Slovenia may be hard to find on a map, but once you discover it, you will soon fall in love with it. Not only for its diverse landscapes, rich flavours and cultural treasures, but also for its people. Although characters change with the landscape, Slovenians are considered to be hard-working, modest and honest people with a big sporting heart. We will be happy to welcome you, to offer you the best of our home garden or field, to toast you with our wines and other local drinks, to dance and sing, preferably to the sound of the accordion. And don't be surprised when we offer you slippers when you come to our home.
Before we get into the interesting facts about the residents of Slovenia, here are some basic statistics from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.
Take a look at a piece of our tradition, work and creativity. Our connection to nature. This is who we are, Slovenians.
Do you know where Slovenians like to go in their free time? Into nature. Into the mountains. The Alpine Association of Slovenia, which celebrates 130 years of activity this year, is the second largest voluntary organisation in Slovenia, after the Firefighting Association of Slovenia.
The popularity of hiking and mountaineering in Slovenia can be attributed to the more than 10,000 kilometres of well-maintained and marked trails, the breathtaking views, and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It is customary in the mountains for mountaineers to greet each other, even if they are meeting for the first time. There is also a homely, relaxed atmosphere in the mountain huts, where spoon meals, charcuterie and homemade štruklji and rolls are popular. Enjoy them without a guilty conscience, because in Slovenia we say that there is no sin above 1,000 metres.
Did you know?
In Slovenia, it is believed that every true Slovenian should climb Slovenia's highest peak, the 2,864-metre-high Triglav, at least once.
Whether in or around sports arenas, Slovenians always have a heart for it. Few countries in the world can boast such a high proportion, relative to their population, of top athletes winning medals and pushing boundaries. The rest of us cheer for them wholeheartedly, and they inspire us to be active in our leisure time and to win our little victories. And vice versa. Hearty fans often put fresh wind in the sails of the athletes and give them an extra boost on the path to victory. And we like to be active ourselves. Apart from hiking, cycling and running are among our most popular activities, while skiing and cross-country skiing are also popular in winter.
We present some reasons why Slovenia is successful in the field of sports.
Experience the active Slovenia and get to know its sporting heart.
You could say it smells different in different parts of Slovenia. We have 24 gastronomic regions, each with its own distinctive cuisine. On Sundays, you will usually find soup (beef is the most common), meat dishes (roast) with a side dish (roast potatoes) and salad. During the week, a stew is nice, and on festive days, potica, a typical Slovenian dessert with various fillings, is a must. Tastes vary, of course, but we still advocate our grandmothers' recipes. Even the best chefs often take a peek at them and use them as a basis for their culinary masterpieces. Whatever we do, we like to use fresh, local ingredients, preferably from our own garden.
Every bite of a dish from Slovenia is sure to be etched in the memory of your taste buds. Indulge them with Slovenian flavours at home. Try Slovenian recipes in your kitchen and use the best ingredients from Slovenia.
You may find some of the habits of Slovenians strange, but we take them for granted. From slippers to relations with neighbours, here are some funny stereotypes about Slovenians, presented in an interesting way by the National Statistical Office.
Slippers
Don't be surprised when we offer you slippers when you come to our home in Slovenia. Slovenia imports almost two million pairs of slippers and other home footwear every year.
Sunday lunch
Beef soup, roast beef and roast potatoes, with a salad. At noon exactly? The statistics office has not yet found out about that, but it is clear that each household member in Slovenia consumed an average of 14 kg of beef, 48 kg of potatoes and 11 kg of lettuce at home in 2020.
Athletes at heart
We love to cheer on our sporting heroes. But we are also very active ourselves. Did you know that almost 40% of the population participate in sport for at least five hours a week?
The best of the home garden
What’s better than fresh vegetables from your own garden? Even if it is on a balcony. And Slovenians are a nation of gardeners. As many as 60% of households in Slovenia have a garden where they grow vegetables for their own consumption.
Neighbours
The stereotype may be true that we are often at odds with our neighbours and that we are jealous of each other, but when we need help, neighbours are one of the first people we turn to. As many as 92% of Slovenians expect to receive non-material help from a relative, friend, neighbour or acquaintance.
The official language in Slovenia is Slovenian, which is considered one of the most archaic languages in Europe. The most distinctive feature of the Slovenian language is the dual form. The Slovenian alphabet has 25 letters, which are used to write 29 voices. In addition, Slovenian has 3 grammatical numbers, 6 cases, 8 conjugations, 3 grammatical genders and 4 grammatical tenses. Ugh, sounds pretty complicated, doesn't it? But don't worry. We are above the European average in terms of the number of people who speak at least one foreign language, and we are at the very top of the European ranking of nations with the highest proportion of people who speak more than one foreign language. The most common knowledge of a foreign language is knowledge of English, which as the first foreign language is learned by children already in elementary school. And there's more – Slovene has the most dialect groups and dialects in relation to the number of people who use it as their mother tongue.
Do you want to know how to say hello in Slovenian? How to say thank you and how to toast with friends? Here are some Slovenian expressions that will surely come in handy and might inspire you to learn even more Slovenian words and expressions.
Slovenians normally great one another with "dober dan" (dou-ber dahn).
When we clink glasses, we say na zdravje (nah zdraw-yeh).
When we want to thank someone, we say hvala (hva-la).
We take our leave by saying nasvidenje (nas-vee-deh-nye).
Dr Noah Charney is one of the biggest fans of Slovenia. He has written about his vision of "The Best Country in the World" in his book Slovenology. In his podcast, Noah describes how he came to live in Slovenia after "auditioning" in a number of other countries, and why he has such a high opinion of it as a place worth visiting or moving to permanently. He also spoke to many fellow expatriates from different countries to find out why they love living on the sunny side of the Alps.
