June and July 1991 when Yugoslavia attempted to prevent Slovenia from leaving its fold, there's been no fighting, no war and no terrorism in Slovenia. While Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo became embroiled in the bitterest conflict in Europe since WWII, Slovenes got on with making good of their independence, and keeping out of the limelight.
Distance from Murska Sobota
| Frankfurt | 888km |
| Berlin | 1053km |
| Munich | 493km |
| Vienna | 252km |
| Graz | 97km |
| Ljublijana | 192km |
| Zagreb | 147km |
| Trieste | 302km |
| Milan | 712km |
| Budapest | 217km |
How to get to Slovenia
- Road
It is possible to drive to Slovenia, the quickest route taking you through France, Germany and Austria.
- Air
The national airline of Slovenia is ‘Adria Airways’. Scheduled flights from Manchester and Gatwick airport fly to the capital ‘Ljublijana’ daily.
www.adria.si
The two main low-cost airlines that operate from the UK, now fly to Slovenia or neighbouring countries. Easy Jet, flys into Ljublijana from London Stansted.
www.easyjet.com
Ryan Air to Graz in Austria, which is only a 50-minute drive to our holiday cottages and apartments. We also arrange airport transfers to and from Graz airport.
www.ryanair.com - Rail
Information about Slovenian trains.
www.slo-zeleznice.si/en
NEWS
From May 2006, Ryan air will also fly into Balaton airport which is in Hungary. This airport is approximately 1 hour from the border of Slovenia, and 1.5 hours away from the holiday cottages and apartments that we manage.
Wizz Air, Central and Eastern Europe's new low cost airline, now
flys into Zagreb (Croatia) which is approximately 1.5 hours away from
our holiday cottages and apartments. Alternatively, they also fly into
the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
www.wizzair.com
Money
The national currency is the Slovenian tolar, (the abbreviation SIT)
which is divided into 100 stotins. The Slovenian currency was introduced
in October 1991 and is expected to remain the legal currency until the
start of 2007 when the Euro is due to be introduced. Visitors to Slovenia
can exchange currency and traveller's cheques, open bank accounts, send
cash and conduct various types of non-cash transactions in any of the
numerous banks.
Banks are generally open during the week from 9-12 and 2-5, with duty
banks open on Saturdays from 9-12. Money can also be readily exchanged
in exchange offices, at hotel receptions, in tourist agencies, at petrol
stations and in larger retail outlets.
Cash can be withdrawn from ATM machines with debit and credit cards.
ATM machines can be found all over Slovenia with the on-screen instructions
in a choice of languages including English. Most credit cards are accepted
in Slovenia.
Shops
Slovenia has a wide variety of shops and shopping malls. Large supermarkets
can be found in all towns and smaller mini-markets in villages. Commonly
found supermarket chains are Inter-Spar and Merkator.
Shops carry similar produce to those in the UK, as well as a wide selection
of local produce. Powdered baby milk, disposable nappies, baby wipes
and bottled water are readily available.
Shops are open without a break; generally from 8am to 7pm (with some
private shops open until 10pm); and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Some
shops are open on Sundays, although this is not the norm as Sunday is
essentially a family day.
Payments are made in tolars but most shops accept Euros and major credit
cards.
Telephone
There are plenty of public telephones in Slovenia, generally un-vandalised
and in good working order. To use payphones you must buy a phone card,
which are available from post offices, newspaper stands, and local shops.
Mobile telephones are as popular in Slovenia as in all European countries,
and network coverage is extensive. If you want to use your mobile phone
abroad, you will need to check with your network provider that you have
international roaming.
To phone Slovenia from the UK you need to dial 00386 before the number
of the person you are dialling.
To phone the UK from Slovenia you need to dial 0044 and then the person’s
number, remembering to omit the initial zero from the regional dialling
code.
Important Telephone Numbers
Police 113
Fire brigade 112
Ambulance 112
Internet
More than one-quarter of the population use the Internet and electronic
mail. A government programme has enabled the construction of 246 Public
Internet Access Points.
