From 1 July 2008, motor cycles, private cars and vans whose maximum permitted weight does not exceed 3.5 tons must carry a vignette in order to drive on all Slovenian motorways and expressways managed by DARS d.d., regardless of their length.

Types of vignette

Weekly vignette for (two-track) motor vehicles up to maximum permitted weight of 3,500 kg EUR 15

Monthly vignette for (two-track) motor vehicles up to maximum permitted weight of 3,500 kg EUR 30

Annual vignette for (two-track) motor vehicles up to maximum permitted weight of 3,500 kg EUR 95

Weekly vignette for (single-track) motor cycle EUR 7.50

Six-monthly vignette for (single-track) motor cycle EUR 25

Annual vignette for (single-track) motor cycle EUR 47.50

Validity of vignettes

Annual vignettes for the current year are valid from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the coming year (total of 14 months).

Six-monthly vignettes are valid for six months from the day of purchase, or until the end of the last day of the sixth month, if there is no such day in the sixth month.

Monthly vignettes are valid from the moment of purchase up until the end of the day with the same number one month after the day of purchase, or up until the end of the last day in the month, if the next month has no such day.

Weekly vignettes are valid for seven consecutive calendar days from and including the day determined by the user upon purchase of the vignette.

Sales points

Vignettes are sold at petrol stations in Slovenia and neighbouring countries and at branches of the national and foreign automobile clubs, at post offices in Slovenia and at some magazine stands. For more information a list of sales points is available.

Penalties

For driving on a motorway without a valid vignette sticker or without paying the road toll, a fine of 300 to 800 euros is envisaged.

Exception

For motorway journeys coming from Austria up to the Hrušica exit towards the interior of Slovenia and in the reverse direction, use of a vignette is not required. The road toll for the Karavanke tunnel is valid between the first motorway exits on either side of the national border (in Slovenia the Hrušica exit, in Austria the Podrožca – Rosenbach exit).

Buses, mobile homes and lorries

For vehicles whose maximum permitted weight exceeds 3.5 tons, there are several ways of paying for road use.

- Pay per use: Every time you pass a toll station by paying on the spot.

- Prepayment and later payment: Intended for users of electronic media - DARS card, DARS Transporter card and ABC plates.

For additional information see the DARS website.

Following its entry to the EU on 1 May 2004 Slovenia began to execute, in part, provisions of the Schengen legal system, covering the area of visa policy and the prevention of illegal immigration. Citizens of the Republic of Slovenia have, as citizens of the EU, facilitated border crossing procedures with all other EU member countries. For Slovenian citizens, the Austrian, Italian and Hungarian border officials only check the validity of documents for border crossing, while at airports in EU member countries they can pass through controls intended for EU citizens, where only the validity of documents is checked and other conditions for entering the EU, which apply to citizens of third (non EU) countries, are not required. (Source: Office of the Government of RS for Communication)

Slovenia joined the Schengen airspace on 30 March 2008. For air passengers this means that from 30 March border control will only be carried out on non-Schengen flights, that is flights to destinations outside the Schengen area. Border control for these flights is carried out on all passengers entering and exiting the Schengen area (also applicable to transit passengers with connecting flights inside the Schengen area). Internal or Schengen flights (travelling from one Schengen member state to another) will not be subject to border control. However, airport security checks with x-ray screening and personal inspection remain in effect.

Transport services from Klagenfurt and Graz airports to Slovenia are also offered by the low-cost carrier GoOpti.

As of 1.1.2007 the Euro became the official currency in Slovenia, for both cash and non-cash transactions. 
Non-cash payment with credit or debit cards is possible everywhere through POS terminals. Cards accepted for payment are MasterCard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron, Amex and Diners (depends on the sales outlet and the contract it has) and local cards Activa and Karanta.
You can also withdraw cash at automatic teller machines of different banks which are located across the whole country. Cash withdrawal is possible mainly with MasterCard and Visa cards. Withdrawals can also be made using Maestro, Cirrus and Visa Electron Plus, where indicated by stickers on individual automated teller machines. Locations of automated teller machines and cards which can be used to withdraw cash can be found HERE.
At banks, visitors to Slovenia can exchange money and cash traveller’s cheques, open bank accounts, deposit cash and conduct other non-cash business. Banks are open during the week between 9:00 and 12:00 and 14:00 and 17:00, and some on Saturdays between 9:00 and 12:00.
Money can also be exchanged in exchange offices, at hotel reception desks, tourist agencies, petrol stations and larger supermarkets.

Average prices of some basic foods in shops are the following:
1 kg of bread 2,00 EUR
1 litre of milk 0,75 EUR
½ litre of beer  0,95 EUR
daily paper 1,00 EUR

Average prices of some basic foods in restaurants are the following:
1,00 EUR for a cup of espresso coffee,
1,40 EUR for 2 dl of cola, 
7,00 EUR for a classical, large pizza, 
7,00 EUR for a portion of pasta with Bolognese sauce.

In tourist spots you can expect slightly higher prices, while outside the tourist spots the prices will be lower than the average.

Slovenia is in the Schengen Zone, meaning that at the border crossings with Italy, Austria and Hungary there are generally no controls. To enter Slovenia from Croatia, a passport or ID is sufficient if your visit will not last more than three months.