Our grandmothers and grandfathers wore formal clothes on special occasions, usually on Sundays. The clothing heritage and national costumes vary from one province to another and have also changed over the centuries. They were also an expression of social stratus. Today, national costumes are worn mainly by dancers in folklore groups, of which there are around 500 in Slovenia. Folk-music performers also wear slightly adapted ones. You will also come across national costumes at ethnological festivals, but the best way to get to know them is at the annual Days of National Costumes and Clothing Heritage in Kamnik.
Did you know?
The composition Na Golici by the famous folk-music ensemble of the Avsenik brothers is the most frequently performed instrumental composition of the twentieth century. It can often be heard, among other occasions, upon the successes of Slovenian athletes.
Learn the story of the designers of the national costumes of Kostel, from sketches to the final dress. They use natural materials that were used by our ancestors, such as linen and wool. A member of a folklore group presenting the dances of the Kostel area will dance in the dress.
Learn the story of the designers of the national costumes of Kostel, from sketches to the final dress. They use natural materials that were used by our ancestors, such as linen and wool. A member of a folklore group presenting the dances of the Kostel area will dance in the dress.
If you would like to experience an authentic Slovenian celebration of Easter, choose a unique experience that will take you back in time and conjure up the festive atmosphere as our ancestors knew it through customs, music and dance.
Slovenia is the only country in the world that has the word LOVE in its name. And we take love very seriously in Slovenia. We even have our own lovers' day. On St Gregory’s Day, 12 March, when it is said that the birds are getting married. We have our own unique ways of seduction. The shepherds of the Velika Planina used to give their chosen women a special artistically shaped cheese "trnič". Boys used to woo their sweethearts with serenades and courting, which you can experience, among other things, at an ethnological event in Bohinj. And when it's time for the lovers to jump into the marriage yoke, there's one more obstacle to jump over – a šranga or barrier that is placed on the groom's way to the bride.
When friends meet in Slovenia, an invitation usually follows: "Let's go for coffee!" or "Let's go for a beer." However, wine has a special place among Slovenians. We have three wine-growing regions that produce wines that are recognised at home and abroad. Every wine grower is proud of his vineyards and his wine. That is why he likes to share it with friends who pass by.
Did you know?
The fact that there is one vineyard or wine cellar for every 70 people is proof that Slovenians love wine.
The happiest time for wine growers is autumn, when the harvest season begins. It's not just about work, but about socialising with family, friends and neighbours. Don't be surprised if you hear the sounds of accordions and singing coming from the vineyards at this time. The sweet grapes go into the presses from which the must flows. It only becomes wine on 11 November, St Martin’s Day, a particularly festive day in Slovenia. This is when roast goose or duck, red cabbage, mlinci and, of course, young wine are served. The wine then finds its place in wine cellars and wine shops.
In the south-eastern part of Slovenia, especially in Dolenjska, you will notice special houses on the wine-growing hills – vineyard cottages of which the locals are particularly proud and in which, among other things, they keep their wine. If you visit the Posavje region, you should not miss seeing the repnice, the caves dug into the ground, which are now used as wine cellars. And there’s another thing to boast about – we have the oldest grapevine in the world growing in the Lent district of Maribor.
Where to taste wines from Slovenia's three wine-growing regions?
Experience the grape harvest the Slovenian way!
Toast the new wine in Slovenia!
For more than 450 years, the world’s oldest vine has remained firmly rooted in the heart of Maribor.
Do you know the Carniolan honeybee? It is the native Slovenian bee species, considered one of the most widespread honeybees in the world. It is meek, hard-working, humble and has an excellent sense of direction. Traits that are also found in Slovenians. No wonder we get on so well together. There are more than 11,000 beekeepers in Slovenia, with more than 200,000 bee colonies.
We have been engaged in beekeeping for generations. Anton Janša, the first beekeeping teacher at the Viennese court, laid the foundations for modern beekeeping, and his birthday, 20 May, has been declared World Bee Day at Slovenia's initiative. Bees and their products have been integrated into cuisine, experiences and health and well-being. They have also inspired our artistic creativity, as evidenced by the painted beehive panels. Our enthusiasm for beekeeping has also led to the inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
When you visit Slovenia and want to take home a beautiful object, it's worth visiting a handicraft stand or shop. Slovenians are skilled with our hands, so you will find beautiful knitted and bobbin lace items, pottery, blacksmith items, woodwork and more. Although some of the skills of our grandfathers and grandmothers have all but disappeared, many handicrafts and crafts have recently been revived. In towns and cities that are famous for their skilled craftsmen, they are especially happy to pass on their knowledge to you in special workshops.
Although there are only around two million Slovenians, we are successful in many fields thanks to our diligence, knowledge, hard work and sometimes even stubbornness. In addition to many successful athletes, we also have eminent individuals in other spheres of society: brilliant scientists, creative chefs, talented artists, distinguished diplomats, innovative economists and many more. Throughout history, many outstanding names have written or are still writing both Slovenian and world history.
Slovenia has a way of charming everyone who comes to visit. Whether by its beautiful nature, rich cultural heritage or gastronomic treats. Meet interesting people and learn about their commitment to their roots.
Slovenia: a land of hospitable people and unforgettable experiences in the heart of Europe.
Plan your holidays in green.
In its small corner of the world, Slovenia is the only European country lying at the crossroads of the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Karst and the Pannonian Plain.
Love is experienced through the stomach.
Slovenia boasts a rich cultural tradition.
Enter the world of original adventures.
Discover Slovenia's literary, cultural and other artistic treasures.
Slovenian treasure troves of world heritage
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