Internet cafes are springing up all over Slovenia, generally charging
between 100 SIT and 200 SIT per hour. Local libraries are an excellent
place to gain Internet access at low, or no cost. As is usual in Slovenia,
staff will go out of their way to help you.
Time Difference
Slovenia operates on Greenwich Mean Time +1 hour (or +2 hours from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). The clocks go forwards and back on the same days as the UK so the time difference between the UK and Slovenia is +1 hour.
Driving
Drivers in Slovenia must be over 18 and hold a full driving licence.
If you do not have a ‘pink’ credit card size European licence, then
you will need to obtain an International Driving licence, (this can
be done through the local RAC or AA office in the UK). Traffic drives
on the right in Slovenia.
It is compulsory to wear seat belts, and prohibited to use a mobile
phone while driving. It is compulsory to use dipped head lights when
travelling on all roads at any time of the day, and to keep a triangular
break down sign in your car.
Drinking alcohol and driving is not permitted. The permitted blood –
alcohol level for drivers is 0.05mg per 100ml of blood. Any amount over
this, results in a huge fine and confiscation of your driving licence.
Driving in Slovenia is fairly easy. The roads are well surfaced and
regularly maintained. Slovenian drivers do not seem as impatient or
erratic as a lot of European drivers, however locals do know the roads
better than tourists, and tend to overtake in places where thought impossible!
Slovenia is crossed by two motorway corridors. (avtocesta) Tolls are
payable on motorways, (in Tollars or Euros) the cost depends on the
distance travelled. Some sections of motorway are still under construction.
Speed limits on motorways are 130kph, 100kph on second and tertiary
roads, and 50kph in built up areas.
Remember, driving rules vary from country to country
so do your own research if you are intending to drive in Slovenia or
anywhere else in Europe.
Car Hire
As part of our service we can arrange car hire for you to be delivered and collected from your holiday accommodation. We use a local company that's based in the town of Murska Sobota called ‘Help rent a car’. More Car Hire Details.
Public Transport
BUS SERVICES WITHIN SLOVENIA
Ljubljana LPP bus information:
Javno podjetje Ljubljanski potniški promet d.o.o. (LPP)
Celovška cesta 160
1000 Ljubljana
Tel: +386 (0)1 582 24 60
Fax: +386 (0)1 582 25 50
Website: http://www.jh-lj.si
Email: mail@lpp.si
This site is in Slovene only
National bus information and timetables:
Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana d.d.
Trg OF 4
1000 Ljubljana
Tel: +386 (0)1 234 46 00
Website: http://www.ap-ljubljana.si
Email: avtobusna.postaja@ap-ljubljana.si
TRAINS IN SLOVENIA
Holding Slovenske železnice, d.o.o.
Kolodvorska 11
1506 Ljubljana
Tel: +386 (0)1 291 33 32
Website: http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/
Email: potnik.info@slo-zeleznice.si
Insurance
As an EU country, Slovenia has free reciprocal health arrangements with other member states on production of your passport. However it is recomended that a comprehensive private travel insurance policy is taken out, that covers for holiday cancellation, personnel belongings, personnel liability etc.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles travellers to free or reduced cost medical treatment in most European Union countries in the event of illness or accident whilst on holiday.
If you are ill and have to seek medical help, you will be asked to produce the EHIC. If you do not have one and you do not have travel insurance, you will be expected to pay the cost of your treatment in full.
You can apply for an EHIC for your spouse/partner and any children up to the age of 16 (or 19 if they are in full-time education) at the same time as applying for your own. If you are a foster parent or guardian, you can apply on behalf of any children you are looking after. You must be over 16 to apply as a main applicant.
It is essential that you have both travel insurance and an EHIC. This is because only state-provided emergency treatment is covered by the EHIC, and you will receive treatment on the same terms as nationals of the country you are visiting. Private treatment is generally not covered, and state-provided treatment may not cover all of the things that you would expect to receive free of charge from the NHS.