Special requirements for certain countries

Alongside citizens of all the European Union Member States, citizens of Croatia, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland can also enter Slovenia just with a personal ID, provided your visit is no more than thirty days.

Children

To enter Slovenia from Croatia and other countries that are not in the Schengen Zone, children also need a valid passport, or in the cases listed above, a valid ID is sufficient.

Always carry your ID

Irrespective of the fact that you can enter Slovenia from within the Schengen Zone virtually unchecked, it is important that you always carry a valid personal ID with you. The police in Slovenia, like the police in all other Schengen countries, can carry out ID checks throughout the territory. A personal ID or passport are the only valid forms of identification in Slovenia.

Visas

If you need a visa to enter Slovenia, you can obtain one at the Slovenian consular office in your country or at the consular office of any other Member State of the Schengen Zone.

Restrictions on tobacco and alcohol

There are restrictions on the amount of tobacco and alcohol you can bring into Slovenia. They also apply to citizens of other European Union countries, but they are even stricter for those who live outside the EU. There are also restrictions on bringing in cash.

Animals

To enter Slovenia, your pet needs a passport and veterinary certificate confirming inoculation against rabies. The regulations differ depending on whether you are entering from a European Union country or other countries.

VAT refunds

VAT refunds may be claimed upon exiting Slovenia only by those visitors from countries outside the European Union.

A child can only travel and cross international borders with an identity document valid for the crossing of international borders. Such document is usually a valid passport, however, in certain cases it can also be a valid identity card or other document for crossing international borders (issued on the basis of special international agreements). The method for issuing documents differs from country to country, some issue children independent documents, while others include children in their parents' passports; all this is allowed for at border crossings.

Foreign drivers, those from the EU as well as those outside it, need valid car registration and insurance, for the vehicle being driven.
We suggest that before they intend to travel, drivers from the EU also obtain a green card issued by their insurance company, as in the event of a car accident, it facilitates the procedure of data exchange. The green card is obligatory for drivers not from EU member countries.

To rent a car you will require a personal identification document with a photograph, a valid driver's licence and a credit card, with which the car rental will be paid. A valid International driver's licence is also recommended for citizens of non EU European countries and is obligatory for citizens from other continents.
Drivers wishing to rent a car must be at least 21 years of age (for categories H, I, J, O and S they must be at least 25 years of age) and their driver's licence must be valid for at least a further two years. For drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 some rental offices require additional payment for ‘young drivers’.

The driver needs to have a licence of the applicable category for the vehicle being driven, all passengers have to sit in adequate seats during travel and wear seat-belts. Other documents required are the same as for personal passenger vehicles. For transport of additional cargo on the roof or at the rear of the vehicle, the requirements are the same as for personal passenger vehicles – cargo may extend past the extreme front of the vehicle up to a maximum of 1 m, and may extend up to a maximum length of 1.5 m at the rear at the vehicle, however the total length of the vehicle with cargo must not exceed 12 m. If the cargo at the rear of the vehicle extends more than 1 m behind the vehicle it must be marked with a square board, 25x25 cm, with oblique red/white stripes.
Overnight stops are permitted at special rest areas for motor-homes, which you can find HERE, or in camp grounds. For a list of camp grounds click HERE.

More information

English	Slovene	Pronunciation
Good morning	Dobro jutro	[doh-broh you-troh]
Good day	Dober dan	[doh-burr dhan]
Good evening	Dober večer	[doh-burr veh-chair]
Hello	Živijo	[zhee-vee-yoh]
Thank you	Hvala	[hva-la]
Please	Prosim	[pro-seem]
Goodbye	Nasvidenje	[nas-vee-deh-nye]
Welcome	Dobrodošli	[doh-broh-doh-shlee]
Yes	Da	[da]
No	Ne	[ne]
Excuse me	Dovolite mi, prosim	[do-vo-lee-teh mee, pro-seem]
Sorry	Oprostite	[o-pro-stee-teh]
What's your name?	Kako ti je ime?	[ka-koh tee yeah ee-meh?]
My name is…	Jaz sem…	[yas semm...]
Where is…?	Kje je... ?	[kye yeah...?]
How much is…?	Koliko stane...?	[ko-lee-koh stah-ne...?]
Where are you from?	Od kod ste?	[od koth steh?]
Do you speak English?	Govorite angleško?	[go-vo-ree-teh an-glesh-ko?]
I (don't) understand	(Ne) razumem	[(ne) ra-zoo-mem]
How do you say...?	Kako se reče...?	[ka-ko seh reh-che...?]

 
You can find  answers on most fruequently asked questions by journalists on our press corner web site. Please click here for more information.

 More information about Slovenia can be found at the following web address and on http://www.ukom.gov.si/en/.

On your arrival in Slovenia you will find welcome messages at all larger border crossings. You can get more detailed information containing the most important attractions of Slovenia, tourist and catering services, maps and other general information about Slovenia at information boards and infopoints, located at the resting places by the motorways and at other tourist spots. At every tourist destination you will find hospitable tourist information centres with information about local tourist attractions, tour possibilities and events, offering a wide range of promotional material and tourist souvenirs.
The list of tourist information centres can be found at this address.

Slovenia boasts a really rich offer of diverse events - festivals, theatre, cultural, musical and other cultural and artistic events, fairs, congresses, symposiums, professional meetings or sports, culinary, wine and other events.
You can find more information here.