Furthermore, the EHIC does not cover aspects of travel insurance such as lost or stolen baggage, lost or stolen passports, travel cancellation, delays etc. The EHIC does not cover repatriation to the United Kingdom.
Some travel insurance companies insist that you have an EHIC and others may offer incentives such as a reduction or a waiving of the excess applicable to the policy.
The EHIC covers Austria, Belgium, Cyprus (excluding Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including Canaries & Balearics) and Sweden.
Other countries have reciprocal arrangements such as Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Croatia, Barbados - these are often organised separately however from the EHIC Scheme.
If you are suffering from a pre-existing condition or a chronic condition this can be included under the EHIC scheme, but you must not use the EHIC if you are travelling to a country for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment.
For UK citizens, there are three ways of applying for your EHIC from
the Department of Health:
1.
Apply online (normal EHIC delivery time 7 days)
2. By phoning 0845 606 2030 (normal EHIC delivery time 10 days)
3. By post, using an EHIC form and pre-addressed envelope supplied by
the Post Office (normal EHIC delivery time 21 days).
The EHIC should never be considered as an adequate alternative for
a comprehensive travel insurance policy. For further information on
the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), please read the
DOH's Health Advice For Travellers.
The Republic of Ireland introduced the EHIC much earlier than the UK, back in June 2004. More details of how to apply, if you live in ROI.
Please note that the European Health Insurance Card is a replacement for the E111, which ceased to be valid as from 31 December 2005.
Drinking Water
Water supplies are safe to drink throughout the country. Tap water
will either be from the municipal mains water supply or from a local
underground well.
Slovenia is famous for its “Radenska” mineral water. It is said to have
healing properties. It can be found bottled in most shops alongside
the usual brands.
Visas
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the USA and most European countries do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries can get 90-day visas in advance at any Slovenian embassy or consulate, or 30-day visas on arrival.
Electricity
220V, 50Hz
Weights and measures
Metric.
Language
The Slovenian language has played a special role throughout Slovenian
history and it is still considered one of the foundations of national
identity. Slovenian is a South Slavonic language, spoken by just two
million people. In spite of various, in particular Germanic influences,
it has preserved its special features.
The most notable of them is the dual form, the grammatical number used
for two people or things in all the inflected parts of speech. In the
past, a number of languages had a dual form, but nowadays it is very
rare. The development of the Slovenian language and its public use have
been linked to the religious sphere of life.
According to some classifications, there are 36 separate dialects in
Slovenia. Slovene is taught at a number of universities abroad.
Useful phrases in Slovenian
(pdf-78k).
Slovenia Times
The Slovenia Times is the first independent English-language newspaper in Slovenia. An English language newspaper that covers all aspects of Slovenian society, from politics to business, from culture to sports. The newspaper is published every two weeks on Thursday.
Radio Slovenia International
Radio Slovenia International is the first and only foreign language radio station in Slovenia.
What kind of a programme does RSi offer?
A well balanced mixture of musical and informative programmes 24 hours
a day. 85% of the programme time is devoted to the best international
and Slovene hits, and the remaining 15 % is intended for up-to-date
political, business and economic, cultural, and sports information.
The essential elements of the programme are weather, traffic, cultural and sports information and also events taking place in Slovenia.
Which languages?
Slovene, German and English.
Where can you listen to RSi?
Nearly everywhere in Slovenia. You can also listen to RSi via the Rsi
home page!
Public Holidays
1st and 2nd January New Year
8th February Prešeren Day, Slovenian Cultural Holiday
Easter Sunday and Monday
27th April Day of Uprising Against Occupation
1st and 2nd May Labour Day
Whit Sunday
25th June National Day
15th August Assumption Day
31st October Reformation Day
1st November All Souls' Day
25th December Christmas Day
26th December Independence Day
Source: http://www.matkurja.com/en/
Most shops and many restaurants close for Bank Holidays.
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